Post-Operative Surgical Care

Who is Partners In Community Nursing (PICN) and who do you serve?

TL;DR: Partners In Community Nursing (PICN) is a community nursing and home care organization that serves families and clients across Durham Region, delivering in-home and community-based nursing through its nursing team and visiting nurses. PICN provides community nursing and home care across Durham Region and in cities such as Whitby, Ajax, Pickering and Oshawa. The PICN nursing team and visiting nurses deliver services as part of PICN’s community nursing and home care programs, and PICN formally serves the region by offering specialized services for families, older adults and pediatric clients. This page (Post-Operative Surgical Care) describes one of PICN’s service offerings and is intended for families and caregivers looking for in-home post-op support from an experienced visiting nurse.

What does Post-Operative Surgical Care at PICN include?

TL;DR: PICN’s Post-Operative Surgical Care is a home-based nursing service that includes wound care, pain and nutrition monitoring, coordination with your surgeon, and a tailored plan of care delivered by PICN nurses and visiting nurses. Post-Operative Surgical Care (Service_PostOperativeSurgicalCare) is provided as a subservice of PICN’s community nursing and home care. The nursing team and visiting nurses develop a plan of care, provide wound care as specified by your surgeon, monitor pain and nutrition, and coordinate follow-up with the surgeon when appropriate. If healing is slower than expected, PICN will consult a wound care specialist and may involve specialist nurses to ensure optimal outcomes; the service is delivered in settings such as the client’s home and supported across the Durham Region service area.

How are post-operative medical supplies obtained and who coordinates them?

TL;DR: Medical supplies for post-op care are determined by your wound and ordered by your PICN nurse, and in practice supplies are provided or coordinated through Ontario Health at Home. Your nurse will assess the wound, decide what supplies are needed (gauze, tape, or specialized products) and place the order. The landing page states that supplies are ordered by your nurse and provided by Ontario Health at Home, and Ontario Health at Home may fund or coordinate services for eligible clients. If you need help requesting an assessment through Ontario Health at Home you can use their contact pathways; PICN also lists its main and toll-free contact numbers for questions about coordination and next steps.

How often will a nurse visit after my surgery and can family members be taught wound care?

TL;DR: Visit frequency is set based on best practice in collaboration with Ontario Health at Home and your clinical needs; when appropriate PICN will teach a support person or family member to provide wound care between nursing visits. According to the page, the frequency of nursing visits is determined by best practice and in collaboration with Ontario Health at Home. The nursing team and visiting nurses tailor visit schedules within the post-operative care plan, and the service is a subservice of community nursing and home care. When clinically appropriate, PICN will provide education so a family member or caregiver can safely perform wound care between visits to support continuity of care.

Do you offer 24/7 support and what should I do in an emergency?

TL;DR: PICN maintains a 24/7 telephone support line for advice and concerns via the main contact numbers; in life‑threatening emergencies follow the emergency protocol and call 911 immediately. PICN maintains an emergency protocol with 24-hour/day service coverage. For non-emergencies you may call the main phone (905.665.1711) or the toll-free number (1.800.564.9534). For urgent or life-threatening events the protocol instructs clients to call 911. The emergency protocol also explains when to call PICN’s nurse line for concerns such as increased pain, wound drainage, bleeding or fever so clinicians can advise or arrange urgent care.

Where does PICN deliver post-operative care and what is your service area?

TL;DR: PICN delivers post-operative surgical care primarily in client homes across Durham Region, including Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Oshawa and surrounding communities, and coordinates care from its Whitby office. The post-operative and wound care services are delivered in the home setting and are available throughout Durham Region where PICN serves the community. The landing page lists specific communities (Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, Oshawa, Brooklin, Courtice, Bowmanville, Newcastle) and shows PICN’s Whitby office address. If you are unsure whether PICN covers your address in Durham Region, call the main number or use the online service request form to request confirmation and an assessment.

Who provides wound care and how does PICN ensure quality and specialist support?

TL;DR: Wound care is provided by PICN’s nursing team and visiting nurses as part of wound care and post-operative services; if healing is not progressing PICN consults wound care specialists and leverages professional supports to ensure best-practice care. The nursing team and visiting nurses deliver wound care and follow evidence-based monitoring of pain, nutrition and wound healing. The landing page states that if a wound is not progressing as anticipated a wound care specialist will be consulted. PICN also connects with professional supports (for example specialist ostomy and wound nursing resources in the organization’s network) and follows organizational principles and documented plans to guide safe, evidence-based practice.

How do I request post-operative care or start a service with PICN?

TL;DR: You can start a service by calling PICN at the main phone numbers, using the online service request form, or visiting the contact page; PICN maintains multiple channels to initiate care. The landing page lists the main phone (905.665.1711), toll-free number (1.800.564.9534) and an online service request form (Channel_ServiceRequestForm) that provides an access path to post-operative, oncology, foot care and other services. Hospitals and Ontario Health at Home can also provide a referral pathway to PICN; otherwise call or submit the form to request an assessment and a visiting nurse will arrange a tailored plan of care.