The Pediatric Health Choice company has opened a new medical day care facility in Tupelo, aimed at treating those with medically fragile conditions from infancy to age 21.
At the Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Center, patients are afforded efficient physician services including nursing, respiratory care, therapies, infusion, medication treatment and other ancillary services in a safe and developmentally appropriate environment.
The company is the largest operator of pediatric medical day health centers, with facilities in five different states.
Senate Bill 2700 was passed in the 2012 regular legislative session to authorize the centers.
“In the House of Representatives, it was Rep. Toby Barker who was our subcommittee chairman for the House Public Health and Human Services Committee that sponsored and handled the bill on floor,” said Stan Flint, Pediatric Health Choice’s Mississippi lobbyist.
Children at the center will receive care from registered nurses, an education and interaction with other children with similar needs.
With the opening of the Tupelo PPEC facility, parents can receive support from other families, while receiving care for their children.
Jordan Starnes, Pediatric Health Choice consumer advocate for Mississippi, said the Flowood center is currently the only other location in Mississippi.
“In Tupelo, they are open for business doing referrals and admission as we speak,” Starnes said. “They hope to have their first child through the threshold within the next few weeks, so we’re looking at the end of September.”
Starnes said the centers were a vision created by Pediatric Health Choice Senior Vice President Deborah Fraze in her master’s degree thesis.
“She worked tirelessly her whole life to bring these centers into fruition and is the founder of this type of program for the entire country,” Starnes said. “Most states model their regulations from her handbook.”
Deborah Fraze said in a statement that the children would otherwise spend their lives living in a pediatric hospital and that the center changes their world for the better.
“We maximize kids’ potential and don’t focus on their limitations,” Fraze said. “Thanks to our PPEC Center, these kids have new hope for a more normal life with their families.”
