Infusion Therapy
Infusion Therapy
At Arthritis and Rheumatology of Georgia (ARG), providing extraordinary care for our patients is the center of everything we do. We offer a wide variety of treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Lupus, Vasculitis, and Osteoporosis. Our staff of experienced nurses operates our in-house infusion suite in an atmosphere of competence, compassion, and caring. They are dedicated to closely monitoring patients during infusions and offering an outstanding experience that prioritizes your health and comfort. Our goal is to provide you with safe, high-quality, and compassionate care.
Scheduling and Contact Information
To schedule an infusion or speak with our staff, please use the patient portal or leave us a message at 404-255-5956, and dial extension 904 when prompted by the auto attendant. Please note that we do not answer the phone during infusion hours as we are attending to patient care.
- MD Supervision with 24 hour on call support
- Preferred non-hospital site for most health plans
- Experienced Infusion RNs
- In-house laboratory with experienced phlebotomists (Orchard, Quest, LabCorp,RDL, and Avise)
- Prior Authorization Department
- 10 Chair Infusion Suite with privacy services available
- High Speed Internet/Wi-Fi
What to Expect | Prior Authorization and Insurance
Our Prior Authorization Department will confirm that your insurance provides coverage for your treatment. Most insurance companies require a predetermination/prior authorization before you can receive an infusion. It can take up to 30 days to receive the predetermination/prior authorization from your insurance carrier. Once we receive information from your insurance carrier, someone from our Prior Authorization Department will contact you to discuss what is covered by your insurance and what you might owe at the time of your infusion.
Once you and your insurance carrier have authorized treatment, our office will contact you to schedule your initial infusion appointment. Our infusion hours are 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday. Please note, longer infusions begin earlier in the day.
Your First Appointment
- Arrival: Make sure you arrive on time for your appointment. Please anticipate Atlanta traffic patterns and highway construction. If you are more than 15 minutes late, we may need to reschedule your infusion.
- Check-In: Check-in at the front desk as you would for a regular appointment. Please be prepared to pay any out-of-pocket financial responsibilities that are due prior to receiving your infusion.
- Initial Assessment: One of our infusion nurses will call you from the waiting room and will obtain your weight and a full set of vital signs. Your nurse will ask you the following questions:
- Have you had a fever, illness, or antibiotic use?
- Do you have any stomach pains, open wounds, or new rashes?
- Do you have any upcoming or recent medical or dental procedures?
- Do you have any cold/flu-like symptoms or received any live vaccines?
- If you are experiencing a cold or symptoms of a cold, please call and speak with an infusion nurse prior to your appointment to determine if you should receive an infusion. Receiving an infusion may decrease your body’s ability to fight off some types of infection.
In the Infusion Suite
- Comfort: You will sit in a comfortable recliner during therapy. We provide free Wi-Fi and light snacks. You are welcome to read a book/magazine, use a smartphone, computer, or tablet with a headset, or simply take a nap during the procedure.
- Monitoring: Your assigned nurse will monitor you throughout your infusion.
Post-Infusion: Once your infusion is finished, your nurse will provide you with post-infusion instructions, answer any follow-up questions you may have, and confirm or schedule your next appointment.
Infusion Suite Hours
Our Infusion hours are 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM Monday through Thursday (by appointment only).
Patient Information and Prior Authorization
Referral Information
- Actemra Standard Order Referral
- Benlysta Standard Order Referral
- Cimzia Standard Order Referral
- Inflectra Standard Order Referral
- Krystexxa Standard Order Referral
- Orencia Standard Order Referral
- Reclast Standard Order Referral
- Remicade Standard Order Referral
- Renflexis Standard Order Referral
- Rituxan Standard Order Referral
- Simponi Aria Standard Order Referral
Medications
Medications we are currently infusion for Rheumatoid Arthritis Are:
- Simponi Aria
- Remicaid
- Rituxan
- Oriencia
- Actemra
- Benlysta
- Cimzia
- Reclast (Zoledronic acid)
- Steroid Injections
Medications we are currently infusing for Osteopenia or Osteoporosis are:
- Reclast (Zoledronic acid)