Parents often ask what a child does at a PPEC. The answer depends on the child's individual care plan, prescriptions, medical needs, and energy that day. Here are the kinds of care and activities children may experience at our Hollywood center.
Nursing Assessment and Care
A nurse checks the child's condition, reviews anything that changed at home, confirms medications and feeding instructions, and checks equipment such as trach ties, G-tube sites, and oxygen settings.
Skilled nursing continues throughout attendance. Suctioning, tube feeds, medications, repositioning, seizure monitoring, and respiratory care happen on each child's schedule.
Therapy and Learning Through Play
Depending on the child's prescriptions and readiness, activities may include:
- Physical, occupational, or speech therapy sessions
- Age-appropriate activities, music, sensory play, and group activities adapted to different abilities
- Positioning and mobility work using standers, gait trainers, mats, or other equipment
Physical and occupational therapy, along with speech therapy, are separate services with their own prescriptions and approval steps.
Meals and Feeding
Meals and snacks follow each child's plan. That may mean oral feeding, texture-modified foods, or tube feeding on a prescribed schedule. Feeding therapy may also take place during a meal when it is prescribed for the child.
Rest and Monitoring
Children have a place to rest based on their age and needs. Nursing care does not pause during rest. Monitoring and repositioning continue along with scheduled care while a child sleeps.
Family Updates
Families receive an update about the child's care and feeds, therapy sessions and seizures, and anything that seemed different from the child's usual baseline.
Peek A Boo Pediatric Care is open Monday to Friday from 7 AM to 7 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 8 AM to 4 PM. A child's attendance schedule depends on the physician's prescription and the family's needs.
How This Differs From a Nurse at Home
Private duty nursing sends one nurse to the home, and for some children that is the better answer. A PPEC adds a center-based team, therapists in the same building, specialized equipment, and time with other children.
If you are still working out whether your child is eligible, start with Who Qualifies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours a day can my child attend a PPEC?
Florida Medicaid allows up to 12 hours per day of PPEC care, and the authorized amount is based on your child's documented medical need. Peek A Boo Pediatric Care is open Monday to Friday from 7 AM to 7 PM and weekends from 8 AM to 4 PM.
Does my child have to stay all day?
No. Some children attend a full day and others attend for part of one. The schedule is built around what the child's physician prescribes and what works for the family.
Who is with my child?
Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses provide skilled care, supported by home health aides. Physical and occupational therapists, along with speech therapists, see children as prescribed.
What happens if my child gets sick or has an emergency at the center?
Our nurses follow the protocols in the child's care plan, including seizure and airway emergency protocols, and contact the family immediately. In an emergency, we call 911 while we reach the family.
Can I visit?
Yes. Parents are welcome, and our team will tell you how the child's care went.
See the Center for Yourself
Visit the center, meet the care team, and ask questions about how your child's individual plan would work here.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.