Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) Patient Education Materials

For Who?

Whether you are a caregiver to someone on OPAT, a patient on OPAT, or a healthcare worker working with an OPAT patient, we welcome you to explore the tools below in hopes that it facilitates a smoother and safer transition to the home or skilled nursing facility following hospital discharge.

From Whom?

These materials were created by the following Johns Hopkins Medicine institutions:

  • The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
  • The Johns Hopkins Home Care Group and Johns Hopkins Pharmaquip
  • The Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality

Most importantly, these materials were developed after interviewing, observing, and conducting focus groups with prior OPAT patients, their caregivers and home health workers (including home care coordinators and home infusion specialists), who know what barriers are faced at home by OPAT patients.

Instructions for Patients on OPAT

Below are materials for patients and their healthcare workers to utilize in preparation for discharge to home health or a skilled nursing facility.

OPAT Introduction (PDF)

OPAT Teaching Plan (PDF)

Discharge to Home Health Handout

Discharge to Skilled Nursing Facility Handout

OPAT Discharge Checklist (PDF)

OPAT Discharging Nurse Checklist (PDF)

OPAT Supply Checklist (PDF)

Educational Materials for Performing Infusions by Medication Delivery Device

If you have any questions regarding the checklists or videos below, we highly recommend you contact your home infusion provider, as certain steps may not apply to you.

For more infusion resources, please visit the Specialty Infusion Services Resources page on the Johns Hopkins Home Care Group website.

Educational Materials for Bathing with an IV Line

Bathing Tips & Tricks (PDF)
Instructional OPAT Video for Bathing with an IV Line (Video)

Visual Educational Materials: OPAT Video Gallery

Instructional OPAT Video for Performing Dial-a-Flow Infusions

Please utilize this how-to instructional video to assist you in performing home infusions with a Dial-a-Flow device.

Instructional OPAT Video for Performing Eclipse Ball Infusions

Please utilize this how-to instructional video to assist you in performing home infusions with an Eclipse Ball Device.

Instructional OPAT Video for Performing Electronic Pump Infusions

Please utilize this how-to instructional video to assist you in performing home infusions with an Electronic Pump device.

Instructional OPAT Video for Performing Gravity Drip Infusions

Please utilize this how-to instructional video to assist you in performing home infusions with a Gravity Drip device.

Instructional OPAT Video for Performing Intravenous Push Infusions

Please utilize this how-to instructional video to assist you in performing home infusions with an IV Push device.

Instructional OPAT Video for Performing Mini-Bag Infusions

Please utilize this how-to instructional video to assist you in performing home infusions with a Mini-Bag Plus System device.

Instructional OPAT Video for Bathing with an IV line

Please utilize this how-to instructional video to assist you in protecting your IV line prior to bathing.