Intravenous Nutrition Therapy(IVNT) is one of latest developments in clinical preventive medicine. It started gaining traction in the field of aesthetic medicine with reports of its effects on maintaining health as well as aesthetic improvement. This series features in-depth discussions with Dr. Son Jungil of Nara Clinic, a preventive medicine specialist and leader in the IVNT. This series will cover the introduction to the IVNT and discuss popular IVNT choices including Vitamin D injection, licorice injection, and fursultiamine injection, etc.
Before starting the IVNT
Unlike other types of medical therapies, indications of nutrition therapy are not clear-cut and are vastly numerous. The treatment also takes a much longer time. In many cases, it might be more appropriate to call it management rather than therapy. Also, IVNT is currently not reimbursed by the national health insurance in Korea and patients often shy away due to financial burden. Therefore, when venturing into the IVNT, one should be fully aware of the following unique characteristics that differ from other forms of therapy.
First, one should never forcefully recommend the IVNT to patients. Nutrition therapy rarely shows immediate outcome and profound trust is required between the patient and doctor for the long-term therapy to continue. During consultation, I explain about the capillary vasculature. At the entrance of capillaries, there is a very small band-like muscle structure called precapillary sphincter. It could be compared to a barricade set up at the entrance of an alleyway. The relaxation and contraction of the precapillary sphincter are controlled by the autonomic nerves. When a patient is nervous or is uneasy due to his/her distrust of the doctor or price of the therapy, precapillary sphincters contract and nutrients cannot enter capillaries and be delivered to cells. A major reason of angiodynia is the osmotic pressure of the injected solution. The unabsorbed, dense nutrients hover in the blood vessels and cause pain. Patients experiencing this pain will be determined never to try the IVNT again.
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Second, one should always consider the financial situation of the patient and prescribe accordingly. One good way of doing this is to communicate to patients that low-priced nutrition therapies are just as effective. Once patients are satisfied with the treatment, they will keep coming back for repeated treatments and may want different types of ingredients. They may feel more comfortable about adding on pricey choices later.
Third, when providing non-reimbursed treatments, it often helps for the doctor to inform patients directly about the prices. When the patient is given the financial information, they then can make the decision whether to receive the treatment or not. However, when they decide on the treatment with the doctor during consultation and find out the price later from the nurse, etc. they are more likely to cause problems during the payment phase. Offer a discount when addressing the prices and the patient will feel special and eventually more satisfied with the treatment. It would also help to have a price chart ready during consultation to facilitate clear understanding of the prices.
Fourth, one should choose simple therapy names. Catchy names such as ABC injection, wine injection, white jade injection, and rainbow injection, etc. may be good but the doctor has to give lengthy explanation of the effect to patients when using these names. From my experience, patients were more likely to understand and appreciate the treatment when the names reflected the target condition or symptom. Names such as cold injections 1, 2 and 3(or, A-B), anti-virus injection 1, 2 and 3, back pain injection 1, 2 and 3, pain injection 1, 2 and 3, and recovery injection 1, 2 and 3, etc. Using names that address the conditions or symptoms patients are seeking to treat has the added benefit of placebo effect. These names can even help advertise what types of treatments are offered at your practice.
-To be continued-
