Relief for parents of medically dependent children

Historic City News readers in St Johns with medically fragile, otherwise homebound children, will be relieved to know that a cost-effective alternative to private duty nursing or institutionalization available in Fruit Cove on SR-13 North and on Cassat Avenue in Jacksonville.

Whether your child needs apnea monitoring, oxygen administration, tube feedings, IV medication, tracheostomy care, or ventilator management, a little-known solution, which may be 100% covered by Medicaid, for those who are eligible, is available through a state-approved Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care program. In addition to Medicaid, private payment is also accepted.

Many stay-at-home parents find great comfort in leaving their medically dependent child for the day; under the care of skilled, compassionate nursing, while they run errands or have a respite.

Caregiver Services, Inc., a leading provider of caregiving services and Florida’s largest nurse registry, has been a pioneer in this program and developed meticulously appointed centers to provide medical and therapeutic care in a friendly and nurturing environment.

In addition to providing for the unique medical needs of the pediatric population, Caregiver Services, Inc., offers in-home care using qualified nurses and aides, specialty care through its Medicare-Medicaid Home Health Agency, and a full range of health-related professional staffing to leading healthcare providers.

Caregiver Services, Inc., has been a multi-faceted provider of caregivers and caregiving services for 45 years; with a current network of 5,000 active caregivers and a service footprint covering most of Florida. Prior to opening the centers near Wolfson Children’s Hospital, and in Fruit Cove, Caregiver Services, Inc., was already operating centers in south Florida.

Pediatric physicians are turning to Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care centers as a solution for their patients. Centers like Caregiver Services, Inc., represent a less costly alternative to in-home care or hospitalization — while providing social stimulation and peer interaction in a daycare setting.

Licensed and regulated by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, these centers are staffed by highly skilled and qualified nursing professionals and therapists, and offer up to 12 hours of daily health-focused care and therapy services.

The Caregiver Services Fruit Cove center can take children by the hour, by the day, by the week, or on a longer-term basis. At that location, they are fostering better pediatric nursing care by working with local nursing education programs to use the center as part of their pediatric clinical rotation.

“Our nurses working in Fruit Cove talk and teach, as they perform their routines, to provide nursing students rotating through our center an in-depth understanding of the care of medically-complex children,” stated Jane Park, RN.

Contact or visit Caregiver Services, Inc., in Fruit Cove at 540 SR-13 North, Suite 104, St Johns, FL 32259 or by calling 904-380-8522. In Jacksonville, visit 1855 Cassat Avenue 5-A, Jacksonville, FL 32210 or by calling 904-334-8103.

Both centers are open from 6am to 6pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays.

Additional information is available by calling 877-CAREGIVER, or visiting www.CSICaregiver.com