PATCHES PPEC

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.

PATCHES is committed to the whole child concept. Pivotal to the 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 from food insecure families for whom putting food on the table is a constant challenge. They are either Medicaid recipients or earn just enough to be disqualified from Medicaid reimbursement, and live in relative poverty. As poverty is prevalent in this population and nutrition-rich meals critical to maintain 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 the center lacks a full kitchen and cooking is prohibited, PATCHES contracts with a local restaurant to provide daily kid friendly, freshly made, nutritious, calorie packed meals which are individualized by a specially trained nursing assistant. Many children have developmental impairments with eating/swallowing disorders. Children are taught how to manage their eating swallowing coordination through therapy. Each child’s diet and nutritional needs is supervised by a trained nursing assistant, informed by therapists and nursing staff involved with the child to optimize their intake, and assessed on an ongoing basis as their eating skills improve.

At PATCHES we have a multidimensional 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 at PATCHES come to our facility with significant delays not only physically due to conditions but, cognitively, emotionally, developmentally and intellectually. Some of these delays, are a product of environmental issue. A child who is 4 years old and has undergone 5 organ transplants will more than likely have a social delay as well as a speech and language delay since stimulation and verbal exchange were low on the list of priorities while fighting for his life in a hospital. Our mission is to ensure each child’s team will work together to close the many gaps created by a debilitating medical condition. With this team support the child will reach a higher level of functioning and independence. From there we continue to build and enhance educationally. The education department strives to integrate these same individualized therapeutic goals in the social setting within PATCHES, and eventually 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.

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 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.