PPEC

Before his discharge, the caseworker assigned to Kyle gave me some information about the PPEC (Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care) medical daycare program in Clearwater. Previous caseworkers have mentioned the program to us before but I looked into it a little more this time.

PPEC is a division of Pediatric Health Choice (the medical equipment provider that provides Kyle's feeding pump and equipment). It is a daycare center for children requiring special medical attention preventing them from attending a normal daycare. Kyle qualifies because of his developmental delays and reliance on the feeding tube.

PPEC is 100% covered by medicaid and many other insurances. There is no cost to the family. I was especially surprised at this considering that they are able to accomodate even newborns.

They provide care Monday-Saturday up to 12 hours a day. There is no minimum number of hours. Kyle could attend a week full-time and then the next week not attend at all. He could arrive at 6:30 AM one day and 4:00 PM the next. The schedule is as flexible as we need it to be. The school schedule is very structured, though. They have scheduled nap, lunch, outdoor play and snack times just like a regular daycare.

Their staff consists of all medical professionals. The teachers are all CNAs, LPNs, RNs, etc. They are staffed with therapists for occupational, speech, physical and feeding therapies. Which means that Kyle would be able to get therapy every day without leaving the daycare. They have cribs or toddler beds for each child where normal daycares only have cots. They have the special equipment needed as well - feeding pumps, IV pumps, nebulizers, etc.

Their staff is free from infection and do not come in if they have any signs of illness. If a child has a fever, they are not turned away. They are given medications as needed and isolated from the other children. They even have a special isolation room for highly contagious diseases such as pink eye or chickenpox with a specialized ventillation system and a separate bathroom.

They also can provide transportation to and from school for families without transportation of their own or when there are scheduling conflicts affecting transportation (i.e., the parent works past closing time and the child needs to be transported to a family member's house).

The center is located just west of US19N on Drew Street, so Chris actually passes the center every day on his way to and from work so it works out perfectly. We've discussed starting Kyle at PPEC starting the first Monday in January (1/5/09).