Posts Tagged ‘caring for kids with serious illnesses’

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PHS is thankful for amazing volunteers

Friday, November 18th, 2011

PHS’s volunteerism program, Sharing Care, has been busy with some fun activities in the past few weeks and we’re excited to be able to share them with you all.

iCAN Hoop

Last Sunday, November 13th, Sharing Care volunteers made the trek out to Excelsior to play basketball with some extremely talented kids. The basketball clinics are put on by West Metro Miracle Athletics (they also has a baseball league in the summer) provides super special children in the west metro, with ANY cognitive and/or physical challenges an opportunity to play basketball and baseball. PHSers had so much fun practicing dribbling, shooting and passing with the kids. Former U of M Gopher basketball player Jeff Hagen was also on hand to teach the kids some moves and the importance to focus and dedication not only on the court but also in the classroom. You can check out the photos in the video slideshow below or by visiting our facebook page here.

Memorial Blood Centers- Blood Drive

This year PHS decided to add a little competition to our blood drives; we now have ‘The Quick Draw’ traveling trophy that goes to the donor with the fastest donation time (SAFELY!!!) The new competition was a ton of fun yesterday and we’re already looking forward to our next drive. Thank you to Memorial Blood Centers for making sure our competition is fun, yet still safe.

Does your child play in the iCAN hoop league? Or do you have any ideas for other fun volunteer events for the Sharing Care group? Leave us a comment, we’d love to hear from you!

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John’s Troubleshooting Tip of the Month: Food Pump Series- Part 2 Replacing the door

Monday, November 7th, 2011

PHS understands how stressful it can be when a piece of equipment isn’t working properly, and we want to help resolve any issues as soon as possible for you. So, once a month, PHS Respiratory Therapist, John Sheahan will post a tip on how to troubleshoot a common error with a piece of equipment.

Today’s post is the second in a series that focuses on food pumps. We frequently receive calls from families for troubleshooting the food pump. In this second segment we will focus on what to do if the Infinity food pump door breaks.

There are two types of Infinity food pumps, the Infinity Teal and the Infinity Orange, and both have the potential of the door latch that connects to the pumps inside holder breaking. To prevent this from happening always press the latch in with your thumb before opening and closing the food pump door. If the door latch does break however follow these steps:

  • Close the Infinity food pump door and secure it tightly with either a hair band or a rubber band.
  • The food pump will run as long as the food pump door is closed tightly.
  • Call PHS at 651-642-1825 and report the problem. We will send you a replacement door.
  • When you receive the new door:
    • Open the broken food pump door away from the food pumps main body.
    • Firmly hold pump and door in BOTH hands.
    • Quickly snap the door away from pump.
    • Replace with new door by inserting the replacement food pump door latch into the inside holder.
    • Gently snap door into place.
    • Do NOT force the door closed.

See the graphic below for a visual on how to remove and attach a door. For even more help with your EntraLite® Infinity food pump watch this video from PHS IV nurse Gail as she walks you through common errors with the pump and how to solve them.

entralite, inifinty, phs, pediatric home service, food pump, door change, broken door,

John Sheahan, RRT-NPS, LRTJohn Sheahan, RRT-NPS, LRT is a Licensed Respiratory Therapist at PHS and would love to hear from you if you have a tip that you’ve found helps when working with your equipment, or have an idea for a Troubleshooting Tip post. Share your tip or idea through a comment here or an email to John at jcsheahan@pediatrichomeservice.com.

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Thanksgiving meal assistance in metro MN

Friday, November 4th, 2011

thanksgiving meal assiantce, food shelf, food shelves, food basket, free thanksgiving dinner, turkey dinnerWe’re coming up on an especially needy time of year for families, yet many metro Minnesota area organizations, churches, and food shelves ensure that every family can give thanks over a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

Last year PHS had a list of 5 food shelves that families could contact for assistance, this year PHS’s Medical Social Worker, Monica Handlos has found even more resources to help families in need for the holiday season. Monica recommends contacting the United Way First Call for Help at 651-291-0211 if the list below doesn’t cover your area. Ask them for agencies or food shelves that are helping with Thanksgiving Meals or Baskets.  They will ask for your zip code and give you a list of local agencies that might be able to help you out.

Review these options and see which ones make the most sense for you. You may also call Monica at 651-789-9215 for help in applying to the programs if you’re having trouble.

