Our in-home nurses are part of a pediatric team dedicated to providing safe, coordinated care, 24/7.
When children with special needs come home from the hospital, they don’t come alone. In addition to equipment and supplies, they typically require the services of a variety of medical staff, including private duty nurses who may be coming and going, or in the home 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Caring, compassionate and experienced
PHS’s private duty nurses are well equipped to provide their pediatric patients with safe, consistent, high quality care in the home. In fact, for more than 20 years, PHS educators have been training in-home nursing care providers in the unique challenges and complexities of caring for medically-fragile and technology-dependent children.
- All PHS extended-care private duty nurses are licensed, trained and experienced in the specialized discipline of caring for young patients. They receive extensive orientation training before caring for a patient in the home. This orientation includes, but isn’t limited to, comprehensive pediatric assessments, equipment competency, emergency response, and CPR certification.
- Our private duty nurses are supported by the comprehensive array of pediatric home services offered by PHS, including Durable Medical Equipment, Respiratory, Infusion, Pharmacy, In-Home Asthma, Nutrition and Medical Social Work services, and an on-site Medical Director.
- PHS nurses are adaptable and available for in-home care 24 hours a day, seven days a week per physicians orders. We work with each family to make sure their needs are met. If a nurse is unavailable for a shift, every effort is made to have a nurse who has been oriented to your child fill the shift.
- Private duty nurses understand that having a non-family caregiver in the home can take some getting used to. They are trained to respect family boundaries and work hard to adjust to the needs of and the dynamics of every household.
Commonly asked questions when choosing a nursing agency include:
How long has your company been providing pediatric homecare?
PHS started January 1, 1990. For more than 20 years, we have served medically complex children of all acuity levels and have established a reputation for excellence that is nationally recognized.
Does your company comply with standards of care or have any licenses?
What makes PHS stand out from other agencies?
We provide comprehensive home care services for the pediatric client including: Private Duty Nursing, Durable Medical Equipment, Respiratory, Infusion, In-Home Asthma Management, Pharmacy, Nutrition, and Social Work, and PHS has an on-site Medical Director. We also have a formal education program that provides training for nurses from many other agencies in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
What kind of training do your nurses receive?
All nurses receive extensive orientation training prior to caring for a patient in the home. This orientation includes, but is not limited to, comprehensive pediatric assessments, equipment competency, emergency response, and CPR certification.
How do you screen your nurses?
Upon employment, all nurses must submit to a thorough and comprehensive background check and drug test. At the time of hire and each subsequent year, all licenses are verified from the primary source and each name is checked against the federal registry for fraud and abuse.
Who contacts the physician if my child’s condition changes?
Parents or nurse, per parent’s choice.
What type of information is shared among nurses, family, PHS office, and physicians involved in the patient’s care?
- Each PHS patient has an electronic chart in our database that is updated throughout the day by the nurse in the home. Routine reports are sent to the appropriate physician as needed.
- An electronic Medication Administration Record (MAR) is kept up-to-date by the nurse in the home and is available to physicians and pharmacists.
- There is a communication book in the home for use by nurses and the family.
- There is also a shift report at shift change between nurses.
- We comply fully with all HIPAA guidelines.
Are nursing hours scheduled according to the needs of my child and family?
PHS works with your family so your needs are met. If a private duty nurse is unavailable for a shift, every effort is made to have a private duty nurse who has been oriented to your child fill the shift; if unsuccessful, family backup takes effect.
What do I do if I have a complaint about a nurse or situation?
What will my responsibilities be in the care of my child at home if I choose PHS?
We are not in the home as a replacement for the parent rather we are there to assist parents in the care of their medically-fragile child. Responsible family members will be trained in all of the patient’s cares and can determine which cares they wish to do themselves and which they would like the nurse to perform.
Is there someone I can call if I have concerns about staffing, schedules or personnel?
The PHS Director of Nursing, Nursing Case Manager, or Managing Director of Clinical Services can be contacted anytime with concerns or questions. We also have a Private Duty Nursing Agency Coordinator on staff to address all scheduling questions. Contact the staff.
Can nurses take my child to the doctor or to school?
Yes, as long as there is a driver available, the nurse can accompany the child to the doctor, school, and other activities.
Can the agency provide references?
Yes, PHS can provide you a list of physicians, hospital care managers, and families that currently use our services.
Contact Director of Nursing
How many patients does each case manager follow for Private Duty Nursing?
Each case manager will follow 10-12 patients. This varies depending on several factors such as the acuity of the child's condition and stability of the child's health.
Getting started with PHS »
Our clients say:
“Continue providing care in the home, this alone helped us a great deal. The nurses we have worked with are all very kind, compassionate, professional, and always on time. They appeared to truly care about my daughter and her comfort in the process of treatment. The nurses were social, had a positive attitude, were good listeners and understanding. All great qualities! And, I noticed the nurses washing their hands.”
Setting the standard in care
PHS is an active member of the Minnesota Home Care Association Pediatric Council and helped write the standards for pediatric homecare in the state. We also have a formal education program and have been training in-home nurses for more than 20 years.
