Community Virtual Care (CVC) - Island Health Area

Caregiver Support, Condition Specific Support, End of Life Care / Palliative Care, Home Health Care, and Services for Seniors

Provided by Island Health

Provides virtual support, monitoring, and education from home for patients with chronic conditions, acute illness, or recovery needs.
Community Virtual Care (CVC) provides phone and video-based monitoring, education, and support for patients with chronic conditions, acute illness, recovery needs, or life-limiting illness. Programs are also available for caregivers. The healthcare team includes Registered Nurses, Pharmacists, a Dietitian, Social Workers, and Diabetes Nurse Educators who support clients at home through easy-to-use technology. Care focuses on building clients’ self-management skills.

Chronic Disease Management Program provides support, coaching, and education via virtual monitoring equipment (provided at no cost) for people with:
  • Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Heart Failure
  • Hypertension
  • Pre-diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes
Depending on the client’s medical condition, clinicians monitor biometric results and alerts; helps the client recognize when to seek higher levels of care; communicates concerns and progress to a primary care provider; and collaborates with other care team members. Clients do not have to have a primary care provider to participate.

Diabetes Education Classes are provided virtually for patients with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes, designed and delivered by Diabetes Nurse Educators. Classes are approximately one hour, interactive, and can be attended in any order. They include sessions on foot health, medications, nutrition, and more.

Acute Illness Support: is offered by remote patient monitoring and phone support for people with mild to moderate symptoms caused by the following conditions:
  • COVID 19
  • Influenza (flu)
  • Heat-related illness
  • Wildfire smoke exposure
Clients use monitoring equipment (provided) to assess their symptoms each day and are supported by a Registered Nurse.

Virtual Palliative Supportive Care is a 6-month early intervention program designed to help individuals live well at home. Registered Nurses provide support to manage symptoms, meet goals for care and cope with changing health needs. A comprehensive e-workbook is included to support this program.
Note: This program is not a replacement for hospitalization or doctor/nurse practitioner visits. Life threatening or significant symptoms still require the individual to seek medical attention from a doctor or nurse practitioner.

Caregiver Support Program uses virtual care technologies to support caregivers to set goals and build a personal plan focusing on optimizing emotional wellbeing and enhancing coping skills. The time-limited program includes three service streams:
  • Brief one-to-one counselling,
  • Group counselling, and/or
  • Skill-building group
Supportive Discharge Program provides extra help after an individual leaves the hospital or emergency department. If needed, a program nurse will call the individual to ensure the care plan is clear and have everything required for it. Patients may be offered this program if they have:
  • COPD
  • Kidney disease
  • Diabetes
  • Heart failure
  • High blood pressure
  • Or are in the early stages of a serious illness

Eligibility

Patients may be eligible if they:
  • Are 19 years or older, and
  • Have care needs that can be supported safely at home through virtual monitoring and follow-up
Eligibility is assessed based on clinical appropriateness. CVC does not replace the primary care provider and supports patients to seek urgent medical care when needed. People living in long-term care and assisted living are welcome.

Public email: communityvirtualcare@islandhealth.ca

Website: https://www.islandhealth.ca/services...

250-388-2273 (South Island Community Access Line)

Toll Free: 1-888-533-2273

Serves all communities south of Mill Bay, including Greater Victoria, Southern Gulf Islands and west to Port Renfrew.
Hours of Operation are 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM.

250-739-5749 (Central Island Community Access Line)

Toll Free: 1-877-734-4101

Serves all communities from Mill Bay to Deep Bay, including Gabriola Island, and from Parksville on the east to beyond Tofino/Ucluelet on the west coast.
Hours of Operation are 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM.

250-331-8570 (North Island Community Access Line)

Toll Free: 1-866-928-4988

Serves all communities north of Deep Bay including Mt. Waddington Regional District and the adjacent mainland area.
Hours of Operation are 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

Cost: No cost

Referral options:

  • Self-referral
  • Health professional referral
  • Family physician or nurse practitioner referral
Brochures and Info
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Availability

Service area: Island Health Area + show cities

Service area cities: Alert Bay, Bamfield, Black Creek, Brentwood Bay, Campbell River, Cathedral Grove, Chemainus, Cobble Hill, Comox, Coombs, Cortes Island, Courtenay, Cumberland, Deep Bay, Denman Island, Duncan, Fanny Bay, Gabriola Island, Galiano Island, Gold River, Hornby Island, Horne Lake, Kyuquot, Ladysmith, Lake Cowichan, Langford, Lantzville, Long Beach, Mayne Island, Merville, Mill Bay, Nanaimo, Nanoose Bay, Nitinaht, North Saanich, Parksville, Pender Island, Penelakut Island, Port Alberni, Port Alice, Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Quadra Island, Qualicum Beach, Quathiaski Cove, Saanich, Saanichton, Salt Spring Island, Saturna Island, Sayward, Shawnigan Lake, Sidney, Sointula, Sooke, Tahsis, Tofino, Ucluelet, Victoria, and Zeballos

Service Types Provided
Caregiver Support
Condition Specific Support
End of Life Care / Palliative Care
    Home Health Care
    Services for Seniors
    Ways to Access
    • After Hours Services
    • Provided 1:1 in-person
    • Provided at home
    • Provided by phone
    • Provided online: email / video / on-line

    The listing of this service in Pathways is not a recommendation or endorsement by Pathways.

    Pathways does not provide medical advice. If you have an emergency please call 9-1-1. If you require assistance navigating services please call 8-1-1.

    For general inquiries or for assistance, please email us:

    community-services@pathwaysbc.ca

    If you are requesting clinical access to medical Pathways, please provide the following information via the email above:

    1. First Name
    2. Last Name
    3. Email
    4. In which city/town do you work?
    5. What is your role? E.g. Family Physician, Office Staff, Medical Resident
    6. Employer Name (for office staff)
    7. Office Phone

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