Did you know Florida has had PPEC centers for nearly 40 years?

Many people think Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) is something new, but Florida actually became one of the first states in the country to formally license PPEC centers back in 1987.
The Florida Legislature created PPEC because there was a need for something between traditional daycare and staying home full-time with a medically complex child.
Children who require things like:
• Feeding tubes
• Oxygen support
• Seizure management
• Tracheostomy care
• Skilled nursing supervision
often couldn’t safely attend a traditional daycare setting.
PPEC was designed to give these children access to nursing care, therapies, developmental activities, and socialization while allowing them to continue living at home with their families.
Nearly 40 years later, PPEC continues to be a lifeline for thousands of families across Florida.
For those of you with children in PPEC or who work in this field:
How did you first learn about PPEC, and what has it meant for your family or patients?