9 benefits of a PPEC daycare for children with special needs
Providing a Helping Hand for Special Needs Children and Families.
Often see the acronym PPEC but don’t know what it means? Keep reading to discover the meaning of PPEC, the benefits of a PPEC daycare, and how PPEC pertains to your special needs child.
What is PPEC?
According to the AHCA, Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) centers allow Medicaid-eligible children with medically-complex conditions to receive continual medical care in a non-residential setting. When approved, children can attend a PPEC for up to 12 hours a day and receive nursing services, therapies, care, and caregiver training.
What are the benefits for my child to attend a PPEC center?
It is beneficial for your special needs child to go to a PPEC center due to the many advantages it offers.
Advantages for the child/family:
- Centrally located nurses and therapy decreases intrusions in family dynamics at home
- Increased socialization with others
- Decreased hospitalization
- Personalized case management, ensuring the best care for your child
- Offers parents/caregivers increased potential to return to work or school
- Early detection of potential health problems by licensed professionals
Advantages for the payer:
- Decreased hospitalizations through early detection and care management
- Increased compliance with the plan of care resulting in less utilization of healthcare benefits
- An average savings of 40% to 50% compared to Home Health services
Is my child eligible to go to a PPEC center?
Below are the common pediatric diagnoses that indicate a potential need for daily skilled nursing services.
- Premature infants diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, apnea of prematurity, oxygen and pulse oximetry dependence
- Cerebral palsy with gastrostomy or jejunostomy dependence and/or seizures
- Spina bifida with or without an Arnold Chiari malformation and shunt monitoring, and urinary catheterization dependence
- Certain cardiac anomalies
- Post-transplant status
- Immunosuppressed status
- Tracheostomy status (with or without ventilator dependence)
- Failure to thrive
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- History of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
- Adrenal Insufficiency
- Presence of colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy, or vesicostomy
Why should my child go to Tender Care PPEC?
Tender care provides care for medically complex and fragile children from birth to 21 years of age in a daycare-like environment staffed with nurses, CNAs, and therapists. We are the first independently owned PPEC in Florida, with our initial center opening in 1988. This means we have an abundance of experience and knowledge of the PPEC program. We have 6 Tender Care PPEC centers throughout Florida, with our newest facility located in Lake Park.
Our goal is to enhance the development of each child in every aspect possible, through collaborative relationships between families, physicians, nurses, and therapists. This holistic approach to care is carried out in an environment that allows the child to engage in social interactions with their peers. This results in thriving children, well-positioned to achieve their greatest potential. We also offer transportation at no cost and provide nutritious meals throughout the day.
What sets us apart is that we care for and treat every child like family. We have passion in our hearts for our children and a desire to see them succeed.
