The admissions process

Physician determines the homecare services needed to allow for a safe care plan in the home.

Hospital care manager or clinical staff works with physician and advises family of homecare provider options or family requests to be sent home with PHS's care.

PHS is contacted to get the child through the admissions process of obtaining insurance information as well as a thorough evaluation of the patient's history and needs for the home. PHS works with the physician, hospital care manager or clinic staff to determine the services that will be necessary.

PHS clinician(s) are assigned to the child's case.

PHS works with the physician and any other pertinent members of the care team (PHS respiratory therapist, infusion nurse, dietitian, specialty pharmacists, private duty nursing, and medical social worker) including the parents (caregivers) to create a safe care plan customized for the child in the home environment. If any changes need to be made to the safe care plan the primary physician is consulted.

PHS clinicians make arrangements with family for conducting environmental assessments (if needed) and arrange for delivery, set-up and training of the home equipment or therapy.

If an environmental assessment is deemed necessary by the prescription of the physician (high-tech patients only*), PHS clinicians will go to the family home and conduct an assessment before the family leaves the hospital.

During an environmental assessment, PHS ensures safe operation of medical equipment in the home's outlets, safe storage of prescribed medications, supplies, and formula. They also look for an emergency back-up plan for extended power outages and severe weather. This information is then shared with the primary physician and the three parties (family, PHS and physician) all work to ensure any concerns are addressed and fixed before the child goes home.

For high-tech patients, PHS will also help the family determine the most appropriate place for the child and all the equipment to be set up. The child's bedroom is not always the most practical place. PHS strives to integrate each child into the family home life as much as possible and often the living room or anywhere the family spends the majority of the time is the best solution, especially if the child will have limited mobility.

The child is discharged into the home setting.

PHS clinicians will meet the family at the home to review equipment and individualized training materials in the home setting ensuring the family and all caregivers are comfortable with the necessary cares before they will be left alone.

Ongoing communication between PHS with the family, physician and any other collaborating health care partner (whether it be an extended hours nursing agency or another medical supply company working with a PHS patient) is maintained to ensure the child is adapting and growing properly. The family will also call PHS to order supplies as necessary in addition to the home visits with hi-tech patients from the PHS clinician to assess the child's progress.