Infusion Medications for Neurological Conditions

Infusion Medications Treat Neurological Conditions

Infusion medications are a powerful option to manage many neurological conditions, though results may vary among patients and medication availability may change. Our referral process to receive infusion medications is easy, and we work closely with your referring physician throughout your treatment journey. Contact us today with any questions. Are you suffering from symptoms associated with a neurological condition? A variety of infusion therapy treatments available at FlexCare Infusion Centers may help reduce flare-ups, alleviate symptoms, and slow disease progression. Neurological conditions that can be treated with infusion therapy include Alzheimer’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD), Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Myasthenia Gravis, and others.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for between 60% and 80% of dementia cases. It is a progressive disease that most commonly affects adults age 65 and older, though some early-onset cases can begin sooner. Alzheimer’s occurs when nerve cells in the brain are damaged and killed, caused by abnormal structures called plaques and tangles. Though a certain amount of this occurrence is a normal part of the aging process, those with Alzheimer’s develop in a more specific pattern to the areas of the brain that affect memory. Those suffering from Alzheimer’s have difficulty remembering information, which worsens as the disease progresses. Though there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, Aduhelm® is an infusion medication available at FlexCare Infusion Centers that may delay progression.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. When someone has MS, their immune system attacks the myelin, which is the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers. This occurrence causes communication issues between your brain and the rest of your body and eventually leads to permanent nerve damage and deterioration. Symptoms of MS vary between patients but can include numbness or weakness of limbs, tremors, lack of coordination, vision issues or loss, slurred speech, fatigue, dizziness, and tingling or pain in body parts. There is not currently a cure for MS, but certain infusion medications available at FlexCare Infusion Centers that can help manage symptoms and possibly slow the course of the disease include Lemtrada®, Ocrevus®, and Tysabri®.

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a neurological disorder causing weakness and impaired sensory function in the legs and arms. Also called chronic relapsing polyneuropathy, CIDP is more common in young adult males, though it can occur at any age in both genders. Like MS, CIDP is caused by damage to the myelin sheath, though in CIDP the occurrence is in the peripheral nerves. Progression of CIDP varies, but it can often be managed and treated if diagnosed early before nerve loss. Infusion medications available at FlexCare Infusion Centers to treat CIDP include Privigen® and Onpattro®.

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD)

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD), also known as Devic disease, is a chronic disorder caused by inflammation of the optic nerve and spinal cord that affects the brain and spinal cord. In the early stages of the disease, it can be confused with MS. Patients with NMOSD often experience episodes of inflammation followed by periods of remission and recurrence. One of the primary symptoms of NMOSD is eye pain and loss of clear vision, often with one eye more affected than the other. Inflammation of the spinal cord can also affect motor, sensory, and other bodily functions. Infusion medications available at FlexCare Infusion Centers to help alleviate symptoms associated with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) include Uplinza® and Soliris®.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a rare autoimmune disorder in which your body’s immune system attacks your nerves, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. Though most people diagnosed with GBS recover fully, some can have lasting symptoms and permanent nerve damage. The first recognizable symptom of GBS is usually weakness or tingling sensations in the legs, which often continues to the arms and upper body. Symptoms can progress and cause paralysis in some cases. The development of Guillain-Barre Syndrome is triggered in adults following diarrhea, respiratory illness, flu, or other virus. Infusion medications available at FlexCare Infusion Centers to treat Guillain-Barre Syndrome Include Privigen® and Gamunex®-C.

Myasthenia Gravis (MG)

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a condition caused by a breakdown in communication between nerves and muscles that leads to muscle fatigue and weakness. The muscle weakness caused by MG worsens the more the muscle is used, so often symptoms can improve with rest. Though MG can affect any muscles that are controlled voluntarily, it commonly affects the eyes, face, throat, neck, arms, and legs. This can cause issues with vision, speech, swallowing, chewing, and facial expressions. The development of MG can be caused by antibodies in your body blocking or destroying muscle receptor sites. It can also be caused by an enlarged thymus gland, in which case surgery may be the recommended treatment. Infusion medications available at FlexCare Infusion Centers that can help provide your body with normal antibodies include Privigen®, Gamunex®-C, Soliris®, Ultomiris® and Vyvgart®.

Makenna joined FlexCare in 2021 as the Managing Nurse Practitioner in Birmingham. In 2023, she assumed the role of National Director of Clinical Services. Makenna oversees protocol optimization, patient safety, and clinical procedures.

Makenna holds an MSN and FNP-C certification from Samford University. Previously, Makenna worked as an ENT nurse before earning her certification from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) in 2018.

Makenna is married to Wes, and together they have two cats, Ralphie and Beans. She enjoys going to concerts, trying new restaurants, playing trivia and board games with friends, and has recently taken up skateboarding as a hobby.

Heather joined FlexCare in 2020 and led the development of the Intake team before taking over Revenue Cycle Management in 2022. Heather has 10 years of medical RCM experience in ambulatory, specialty pharmacy, and home infusion. Previously, Heather was the Assistance Director of RCM in Intake for a Specialty Pharmacy and Home Infusion service in Kansas. 

Currently, Heather oversees RCM for FlexCare’s ambulatory infusion services and specialty pharmacy. She lives in Olathe, KS with her husband and two children.

Rebekkah joined FlexCare Infusion Centers in 2019 as a Managing Nurse Practitioner and Specialty Biologics Clinical Reviewer before assuming the role of Director of Patient Access in 2022. Rebekkah heads FlexCare’s industry-leading Intake team and ensures FlexCare patients experience the shortest time to treatment.

