Admission
New England Pediatric Care (NEPC) is a pediatric skilled nursing facility that admits children and young adults between the ages of birth and twenty-two years. We are one of four pediatric skilled nursing facilities in the state of Massachusetts. We admit children for both long-term and short-term care. All of our residents are severely medically fragile and cognitively impaired. We offer twenty-four hour skilled nursing care, and we work together with families to meet the specific, delicate needs of each individual resident.
In order to qualify for long-term or short-term placement at New England Pediatric Care, a child must meet certain criteria which are determined by the Medical Review Team (MRT). The MRT is an interdisciplinary team made up of medical professionals, educators, and representatives from various state agencies including the Department of Education, and the Department of Mental Retardation. They meet twice per month and as needed to review the care needs of potential short-term or long-term residents of New England Pediatric Care, or any of the pediatric skilled nursing facilities in Massachusetts. A parent or guardian must put together an MRT application which outlines all of the skilled nursing needs, medications, and care requirements of the child. This application packet must also include a summary from a doctor to account for all of the medical history, a summary from a child development professional to evaluate the level of cognitive functioning, and a summary from a social service professional to explain the psychosocial and environmental circumstances of the child and family. The application process for short-term care is slightly different from the long-term care process. For more information on the MRT, or to obtain a short-term or long-term application, please go to the Department of Public Health�s web site at http://www.mass.gov/dph, or contact the Social Service Department at New England Pediatric Care. If you feel that your child may be eligible for short-term or long-term placement at NEPC, please call to schedule a tour of the facility.
Short-Term Admission
A short-term admission can last between several days and several months. New England Pediatric Care provides this service to children and families for several reasons. One reason is to provide rehabilitation services after a medically fragile child has surgery, or is hospitalized. Our skilled nurses and rehab staff are trained to provide the 24-hour care required during these times. In addition, a short-term admission can provide families and caregivers with a break. Many times, there are other siblings in the home who can benefit from some special time with their parents or guardians as well.
To apply for a short-term admission to New England Pediatric Care, your child must be approved by the MRT for short-term care. Your child must be under the age of twenty-two years of age. He or she must show a cognitive level of under twenty-four months, and have skilled nursing needs. An example of a skilled nursing need would be a gastrostomy tube, tracheotomy, and/or a seizure disorder which requires intervention. Please contact the NEPC social service department, or the Department of Public Health's Medical Review Team for more information.
Long-Term Admission
Making the decision to place your child for long-term care can be a difficult and emotional decision. At New England Pediatric Care, we understand that long-term placement becomes necessary for many different reasons, and we provide a supportive, family-oriented atmosphere. If a child is admitted for long-term care, NEPC will provide a bedroom that will accommodate him or her, and do our best to pair your child with a roommate with similar needs as well. We encourage families to decorate your child's room with his/her favorite posters or photos, and to bring in any items that will help them feel comfortable, such as a bed spread/comforter or favorite stuffed animal.
In order to be eligible for long-term placement at New England Pediatric Care, your child must be certified by the Medical Review Team for long-term care. Your child must have at least two skilled nursing needs, and must have been assessed to be at a cognitive level of twelve months or under. Please contact the NEPC Social Service Department, or the Department of Public Health's Medical Review Team for more information.