Posts Tagged ‘help for families with sick kids’

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Troubleshooting your humifidier

Friday, October 7th, 2011

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

  1. First thing you want to do is make sure you have airflow going through the circuit.
  2. 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
  3. 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.

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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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1•2•3 Infection Free! IV Catheter Care Program

Friday, September 9th, 2011

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.

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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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New Bivona Trach Tubes at PHS

Friday, July 29th, 2011

As many of you may know, the company that makes the Bivona trach tubes came out with new neonatal and pediatric trach tubes last year. Due to some design issues that we, nor our patients, liked, PHS chose not to stock these new trachs. Bivona hit the drawing board and redesigned these trachs once again to address all of our concerns.

Beginning August 1st, PHS will carry the updated Bivona trachs in the neonatal and pediatric sizes. There are slight changes to the new trach that will affect how you clean the item, so please reference picture below.

To save your healthcare dollars be sure to use any trachs that you currently have in rotation until they are ready to be thrown out, before using your new Bivona trach.

If you have any questions about your new trach please feel free to contact your PHS respiratory therapist at 651-642-1825.

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Proud to be one of Minnesota’s top workplaces

Friday, June 24th, 2011

And privileged to be taking care of the state’s seriously ill kids and their families

PHS Pharmacist, James Roemer

“Working at Pediatric Home Service is more than a job,” says PHS pharmacist James Roemer, “it’s a way of life. We all see our customers as family and do everything possible to take care of the child.”

That’s why he nominated PHS—and why it was named—as one of the Star Tribune’s Top 100 Workplaces in Minnesota in 2011.

PHS was ranked third among midsize companies, plus we were one of 12 companies recognized for going above and beyond for our “clued-in management.”

Top Workplaces recognizes the most progressive companies in Minnesota. The awards are based entirely on employee opinions. More than 60,500 employees from Minnesota public, private, and nonprofit organizations answered questions about company leadership, communication, career opportunities, workplace environment, managerial skills, pay and benefits.

Here’s some of what our employees said:

“I love my job because we take care of children in need, and help make their lives, and their families’ lives, better.”

“I have never worked for such an outstanding organization like PHS. I have been so impressed with how everyone is treated. It really is like family.”

“Our managers allow us to be part of the team. They make it known that our opinions matter and take suggestions seriously. Each individual feels as valuable as the other.”

“Management really listens and takes note of my concerns.”

“My manager makes an effort to really get to know each employee. She also helps us to better understand other points of view and encourages us to work together through those differences.”

Congratulations to all our outstanding PHS employees. Thank you for making PHS a top Minnesota workplace. Most of all, thank you for taking care of the child.

You rock!

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Adaptive playgrounds for medically-fragile kids

Friday, June 17th, 2011

Children discover the world through play, so adaptive playgrounds are the perfect place to spend summer days and evenings. Plus, it’s just good, affordable fun.

Your kids’ favorite playgrounds?

PHS found a few adaptive playgrounds in the Twin Cities and Minnesota, yet we’d like to hear about others. Do you have a favorite local park or neighborhood playground? What features does your child enjoy? Which adaptive playgrounds do you recommend?

All public playgrounds are required by law to have at least some activities for people with disabilities. This may be a wheelchair-accessible ramp to reach the play area or harnesses or wheelchair decks on special swings. Some parks have modified digging and rocking toys, non-plastic slides (plastic can affect hearing aids due to static electricity), hand railings, and different colors on multilevel sets to help children with vision issues avoid falls.

Frankly, it’s difficult to find the exact adaptive features at individual playgrounds until you visit the area, so we’d love to have you share your experiences.

Adaptive playgrounds we found

Meanwhile, here are the adaptive playgrounds we found, alphabetically by location:

Coming soon! Two new adaptive playgrounds in the works

Keep an eye out for Madison’s Place, a completely handicapped-accessible playground in Woodbury and playground renovations at Wabun Park at Minnehaha Falls.

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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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Caring for Your Food Pump at Home

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

Food pump cleaning instructions

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.

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Step-by-step Farrell Valve bag instructions

Friday, May 20th, 2011

Your child needs nutrition and good calories through his or her enteral feedings—not excess air bubbles. A key part of a feeding system is a Farrell Valve bag, which removes excess bubbles for more reliable feedings. Your child has less bloating and is more comfortable during and after feedings.

Watch PHS Dietitian Janelle Peterson show how to set up, use, clean, and store a Farrell Valve bag:

Of course if you have any questions about any aspect of your child’s feeding system, contact any PHS clinician.

Do you use a Farrell Valve bag in your system? Any tips to share? We welcome your input.

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