13. Evolution of the Infusion Science Specialist

Background: Immunoglobulin (IG) therapy administration has evolved since it was first introduced in 1952 as a simple intramuscular injection to intravenous (IVIg) and subcutaneous (SCIg) forms. This evolution of IG therapy necessitated an evolution and expansion in the role of nurses to include practical education to providers, patients, and caregivers on infusion therapy. Infusion nurses are responsible for administering therapy in various settings, including clinics, infusion centers, homes, and specialty pharmacies. A high level of clinical competency is required, however, formal education on infusion science is rare. Thus in 2006 when the first SCIg was FDA approved, a gap was identified which eventually led to the formal creation of the role of Infusion Science Specialists (ISS) by CSL Behring in 2014, a team of educators dedicated to education on proper administration of the company’s IG products.

Purpose: The purpose of this abstract is to demonstrate the educational value of the Infusion Science Specialist within the healthcare team. This role is crucial in providing support and guidance to healthcare professionals who administer infusion therapies to patients.

Methods: The ISS team sits within Medical Affairs at this organization. Each ISS is a registered or advanced practice nurse with extensive clinical and scientific expertise. The focus of their role is to educate healthcare providers (HCPs), including nurses, physicians, and pharmacists, on the most current information regarding IG infusion therapies. This includes administration, troubleshooting, adverse reactions, policy, practice changes, and addressing barriers to providing care. The ISS ensures that HCPs are well-equipped to provide safe and appropriate care and training to patients by utilizing multiple educational resources and hands-on demonstration. One program provided, wherein HCPs gain didactic and practical knowledge is the Starting Hizentra Administration with Resources and Education (S.H.A.R.E.), which is a field-based educational program. Feedback on these programs is collected through post-program surveys from over 600 participants from 2022-2024.

Results: In post-educational surveys collected by CSL from 2022-2024, 94% (645/684) of participants stated the program was clinically relevant to their practice. 95% (650/683*) of program attendees rated the effectiveness and experience of the ISS as ‘excellent’. Additionally, 95% (650/684) attendees also rated the value of the presentation materials as ‘excellent’.

Discussion: With increasing number of infusion therapies, the role of infusion nurse educators has become more important. The success of IG therapy vitally depends on the quality of the education provided to the HCPs. One of the challenges in recent years is the high turnover rate of HCPs. Health-system pharmacies are experiencing turnover rates of between 21% and 30% and the turnover rates for Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and home care aides declined to 28% in 2023. The need for education at regular intervals is critical to provide consistency in infusion delivery, and ultimately in patient outcomes.

Conclusions: Infusion nurses have been recognized for their clinical expertise in providing safe, quality patient care. ISSs have been recognized as vital members of the educational ecosystem by, acting as peer educators to “train the trainer” and ensure HCPs are adequately prepared to educate patients and mentor other nurses. Healthcare providers often appreciate the ability to utilize the ISS as an educational resource. The value of the education extends to patients through their HCPs as the infusion nurses often provide resources to manage their lifelong/life-threatening diseases.