Pediatric IV Outpatient Therapy (PIVOT)

About

Help your patients pivot from hospital to home with our Pediatric IV Outpatient Therapy (PIVOT) Program! Our program supports a patient’s caregiver to provide IV antibiotics at home and manage a central line.

We organize IV antimicrobial treatment to be administered at home or in the community for pediatric patients who meet the following criteria:

Need 5 or more days of IV antimicrobial treatment
Are otherwise medically appropriate to receive care in the community
Have caregivers interested in providing this care at home
Have central venous access (PICC, port, tunneled CVC) or waiting for a PICC
Have been referred by a healthcare provider (doctor or nurse practitioner)

We coordinate with a community pharmacy to have all your medications and supplies delivered to your home, and provide all teaching to families for the lines and devices your child will be using for treatment.

Your first visit will be in person at BC Children's Hospital after which you may receive care at your local community centres.

The PIVOT nurse clinician is available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer any questions and help support you.

Prepare

Bring your BC Care Card / Service Card and any written information or hospital records your referring doctor has prepared for us.

Please report directly to the Medical Day Unit (Entrance 11). The Medical Day Unit is located on the second floor of the hospital in Area 2C. Take the elevator from the first floor of the main Children's Hospital building to the second floor and follow the signs.

If possible, please arrange for child care of siblings while you attend your appointment. All caregivers need to attend the PIVOT Clinic to learn to care for their child. There are limited childcare services for siblings. Visit the Sibling Support Centre page for more information.

Follow-up

After you are discharged from the hospital, you are responsible to administer your child’s treatment as prescribed and taught in the PIVOT Clinic. You will be required to bring your child in for weekly or more frequent visits for dressing and cap changes on your child’s central venous line. These appointments may be at BC Children’s Hospital or at your local community health care centre.

The PIVOT nurse clinician is available Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer any questions and help solve any problems. We may offer virtual health appointments to help troubleshoot any issues and reduce the need for in-person appointments.

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