| OSF Home Care provides services for
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is attacking our
children at an alarming rate...two out of three are affected during the
first year of life. OSF Home Care has established a program to help
treat these patients.
In cooperation with MedImmune, Inc., the
manufacturer of Synagis, we are dedicating maternal/child nursing and
pharmacy staff for the treatment of RSV in the home. Our pediatric
patients and their parents can combat these symptoms in a familiar
surrounding...and OSF can do its part to help decrease the estimated
125,000 hospitalizations caused by RSV each year.
 What
is RSV?
RSV is found everywhere and
highly contagious: approximately two-thirds of all infants are infected
with RSV during the first year of life and almost 100% by the age of
two.
Most of these RSV infections cause minor upper
respiratory illness and cold-like symptoms. However, in infants and
children, RSV infection may cause serious lower respiratory tract
disease. It has been estimated in some U.S. communities that between
50-80% of bronchiolitis hospitalizations from November through April are
due to RSV disease.
Nationwide, it has been estimated that RSV
infection causes up to 125,000 hospitalizations annually with a 2%
mortality rate.
How Synagis can help
Synagis (palivizumab) is the
first monoclonal antibody successfully developed to combat this
infectious disease. It is indicated for the prevention of serious lower
respiratory tract disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in
pediatric patients at high-risk of RSV disease. Safety and efficacy were
established in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and infants
with a history of prematurity (less than 35 weeks gestational age).
Synagis is approved by the FDA.
Synagis is administered as a monthly intramuscular
(IM) injection during the RSV season, typically fall through spring,
however, the season varies and OSF Home Care is prepared to meet your
needs.
Who administers Synagis?
Synagis is administered in your
home by our OSF Home Care nurse. The nurse will administer a Synagis injection
into your child’s thigh. Synagis injections will be given monthly
beginning in October and running through the end of RSV season in the
spring. It is important not to miss any injections.
Who supplies Synagis?
OSF Home Infusion Pharmacy
delivers Synagis monthly to your home. You will be given a courtesy call
each month prior to delivery to alert you when your child’s Synagis will
be arriving. Synagis vials need to be stored in the refrigerator until
your nurse arrives to administer the medication.
How does your child participate
in the Synagis program?
Your physician needs to evaluate your child to determine a medical
necessity for Synagis. If your child meets these qualifications, and
with your physician’s referral, OSF Home Care will begin initiation of
service for Synagis administration.
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