Physician Referral Guide

When Should a Child With Epilepsy Be Referred to PPEC?

PPEC is appropriate for any medically complex child whose daily care exceeds what families and routine outpatient settings can safely provide. For children with epilepsy, the clinical triggers for referral are well defined and predictable — and earlier referral consistently produces better seizure control, fewer ED visits, and better developmental outcomes.

Clinical Triggers That Warrant a PPEC Referral

Pediatric neurologists, hospitalists, primary care pediatricians, and developmental pediatricians across Miami-Dade and Broward refer children to Blessed Pediatric Care when one or more of the following clinical situations apply: a new or revised diagnosis of epilepsy requiring close observation during medication titration; medically refractory epilepsy with breakthrough seizures despite two or more appropriately dosed anti-seizure medications; recent status epilepticus or prolonged seizure requiring rescue medication or hospitalization; infantile spasms or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome requiring specialized monitoring; initiation of ketogenic, modified Atkins, or LGIT dietary therapy; recent vagus nerve stimulator implantation; tracheostomy, gastrostomy, or oxygen dependence concurrent with seizure disorder; and any child whose family is unable to consistently provide the level of supervision required by the physician-ordered seizure action plan.

Documentation Needed for Referral

To begin a referral, the physician or the family can fax or securely transmit: a signed PPEC prescription or order, the most recent History and Physical, the current medication list, the signed seizure action plan with rescue medication parameters, and a copy of the child's Medicaid card or insurance information. Blessed Pediatric Care handles eligibility verification, prior authorization, and managed care plan coordination internally — physicians do not need to navigate those steps.

What the Physician Can Expect From Us

Once a child is admitted, the referring physician receives: timely seizure logs, eMAR documentation, therapy progress notes, growth and nutrition data, and direct phone contact from our Director of Nursing for any clinical change. Our team is the eyes and ears of the neurologist between visits — and that continuity is the value that referring physicians most consistently cite.

Referring From the Inpatient Setting

Children discharging from Nicklaus Children's, Joe DiMaggio Children's, Memorial Regional, Jackson Memorial, or Holtz Children's after a seizure-related admission are excellent PPEC candidates. We work with hospital case managers, discharge planners, and social workers to complete admission quickly so that medically complex children move from inpatient care into a structured, supervised PPEC setting rather than directly home without daytime medical coverage.

Blessed Pediatric Care serves families across Miami-Dade and Broward County from our Miami Gardens facility at 4715 NW 157th St, including Miami, Hialeah, Opa-Locka, North Miami, Miami Lakes, Aventura, Doral, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Pines and Miramar.

Therapy

On-Site Pediatric Therapy

Physician-ordered Physical, Occupational, and Speech-Language therapy delivered as part of the daily plan of care — coordinated with each child's neurology team.

Physical Therapy

Gross motor strengthening, gait training, postural control, and safe mobility for children with epilepsy and movement comorbidities.

Occupational Therapy

Fine motor, sensory regulation, ADL skills, and adaptive strategies — important after medication changes that affect coordination or cognition.

Speech-Language Pathology

Receptive and expressive language, oral-motor and feeding therapy for children with seizure-related developmental and dysphagia concerns.

See the full pediatric therapy program.

Admission Process

How to Enroll Your Child

Most epilepsy admissions are completed within 5 to 10 business days from the first inquiry.

1. Inquiry & eligibility
Call (305) 260-6621 or use the contact form. Our intake team verifies Medicaid coverage and the child's managed care plan.
2. Physician order & records
We collect the PPEC prescription, most recent History & Physical, current medication list, and signed seizure action plan from the treating physician.
3. Prior authorization
We submit clinical documentation to the managed care plan and track approval — no family paperwork required.
4. Facility tour & intake
Parents visit the facility, meet the nursing and therapy team, and complete intake paperwork.
5. Plan of care
The Director of Nursing builds an individualized plan of care matching every physician order and seizure action plan parameter.
6. First day & transportation
Daily Medicaid-funded transportation is scheduled, and your child begins attending. Family receives a daily summary.

Physician Referrals

For Neurologists, Pediatricians, and Hospital Case Managers

Refer in minutes — our intake team handles eligibility, prior authorization, and managed care coordination.

What to send

Signed PPEC prescription / order
Most recent History & Physical
Current medication list
Signed seizure action plan
Medicaid card / insurance information

How to send it

Call our intake team at (305) 260-6621 or email blessedpediatriccare@gmail.com. Confirmation within one business day; family contact same day.

Parent Education

Supporting Families of Children With Seizures

A confident family is a safer family. Education is part of our standard of care.

Seizure recognition

Identifying focal, generalized, absence, and myoclonic seizures — and what to document.

Rescue medication training

Hands-on instruction in intranasal midazolam and rectal diazepam administration for home.

Medication adherence

Strategies for consistent dosing, refill timing, and managing missed doses safely.

Trigger management

Sleep, hydration, illness, and screen exposure — practical guidance personalized to your child.

School coordination

Working with Miami-Dade and Broward County Schools on 504 plans, IEPs, and Hospital/Homebound.

Emergency planning

When to call 911, when to give rescue medication, and what to bring to the emergency room.

See our parent resources and education programming.

Transportation

Daily Medicaid-Funded Transportation

Reliable round-trip rides for children authorized for PPEC across Miami-Dade and Broward.

Medicaid-covered non-emergency medical transportation is typically available for every authorized child. Daily routes serve Miami Gardens, North Miami, Opa-Locka, Hialeah, Miami Lakes, Aventura, North Miami Beach, Doral, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Pines and Miramar.

Higher-acuity children — including those with active seizure disorders, oxygen dependence, or tracheostomies — may qualify for ambulance or stretcher transport. Our intake team coordinates with each managed care plan's transportation broker so service is in place before the first day of attendance.

FAQ

Physician Referral Guide: Frequently Asked Questions

Call (305) 260-6621 or email blessedpediatriccare@gmail.com. Our intake team will confirm receipt within one business day and contact the family directly.

Both. Many PPEC admissions originate from pediatricians, hospitalists, and developmental pediatricians; the PPEC order itself can be written by any treating physician.

Capacity varies. Most epilepsy referrals are admitted within 5 to 10 business days; urgent post-hospitalization referrals are prioritized.

PPEC and private duty nursing serve overlapping but distinct populations. Many families combine PPEC during the day with limited evening or weekend home nursing. Our team helps coordinate hours so authorizations align.

Epilepsy & Seizure Resource Center

PPEC for Epilepsy PPEC for Seizure Disorders Skilled Nursing Medicaid Coverage Medicaid Transportation Epilepsy Condition Page Seizure Disorders Condition Page

Talk With Our Epilepsy Intake Team

Same-day response. We coordinate physician orders, prior authorization, and transportation so your child can start safely and quickly.