Why “Speed To Treatment” Matters For Patients, Providers & Payors

At Local Infusion, we place a strong emphasis on “speed to treatment” for our patients. We take you through the work we’re doing to bring treatment to patients in a timely manner, and why it matters. 

#1: Time to Treatment

We’re able to get a patient from referral to scheduling in an average of 6 days (4x faster than industry standard of 3-5 weeks). Our knowledgeable infusion guides are trained to handle insurance prior authorizations for specialty infused therapies, and we have incorporated custom technology throughout the process.

“Speed to treatment matters,” explains Eugenia Chen, PA-C from Elliot Gastroenterology in Manchester, New Hampshire. “If an IBD patient requires a biologic infusion, it really shouldn’t be delayed. Delays can lead to the patient requiring more steroids, as well as an exacerbation of their symptoms and complications — particularly in the case of Crohn's disease."

In addition to improving patient outcomes, this expedited timeline also gives the patient peace of mind.

As Local Infusion CEO and Co-Founder Woody Baum explains, “the patient journey begins the day they’re diagnosed with a disease like MS, for example. The neurologist says, I’m going to prescribe you Ocrevus at a nearby infusion center. They send a fax to the center, and maybe you don’t hear from them over the next few days, so you panic thinking…did they actually receive my order? You call the center, maybe it goes to voicemail. And by the time you reach them, and they process your prescription, and get prior authorization approved, and schedule you for your appointment, it’s been a month — and your condition has progressed.”

Needless to say, the “status quo” experience doesn’t lend itself to optimal peace of mind for anyone, not to mention someone who has recently been diagnosed with a new condition and may be feeling nervous, confused, and overwhelmed. 

#2: Speed to Formulary

Once approved by the FDA, we’re quick to add newly-approved, breakthrough drugs to our formulary, often being the first ones to administer it. Here are some recent examples:

• In January 2024, our Augusta center was the first in Maine and New Hampshire to administer Cosentyx via IV, a treatment for Psoriatic Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis. 
• In March 2023, we were the first in New England to administer Briumvi for relapsing multiple sclerosis.
• In August 2023, a patient in our South Portland center became the first person in Maine to receive Leqembi, a ground-breaking new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. 
• In December 2023, our Bedford center administered Rystiggo for Generalized myasthenia gravis, becoming the first in New Hampshire and Maine to do so. 
  
  

“Our clinical team quickly evaluates the latest biologics approved by the FDA and collaborates with our referring providers to understand where there is significant patient demand for the therapy,” explains Local Infusion Co-Founder Ashley Knapp, RN. “We then work efficiently to add the therapy to our formulary.” 

Speed is of critical importance here because the faster a patient gets on the proper drug, the less likely their disease is to progress. 

“A delay in care can often mean a relapse, flare, or even a hospitalization,” adds Ashley. “Depending on the condition, this could result in irreversible damage. We do everything in our power to get the treatment to the patient as soon as possible, which reduces these negative outcomes. Sometimes even a few days can make a detrimental impact.” 

#3: Zero Wait Times

We see each patient by appointment only, which means there is a private treatment room reserved for each patient, and never any wait times. 

Patients walk into our center and their infusion guides greets them by name and escorts them directly to their room, where they have access to WiFi, Netflix, and laptop desks if they want to get any work done. Some patients even elect to turn down the lights for a quick nap!

The bottom line

“If a patient gets access to care quickly, they’ll feel better faster,” explains Tom Roark, VP of Payor Strategy and Contracting at Local Infusion. “This means they won’t be unnecessarily stressed; they won’t receive a mismanaged diagnosis or go to urgent care for their symptoms; they won’t get on the wrong drug or stop taking it; they won’t experience a disease flare-up or unmanaged symptoms while waiting to receive treatment.” 

And that, in turn, leads to better outcomes and lower costs — and aligns with our goal to raise the bar for infusion care for our patients, as well as our payor and provider partners.