For a child with complex medical needs, therapy is often a big part of the week. Pediatric therapy in Hollywood, FL at a PPEC means a child can receive physical and occupational therapy, along with speech therapy, in the same building where nurses provide care.
Why Therapy on Site Matters
At Peek A Boo Pediatric Care, sessions are scheduled when the child is ready for them. A nurse is nearby, so a child who uses oxygen, a feeding tube, or a trach can take part safely.
Having therapies under one roof has practical benefits:
- Less travel between locations
- Nurses and therapists can share observations about what is working
- A skill practiced in therapy, such as sitting up or holding a spoon, can be reinforced during other activities
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy focuses on large movements of the body, including strength and balance as well as posture and moving from one place to another. Sessions take place one on one in our therapy gym.
Depending on the child's goals, physical therapy may work on:
- Head control and rolling, followed by sitting
- Standing and weight bearing
- Walking, including gait training with a walker or gait trainer
- Balance and coordination through play
- Using equipment such as braces or standers
Most sessions use play. Shooting a ball at a low hoop, for example, works on standing balance and reaching.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy helps children with the skills they use every day. It often focuses on the hands, the senses, and daily routines.
- Fine-motor skills, including grasping, stacking blocks, and using child-safe scissors
- Self-care, including learning to feed themselves and help with dressing at their own pace
- Sensory processing to help children respond to touch, sound, or movement
- Play skills that build attention and problem solving
Speech Therapy
Speech therapy supports communication in the form that fits the child. For some children that means first words. For others it means signs, pictures, or a communication device.
Speech therapists also help with feeding. Children who have trouble chewing or swallowing may work on oral-motor skills and safe swallowing in coordination with nurses who manage the feeding plan.
Respiratory Therapy and ABA
Two more services round out the program:
- Respiratory therapy, including breathing treatments and trach or ventilator support for children with breathing needs
- Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA, to help children build communication and focus as well as everyday skills
You can see the program's services on our PPEC services page.
Physical and occupational therapy, along with speech therapy, are prescribed and billed as separate services from the PPEC benefit. Each service may need its own authorization.
How Families Get Started
For eligible children, Florida Medicaid covers PPEC with a doctor's prescription. Florida Medicaid approval is renewed every 180 days. Each therapy is prescribed based on the child's needs and may need its own authorization, and our team helps with that paperwork.
Our Who Qualifies page explains the requirements. Our team speaks English and Spanish as well as Creole.
Frequently Asked Questions
What therapies are available at Peek A Boo Pediatric Care?
We provide physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, respiratory therapy, and Applied Behavior Analysis on site in Hollywood, FL, alongside skilled nursing care.
Does my child need a prescription for therapy at a PPEC?
Yes. A physician prescribes PPEC and the therapies the child needs. Our team helps families understand what the doctor should include.
Is therapy included in the PPEC benefit?
No. Physical and occupational therapy, along with speech therapy, are billed as separate services. Each service needs a prescription and may need its own authorization.
How often does my child get therapy?
It depends on the child's prescription and goals. Sessions are scheduled around nursing care and the child's readiness.
Can my child get therapy if they use a trach, oxygen, or a feeding tube?
Yes. Nurses are on site, so children with medical equipment can take part in therapy safely.
Want to See Our Therapy Gym?
Book a visit to meet our therapists and nurses. We will check your child's eligibility.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.