We understand it can be frustrating and at times, scary when there is an alarm sounding from a piece of equipment that you rely on to help care for your child. That’s why we are here to help with video how-to resources that will have your equipment back up and running in no time.
In the video below PHS Clinical Education Manager and Respiratory Therapist Bruce Estrem, BA, RRT-NPS, LRT shows families caregivers and other healthcare professionals a couple basic troubleshooting tips for a humidifier that is used to keep the airway warm and moist.
Heater Wire Alarm
Heater Wire Alarm will sound if pigtail is not connected or not working, or if the heater wire button is turned off. The heater wire consists of the pigtail and the wires that go into the tubing to keep the air warm.
Make sure the pigtail is connected to the wires in the tubing, if its not, your humidifier will give you the heater wire alarm. Resolve this by checking and securing the connection, if this does not solve the problem; replace the pigtail with the back-up in your yellow mesh bag.
*Note- please call PHS at 651-642-1825 to exchange your non-working pigtail for a new back-up that will be kept in your yellow mesh bag.
Make sure the heater wire button is turned on (button is on the unit) if it is not turned on you will get the connector alarm.
Temperature Alarm
Temperature alarm will sound if the heater is too hot or too cold.
First thing you want to do is make sure you have airflow going through the circuit.
If airflow is not the issue, the next step is to then take the temperature probe out at the elbow of the unit, wipe it down with an alcohol wipe and put back in place, you will want to do the same with the probe at the patient connection. That should resolve the temperature alarm
If these steps still do not resolve the temperature alarm, replace the non-working temperature probe with the back-up from your yellow mesh bag.
*Note- please call PHS at 651-642-1825 to exchange your non-working temperature probe for a new back-up that will be kept in your yellow mesh bag.
As always, if you have further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact PHS at 651-642-1825.
PHS IV Nurse Susan Fitzsimmons knows all too well the concerns that families can have when faced with changing their child’s central line cap. For such a seemingly quick and easy process, there is a high potential for illness in your child if the proper steps aren’t taken to ensure a germ-free cap change. Well, have no fear because PHS is here to walk you through the process. Susan details each step along with a few of her tips and tricks in the video below. It’s like having your very own infusion nurse in the home each time you do a cap change.
Should you have any questions after watching the above video or reviewing the steps below please don’t hesitate to contact PHS at 651-642-1825.
Steps for a Needless Valve or Cap Change on a Central Line.
Preparation for the cap change
Wash hands (hand sanitizer or soap and water, either is fine). Make sure that you always practice hand hygiene before you do any IV treatments of any kind. Download PHS’s hand washing card here to print out and have next to your household sinks.
Take a paper drape and place it on your table or floor, wherever you will be doing the cap change. Ensure no pets or children will be able to disturb this area while preparing for and completing the cap change. Place the drape plastic side down.
Get all supplies ready. If you can get as much done before you’re actually in front of your child, you will be far calmer and not think of the cap change as a stressful process.
a. A new cap in sterile packing
b. Three chlorascrub pads
c. One heparin flush
Open all packages prior to starting.
Scrub the hub on the new cap (No need to scrub the one currently on your child as it will be discarded in the change). Scrub for 15-30 seconds and let air dry for about 10-15 seconds.
Remove lid from the heparin syringe while waiting for new catheter cap to dry.
Hold dry cap and syringe firmly; connect and twist.
Remove the lid to your cap and prime the syringe by getting the air bubble to the top of the cap.
Put the lid of your cap back on once you have the air bubble out of the syringe.
Now you’re ready to get your child and before the cap change
Clamp your child’s line
Open two of your three wipes
Pick up the cap that is currently on your child and clean just behind the cap with one of your chlorascrub wipes for the full 30 seconds. Let the area dry completely 15-30 seconds.
Double check one more time that you have clamped your child’s line. This is very important because if the line is not clamped, when you remove the cap, there is nothing between all the germs in the air and your child’s bloodstream. So it’s very important to ensure the line is clamped.
Remove old cap
This is the most pivotal point in the process. As Susan calls it “Go-Time”, nothing should distract you from your child in this moment.
Scrub the end of the catheter for 15-30 seconds, making sure not to get inside of the catheter, just around the threads and the end. You want to scrub very vigorously as you are cleaning germs off of the very most important connection this IV has.
Once you’ve scrubbed keep a hold of the catheter end, making sure nothing can touch it while it is drying for the full 15-30 seconds. NOTE: You need to make sure to let it dry completely otherwise the cap will stick to the catheter and it will be extremely difficult if not impossible to get it off at the next cap change.
Remove the lid of the new cap and double check that you have it primed and there is a little bubble at the top of the syringe.
Connect the new cap to the catheter making sure it’s tight.
With the winter season fast approaching and kids back in school, we thought it would be a good idea to sit down with PHS’s Medical Director, Roy Maynard, M.D. to discuss immunizations and most importantly now, the flu shot. Watch the video below to see what he had to say.
In the past 50 years vaccine preventable diseases have decreased by 90% through the use of vaccine preventable diseases.
There are still diseases out there that are vaccine preventable such as the whooping cough, chicken pox, invasive haemophilus influenzae and influenza disease, but in order to avoid these, children must be vaccinated.
