Posts Tagged ‘portable home care supplies’

Navigate the MN State Fair with Medically-Fragile Children

Tuesday, August 28th, 2012

Sweet Martha’s cookies. All-you-can-drink milk. Everything to eat on a stick. Farm animals of all ages, shapes and sizes. Who doesn’t love the fair?

The great Minnesota get-together, the Minnesota State Fair, runs August 23 – September 3 this year. Planning to spend a day there can be daunting for any family, especially with a medically-fragile child who has special needs.

Pediatric Home Service wants to ensure your day at the fair goes as smoothly as possible. So we’ve compiled a list of helpful things to know for a family with a medically-fragile child. We want this to be a day you’ll treasure. To focus on the fun of the day, do as much as you can before you get in the gates with these preparation tips:

1. Study up on accessibility

The Fair has parking, drop-off and pick-up and other arrangements for visitors with special needs. The Fair’s accessibility guide is here, where you’ll find information on:

  • Wheelchairs to rent
  • Wheelchair recharging stations
  • Midway and Kidway ride guidance
  • Special entrances and seating for entertainment
  • ASL interpreter lineup

2. Know where to find the first aid buildings

The Fair has two medical aid stations to provide first aid. For serious illness of injuries call the police at 651-642-2280.

  • Medical Aid West: 8a.m. to 12:30a.m. 1834 Dan Patch Ave., across from Heritage Square
  • Medical Aid East: 8a.m. to 9p.m. 1424 Cosgrove St., north side of the 4-H Building

3. Get an ID bracelet

Make your first stop (even before a pronto pup!) one of these locations for a free ID Bracelet:

  • Care & Assistance Center
  • Guest Services Office in the Visitors Plaza
  • Any information booth

Use the Fairgrounds map to help you find your way.

Your child’s bracelet will have his or her name, pertinent medical information and your contact info for the day. The information is stored inside the bracelet on the child’s arm and can only be accessed by cutting bracelet off arm, so you don’t have to worry about your child tampering with it.

4. Learn from other parents

The Education building is full of freebies from coloring pages to stickers and school supplies—plus a reusable bag to stash it all in.

This brave mom took her four kids to the MN State Fair and lived to blog about it. For instance, she found the best unisex/handicapped accessible restroom is in Eco Experience. Read all her tips.

Other moms offer advice on how to do the fair on a budget. Their tips can be found at http://twincities.momslikeme.com/members/JournalActions.aspx?g=152633&m=113301&grpcat=

5. Take photos and share the stories of your day with PHS

What’s your can’t miss stop at the MN State Fair? What works for you and your family? We’d love to see pictures from your fun day out and about. Share your pictures on the PHS facebook wall and tell us your favorite part of the day.

Do you have tips, based on your fair visits and other travels? Any places that have been especially accommodating?

We’d love to hear from you.

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Posted in Fun family activities for kids, Help for parents caring for sick kids, Other Posts | View Comments

Joe’Von Thrives at Home

Friday, January 13th, 2012

Joe’Von is like most kids his age
And that’s what makes him remarkable.
He likes to watch cartoons, play in the yard and pick on his twin sister. In that much, at least, he’s a fairly typical preschooler. You wouldn’t have imagined it, though, had you met him the day he was born.

Joe’Von came into this world at 28 weeks and with short bowel syndrome, which means he didn’t have enough intestinal length to properly absorb nutrients. Doctors believed he’d never eat like the rest of us. In other words, that he wouldn’t be able to sustain himself with food.

Couldn’t eat or even look at pictures of food
Joe’Von’s aversion to eating kept him not only from the kitchen table, but also from being able to watch people eating on television or looking at photos of food in magazines. It also meant TPN and g-tube feeding directly into of his stomach. Long term, that could mean liver failure.

Out of the hospital so he can grow up at home
PHS private-duty nurses, infusion therapists, dietitians and other highly trained in-home caregivers have given Joe’Von the opportunity to thrive where’s he’s most comfortable—at home.

So far, he’s doing great. With PHS nursing care 12 hours a day, six days a week, Joe’Von is slowly being weaned off TPN. He’s learned to walk, run and play, and even dances and does karate. He’s gaining weight and beginning to experiment with food—putting grapes in his mouth, though not yet eating them. It is hoped, however, that he’ll eat on his own someday and grow up like any other kid.

PHS is excited to have just wrapped up our newest TV commercial too, check it out! It’s so important for families to know they have a choice in their homecare company and PHS is always here to help bring your child home and keep them home. Given the choice, kids will always choose to thrive, and PHS makes that possible.

Have you seen the TV commercial air yet? What do you think?

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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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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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Hassle-free family visit to the MN State Fair

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

All-you-can-drink milk, $1. Scavenger hunts. Tractor rides. Watching a lamb come into the world. Everything to eat on a stick.

The great Minnesota get-together, the Minnesota State Fair, runs August 26 – September 6 this year. Planning to spend a day there can be daunting for any family, especially with a medically-fragile child who has special needs.

