Inotropic therapy in the home care setting: criteria, management, and implications.

The home care clients of today are requiring more intensive i.v. therapies in their home setting. The cardiac compromised patient is a prime target for this emerging trend in home infusion therapy. The end-stage cardiac patient has been traditionally treated in the hospital acute-care setting through frequent readmissions. However, there is an increasing desire by cardiac patients and their families to administer inotropic therapies in the home. Cardiac patients receiving inotropic therapy can be successfully treated in the home using specific admission criteria and monitoring guidelines.