Pediatric Infusions

Pediatric Infusions at Golisano Children's Hospital

Intravenous (IV) infusions are treatments that deliver medication, nutrients or fluids directly to your child’s bloodstream. Infusions may treat a variety of conditions, such as blood disorders, pediatric cancer, immune diseases and gastrointestinal diseases.

Our team takes extra care to make infusions as comfortable and easy as possible for children. At Golisano Children’s Hospital at University of Vermont Health, we don’t just specialize in medical treatments — we specialize in kids. From private treatment rooms to personalized “poke plans” that give children a voice, we offer multiple resources to help children feel at ease during their infusion treatment.

A child stares at the camera while holding a stuffed animal.

Why Choose Golisano Children's Hospital?

We offer:

Specially trained nurses: Our nurses are certified in pediatric chemotherapy and biotherapy. We ensure that our team has the specialized training needed to offer children every necessary infusion treatment.
Support from Child Life: Child Life specialists are present to provide age-appropriate activities, education regarding treatment and assistance to optimize comfort during procedures.
Comfortable environment: Infusion appointments can last several hours, so we do everything we can to make families as comfortable as possible. We encourage families to bring whatever they need to feel “at home.”

Infusion Services We Offer

Our specially trained team offers a range of pediatric infusion services, including:

Antibiotics or medication infusions
Blood product transfusions, such as red blood cells or platelets
Central line care and teaching
Chemotherapy
Endocrine testing
Hydration
Immunotherapy

What to Expect From Pediatric Outpatient Infusions

When your child checks in for their infusion appointment, a medical assistant will take their vital signs and direct your family to the infusion bay. Our five infusion bays are private areas where your child receives treatment. We provide access to tablets and games for distraction, and support from Child Life to help make the appointments easier for both children and caregivers.

Before Treatment

Our team will check your child’s poke plan, which is part of their medical record, which notes your child’s experiences with infusions in the past and lists their preferences for future treatment. These poke plans ensure that your child’s preferences are honored. They offer a sense of agency and control that helps children feel more comfortable throughout their care.

During Treatment

Once your child has started treatment, we encourage at least one adult caregiver to stay with them. Your presence makes the experience more reassuring for the child. This also allows our nurses and physicians to offer you additional comfort, education and support.

Depending on your child’s needs, they may see their specialty provider during their visit to the infusion clinic. Our team works with all specialties across the hospital, with access to providers who can answer any questions you have during the visit.