Most meals include a roasted turkey and dressing (already cooked) along with raw potatoes for you to cook, canned vegetables, canned cranberries, rolls, butter, milk and pie.

Holiday Meals:

  1. Thanksgiving Meals on Wheels
    651.699.5404
    They deliver Thanksgiving meals to families living within 45 miles of St. Paul.  Call between 8:30-4pm to set up a delivery.  They will need your address, zip code, and number of people who will be eating on Thanksgiving.  Meals will be delivered between 8-11am on Thanksgiving and someone needs to be at home in order to sign for the delivery.  The meal includes a roasted turkey and dressing (already cooked) along with raw potatoes, canned vegetables, canned cranberries, rolls, butter, milk, and pie for dessert.
  2. Cherokee Tavern
    886 Smith Ave S, West St. Paul, MN 55118
    Free Thanksgiving meal served at Noon and 1:30pm.
    Transportation is available to those in need and meals may be delivered if needed.  For tickets please call Neighbors, Inc 651.455.1508; St. Francis de Sales 651.228.1169, Neighborhood House 651.789.2564-Spanish or 651.789.2541-Hmong
  3. Bierstube
    651.773.5854
    2670 E County Rd E, White Bear Lake, MN 55110 or 7121 10th St Oakdale, MN 55128.
    Free Thanksgiving meal provided to anyone in need between 12-2:30pm.
  4. Pepitos Mexican Restaurant
    612.827.2928
    4820 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417
    Free Thanksgiving meal provided beginning at 10am.
  5. Gethsemane Lutheran Church
    952.935.1753
    715 Minnetonka Mills Rd, Hopkins, MN 55343
    Free Thanksgiving meal beginning at 1pm in Gethsemane Lutheran Fellowship Hall.  Please make a reservation by November 23rd.
  6. Faith Lutheran Church of Coon Rapids
    763.354.7826
    11115 Hanson Blvd, NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433
    Free Thanksgiving Meal.  Serves Anoka County.  Please call church for details.

Food Baskets:

  1. Christian Cupboard
    651.738.2338
    7380 Afton Road, Woodbury, MN 55125
    Need to register in person on November 15th between 9-Noon.  Bring id and proof of address such as a current utility bill.  Children will also need a proof of ID such as a medical or social security card.
    Area served includes, Woodbury, Maplewood south of I-94, Landfall, Oakdale.
  2. Family Pathways
    651.464.2098
    935 Lake St. S, Forest Lake, MN 55025
    Holiday meal supplies are provided.  Please call for an appointment.  Will need to complete an application, show proof of address, and ID.  Service area: Forest Lake, Scandia, Wyoming, and surrounding area.
  3. North Suburban Emergency Assistance Response (NEAR)
    763.533.2836
    4803 Welcome Ave N, Crystal, MN 55429
    Thanksgiving Baskets available to those eligible.  Please call for an appointment Monday-Friday 9am-4:30pm.
    Service area: New Hope, Crystal, Robbinsdale between 42nd Ave N and 62nd Ave N.

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John’s Troubleshooting Tip of the Month: Food Pump Series- Part 1

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

PHS understands how stressful it can be when a piece of equipment isn’t working properly, and we want to help resolve any issues as soon as possible for you. So, once a month, PHS Respiratory Therapist, John Sheahan will post a tip on how to troubleshoot a common error with a piece of equipment.

Today’s post is the first in a series that will focus on food pumps. We frequently receive calls from families for troubleshooting the food pump. In this first segment we will focus on blending the formula and priming your feeding bag.

Formula

If you have a powdered formula it is best to mix it well in a blender.   This is to make sure all of the powdered formula granules, that can cause alarms, are well dissolved. Watch a video from PHS Dietitian Gwen, on how to properly mix your formula to avoid granules here.

At PHS we recommend mixing powdered formula with cold water unless the formula manufacturer instructions recommend using a different temperature.

After blending, formula may be frothy, so let it sit for 15 minutes.

Pour breast milk or formula into feeding bag and remove air from filled feeding bag by gently pushing down until fluid rises into neck of bag, as pictured above. Replace cap before lifting bag. Note: some feeding bags may different than the one pictured.

Priming feeding bag and tubing

If you are using an EnteraLite Infinity food pump (orange or teal) you will have to prime the feeding bag tubing by completing the following steps.

Push in latch and open Food Pump door.

Hook U-shaped tubing around pump wheel. Gently stretch plastic unit away from pump wheel and press down into place.

