The Canadian College of Health Leaders is proud to announce that the BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) at Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) has been named recipient of the 2025 Excellence in Patient Experience Award for its transformative PICC Opportunities for Kids (POKe) and Pediatric IV Outpatient Therapy (PIVOT) initiatives.
This recognition underscores the hospital’s commitment to improving the patient and family experience through innovative, patient-centered care. These programs were designed to address challenges faced by children requiring long-term intravenous therapy, ensuring that they receive the necessary treatments in a more comfortable and familiar setting—at home—rather than being confined to hospital stays. The result has been a significant reduction in wait times, improved patient autonomy, and enhanced family satisfaction, making a substantial impact on both the emotional and financial well-being of patients and their families.
Through the POKe and PIVOT initiatives, BCCH has redefined the approach to PICC insertions and home-based IV therapy. By empowering specialized nurses to insert PICCs, rather than relying solely on Interventional Radiology (IR) physicians, the hospital has increased the timeliness and availability of these essential treatments. This nurse-led model, supported by a multidisciplinary team, has not only improved clinical efficiency but has also provided families with the option of receiving IV antibiotics in the comfort of their homes. This shift has led to over 2,500 hospital days being saved annually, reducing costs and ensuring that inpatient resources are utilized more effectively. Additionally, the program has had a far-reaching impact on the broader healthcare community, with other health authorities across Canada adopting similar models of care.
The success of POKe and PIVOT is reflected in the high satisfaction ratings from patients, families, and providers, with an impressive 97% satisfaction rate. Families have expressed overwhelming gratitude for the ability to remain in their home communities, alleviating the burdens of travel, accommodation, and time away from loved ones. The programs have not only enhanced the patient experience but have also positively affected clinical and financial indicators, demonstrating the tangible benefits of a patient-centered care approach. BC Children’s Hospital’s innovative efforts in transforming pediatric IV care set a new standard for excellence in healthcare, making them a well-deserved recipient of this award.
The Excellence in Patient Experience Award is focused on honouring organizations and individuals who have set in place innovations that improve the human experience in healthcare. The award highlights and recognizes innovations that have made a change to how patients and their families experience healthcare services.
The award is sponsored by Abbott. From removing the regular pain of fingersticks as people manage their diabetes to connecting patients to doctors with real-time information monitoring their hearts, from easing chronic pain and movement disorders to testing half the world’s blood donations to ensure a healthy supply, Abbott’s purpose is to make the world a better place by bringing life-changing health technologies to the people who need them.
This award is part of our CCHL National Awards Program and will be presented at the Honouring Health Leadership event on June 2, 2024.
For further information and/or to arrange an interview, please contact: Christian Coulombe
Vice-President, Marketing & Membership
Canadian College of Health Leaders
613-235-7219, ext. 213
ccoulombe@cchl-ccls.ca
