Columbia Falls patients currently traveling to Kalispell for outpatient infusion treatment (injections or intravenous medications) now will have a shorter distance to drive.

Kalispell Regional Medical Center is expanding its outpatient infusion services with a satellite location in Columbia Falls.

“Our patient volumes have doubled in the last three months. Since we started our infusion services, more than 1,000 Columbia Falls residents have received treatment in our outpatient infusion center at Kalispell Regional Medical Center,” said infusion services supervisor Amy Vanterpool. “We think it is important to bring treatment to them rather than vice versa.”

Located in the Columbia Falls Clinic, infusion treatment services will include injections or intravenous therapy for patients with multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hydration needs, antibiotic therapy and blood draws, among others.

The center will not offer blood transfusions and will not provide cancer treatment.

“While we will not offer chemotherapy treatment in Columbia Falls initially, we plan to add that service as well in the future for the convenience of the patients there,” said Vanterpool.

Outpatient Infusion at Columbia Falls will begin Nov. 8 and be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. For more information, call 751-6956.