For patients and caregivers

Your First Infusion: What to Expect

We’ve thought through every detail so you don’t have to.

Starting a new infusion therapy can feel like a lot, with a new medication, a new setting, and new questions. At Cure Stat Infusion Services, our job is to make this part feel familiar before you ever sit in the chair. Here is exactly what your first visit will look like, where it might happen, and how to prepare.

Before your first infusion

The work starts the moment your prescription arrives.

The moment your provider sends us your prescription, our team goes to work behind the scenes.

  • We handle the paperwork. Our team verifies your insurance benefits, secures any required prior authorizations, and explores manufacturer copay assistance or patient-assistance programs.
  • You get a welcome call. Before your first appointment, a clinician reaches out to walk you through your medication, what to expect during the infusion, possible side effects, and how to reach us with questions. We also confirm where and when your infusion will take place, and we review anything you should eat, drink, or avoid that day.
  • You know your team. The pharmacist preparing your medication, the nurse placing your IV, and the coordinator answering your call all work in close coordination. There are no handoffs and no surprises.

Where you will have your infusion

Three places it can happen.

The right setting depends on your medication, how closely it needs to be monitored, your insurance, your provider’s preference, and yours. We talk through the options with you.

In our Ambulatory Infusion Suite at the pharmacy

If your therapy works best in a clinical setting, or if you simply prefer it, our Ambulatory Infusion Suite (AIS) sits inside the Cure Stat Rx pharmacy in San Diego. You are cared for by an infusion nurse just steps from the cleanroom where your medication was compounded and from our pharmacist, which means anything you need is right there. The suite includes reclining chairs, Wi-Fi, blankets, and snacks.

6725 Mesa Ridge Rd, Suite 230, San Diego, CA 92121

At home, through Cure Stat Infusion Services

For many therapies, home infusion is the most comfortable option. Supplies arrive at your home, a licensed home-infusion nurse comes to you, sets up everything, monitors you throughout, and stays as long as your protocol requires.

Wherever you call home

In our Ambulatory Infusion Center at Restore Health Infusions and Wellness

For therapies that benefit from a dedicated infusion environment, we partner with Restore Health Infusions and Wellness, our San Diego Ambulatory Infusion Center (AIC). You receive the same medication and the same clinical oversight in a space designed around comfort and recovery.

12220 World Trade Dr, Suite 130, San Diego, CA 92128

The day of your infusion

A typical first visit, step by step.

A first visit takes anywhere from one to several hours, depending on the medication. The flow looks like this.

  1. Check-in and vitals are first

    We take your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and weight, and we confirm any pre-infusion labs that were ordered.

  2. A short consult follows

    Your infusion nurse reviews your medication one more time, asks about any new symptoms or medications since your welcome call, and answers any questions.

  3. Your nurse places an IV

    The IV usually goes in your hand or forearm. If you have a port or PICC line, we use that instead.

  4. A test dose runs first when applicable

    Some medications begin with a slow test dose to make sure your body tolerates the therapy well before increasing the rate.

  5. Your infusion runs next

    You relax while the medication infuses at the rate your provider prescribed. Your nurse monitors you the entire time. You are welcome to read, work, watch a show, nap, or chat, whichever helps the time pass.

  6. Post-infusion monitoring closes out the visit

    Your nurse checks your vitals, walks you through what to watch for at home, and answers any remaining questions.

How to prepare

A few small things make a big difference.

  • Wear loose, comfortable clothing with sleeves that can roll above the elbow, or a layered top that gives the nurse easy access to your arm or port.
  • Eat a normal meal before your infusion, unless your care team has told you otherwise. Hydration helps with IV access too, so drink water in the hours leading up.
  • Prepare a list of every medication and supplement you take, including over-the-counter products. If anything has changed since your welcome call, mention it.
  • Have entertainment ready, like a book, headphones, a tablet, or a charger. Both of our infusion sites have Wi-Fi.
  • Invite a friend if you would like. A familiar face makes the first visit easier, and your visitor can help drive you home if your medication causes drowsiness.
  • Plan a quiet rest of the day. Most patients feel fine, but it is smart to take it easy after your first infusion until you know how you respond.

If you have a reaction

Never wonder whether something is worth a call.

Most infusions go smoothly. If anything feels off during your visit, including itching, flushing, shortness of breath, or anything you were not expecting, tell your nurse immediately. Reactions during an infusion are the reason we monitor you in real time, and your nurse is trained to manage them on the spot.

If something comes up after you leave, call us. If it concerns you, call us. Here is a simple guide.

If you have a medical emergency, call 911 first

Then call our team so we can coordinate with the hospital. Examples include trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, severe chest pain, fainting, sudden confusion or slurred speech, uncontrollable shaking, or any symptom that feels life-threatening.

For non-emergency questions during business hours, call us

Our team is available Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific, at (888) 963-6544. Common reasons to call include a low-grade fever, ongoing nausea or fatigue, a mild rash, soreness or redness at the IV site that is not getting better, or any question about your medication.

After hours, a clinical pharmacist is on call 24/7

Use (888) 963-6544 if you have a worsening or unexpected symptom that cannot wait until morning but does not require 911. Examples include a fever over 101°F, vomiting or diarrhea that will not stop, hives or a new rash that is spreading, or any reaction that feels worse than expected.

For questions about your underlying condition, call your prescribing doctor

We coordinate closely with your care team, but they manage decisions about your diagnosis and ongoing treatment plan. When in doubt, call us. We would rather hear about something small than miss something important.

After your infusion

We check on you, and we report back.

Within 24 to 48 hours, you get a follow-up call to check on how you are feeling and answer any new questions. We also send a full report, including how the infusion went, any reactions, and any labs drawn, back to your prescribing provider so your full care team stays in the loop.

Cost

We work with most major insurance plans. Before your first visit, we verify your medical and pharmacy benefits, secure any prior authorizations, and explore any manufacturer or foundation programs you may qualify for.

See patient assistance programs
  • We verify both your medical and your pharmacy benefits.
  • We submit, track, and escalate prior authorizations on your behalf.
  • We enroll you in manufacturer copay programs and foundation grants when you qualify.
  • We give you a plain-dollar estimate before your first visit.

Patient assistance

Programs we most often connect patients to.

Many of the therapies we provide have manufacturer copay cards, foundation grants, or patient-assistance programs. We help you apply. Below is a working guide, organized first by general resources and then by therapy area.

Foundations and general resources
Gastroenterology and rheumatology (Crohn’s, colitis, RA, lupus, psoriatic arthritis)
Oncology and hematology
Immune deficiency and immunoglobulin (IVIG and SCIG)
Neurology (MS, migraine, Alzheimer’s, NMOSD, gMG, CIDP)
Pulmonary (pulmonary hypertension, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency)
Anti-infective, antibiotic, antiviral, hepatitis, and HIV
  • Hepatitis: PAN Foundation (opens in a new tab) and American Liver Foundation
  • HIV: Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program nationally, San Diego County HIV/AIDS Care and UC San Diego Owen Clinic locally
  • Outpatient antibiotic therapy: UC San Diego Health OPAT Program
Hydration and nutrition
Local San Diego resources

You do not have to work out which program fits. Call (888) 963-6544 and our team will check what you qualify for and complete the application with you.

Still have a question?

Our FAQs answer the ones we hear most, and our team answers the rest. Call us any time, and a clinical pharmacist is on call 24/7.

Read the FAQs
Call (888) 963-6544

Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific. TTY 711.