Infusion Therapy and IV Treatment

Infusion therapy and IV treatment at Main Line Health

At Main Line Health, our infusion centers in Wynnewood, Paoli, Exton and Collegeville deliver advanced therapies in a warm, supportive environment for patients across the Philadelphia region. Your care team includes highly trained infusion nurses and clinicians who prioritize your comfort, safety and overall well-being every step of the way.

What is infusion therapy?

Infusion therapy is a medical treatment that delivers fluids, medications or nutrients directly into a patient's bloodstream through an intravenous (IV) line or under their skin through a subcutaneous injection. These methods are often used when oral administration is not possible or effective. This can be in cases of severe infections, dehydration, chronic illnesses or chemotherapy.

Infusion therapy ensures rapid and controlled delivery of substances. This makes it an essential option for patients who require precise dosing or continuous medication over an extended period under the direction and care of a licensed medical professional.

Comprehensive cancer infusion services

Our infusion centers provide a full range of cancer-related treatments in close coordination with your oncologist. Services include:

  • Chemotherapy infusions for a wide range of cancers
  • Biologic and targeted therapies
  • Hormonal treatments
  • Supportive oncology infusion therapy, such as:
    • Iron replacement
    • Hydration therapy
    • Blood and platelet transfusions
    • Bone-strengthening agents (bisphosphonates, denosumab)
    • Anti-nausea and symptom-management medications

Every treatment plan is personalized and closely monitored to achieve the best possible outcomes.

A comfortable, supportive experience

Each Main Line Health infusion center is designed with your comfort in mind. Patients can expect:

  • Private or semi-private infusion spaces
  • Bright, calming environments
  • On-site pharmacy support
  • Infusion-trained nurses
  • Coordination with your referring physician
  • Convenient scheduling options

Your care, your team

Whether you're beginning treatment, continuing therapy or transferring your care, our team is committed to providing expert treatment paired with compassionate support — so you can focus on what matters most: your health.

IV infusion therapy for chronic and autoimmune conditions

Our centers also provide infusion therapy for patients with chronic or complex conditions. We treat a wide range of conditions and can often expand offerings based on patient needs. Common conditions we treat include:

Autoimmune and inflammatory disorders

Nervous system or neurologic conditions

Digestive and gastrointestinal (GI) conditions

Heart or cardiovascular conditions

  • Heart failure
  • Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)
  • Cholesterol management

Frequently asked questions

What is medical infusion therapy?

Medical infusion therapy is the process of delivering medications, nutrients or fluids straight into the bloodstream or under the skin through a needle under the care of licensed medical professionals. It is used to provide precise, controlled doses that might not work well if taken orally (by mouth).

What is IV infusion therapy?

IV infusion therapy is a type of medical infusion therapy where fluids, medications or nutrients are delivered directly into a vein (intravenously) under the care of licensed medical professionals.

What does subcutaneous mean?

Subcutaneous is a method to inject medication under the skin, into fatty tissue under the care of licensed medical professionals. It does not enter the muscle. It is also known as sub-q or SQ injections.

How long does infusion therapy take?

The length of time needed for infusion therapy depends on what you are being treated for. You should block off at least one hour for treatment. Your care team will discuss with you if your specific care plan will take longer.

What diseases are treated with infusion therapy?

Infusion therapy is used to treat a wide variety of diseases at Main Line Health including:

  • Ankylosing spondylitis (AS)
  • Asthma
  • Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)
  • Autoimmune and inflammatory disorders
  • Crohn's disease
  • Heart failure
  • Immune deficiencies
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  • Lupus
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Psoriatic arthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Ulcerative colitis

Is chemotherapy and infusion therapy the same?

Chemotherapy is all types of drugs to kill cancer, provided through multiple methods. Infusion therapy is a method to provide chemotherapy.

Infusion therapy can provide chemotherapy to a patient, as well as treat other conditions beyond cancer.

What is infusion therapy for migraines?

Infusion therapy can treat migraines that are either:

  • Refractory chronic: Migraines that happen 15 or more days per month for longer than three months and have not responded to traditional treatments.
  • Status migrainosus: Migraines that last 72 hours or longer and debilitate you.

Since infusion therapy is injected directly into your bloodstream, it can treat your migraine faster and be absorbed more completely than oral medications. Infusions for migraines typically combine drugs to treat the pain and nausea that occur during migraines.

Our locations

Related specialties

Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

The board-certified experts at Main Line Health can help develop treatments to control and manage your allergy and asthma symptoms.

Heart and Vascular Care

The cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons at Main Line Health work together to improve the detection and prevention of heart disease with the latest treatment options.

Gastroenterology

Main Line Health gastroenterology works to resolve digestive issues and GI conditions. Find the right solution for your digestive conditions at one of our Philadelphia locations.

Neurology

The neurology team at Main Line Health treats and manages conditions such as migraines, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and more.