Christine Ouma, a certified registered nurse infusion, turned her passion for nursing into a thriving business in the United States.
What started as a side hustle eventually grew into Home Infusions Agency, a successful venture specializing in providing nursing services for home infusion, infusion centers in doctors’ offices, and pharmacies.
Here is her story as told by WoK.
Entrepreneurship Journey
When Christine Ouma left Kenya to pursue her dream of studying nursing in the United States at the age of 20, she never imagined becoming a business owner.
After obtaining her nursing licenses and specializing in infusion nursing, she realized the growing demand for these services due to an aging and ill population.
In 2018, Christine established Home Infusions Agency as a side business while working as the sole employee.
As demand for her services increased, she made the courageous decision to quit her job.
“In June this year, I decided to quit and focus fully on my business,” Christine told Business daily.
Setbacks
Christine acknowledges that starting a business in the US had its advantages, primarily due to the well-established structures, rules, and guidelines in place for independent nurses.
However, compliance with the strict requirements of the State of Texas posed a significant challenge.
“You must get everything to be compliant with State of Texas requirements for this type of business. They seem like challenges at first, but with time they become the standards of practice. The learning curve is very steep, but worth it,” she added.
Despite this, she persevered and recognized that these hurdles were essential for ensuring the highest standards of care for her patients.
The learning curve was steep, but Christine’s determination and passion for her work motivated her to overcome these obstacles and set new benchmarks in the industry.
Meeting Patient Needs
Home Infusions Agency primarily serves patients with chronic illnesses, ranging from neurological conditions and rheumatoid arthritis to end-stage heart disease and infectious diseases requiring long-term intravenous treatments.
Christine’s team of infusion nurses delivers essential medications and fluids to these patients, ensuring they receive the care they need in the comfort of their homes or at doctors’ clinics.
With each nurse able to see up to six patients a day, the agency plays a vital role in meeting the increasing demand for specialized nursing services.
Expansion
Since its inception, Home Infusions Agency has experienced huge growth.
Initially a one-person operation, Christine expanded her team to ten employees.
As word of mouth referrals from satisfied clients and medical professionals continue to pour in, Christine envisioned a future where she can train and mentor individuals looking to enter the home infusion market.
Her goal is to ensure the highest standard of care while reducing costs for insurance providers and other payers, as well as minimizing the risks of infections, injuries, and fatalities associated with infusion treatments.