Respiratory Therapy
1/5
Respiratory Therapy program follows physician prescribed orders for each patient and PATCHES consults with the physician as needed. The Respiratory Therapist uses a program of Assessment, Planning, Intervention and Evaluation twice daily as prescribed by the physician. Each RT treatment is performed in different areas of the center, depending on the age group and condition of the child - some are preemies in cribs, others under 4, or pre-K, while others might be older. A specially designated RT therapy room is also available for the use of administering pulmonary therapy treatments to the children. By providing consistent respiratory evaluation and treatment each day, PATCHES saves many families the stress of emergency ER visits, and costly tax dollars, and the traumatic, disruptive effect on the stability of the child and its family. This program saves lives.
FEEDING FOR THE FUTURE
2/5
PATCHES is committed to the whole child concept. Pivotal to that concept is that our very ill children receive good nutrition in order to thrive, grow and battle complex illness.
Among the many diagnoses for children at PATCHES, failure to thrive is common. Many of our children are Medicaid recipients from food insecure families for whom putting food on the table is a constant challenge.
We believe nutrition-rich meals are fundamental to maintaining normal growth and development. PATCHES provides breakfast, lunch and a healthy snack for those who are able to eat by mouth, with no compensation from Medicaid. Because cooking is prohibited on site, PATCHES contracts with a local restaurant to provide kid friendly, freshly made, nutritious, calorie packed meals daily.
Many children have developmental impairments with eating/swallowing disorders. Children are taught how to manage their eating/swallowing coordination through therapy. Their diet and nutritional needs are supervised by a trained nursing assistant, informed by therapists and nursing staff involved with the child to optimize their intake, and is assessed on an ongoing basis as eating skills improve.
The meals provided by PATCHES are vital to many of the children, for whom food is often scarce.
And Beyond Education Program
3/5
At PATCHES we have unique educational approach for each child. We cater to the medical, educational, therapeutic, and emotional/behavioral needs of the child with a team of therapists, nurses, teachers and the Miami Dade County Public Schools liaison weekly visits, to assist in the home bound program for children unfit to return to school.
Many children come to PATCHES with delays due to their conditions but, also cognitive, emotional, developmental and intellectual. Some of these are a product of an environmental circumstance. A child who is 4 years old and has undergone 5 organ transplants will be socially affected, and possibly have a speech/ language delay since stimulation and verbal exchange would be compromised while fighting for his life in a hospital.
Our mission is to ensure that each child’s team works together to close the many gaps created by their medical condition. With this team support the child will reach a higher level of functioning and independence, while we continue to build and enhance educationally. We strive to integrate these same goals in social activities, and eventually at home and in the community. Our goal is to create productive, independent, citizens of the world who, through the hurdles overcome, we hope, will go back out into the world a force to be reckoned with, ready to grow and change. About 95% of cognitively eligible PATCHES children will transition back into their normal peer environment.
Ca'miya Fund
4/5
This fund was established after one of our baby's died. Ca'miya was 3 months old and died in hospital one weekend. Four days after her death her mom called to say she couldn't bury her baby because she couldn't pay for the funeral, which is a prerequisite to release of the body from the hospital morgue. We called every agency in Dade County to try to find funds to no avail. We sent out a plea for help and money came in and we were able to pay for the baby's funeral. Extra money was placed into an account called the Ca'miya's fund. Since that time... we've helped lay to rest 21 infants and children.
University/college medical educational Clinical Site
5/5
University/College Clinical Site: There are an increasing number of nursing schools competing for clinical pediatric space. The directors at PATCHES recognized the value of clinical education and made the opportunity available for nursing colleges to participate/learn at PATCHES. Upwards of 15 schools of nursing, medical interns and therapy schools attend the PATCHES facility to gain the required amount of hands on clinical hours needed to sit state boards. We believe in engaged learning and offer a conference room for pre and post follow-up, access to staff, resources and patients.