Rebekkah graduated from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center where she earned her Master of Science Degree in Nursing with a Family Nurse Practitioner emphasis. She has over 16 years of experience in patient care and is passionate about infusion therapy and best serving our patients.

Rebekkah lives in Oklahoma City with her 3 kids and her dog. When she’s not keeping busy with her kids, you can find her in her craft room.

Matt is an acute care Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of committed service to the patients in his community. Matt joined FlexCare in 2021 as a Managing Nurse Practitioner and led the launch of the first FlexCare location in Alabama before assuming the role of Vice President of Operations in 2023.

Matt received his BSN from Auburn University before earning his MSN from Vanderbilt University. His experience includes Intensive Care, Transplant Medicine, Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Outpatient Care. Prior to joining FlexCare, Matt developed and launched two new service lines for an outpatient cardiology group in Alabama.

Matt and his wife Rachel reside in Birmingham, AL with their two pets, Addie and Jenkins.

Austin joined FlexCare in 2020 as a software consultant before assuming the role of Vice President of Technology in 2021. He led the initiative to build a custom-developed enterprise software solution that supports and enhances FlexCare’s vital Intake team, and later led the projects to create data and reporting systems to support all departments. He oversees FlexCare’s software, data, IT, and communications projects.

Austin graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in mechanical engineering. His focus on electromechanical systems quickly led to a passion for automation and building software and data solutions. After gaining experience as a software and applications engineer, he started a software consulting company and has launched several enterprise web, desktop, and mobile applications.

Austin lives in Oklahoma City with his wife, Skye, and two kids. In his free time, you can find him on the running trail, golf course, or playing games and sports with his family and friends.

Rick’s professional trajectory took him into leadership just 3 years after obtaining his Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) from the University of Arizona. His desire to be a business leader in the world of pharmaceuticals and operations drove him to complete two post-graduate residencies in Milwaukee, WI, with a heavy concentration on administration leadership.  Rick was selected to represent the state of Wisconsin in a joint venture with the state of Iowa at the 2007 Young Pharmacy Leaders Conference.  

After a successful launch to his career in Milwaukee, WI, Rick returned to Arizona to be closer to his extended family.  In Arizona, he oversaw all pharmaceutical operations of the hospital-based outpatient clinics at HonorHealth, where he met his future business partner, Mark Kharoufeh.  Rick and Mark co-founded InfuseAble Care in Scottsdale, AZ, in 2020.  When FlexCare acquired InfuseAble Care in 2021, Rick transitioned to EVP of Pharmacy, leading the supply chain and procurement initiatives across the enterprise.  With the recent acquisition of a specialty pharmacy, Rick extended his purview to include oversight of this valuable service line.

Rick currently resides in Scottsdale, AZ with his wife.  His son attends Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ.

Mark began his journey in healthcare almost 30 years ago as a pediatric oncology nurse at Los Angeles Children’s Hospital. His evolution in healthcare through various clinical, leadership, and executive roles and a passion for customer service led him down a successful path of business operations. In 2012, Mark was a finalist for AZ Business Magazine’s “Healthcare Professional of the Year” for his leadership in an all-inclusive care under one roof ambulatory healthcare service model. Mark obtained his MBA from Grand Canyon University in 2015 and completed the University of Arizona Eller Executive Leadership Program in 2019. 

Mark’s dedication to enhancing access to healthcare and a model that always places the patients and their caregivers at the center of every visit was the impetus for teaming up with Rick Yerondopoulos and establishing InfuseAble Care in November 2020. Through Mark and Rick’s reputation in Arizona for reliable and service-oriented healthcare, InfuseAble Care’s brand quickly became the trusted ambulatory infusion center for physicians to refer their patients to around the state. Mark and Ricks’s goals of scaling InfuseAble Care nationally came to fruition upon meeting Aaron Smith, Callie Turk, and Adam Midkiff of FlexCare and RC Capital and ultimately joined FlexCare Infusion via acquisition in December 2021.

Since uniting with FlexCare to provide a reimagined infusion experience across the country, FlexCare has grown to 30 ambulatory centers across three states.

Mark currently resides in Litchfield Park, AZ with his wife, two sons, daughter, and labradoodle Eevee. 

Adam joined FlexCare in 2023, though he has been involved with the organization from the early stages. He is excited by FlexCare’s mission to provide better access and high-quality care to patients in cost appropriate settings. Prior to joining FlexCare, Adam was a private equity investor with RC Capital, and he helped architect the partnership between FlexCare and RC. Prior to Adam’s experience in healthcare private equity, he was an investment banker in New York City and involved in numerous M&A and capital raising transactions.

Adam currently resides in Cincinnati, OH with his wife and two kids. He serves on the board of the Cincinnati Healthcare Professionals Network, a group of healthcare leaders with a common goal to advance healthcare innovation within the Cincinnati ecosystem. He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in finance. In his spare time, Adam can be found on a soccer field or a golf course.

Jack joined FlexCare in 2023, after most recently serving as CFO and COO of Lighthouse Behavioral Health Solutions in Central Ohio. Lighthouse focuses on improving the lives of those suffering from substance abuse disorder by combining a suite of services in an outpatient setting along with recovery housing. Prior to Lighthouse, Jack had stints in corporate accounting and finance roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Omnicare, and Procter & Gamble. Additionally, he embarked on an entrepreneurial journey over the last decade, beginning with a hospitality business that has grown from a single, urban sports bar to 8 bar, restaurant, and brewery locations opened in 10 years. He also opened and sold a boutique fitness studio.

Jack graduated from Miami University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting. He resides in Cincinnati, OH, where he can often be found on the golf course or trying to stay active by chasing around his young kids with his wife, Anna.