Nursing Care & Home Infusion Therapy
About this service
Licensed nurses deliver clinical care at home—short, targeted visits for wound/skin management, injections, catheter/ostomy care, medication setup/administration, vitals, teaching, and coordination with your prescriber and pharmacy. When appropriate, we also provide home infusion therapy (e.g., IV antibiotics, hydration, biologics) using evidence-based infusion standards; we coordinate drug preparation/dispensing and pumps/lines with a sterile-compounding pharmacy partner. Alberta’s home-care system assesses need and can authorize nursing under a care plan; CDHCI funds approved service hours and is billed via Alberta Blue Cross, while families can add private top-ups for extra hours/services.
Who it’s for
- People needing ongoing clinical tasks at home (new or chronic wounds, injections, complex meds, catheter/ostomy care, vitals and monitoring). AHS Home Care supports post-surgical, long-term, respite and palliative needs following assessment by a case manager.
- Clients starting home infusion when the prescriber indicates it’s safe to transition from clinic/hospital; care follows recognized infusion standards for home settings.
- Families who want nurse-led medication setup/administration alongside HCA reminders; Alberta’s Medication Assistance Program (MAP) and related policy clarify what unregulated providers may assist with versus what nurses must administer.
What´s included in the service?
Wound & Skin Care
Assessment, dressing selection/changes, pressure-injury prevention, and escalation when healing stalls; visit notes to prescribers as needed. (Nursing is part of AHS Home Care when assessed.)
Injections & Monitoring
Prescriber-ordered IM/SC injections (e.g., B12, anticoagulants), observation for effect/adverse events, and teaching for self- or caregiver-administration where appropriate.
Catheter & Ostomy Care
Site checks, appliance changes, troubleshooting, skin protection, and supplies planning.
Medication Setup/Administration
Nurse reconciliation, weekly/monthly setup (blister packs/dosettes), high-alert med checks, and administration per order; daily reminders by HCAs remain within MAP’s assistance scope.
Vitals & Chronic-Disease Coaching
BP/O₂/weight/glucose as ordered, symptom tracking, red-flag teaching, and escalation pathways to the prescriber.
Supplies & Equipment Navigation
Client-specific consumables (e.g., ostomy/wound supplies) are typically not in hourly rates; where eligible we help access AADL authorizers and approved vendors.
Home Infusion Therapy
Eligibility screen; vascular access assessment; pump/line setup; independent double-checks for high-risk meds; infusion rate verification; monitoring and documentation; line care and flushes; spill/sharps/biomedical waste handling; pharmacy coordination for sterile-compounded drugs (non-hazardous/hazardous) compliant with national model standards.
Frequently asked questions
Can nursing or infusion be funded under CDHCI?
CDHCI funds authorized service hours set by the AHS case manager; providers bill Alberta Blue Cross for the approved hours. Families often add private top-ups for additional nursing/infusion time or services not authorized.
What standards do you follow for home infusion?
We align with the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice—which added a dedicated Home Infusion Therapy standard in 2024—and the Canadian Vascular Access Association (CVAA) Guidelines for Canadian practice.
How is the medication prepared for home infusion?
The dispensing pharmacy compounds sterile preparations under NAPRA Model Standards (non-hazardous and hazardous sterile compounding), ensuring appropriate facilities, processes, and quality controls. We coordinate timing, stability, and delivery with the pharmacy.
What’s the difference between medication assistance and administration at home?
Under Alberta’s MAP, unregulated providers may assist (e.g., reminders, opening packaging, handing a dose) as directed by the care plan; administration (drawing/delivering a dose, injections) requires a regulated nurse within scope. We assign the right provider for each task.
How are sharps and infusion waste handled at home?
Used needles and certain disposables go into a point-of-use sharps container and are disposed of per AHS community sharps guidance and local bylaws; pharmacies/Eco stations can advise on drop-off options.
Who pays for infusion drugs and supplies?
Drugs and client-specific supplies are separate from hourly labour. Some medical supplies/equipment categories may be eligible via AADL (after authorizer assessment) and must be obtained from approved vendors; drug coverage depends on the client’s insurance/benefits.
How do we start?
Following your prescriber’s orders and an AHS assessment (if applicable), we build a home plan, confirm pharmacy logistics, perform teaching, and schedule the first visit. AHS lists access points and a toll-free Continuing Care Access line for new patients.
Download our guide
Check out our guide to Home and Community Care.