Ten and a half hours on Day One from start to finish.  I slept a lot over that weekend.

So far how did my experience compare to the infusions last summer?  Surprisingly similar.  Both involved nine sticks and four to five nurses, a vasal reflex, infusion-related reactions, and 10 hours in the hospital chair.

However two weeks later, the story is rather different at the new location.  The nurses at INOVA Fairfax Hospital (yes, I’m naming them because their care rocked!) had planned ahead and were ready for me.  No nonsense.  No drama.

Here’s a summary of Day Two at the new infusion location:

• Arrive at 7:30 a.m. and vascular expert is immediately called to start my IV (this was arranged the night before)
• Even before I’m completely settled, the vascular expert arrives and I have an IV started by 7:45 a.m. (only ONE stick)
• Pre-treatment starts with benadryl then solumedrol; we must wait 30 minutes for it to do it’s job
• It’s 9 a.m. and Rituxan is flowing, scheduled to be infused over six hours
• I experience NO infusion-related reaction for the first time in six infusions
• All done at 3 p.m.

So what does it take to feel “cared for”?

The major difference between the two hospital infusion centers is one of attitude and approach.  The nurses at the first location seemed to put their personal egos ahead of the patient’s unique needs.  When I asked that we call the person who had successfully started my IV previously, I was told no and that she would be “too busy” to come down to the infusion center.  Then the nurse who had never been able to start an IV on me yet during earlier visits tried three times instead of the customary limit of two, blowing some of the better vein choices.  Her track record is now 0/7 attempts.

Ego.  Attitude.  Arrogance.

The nurses at the second hospital learned quickly that an outside expert was needed to get me started.  They didn’t waste their time attempting to start an IV when it had been so difficult before.  They didn’t put me through the pain and frustration.  They worked efficiently and effectively to insure that everything went as smoothly as possible.  They planned ahead.

Individualized approach.  Calm, efficient, effective care.  Putting the patient first.

Now where do you think I will be going next time?

Lisa Emrich is author of the blog Brass and Ivory: Life with MS and RA and founder of the Carnival of MS Bloggers.