PATCHES PPEC nursing center is open five days a week, 12 hours a day for 65 children birth -21, with extraordinary medical illness. PATCHES offers an umbrella of pediatric nursing care and therapies for children with a spectrum of conditions, including preemies, children with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, genetic, and cardiac conditions, and transplant children. PATCHES’ occupational, physical and speech therapists, and nurses work as a team, providing each child the best opportunity to physically thrive, heal and grow. Parents leave their children at PATCHES with peace of mind, knowing that they are given the best professional medical care from a dedicated staff.

No child is turned away regardless of their ability to pay.  

No child is left behind at PATCHES– especially children with complex illness who cannot be in a classroom!

PATCHES believes that all children, with opportunity, have the potential to be lawyers, doctors or scientists and no opportunity should be denied!  Many children come  limited by the emotional stress of coping with long- term, often isolating illness. In an enriching learning environment, a teacher and an aide, teach to the children’s needs and strengths, and help them master their early learning milestones. The children at PATCHES are never defined by their illness, but are instilled with confidence to develop and grow and live life to their fullest potential. 98% will eventually mainstream to their normal peer group.

The Education program is funded by PATCHES. Heartbeats endorses and supports this program.

Due to high levels of pesticides and fertilizers in the air, the incidence of chronic asthma and pulmonary conditions are higher in South Dade among black and Latino children, 5 and under, than in any other group in Florida. PATCHES independently funds an on staff respiratory therapist who provides twice daily care for children struggling with breathing issues, manages tracheostomies and steps up for immediate crisis intervention, stabilizing a child in a critical, life threatening moment.

PATCHES  funds  this  vital program  and Heartbeats  is  committed  to  sustaining  the program.

Economically insecure families of South Dade face enormous challenges accessing hospitals further north for their children’s medical appointments. It is a costly recurring burden for families without private transportation and for children in wheelchairs, it is a nightmare.

PATCHES’ fleet of buses is an invaluable solution - zipping across Dade and Monroe County daily to bring the children to and the nursing center for their daily therapies, and to hospital appointments up north. A qualified EMT on each bus escorts the children and evaluates their health status before boarding the bus, for the ride to the center or home.

PATCHES’ buses transported 26,438 patient days in 2019. 50,232 trips for the year twice daily.