Just over one year ago PHS launched our newest service, Private Duty Nursing (PDNS). We are excited to look back over the past year at all that has taken place since bringing our first PDNS patient home on January 18th, 2011. Allowing children the opportunity to thrive at home with their family while still receiving the highest quality and safest healthcare available to them is what makes us tick. Adding private duty nursing to our services has allowed PHS to complete the circle of homecare services for any medically-fragile, technology dependent child and their family.
One phone call can take care of so much. A parent can place a supply order, check on the last lab draw results, troubleshoot any concern with equipment or supplies and schedule the next IV nurse visit, all in one call. The same is true for the healthcare professionals that we partner with daily. One phone call to PHS and we will coordinate all services needed to get a child out of the hospital and to the comfort of their home. Including training the family and any caregivers on all equipment. All the while staying in constant communication with the physician to ensure the everyone always has the latest information.
Here are a few fun facts about the first year of Private Duty Nursing at PHS:
Number of field nurse assessments (PDNS Shift and PDNS Seizure)? 9,070!!
Number of Patients that have been on PDNS service? 37
Number of current field nurses? 110
Geographically; where is our furthest patient located? Brainerd
How many homes have 2 or more patients in the same home? 2
The picture shows our amazing internal PDNS staff that keep the ship moving, and although they are not pictured, the incredible 110 field nurses round out the PDNS department. It truly takes a team to take care of the child and we happen to think we’ve come up with a winning team.
We want to take a moment to thank each family that has invited PHS staff into your home and allowed us the opportunity to care for your child. Each one is a blessing and we love partnering with you to keep your children safe, happy and healthy at home- just where they belong.
Sharing Care volunteers spent Wednesday night at the Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis. We had the pleasure of participating in their Cook for Kids program, where volunteers buy ingredients and prepare dinner for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House. The facility, which offers 8,500 square feet including:
16 private rooms with bedrooms and showers
In-room Internet, TV/DVD players, phone with hospital extensions
Full kitchen with snacks, beverages and cooking facilities
Laundry facilities
Living room and lounge space with a TV
A quiet space, computer lab with internet access
Exercise facilities
Outside patio
It truly is a beautiful facility that offers the guests some of the comforts of home, all located right inside Children’s Hospital.
Clockwise starting in upper left: Sara and Jodi serving; Claudia enjoying some of the feast; the big group: (left to right) Sharon, Sara, Suzie, Janelle, Jodi, Dana, Claudia; and Suzie with her beautiful pancakes.
We had Suzie, Jodi, Sara, Janelle, Sharon, Claudia and Dana all working together to churn out a menu of Breakfast for Dinner ( a big hit the last time around, so we figured if it’s not broken, why fix it) the following:
We scrambled 242 eggs
Baked 180 slices of bacon
Heated up 144 turkey sausage links
Flipped 120 pancakes
Chopped 6 cantaloupes, 24 bananas and a whole large package of grapes
All-in-all we fed 86 people and had a blast doing it. We also received a ‘thank you card’ from one family immediately following the meal.
You can check out all of the pictures on the PHS facebook page here.
We’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:
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.
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
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.
Pepitos Mexican Restaurant
612.827.2928
4820 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55417
Free Thanksgiving meal provided beginning at 10am.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Fairpost from last year before you head out. There are great tips for families with medically-fragile kids on navigating the fair.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.”
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.
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:
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.
Just over one year ago PHS launched our newest service, Private Duty Nursing (PDNS). We are excited to look back over the past year at all that has taken place since bringing our first PDNS patient home on January 18th, 2011. Allowing children the opportunity to thrive at home with their family while still receiving the highest quality and safest healthcare available to them is what makes us tick. Adding private duty nursing to our services has allowed PHS to complete the circle of homecare services for any medically-fragile, technology dependent child and their family.
