Overview
What is Community Outpatient Antimicrobial Therapy (CoPAT)?
For some infections, intravenous antibiotics are the best treatment. Patients used to have to stay in the hospital to complete weeks of antibiotics, but now many can go to a skilled nursing home or even their own home to complete therapy. A special IV line called a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) is used to infuse the antibiotics and once placed can remain in for several weeks. These are usually placed at the bedside in the hospital or in the Department of Infectious Disease outpatient clinic by a team of specialized nurses. The patient is then given a selection of home care agencies and pharmacies to choose from. Antibiotics are delivered to the home and the home care nurse will schedule a home visit to infuse the antibiotic and teach the patient and family the procedure. The nurse will then visit at least once a week for IV dressing changes and to draw labs from the PICC. When the treatment is complete, the home care nurse can remove the PICC or it can be removed in the Department of Infectious Disease at an office visit.
A small number of patients, usually those with some kidney disease, may require a different IV line called a Hohn or Hickman catheter that must be placed and removed in radiology.
What We Treat
Specializing in services and treatment for the following:
- Patients discharged from the hospital with IV antibiotics
- Initiation of IV antibiotics at an outpatient visit.
Our Team
- Carrie Gallagher, RN
- Brittany Brocker, RN
- Angela Everett
Appointments & Locations
You can reach the Community Outpatient Antimicrobial Therapy (CoPAT) team at 216-445-6907.
Location:
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus - G21
9500 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio 44195
