INVIVA® | Schedule Your Child’s Injection and Infusion Treatment - Inviva
How to Prepare For Your Child’s Appointment and What to Expect
New to pediatric infusion therapy or injection treatments? Here’s what you need to know.
How to Prepare For Your Child’s Appointment and What to Expect
New to pediatric infusion therapy or injection treatments? Here’s what you need to know.
A Pediatric Patient Guide to Infusion and Injection Treatments
At INVIVA clinics across Canada, patients of all ages receive infusion or injection treatments daily. The first visit for a newly diagnosed patient can be a bit overwhelming, and that's why we've created a step-by-step Pediatric Patient Guide and Patient Checklist—to provide you and your child with a clear understanding of what to expect and how to prepare for their treatment.
Click here to access our Pediatric Guide
Click here to access our Pediatric Checklist
A Pediatric Patient Guide to Infusion and Injection Treatments
At INVIVA clinics across Canada, patients of all ages receive infusion or injection treatments daily. The first visit for a newly diagnosed patient can be a bit overwhelming, and that's why we've created a step-by-step Pediatric Patient Guide and Patient Checklist—to provide you and your child with a clear understanding of what to expect and how to prepare for their treatment.
Click here to access our Pediatric Guide
Click here to access our Pediatric Checklist
2 to 5 days before your child’s appointment, you can expect a friendly reminder from us.
We may ask some screening questions, as certain health considerations (active infections or changes in your overall medical condition, for example) can impact your child’s scheduled treatment. We also encourage you to contact your Patient Care Coordinator to inform them of changes in your child’s medical condition.
If you get your child’s medication from your local pharmacy, please reach out to your pharmacist at least 5 business days before your appointment to ensure your medication is available.
If you use a McKesson pharmacy or an approved partner pharmacy, your child’s medication will be shipped directly to our INVIVA clinic for you.
Make sure to bring a list of your child’s current medications, including over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements and herbs.
Ask your child to dress in layered, loose-fitting clothes and wear comfortable shoes. We also suggest bringing a comfy blanket from home to stay warm.
For patients 16+ years old, please consider asking someone to pick you up from your appointment and help you get home safely as your ability to drive may be impaired depending on your treatment.
An infusion treatment may take from 2 to 6 hours. Your child is welcome to bring a comfort item such as a teddy. Additionally, be sure to bring something to keep your child busy, such as reading materials, devices with chargers, earphones, games, and so on. We also recommend bringing a water bottle and favorite snacks from home.
Have your child drink plenty of water the day before and the day of their treatment. Always follow their physician’s order for fluid restrictions
Show up at least 15 minutes prior to your appointment. You will be greeted by the INVIVA nurse who will be caring for your child.
Your child’s nurse will take their vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, etc.) and will ask questions about their overall health, including infections and allergies.
If you or your child have any questions about the treatment, don’t be shy to ask your nurse.
Depending on the treatment, your child may be required to take a prerequisite test or medications beforehand to help manage or lessen the risks for reactions during treatment, like allergic reactions or nausea.
Consult the Pediatric Patient Guide for more information on the infusion/injection experience.
The length of your child’s treatment depends on their medication. Some infusions are only 30 minutes long, others may take between 1 to 4 hours or more. Your Patient Care Coordinator will let you know the expected duration of your treatment. During their treatment, your child will be sitting in a comfortable chair and can lie back, go to sleep, read or watch a movie.
Your nurse will monitor your child closely from start to finish. Please make sure you tell your nurse of any changes in how your child is feeling during the infusion. If an infusion reaction occurs, your nurse may stop or slow the rate of the infusion.
Your nurse will monitor your child for up to 1 hour after their infusion for any reactions or side effects. Should your child have any signs or symptoms up to 24 hours after their treatment, please contact their physician right away or go to your nearest emergency room.
Our Policies
We understand that delays can occur on your way to your treatment. Our late policy allows for a 20-minute window after your scheduled appointment time. Depending on the volume of patients that day, we may need to reschedule your appointment to a later time or date.
Should you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment due to illness or a personal emergency, please call us as soon as possible, at least 24 hours in advance.
Pediatric patients are allowed an authorized visitor during treatment (parent/guardian or relative 18 years of age or older). If your child does not require a visitor to stay for treatment but requests a visitor to be present for the IV start, this is allowed. For any questions related to the Visitor Policy, please ask your child’s Patient Care Coordinator or nurse.