Premier Community HealthCare has begun a soft opening of its new Infusion Center in New Port Richey, giving patients across Pasco and Hernando counties access to specialized IV therapies many once had to travel to Tampa or Clearwater to receive. The center, located at 5957 Rowan Road, Suite 101, offers IV hydration, IV iron, osteoporosis infusions, and advanced specialty medications in private treatment suites. A full grand opening celebration is planned for this fall. Leading the effort is Dr. Farhan Rehman, a family medicine physician whose ties to Premier go back years.
A homecoming for Dr. Farhan Rehman
Rehman, the son of immigrants, is a Florida native who grew up in Tampa. He attended the University of South Florida (Go Bulls!) and went to medical school in the Caribbean. After completing a residency at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, where he met his wife, also a physician, Rehman returned to Florida to be close to family. The couple had their first child during their first year of residency. Rehman’s first job out of residency was with Premier.
After time away, Rehman returned, drawn back, he says, by Premier’s mission and its people. He credits conversations with colleagues at Premier for showing him what the organization’s care model could mean for patients, and says the culture made the difference.
“I truly loved the work that we did at Premier. It was hard for me to leave the first time around,” Dr. Rehman said.
When Premier invited him back to help launch and lead a brand-new Infusion Center, he didn’t hesitate.
“It was something new, exciting, and something I personally wish I’d had access to as a provider for a lot of my patients,” he said. “There’s just not a lot of infusion centers that are accessible, so the fact that we’d have one in our own building, for our community, was something I was passionate about before I even knew much about it.”
What can patients expect at an infusion visit?
The center is designed to feel less like a clinical stop and more like a comfortable place to be cared for. Private suites include reclining chairs, seating for family members, workspaces, and streaming TV, along with a snack bar offering coffee and snacks. Visits can range from about thirty minutes to a few hours, depending on the treatment.
“From the moment they step in to the moment they leave, they’re going to be treated like a special individual and a welcomed guest,” Dr. Rehman said. “It’s really a first-class experience.”
Who is the Infusion Center for?
The Infusion Center treats two broad groups of patients, said Dr. Rehman.
- Premier’s own patients. The center offers IV fluids for significant dehydration, often reducing the need for an emergency room visit, along with IV iron for patients with anemia and IV osteoporosis treatments for patients who don’t tolerate oral medications well.
- Patients referred by outside specialists, including dermatologists, gastroenterologists, and cardiologists. For these patients, the center can administer more advanced specialty medications, including monoclonal antibody infusions, that are otherwise expensive and hard to access.
Premier secures these medications through insurance and offers discounted options for patients without coverage, extending access to the full community, not just those who are insured.
A full list of conditions treated and medications administered is available on the Premier Infusion Center page.
How do patients get a referral?
Existing Premier patients can be referred directly by their provider, with most infusions scheduled within one to two weeks. Patients seen by outside specialists can be referred through a dedicated referral form, available online or by fax.
Before the Premier Infusion Center, insured patients often had to find an in-network specialist and travel more than an hour away, which is a real barrier for many. For patients without insurance, infusion therapy was frequently out of reach altogether due to the cost.
“That’s the big difference here now,” Dr. Rehman said.
What is next for infusion care in Pasco County?
Dr. Rehman says the center reflects Premier’s broader mission: providing accessible health care services to everyone who needs it. He hopes to eventually bring the same service to the east side of Pasco County as well.
Day to day, Dr. Rehman oversees the center’s clinical operations, supporting the nurse practitioners who administer infusions, auditing charts and billing for compliance, and serving as a resource when questions come up. He continues to see his own family medicine patients two days a week in New Port Richey, in addition to his broader role of being a resource for family medicine providers across all of Premier’s sites.
“The hard work and diligence of the entire Premier family, including its wonderful providers, is now finally manifesting in a way where more community members can gain access to compassionate care they otherwise wouldn’t have,” Dr. Rehman said. “If we continue to put our heart and souls into the work we do, only good can come from it.”
A message to the community
His message to providers considering a referral, inside Premier or out:
“We will treat our patients, whether they come to us from inside or outside Premier, like our very own family members. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and send patients over.”
Where is the Premier Infusion Center located?
The Premier Infusion Center is inside Premier Community HealthCare at 5957 Rowan Road, Suite 101, New Port Richey, FL 34653, with convenient parking and private treatment suites.
- Phone: 727-255-8090
- Fax: 727-201-2719
- Email: [email protected]
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Commercial insurance, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid are accepted, and bilingual support staff are available. Learn more about the Premier Infusion Center.
About Premier Community HealthCare
Premier Community HealthCare is a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center serving Pasco and Hernando counties, providing accessible, quality health care to the community regardless of ability to pay.