Yet it’s also a day you’ll all treasure. To focus on the fun of the day, do as much as you can before you get in the gates with these preparation tips:

1. Study up on accessibility

The Fair has parking, drop-off and pick-up and other arrangements for visitors with special needs. The Fair’s accessibility guide is here, where you’ll find information on:

-      Wheelchairs to rent

-      Wheelchair recharging stations

-      Midway and Kidway ride guidance

-      Special entrances and seating for entertainment

-      ASL interpreter lineup

2. Know where to find the first aid buildings

The Fair has two medical aid stations to provide first aid. For serious illness of injuries call the police at 651-642-2280.

-      Medical Aid West: 8a.m. to 12:30a.m. 1834 Dan Patch Ave., across from Heritage Square

-      Medical Aid East: 8a.m. to 9p.m. 1424 Cosgrove St., north side of the 4-H Building

3. Plan ahead and save

-      Get discounted tickets at Cub Foods

-      Check out discount days and the Blue Ribbon Bargain Book

-      Consider using mass transit or carpool

-      If you’ll bring oxygen, prepare with tips from this PHS blog post

-      Talk with your PHS clinician for other guidance specific to your child and family

4. Preview

Talk with your kids about what they’d like to see and do. It’s challenging to do the entire MN State Fair in one day, so plan to focus on entertainment, exhibits and even food that most interests your kids—all under the clever guise of educating them about our great state!

5. Get an ID bracelet

Make your first stop (even before a pronto pup!) one of these locations for a free ID Bracelet:

-      Care & Assistance Center

-      Guest Services Office in the Visitors Plaza

-      Any information booth

Fairgrounds map

Your child’s bracelet will have his or her name, pertinent medical information and your contact info for the day. The information is stored inside the bracelet on the child’s arm and can only be accessed by cutting bracelet off arm, so you don’t have to worry about your child tampering with it.

6. Learn from other parents

The Education building is full of freebies from coloring pages to stickers and school supplies—plus a reusable bag to stash it all in.

This brave mom took her four kids to the MN State Fair and lived to blog about it. For instance, she found the best unisex/handicapped accessible restroom is in Eco Experience. Read all her tips.

Other moms offer advice on how to do the fair on a budget. Their tips can be found at http://twincities.momslikeme.com/members/JournalActions.aspx?g=152633&m=113301&grpcat=

7. Take photos and share the stories of your day with PHS

What’s your can’t miss stop at the MN State Fair? What works for you and your family? Do you have tips, based on your fair visits and other travels? Any places that have been especially accommodating?

We’d love to hear from you.

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10 tips for vacation with medically-fragile homecare kids

Friday, August 13th, 2010

There’s still time for one last family getaway this summer. Travel allows you to change up your routine, yet for medically-fragile children and their families, it can be terrifying—not exciting.

These 10 tips can help you and your family relax and enjoy some away-from-home adventures:

1. Talk with your PHS clinician before the trip

He or she will help you prepare, including getting a copy of your child’s current physician orders to keep with you and helping you with other planning details.

2. Pack or arrange to ship disposable supplies and equipment

You can carry disposable supplies with you or PHS can ship disposable supplies to your travel destination in the United States (except Hawaii and Alaska.) Contact PHS customer service at 651-642-1825 to make arrangements for shipment of supplies from PHS to your destination.

If you are planning to ship your child’s equipment, make sure it arrives safely by packing it in a correctly sized box. Call PHS if you need boxes for your child’s equipment.

3. Bring backup equipment

Pack backup equipment or arrange to have backup equipment ready for your use at your destination.

4. Know your resources

Before leaving home, call a hospital in your travel area and ask for resources that fit your child’s medical needs. Be sure to say that these medical resources are for a child because most homecare and medical equipment providers center on adult care. If you’re unsure where the nearest hospital is in your travel area use the US Hospital Finder website to help locate one.

5. Let the airline know

Before buying a plane ticket, call the airline or PHS to talk about your child’s medical needs. If medical support is needed during flight time, your airline may require a doctor’s order. If you need oxygen during your flight time, your airline will require you to use their oxygen tanks, not your own. You will also want to make sure your medical and equipment needs are met at the airport terminal before you board and after you arrive at your destination.

6. Line up oxygen if needed

Some companies specializing in oxygen and related medical equipment for travelers are:

Advanced Aeromedical

For a fee, provides oxygen for airport layovers, hotel stays, cruise ships, and motor tours.

Breathin’ Easy

Identifies oxygen providers in cities throughout the world.

Travel O2

For a fee, arranges for worldwide delivery of medical and oxygen equipment.

7. Bring home with you

Make your hotel or other lodging a little more like home with a familiar stuffed animal, blanket or pillow. Consider a room with a small kitchen.

8. Keep your schedule consistent

As much as possible, keep bedtimes and wake-up times the same as at home, accounting for time changes. Try to have a trip routine from day to day, even if the specific activities change.

9. Preview and review

Each morning, talk with your child about the day ahead, and review the day each evening.

10. Most of all, enjoy the experience and take plenty of photos and video. PHS would love to hear about your adventures, too!

How do you prepare for time away from home? What works for you and your family while on vacation? Do you have tips, based on your vacation experiences? Any places that have been especially accommodating for you and your family?

We’d love to hear from you.

We provide these resources as a convenience and for informational purposes only. Always consult your child’s doctor regarding your child’s care plan. PHS is not liable for the content of any of the resources listed nor do we endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or suggested.

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