PICN Blog
Who is Partners In Community Nursing (PICN) and what does the organization do?
TL;DR: Partners In Community Nursing (PICN) is a community nursing and home care organization serving Durham Region since 1998, delivering in-home and community-based services through its visiting nurses and nursing team from its Whitby office. PICN provides a range of community nursing and home care services across Durham Region, including Whitby, Oshawa, Pickering, and Ajax. The PICN nursing team and visiting nurses deliver services like pediatric nursing, palliative care, wound care, and other home-based supports; contact points on the site include 905.665.1711 and toll-free 1.800.564.9534 and the organization publishes updates via the PICN Blog and PICN Updates.
What specific services does PICN offer and which ones are highlighted on the site?
TL;DR: PICN provides community nursing and home care services including pediatric nursing, palliative care, ostomy care, oncology nursing, IV therapy, foot care, wound care, shift nursing, post-operative surgical care, and health teaching, all listed in the site’s service list and blog resources. The site’s Service List and service pages detail Community Nursing and Home Care subservices such as Pediatric Nursing, Palliative Care, Ostomy Care, Oncology Nursing, Intravenous (IV) Therapy, Foot Care, Wound Care, Shift Nursing, Post-Operative Surgical Care, and Health Teaching; these are delivered by Visiting Nurses and specialized roles (e.g., Foot Care Nurses) and can be initiated through the online Service Request Form.
Where does PICN deliver care — which geographic areas and settings are covered?
TL;DR: PICN delivers care across Durham Region (including Whitby, Oshawa, Pickering, and Ajax) in client homes, schools, retirement communities, and other community settings, with coordination pathways from hospitals and Ontario Health at Home. PICN’s knowledge graph and landing page link the brand to Durham Region and specific cities; services are provided in Setting_Home, Setting_School, Setting_RetirementCommunity, and broader community settings. Palliative and other services also coordinate with hospitals for transitions to home and may be accessed via Ontario Health at Home referral pathways.
How do I request PICN services or contact PICN for an assessment?
TL;DR: To request services, use PICN’s online Service Request Form or call the main contact numbers (905.665.1711 or toll-free 1.800.564.9534); Ontario Health at Home (1-800-263-3877) can also coordinate palliative care referrals. PICN maintains a Service Request Form linked from service pages and lists contact points for direct inquiries; for non-emergencies the Policy_EmergencyProtocol directs callers to PICN’s contact numbers. For palliative care, Org_OntarioHealthAtHome provides a referral pathway; in emergencies the protocol instructs clients to call 911.
Why choose PICN for home and community nursing in Durham Region?
TL;DR: PICN emphasizes community-based, family-centred care delivered by visiting nurses and a nursing team that embodies values like flexibility, compassion, and professional development and pairs long-standing local service (since 1998) with published accessibility and strategic planning documents. PICN highlights values such as Flexibility, Compassion, Respect, Family-Centred Care and operational principles like Evidence-Based Practice and Accessibility (AODA Plan). The organization stresses Visiting Nursing and employment programs that support professional development, and the website shares trust-building content via the PICN Blog and PICN Updates; specific comparative performance metrics versus other providers are not given on the landing page.
What safety, qualifications, and quality measures does PICN use for specialized care?
TL;DR: PICN’s visiting nurses draw on evidence-based practice and specialized training support (for example CAPCE for palliative nurses and NSWOCC for ostomy care), use a 24-hour emergency protocol that directs true emergencies to 911, and publish operational documents like the AODA Plan and Strategic Plan to show accessibility and priorities. The knowledge graph links Program_CAPCE to enhanced competency of visiting nurses and NSWOCC support for ostomy care; Principle_EvidenceBasedPractice and Principle_CommunityPartnerships underpin oncology and palliative services. The landing page does not list detailed staff-to-client ratios or exhaustive credential lists, so you should contact PICN if you need specific licensing or staffing details.
Is PICN pediatric nursing suitable for children with complex medical needs?
TL;DR: Yes—PICN offers Pediatric Nursing across home, school, and community settings and the service requires and uses specialized clinical skills such as enteral feeding, tracheostomy and ventilator care, central venous line management, and home infusion therapy to support pediatric clients from birth to age 21. Service_PediatricNursing in the knowledge graph is linked to Skill_EnteralFeeding, Skill_TracheostomyVentilatorCare, Skill_CentralVenousLineManagement, and Skill_HomeInfusionTherapy; Visiting Nurses and School Program Nurses deliver pediatric services in Setting_Home and Setting_School for Stakeholder_PediatricClientsBirthTo21. For individual case suitability, contact PICN via phone or the Service Request Form so clinical compatibility and scheduling can be confirmed.
How are PICN services funded or covered — is there pricing and insurance information?
TL;DR: Funding pathways referenced include Ontario Health at Home (which can fund or coordinate palliative and some home care services) and private insurance may cover eligible services like foot care; the site does not publish full pricing or fee schedules. The knowledge graph connects Org_OntarioHealthAtHome to Service_PalliativeCare and Service_IVTherapy as a funder or coordinator and notes Private Insurance Coverage as a possible funding source for services such as foot care. For exact cost, coverage, and billing details you should contact PICN directly at 905.665.1711 or 1.800.564.9534 or use the online Service Request Form to begin an assessment.