Push in latch and close Food Pump door completely

Hold down ON/OFF keypad button until Food Pump beeps and turns ON. Food Pump then does a self-check.

The word RATE and a number will show in display window when Food Pump finishes self-check.

Remove cover from Feeding Bag Adapter at end of Feeding Bag Tubing. Place Feeding Bag Adapter into clean container.

Hold Feeding Bag upside down. At the same time, hold down PRIME keypad button until Formula or Breast Milk comes out of Feeding Bag Adapter. NOTE! PRIME button MUST be held down during the entire priming process.

Replace cover on end of Feeding Bag Adapter.

John Sheahan, RRT-NPS, LRTJohn Sheahan, RRT-NPS, LRT is a Licensed Respiratory Therapist at PHS and would love to hear from you if you have a tip that you’ve found helps when working with your equipment, or have an idea for a Troubleshooting Tip post. Share your tip or idea through a comment here or an email to John at jcsheahan@pediatrichomeservice.com.

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The role of immunizations in the health of children

Friday, September 16th, 2011

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.

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PHS at the MN State Fair

Friday, August 5th, 2011

For me, there are two things that signal the beginning of the end of summer: back-to-school sales and the Minnesota State Fair. With back-to-school ads and supplies out in full force that leaves only one to come, and it just so happens that we’re only a short 2.5 weeks away from the opening day of the state fair. Although the end of summer is a sad time for most Minnesotans, the fair seems to bring the summer to a close on a pretty high note.

Running from August 25- Labor Day, September 5 the Minnesota State Fair has so much to offer to adults and children alike. One new exciting addition to the fair’s many attractions is the Minnesota Home Care Association (MHCA) booth. PHS has teamed up with MHCA to teach fair visitors all about homecare. PHS staff will be at the MHCA booth all day on September 5th to answer your questions about pediatric homecare and how we can help your child, grandchild, neighbor, friend, niece, nephew…. you get the idea.

From 9am til 9pm you can come visit with PHS employees, learn more about pediatric homecare, and homecare in general in the Education Building (Cosgrove and Dan Patch or coordinates x-21 on the map). While at the booth you can also register for the raffle to win one of two family picnic packages. We’d love to visit with you so be sure to stop by and introduce yourself. Let us know on our Facebook page if you’ll be there and we’ll keep an eye out!

Be sure to check out our Hassle-free family visit to the MN State Fair post from last year before you head out. There are great tips for families with medically-fragile kids on navigating the fair.

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John’s Troubleshooting Tip of the Month: Oxygen Concentrator

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

An oxygen concentrator is a machine that allows you to deliver the exact amount of oxygen your doctor has prescribed for your patient or child without the hassle of having to change tanks. The machine does this by filtering out nitrogen and other gasses from the air to create a higher amount of oxygen.

Sequel Eclipse Oxygen Concentrator (left) Puritan Bennet 590 Oxygen Concentrator (right)

Of course, with any machine, there can be problems. So if there is ever a problem with the oxygen concentrator always use a tank to make sure you are giving the proper amount of oxygen before going on to these trouble shooting steps.

If you get an alarm check:

  • that the power cord is plugged into a working wall outlet.
  • that the ball on the flow meter is not all the way up or all the way down.
  • that the intake filter is not clogged with lint. If so, replace with clean filter.
  • that the machine’s air intake area is not blocked by walls, furniture, or drapes.
  • that the oxygen tubing is not kinked or blocked.

If the alarm does not stop:

  • Disconnect tubing and bubbler if you are using one.
  • Turn machine off if still giving alarm.
  • Look for one of the above causes of the alarm.
  • Wait ten minutes for the machine to cool down.
  • Turn machine back on and adjust as needed.
  • Call PHS at 651-642-1825 if machine is still not working.

Always make sure you have enough oxygen tanks in case of power outages and equipment failure. Your PHS clinician will help you calculate the right amount.

John Sheahan, RRT-NPS, LRT, licensed respiratory Therapist, phs, pediatric home service, troubleshooting tipJohn Sheahan, RRT-NPS, LRT is a Licensed Respiratory Therapist at PHS and would love to hear from you if you have a tip that you’ve found helps when working with your equipment, or have an idea for a Troubleshooting Tip post. Share your tip or idea through a comment here or an email to John at jcsheahan@pediatrichomeservice.com.

