Provider-facing referral guide for Miami-Dade and Broward physicians and case managers — eligibility, required documentation, intake timeline, and continuity of care expectations.

Physician Referral Guide: Referring Medically Complex Patients to Blessed Pediatric Care

This page is written for the physicians, hospital discharge planners, NICU and PICU teams, specialists, case managers, and care coordinators across Miami-Dade and South Broward County who care for medically complex children. If you are looking for a trusted Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) partner for your patients, this guide covers everything you need to know to refer to Blessed Pediatric Care confidently.

For provider-direct referrals, visit our referrals page or call our intake line at (305) 342-2481.

Who we are

Blessed Pediatric Care is a Florida-licensed, AHCA-regulated PPEC facility located at 4715 NW 157th St, Miami Gardens, FL 33014. We serve children from birth through age 21 across Northern Miami-Dade and South Broward County. Our clinical model centers on Registered Nurse leadership, integrated on-site Physical, Occupational, Speech, and behavioral therapy, nutrition, and developmental support — all delivered under the child's individualized plan of care.

Patient profile we serve

We serve children who require a skilled-nursing level of care during the day, including:

Technology-dependent children: tracheostomy, ventilator, BiPAP/CPAP, oxygen, central line, apnea monitor
G-tube, J-tube, GJ-tube feeding, including continuous regimens
Seizure disorders with active rescue medication orders
Cardiac, pulmonary, renal, and metabolic conditions requiring scheduled monitoring
Genetic syndromes with multi-system involvement
Cerebral palsy and severe developmental disability with medical complexity
Post-NICU and post-PICU discharge requiring continued clinical oversight
Children weaning from home health nursing into a structured daytime model

Why refer to a PPEC

PPEC is uniquely positioned in the pediatric continuum of care. Compared with home health nursing, PPEC offers:

Continuous interdisciplinary team rather than a single nurse in the home
On-site PT, OT, Speech, and behavioral therapy without separate clinic travel
Structured developmental and educational programming
Reduced caregiver burden, which research consistently associates with better outcomes
A controlled medical environment with full emergency response capability

For your patients, PPEC enrollment is often associated with reduced hospital readmissions, improved therapy adherence, and improved family functioning.

Eligibility for our program

To enroll at Blessed Pediatric Care a patient generally needs:

Age birth through 21
Medical complexity requiring skilled nursing
Medical stability for a group medical setting
Florida Medicaid enrollment or eligibility
Physician order for PPEC services

If you are unsure whether a specific patient qualifies, please call us. Our clinical intake team will review the case at no cost.

Documentation we need

To begin enrollment efficiently, we ideally receive:

Most recent History and Physical
Discharge summary, if applicable
Current diagnoses list
Current medication list with dosing and frequency
Current therapy evaluations and plans of care
Any specialty consult notes relevant to the plan of care
The Medicaid plan or pending Medicaid information
A written order for PPEC services with hours per day and days per week

If documentation is incomplete, our team will work directly with your office to obtain what is needed.

Our intake timeline

A typical referral-to-first-day timeline is:

Day 0: Referral received via phone, fax, secure email, or online form
Days 1–3: Eligibility verification and outreach to family
Days 3–7: Clinical review and coordination with referring provider
Days 5–10: Prior authorization submission to Medicaid plan
Day 10–14: Family tour and orientation
Day 14–21: First day, typically with gradual integration

We work to compress this timeline for patients with urgent discharge needs.

Continuity of care with the referring provider

We see ourselves as an extension of your medical home, not a parallel system. Our nursing leadership communicates regularly with referring physicians, shares clinical documentation, and notifies the medical home of significant changes in status. We do not modify orders unilaterally — all care follows the physician's prescription.

What we provide families that supports your care plan

Daily structured implementation of your medication and feeding orders
Direct nursing observation and documentation
On-site therapy that aligns with your prescribed plan of care
Reduced family caregiver burden, which improves adherence
Transportation across our service area, removing a common barrier to compliance

Service area for transportation

We provide door-to-door transportation across:

Miami Gardens, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Opa-Locka, Hialeah, Aventura, Miami Lakes
Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Southwest Ranches, Cooper City

This transportation coverage is one of the most-cited reasons families and discharge planners refer to us.

How to refer

You have three options:

Online — submit the referral form
Phone — call our intake line at (305) 342-2481
Direct — send the documentation by secure fax or email; contact us for the current number

Our intake team contacts every referred family within one business day.

For NICU and PICU discharge planners

We routinely accept NICU and PICU graduates. We can begin enrollment paperwork before discharge and coordinate the first PPEC day to align with the discharge timeline. This reduces gaps in skilled nursing oversight that can otherwise lead to readmission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I refer a patient who is not yet on Medicaid? Yes. We help families navigate the application pathways available in Florida for medically complex children.

Do you accept patients with private insurance only? PPEC is primarily a Medicaid-covered benefit in Florida. Most families have Medicaid through one of several pathways. Call us to discuss specific situations.

What is your typical RN-to-child ratio? Ratios meet or exceed AHCA requirements and are adjusted based on the acuity mix on a given day.

Will you communicate with my office during the patient's care? Yes. Continuity with the referring provider is a standard part of our clinical workflow.

Can I tour the facility? We welcome provider and case manager tours. Email us or call to schedule.

Partner With Blessed Pediatric Care

Your patients deserve a PPEC that operates at the level your clinical judgment requires. Refer with confidence — we will care for them with the same standard you do.

Submit a referral or call (305) 342-2481.