PPEC: Frequently Asked Questions

ChildrenFirst proudly offers Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care also referred to as PPEC as one of their many award-winning services. It’s incredibly rewarding to provide specialty care to Central Florida families with children who have complex medical needs. Attending a PPEC can make all the difference for a medically fragile or medically complex infant or child. Each PPEC center throughout Central Florida is fully equipped with knowledgeable and caring staff as well as medical equipment.

You want the BEST for your child… So, we know you’ll have questions about our PPEC centers! That’s totally okay! We are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to every child who comes through our doors. It’s important that you feel confident in the choice you’ve made in their care. To save you time googling the most common questions people have about PPECs we compiled them all in one place. We also took it a step further and touched base specifically on ChildrenFirst in the areas where we stand out!

What does PPEC mean?

The letters P-P-E-C stand for Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care. Children who attend our centers receive Nursing care and any Physical, Occupational, or Speech therapies they may require.

Prescribed means that your physician will write an order for your medically fragile child to attend one of our centers.

We also provide daily learning experiences in early childhood education. Centered on the developmental needs of each child. We are the ONLY National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredited PPEC center in Florida.

Our integrated focus of nursing, therapy, and education encourages each child to reach their fullest potential. Our nurses, therapists, and certified preschool teachers are passionate about their profession and love caring for every child attending our centers!

The free-flowing, open concept design of our centers inspires a nurturing, interactive, and collaborative environment in which our children thrive.

Who attends PPEC?

Medically fragile infants and children who require skilled care by Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses may attend our PPECs up to 12 hours daily and/or during school holidays. We offer a wide range of clinical interventions including oxygen administration, tracheostomy care, tube feedings, apnea monitoring, and ventilator management. Other specialized nursing care includes medication administration, including IVs, and monitoring seizure, cardiac, respiratory, and GI conditions.

Who pays for PPEC?

Our PPEC centers accept Medicaid, Children Medical Services Network, and Medicaid HMOs. We work with most major private insurances, subject to plan benefits for PPEC. We work with each child’s physician to obtain orders, create a detailed plan of care, and secure insurance authorization. Our knowledgeable staff handles all required paperwork so you don’t have to!

Is transportation available for PPEC?

Our own medical transport buses, for Medicaid eligible children, can pick up from the child’s home and deliver to the center, and pick up from the center and deliver to the child’s home. There are RNs, LPNs, or EMTs who accompany every bus trip.

How are the Services My Child Receives During Their Time at PPEC Determined?

We work one-on-one with your child’s physician to determine their specific nursing and therapeutic goals. We then create a plan that is followed daily.

Is ChildrenFirst Accredited?

Yes! We can proudly say that we are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Will There be Daily Communication About My Child?

Absolutely, we believe it is important to keep you up-to-date on your child’s daily progress and activities. A daily note will be sent home describing what clinical interventions were done. It will include what therapies (physical therapy PT, occupational therapy OT and speech and language therapy ST or SLP) were received. Their developmental and educational activities are included as well!

We will also schedule a quarterly (or as frequently as needed) conference to discuss your child’s progress toward all established goals. In addition to these thorough meetings, as a parent, you are free to contact us at any time with any questions or concerns.

What Makes ChildrenFirst PPECs Different from Others?

This is where we get really excited! ChildrenFirst’s number one goal is to help our PPEC children live the healthiest life possible. We truly believe to achieve this they deserve the highest quality of care possible. The moment a child begins at one of our PPEC centers they become part of our family and you as their parent/caregiver are too!

A few aspects of ChildrenFirst that really make us stand out are:

• Our uniquely designed physical environments promote developmentally appropriate activities for each age group and meet individual needs.
• We have a team (staff) of quality professionals including experienced RN’s, LPN’s, Physical Therapists (PT), Speech Therapists (ST or SLP), and Occupational Therapists (OT).
• Educational activities are incorporated into our daily routines. We are the ONLY PPEC Center in the United States to be awarded the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation.

Locations, Hours & Phone Numbers

Our five ChildrenFirst PPEC centers are open Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

We are thrilled about the growth we have had over the years! It is our passion to provide quality services to medically fragile and medically complex infants and children in Orlando, Florida, and surrounding communities. We have five PPEC center locations allowing us to support Central Florida families.

• 196 S Semoran Blvd, Orlando, FL 32807
  • Phone: 407-823-7732
  • Fax: 407-384-6043
• 4448 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, FL 32804
  • Phone: 407-513-3144
  • Fax: 407-515-6514
• 2120 Saxon Bld, Suites 201 & 202, Deltona, FL 32725
  • Phone: 386-259-9881
  • Fax: 407-515-6537
• 3070 Lions Ct, Kissimmee, FL 34744
  • Phone: 407-978-6483
  • Fax: 407-978-6640
• 7621 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32818
  • Phone: 407-317-4600
  • Fax: 407-317-4596

Click here to see an interactive map with each of our locations.

Tour one of our centers today!

We want parents to visit our centers, meet our team of professionals and experience our spacious, clean, and open design environments in person. To arrange a tour, contact our Admission Coordinator at (407) 513-3127 or visit us at www.ChildrenFirst.com. We’d love to meet you!

ChildrenFirst – PPEC: Frequently Asked Questions

You want the BEST for your child… So, we know you’ll have questions about our PPEC centers! That’s totally okay! We are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to every child who comes through our doors. Attending a PPEC can make all the difference for a medically fragile or medically complex infant or child. Each PPEC center throughout Central Florida is fully equipped with knowledgeable and caring staff as well as medical equipment.

Contact us today to learn more about our PPECs!