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Multiple Sclerosis Infusion Therapy

Slow disease progression and reduce symptoms with MS infusion therapy

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system. While MS comes with a wide range of potentially debilitating symptoms, multiple sclerosis infusion therapy may slow the progression of the disease, reduce MS symptoms, and improve quality of life.

Lupus Medications available at FlexCare Infusion Centers.

OCREVUS® • TYSABRI®

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic condition that causes inflammation and damage to the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Like those with other autoimmune disorders, people with multiple sclerosis have an immune system that mistakenly attacks healthy cells.

The cause of MS isn’t fully understood, but medical experts believe there may be environmental factors that increase your risk of developing multiple sclerosis. There is research to suggest a link between the Epstein-Barr virus and MS, as well as low vitamin D levels. Lower levels of sunlight are also thought to increase your risk.

Family history may also play a role in the development of MS. Specifically certain gene mutations in the HLA gene cluster may be inheritable. According to one study, 15-20% of MS patients have a reported family history of multiple sclerosis.1

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary depending on the individual and can be mild to more severe. Common symptoms of MS include:

  • Fine motor problems
  • Loss of balance or dizziness
  • Numbness and tingling in the limbs
  • Difficulty swallowing or speaking
  • Muscle stiffness or spasms
  • Memory problems and trouble concentrating
  • Blurred and double vision
  • Fatigue and limb weakness
  • Depression and mood irregularities

MS symptoms don’t progress in a specific order. However, it is common for early symptoms of MS to include vision problems and numbness and tingling. When this combination of symptoms occurs for the first time, it is called clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Symptoms are a result of the immune system attacking the myelin covering on the nerve cells in the brain and spine.

CIS doesn’t confirm an MS diagnosis. While CIS and MS may appear at the same time, an MS diagnosis may be made when a person has had more than a single CIS episode.2

Diagnosing MS

Receiving a MS diagnosis can be challenging. That’s because many MS symptoms are similar to those of other conditions. Your provider will likely complete a medical exam and go over your history and symptoms before completing tests to help confirm a multiple sclerosis diagnosis. These may include:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – Magnetic waves can create an image of the brain and spinal cord and potentially capture signs of MS, including damaged white matter

Blood Tests – Blood samples can be collected and used to rule out other conditions that could be causing symptoms

Lumbar Puncture/Spinal Tap – A small amount of fluid is collected from the spine (cerebrospinal fluid). Antibodies in the fluid can be indicative of multiple sclerosis.

Evoked Potential Tests – These tests confirm how nerves respond to stimuli and can identify nerve dysfunction associated with MS

MS Infusion Therapy

There isn’t a cure for multiple sclerosis, but thanks to medical advancement and innovation, patients with an MS diagnosis have several options available to them to manage symptoms and slow disease progression. MS treatments may include a combination of medications, physical therapy, speech therapy, and psychological support.

Some MS medications include anti-inflammatories and pain reducers to help manage symptoms, but MS infusion therapy is commonly prescribed to prevent disease progression. Multiple sclerosis infusion therapies include OCREVUS® and TYSABRI®. Both medications may help reduce relapses in those with Relapsing MS (RMS). OCREVUS is also prescribed to slow disease progression in those with Primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).

If your provider determines that MS infusion therapy is the right treatment plan for you, they will work with you to start treatment as quickly as possible.

Get Started with MS Infusion Therapy

 

Multiple Sclerosis Management

If you have recently received an MS diagnosis, you are not alone. Advancements in MS treatments means multiple sclerosis life expectancy is similar to those without the disease. Proper MS management can allow for a full, active life.

FlexCare Infusion Centers offers MS infusion therapy in a comfortable environment. If you have been prescribed multiple sclerosis infusion therapy, ask your provider about FlexCare Infusion Centers, or have them send us a referral.

For Referring Providers

If you’d like to refer a patient to FlexCare Infusion Centers, complete a referral form and fax or email it to our intake team.

Compete Referral Form

Have Questions?

If you have any questions about multiple sclerosis or infusion therapy, contact us directly. We look forward to helping you on your journey to better health.

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Aaron Smith named Entrepreneur of the Year Southwest Award finalist

Aaron Smith partnered with Callie Turk to start FlexCare Infusion Centers after learning firsthand the profound impact specialty infusion can have on patients and the challenges they often encounter on the journey to effective treatment. There is an unprecedented opportunity to improve access, delivery, and outcomes through better communication, technology, and operations. At FlexCare Infusion Centers, his team works hard to make the changes the patients deserve to see.

Aaron joined the healthcare sector 25 years ago when he co-founded a disease management software company focused on patient outcomes collection and ambulatory clinic accreditation. He entered population health through an acquisition of Healthways and later entered specialty medications with Briova – an Optum company. His FlexCare team routinely makes the impossible possible through expertise, good process, cutting edge technology, data-driven decision making, and a lot of listening.

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.