St. Paul's Hospital Community IV Program
A guide for patients receiving IV antibiotics at home or in the community after their hospital discharge.
Overview
The Community Intravenous (CIV) Program is for patients of St. Paul’s Hospital and Mount Saint Joseph Hospital who need intravenous (IV) antibiotic treatment as part of their care. The patients in this program are stable and well enough to continue receiving IV therapy after they are discharged from the hospital or clinic.
To see if you can benefit from the program, a nurse from the CIV Program will visit you while you’re still in the hospital. If you are already an outpatient, the CIV nurse will contact you with information.
If you qualify, a health care worker will insert an IV catheter, or hollow tube, into a vein where the IV medications are administered.
The CIV Program nurse will arrange for you to continue to receive your IV antibiotics after you leave the hospital. This could be at your home, at a local health clinic or at a hospital near to you.
The CIV Program nurse will also show you how to set up and manage your IV medication after you leave the hospital.
If you need more training after you’ve left, a nurse in your local community will contact you.
The medical supplies and medications you need for your IV therapy will be delivered right to your home or wherever you are receiving the treatment, including your local health unit.
What to expect
Follow-up appointments
A nurse or physician responsible for your care will contact you for a follow-up visit to see how your IV treatment is going. The appointment could be by phone, or you may come to St. Paul’s Hospital. At the appointment, your health care provider will decide if further antibiotics are needed, and for how much longer.
Support for Indigenous Peoples
The Indigenous Wellness Liaison Team is here to support your health journey. Team members offer cultural support and healthcare advocacy. Learn more below or call them at 604-682-2344,62937 or email IWL@providencehealth.bc.ca.
Education & resources
Medical & professional referrals
To be eligible for this program, you must be under the care of an Infectious Disease physician. This type of specialist is the only one who can order IV antibiotics for you.
You will receive a referral to an Infectious Disease physician when you are in the hospital.
If you are an outpatient, your family doctor in your community will provide the referral.
You may qualify for the CIV Program if you are an outpatient at any of these clinics:
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St. Paul's Hospital
Adult Cystic Fibrosis Clinic
1081 Burrard Street Vancouver Closedkm
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St. Paul's Hospital
Medical Short Stay Unit
1081 Burrard Street Vancouver Openkm
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St. Paul's Hospital
Older Adult Outpatient Clinics
1081 Burrard Street Vancouver Closedkm
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St. Paul's Hospital
Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy Clinic
1081 Burrard Street Vancouver Openkm
Contact
Administrative hours
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.