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Medicaid Covered in the Event of a State Shutdown

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

We know you have been monitoring the state, watching for news of the potential shutdown and the extent of its impact.  So have we.

In the last few days, the Ramsey County District Court heard petitions from the Attorney General and Governor for services that should be deemed critical and thus continued during a shutdown.  Both proposed that benefits to recipients and payments to providers, under the state Medicaid program, be deemed critical.

Today the court responded.  We are pleased with the court’s Order to officially deem PHS patient’s benefits and our services as “core functions,” meaning that funding will continue even in the event of a shutdown.  It is this decision that will protect your access, because providers like PHS will continue to receive the payment necessary to continue service.

While we are assured by the court’s Order, we hope that the legislature will find common ground, avoiding a shutdown that will no doubt impact much of our daily lives.

Read Judge Gearin’s full court ruling here. Reference to Medicaid coverage can be found at the bottom of page 15.

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Traveling With Your Medically-Fragile Child

Friday, June 10th, 2011

“Anything that a normal healthy child can do so can she, there’s just a little more baggage. I just want people to know that it is possible. Your kids, they deserve the best. It just becomes your new normal.”
PHS mom Heather on traveling and excursions with their medically-fragile daughter, Emerson.

Tana, respiratory therapy, RT, infusion therapy, pediatric home service, travel medically fragile, supplies, equipment

PHS patient, Tana, on an airplane ventilator and all, on her way to Mexico!

PHS wants families to know that we are here to help and to support you in every way we can and that includes helping you prepare to travel with your medically-fragile child. See below for the various ways PHS can help you when preparing to travel to grandmas for the weekend or for that big airplane ride you’ve all been waiting to take!

Supplies

  • You can ask PHS to ship disposable supplies to travel destinations in the United States (except Hawaii and Alaska). Alternatively, you may choose to carry disposable supplies with you or ship them yourself.
  • Notify PHS at least 5 business days before your arrival date to allow enough shipping time.

Equipment

  • Make sure any equipment you ship arrives safely by packing it in a correctly sized box. Call us if you need a shipping box. We strongly recommend that you always bring or ship backup equipment.
  • You can also arrange before leaving home to have backup equipment available at your destination. Call a hospital in your travel area and ask for the names of local agencies that might have equipment or supplies that meet your child’s needs. Be sure to say that you want agencies that serve children because most home care and medical equipment providers serve only adults.

Air Travel

  • Call the airline about your child’s medical needs before buying a plane ticket. Each airline has separate rules about the type of medical support it allows during a flight. Most major airlines will accommodate your child’s medical equipment needs, whereas some charter airlines will not.
  • An airline may require a doctor’s order before it allows medical support during a flight.
  • Make sure the airport terminal can meet your child’s needs while you wait to board the plane or after you arrive at your destination.

Summer Holiday Shipping Schedule
PHS is CLOSED on the following Mondays in observance of holidays:
July 4 and September 5

  • On-call clinicians will be available for emergency therapy and equipment troubleshooting needs.
  • Order supplies in advance so you don’t run out! Shipping service during the long weekends may be delayed.

Do you have any travel tips, photos or experiences from traveling with your medically-fragile child that you’d like to share with other families? We’d love to hear about all your fun!

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John’s Troubleshooting Tip of the Month: Bi-Annual Battery Charging

Monday, June 6th, 2011

It’s Summer—or so we hope.

The weather has been unpredictable at best. With more storms and power outages sure to come it’s a good time to check the battery life of your equipment. Twice a year you are responsible for making sure all battery units can last the required time needed to run a piece of equipment. As each piece of equipment will vary be sure to check your PHS manual to find out how long each piece of equipment should last.

interacter, battery, charger, recharge

BEFORE recharging ANY battery make sure:

  • Always check the weather report before doing any battery rundowns.
  • Batter case is placed in a well ventilated area and is as far from the battery charger as possible.
  • Battery charger and case are on a stable surface so it cannot tip over.

As always, if you ever have questions about your equipment or  troubleshooting tips don’t hesitate to contact your PHS Respiratory Therapist at 651-642-1825.

John Sheahan, RRT-NPS, LRTJohn Sheahan, RRT-NPS, LRT is a Licensed Respiratory Therapist at PHS and would love to hear from you if you have a tip that you’ve found helps when working with your equipment, or have an idea for a Troubleshooting Tip post. Share your tip or idea through a comment here or an email to John at jcsheahan@pediatrichomeservice.com.

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