Skip to content

Hospital2Home Conference Helps Educate

Roy C. Maynard, M.D., is the Medical Director for PHS. He serves as PHS’s clinical leader, working with the team to provide consultation and advice to ensure quality and effective care to children and their families in their own homes. He also leads implementation of clinical policies, procedures and programs to further enhance the best possible care for each child. He is a Neonatologist and Pediatric Pulmonologist, and serves as a staff physician at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics in Minneapolis, Minn. 

Conference recap 

DSC_0068_compressRecently, PHS sponsored the nursing conference in Rochester, MN devoted to the topic of pediatric home care and transitioning patients out of the hospital when it is appropriate. Preparation for this educational event titled “Hospital2Home” took nearly 6 months.  Minnesota medical professionals, including 3 physicians and a respiratory therapist, addressed the audience of nearly 125 attendees who ranged from nursing students and current nurses to other health care professionals involved in a patient’s care.

Subject matter presented included the history of Minnesota pediatric home care nursing, quality initiatives and outcomes in home care, hospital training for parents with technology dependent children prior to discharge, and outpatient management of the tracheostomy-dependent child, as well as an introduction to pediatric pain and palliative care in children. Evaluations completed by attendees indicated the conference was well received.

An increased need for nursing

DSC_0532_compressAs the population of children with medical complexity being discharged to Minnesota communities from pediatric medical centers increases, so will the need for home care nursing.

Pediatric home care nurses are a valuable resource for these children and their families as the patients live longer, more fulfilling lives thanks to improved technology. Pediatric home care nurses help provide a safe transition to the home, improve the quality of life for the family and siblings, may minimize costly readmissions, family burnout and the need for respite care.

Currently, recruiting and retaining skilled nurses in home care is compromised by reimbursement rates that are not competitive with hospital salaries for comparable positions.  PHS advocates for pediatric home care nursing hoping to improve their pay structure, job satisfaction, and reward them for what they do, not for where they work when taking care of the child.

Originally published: May 1, 2015

Leave a Comment