Claims have been made that the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine cause autism, that is not true. It has been disproven and vaccines are safe. Parents who elect not to use vaccines do so by placing their children at risk in the population.
AAP promotes vaccines, and have a routine immunization schedule. PHS supports the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy on childhood immunizations.
Some children with immunodeficiency syndrome should check with their physician or health care provider prior to immunization especially if they have concerns with live vaccines and their children.
Now that children are back in school and fall is approaching, the risk for infection increases. It is a good idea to take a look at your child’s immunization schedule and consider a flu shot for you and your family.
Another important way that can help you and your family keep infection free during this flu season is with proper hand washing. Contact PHS for your free copy of our hand washing otherwise feel free to print a copy from our PHS Resources page here.
Immunizations can be a hot button topic for some. Are you planning to get a flu shot this fall for you and your children? Why or why not? We’d love to hear from you.
We know that caring for a child with an IV in your home can be a daunting process. There’s always that fear of infection in the back of your mind. To help quell some of those fears PHS has created a program called 1•2•3 Infection Free!, the program walks you step-by-step through the process of keeping your child infection free each time you administer an infusion.
Watch the video below as PHS Infusion Nurse Susan Fitzsimmons, RN, CPN, BSN walks through the various components in the PHS 123 Infection Free Kit.
Infection is a risk every child with an IV catheter faces.
PHS created a new program to help you prevent dangerous IV catheter infections at home. The program
is called 1•2•3 Infection Free! and its materials explain:
Actions to take each and every time you or any caregiver works with your child’s IV catheter
Warning signs for infection at the IV catheter site or in the blood stream
Whom to contact if your child shows signs of infection
Materials included in the kit are:
Infection Prevention Methods Poster
An easy reminder of the most important steps for preventing an IV infection, with pictures on one side
and more detailed information on the other side
My Child’s IV Catheter Care Log
A list of infection warning signs for which to check every day and a guide for whom to contact about
different warning signs. Call us when you need more copies.
Emergency Information
A card to hang near your child’s bed or on the refrigerator with infection warning signs and the phone
numbers of whom to contact
Badge
A list of infection warning signs and contacts that is a perfect size for purse, pocket, diaper bag or
emergency kit
Have you used 1•2•3 Infection Free! Does it help you to remember the steps and keep your child infection free? We’d love to hear your feedback on the program.
We received a question from Jack on our PHS Facebook page requesting information on the battery life of the Infinity Food/infusion Pump. Well, Jack there are a few different answers to that question, and we think we have them all covered here.
Life of a fully-charged battery:
PHS Dietitian, Teresa, RD, LD, CNSC says the battery life is 24 hours when run at 125 mL per hour; this means it may last longer if run at a slower rate or not as long if at a faster rate. The charging time is 6 hours if fully discharged. We usually recommend that the families charge their pump overnight, or if/when they are off the pump.
Overall Lifetime of the battery:
Mike, CBET, our Biomedical Department Supervisor has weighed in and said that we typically see the batteries last about 2 years with daily use and good care.
Now you might be asking yourself, “what exactly does good care mean?” We’ve outlined a few tips below to help promote Lithium-Ion battery life for your child’s Infinity Food/Infusion pump.
Battery Freedom and Reliability Requires Good Maintenance
When you first receive your pump, check the run time for your child’s infusion or feeding. Just like people, the battery will slow down as it ages. You can use this first run time as a comparison for when the battery begins to slow down with age. (Do this at a time when you won’t need the pump before you have time to fully recharge. For example, don’t drain the battery to get a run time if your child will need the pump at school the next day or if a storm may knock out power.)
Regularly check your child’s pump battery and charge status.
Avoid storing your pump and battery in excessive heat.
Recharge the battery as soon as possible after it’s been completely drained. It’s not necessary to completely drain the lithium-ion battery before recharging in normal daily use.
Keep a close eye on batteries as they reach the end of their life (around 2 years) to ensure your child’s feedings and infusions are always successfully completed.
Keep in mind that if the battery sits unused for an extended period of time, you will need to check the charge before you use it again and be sure to fully charge the battery for a successful feeding/infusion for your child.
You may want to contact PHS and discuss replacing your battery if:
Your pump run time drops below 80% of the first time you ran the pump at the same mL/Hr.
The time it takes to charge your pump battery increases drastically.
If you have any questions at all please don’t hesitate to call PHS at 651-642-1825 with questions about your pump and battery.
For more information on the Infinity Orange and Teal Pumps take a look at the videos on the PHS YouTube Channel, where our IV Nurse Gail covers common alarms, cleaning the pump, changing the door as well as setting the volume on the pump. Follow the link here to view.
*Note: All tips above refer only to a Lithium-ion battery.
Back to school can be a frazzled time for families as you try to get back into some sort of routine. PHS is here to help make this transition a little less stressful by helping you gather all the necessary items for you child with asthma to be prepared for the new year. PHS Asthma Educator, Kay Kufahl, RRT-NPS, LRT, AE-C, talks about asthma action plans and the three necessary supplies to bring to a school nurse for your child. Having all of these items ready to go at the beginning of the year will ensure the school is ready to give your child the best possible care.
How do you prepare to get back into “school mode” with your family. Do you have any tips you’d like to share with PHS? Just leave a comment below!
Your child’s food pump alarm is going off. Again. What do the alarms mean, and how can you most efficiently keep food pumps clean and operating smoothly?
Infusion Nursing Coordinator Gail Fields, RN, takes you through basic cleaning steps, helpful tips, recognizing pump alarms, and how to turn down the alarm volume on your child’s food pump. We only advise making the alarm quieter for little ones who startle easily.
Food pump door replacement, battery info
Gail also shows you how to replace the door on your child’s food pump and explains details of the food pump battery, including how long it should hold a charge, troubleshooting tips, and charging cable options.
Remember, PHS clinicians are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week to help with your child’s food pump: 651-642-1825.
How do you clean and maintain your food pump? Any tips to share? We welcome your input.
If your child uses a feeding tube, you know it helps conveniently provide necessary nutrition and sometimes medications. But not when it’s clogged. Clogged feeding tubes interrupt important feedings and can cause frustration and discomfort. To keep lines clear, PHS and many of our families use the Clog Zapper .
Clog Zapper is convenient and easy to use. In this video, PHS Dietician Janelle Peterson, RD, LD, CNSD, takes you step-by-step through using the product to keep your child on track and avoid replacing feeding tubes.
Infections pose a health threat for any child—especially as we head into the flu season and spend more time indoors—but they can be particularly devastating for medically-fragile children with weakened immune systems. For these kids, illness, recurring infections, and hospitalization can be life threatening.
Proper hand washing is the best defense.
It’s quick, easy, and the single most effective thing you can do to stop the spread of germs and prevent infection at home or in the hospital, in school or at work, or anywhere in the community.
It’s important to do it right.
Watch PHS Nurse Educator Jill Wall, RN, BSN, CRNI, demonstrate proper hand washing techniques and hear what she says about hand sanitizers on the PHS YouTube channel.
How to wash your hands
Wash your hands with soap and water, scrubbing for 40 to 60 seconds (the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice).
Get in between all the fingers and wash thoroughly around fingernails and any jewelry, all the way up to and including the wrists.
Rinse your hands thoroughly and dry them vigorously with a paper or clean cloth towel. Turn the water off using the towel to protect your clean hands.
Waterless cleaning with hand sanitizer
Soap and water are best, but if they aren’t available, hand sanitizers are a good second choice. Use enough of the sanitizer to thoroughly wet your hands and wrists, rub all over for 20 to 30 seconds, again including the wrists, until the sanitizer is completely dry.
Get our free PHS hand washing guide
Call PHS at 651-642-1825 and ask a customer service representative for a free hand washing guide. Keep it handy to prevent the spread of infection in your home.
Good hand washing is a simple thing, but not always practiced. Do you have any advice on how to make sure people remember to wash their hands, and do it properly? What other things do you do to stop the spread of germs at home or when you are out and about?
Children are not small adults, especially when it comes to home infusion therapy.
They’re growing and need care, treatment, and equipment geared to their little bodies and changing needs. And—depending on their age and maturity level—children may not even be able to tell caregivers what those needs are, how they feel, or where it hurts.
Prescription for pediatric patients: treat kids like kids
Health care providers must consider a host of factors when treating children—especially children with serious, chronic, and often life-threatening illnesses.
Drawing on her experience in building an organization geared to respond to the unique needs of the pediatric population, PHS President Susan Wingert shared some insights on this topic in an article appearing in the September/October issue of INFUSION magazine. INFUSION is the official journal of the National Home Infusion Association and the nation’s leading publication covering the field of alternate-site infusion therapy.
What makes pediatric patients different from adults?
Children metabolize drugs differently than adults.
Children are constantly growing.
Smaller body size means different needs.
Children aren’t always able to understand their condition or even that the medical team is trying to help them.
When the child is the patient, the entire family is often involved in the treatment.
Coordinating care is especially important for providers working with pediatric patients as growth and other factors call for more frequent assessments.
Considerations in treating kids with serious illnesses
PHS staff is keenly aware of the clinical and support factors that need to be considered with medically-fragile pediatric patients at home and devises strategies to address them:
High-tech equipment needs to fit little bodies. Fortunately, finding medical equipment isn’t as challenging as it once was. Medical suppliers now offer smaller catheters and tubing, small-volume pumps, and backpacks that hold IV solution and pumps so children can be more active.
Clinical care plans are customized for each child. A multidisciplinary team is needed, including the physician, family, and all providers who will be involved in the care at home.
Caregivers are trained. Family members and other caregivers are trained to use the equipment, administer medications and troubleshoot. Materials and teaching tools are provided and parents are encouraged to call with questions anytime.
The PHS pharmacy is designed for kids. PHS pharmacists are clinical experts in pediatric care, and understand weight-based pediatric dosing, as well as the differences in drug metabolism between pediatric and adult patients.
Support is provided for families. PHS provides resources and training for family members, as well as assistance with billing and insurance coverage and reimbursement.
