What Is a Medical Daycare for Children? A Guide for Tampa Parents

If your child's doctor or a hospital discharge planner has mentioned a medical daycare for children in Tampa, you probably have a lot of questions. The short answer: it is a licensed center where nurses and therapists care for children with medical needs during the day, so your child can learn and play while getting the care they need.

What a medical daycare is

In Florida, the formal name for a medical daycare is a PPEC, which stands for Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care. Each center is licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and staffed by registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and trained caregivers.

A child attends because a physician writes an order for it, the same way a doctor would order therapy or home nursing. The nursing team follows that order.

At Little Giants, children from birth through age 20 can spend up to 12 hours a day with us in one West Tampa building. A physician is on call for the care team, and therapies happen on site, so the day runs on one schedule instead of several appointments across town.

Which children it serves

A medical daycare is built for children whose health needs call for skilled nursing during the day, often along with therapy. Parents often ask whether their child is "medical enough." The better question is whether your child needs care that a nurse provides. That may include:

• A tracheostomy, a ventilator, oxygen or apnea monitoring
• G-tube or NG-tube feedings
• A seizure disorder that needs watching or rescue medication
• Medications given during the day
• Conditions such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, spina bifida, cystic fibrosis or a heart condition
• Complications from prematurity after a NICU stay

This list is not complete. Our who qualifies page covers the full range of conditions we care for. If your child's diagnosis is not there, a quick phone call is the fastest way to find out.

What the day includes

Much of the day looks like any other childhood day, with circle time, art and play, while nurses handle medical care alongside it. A typical day includes:

• Skilled nursing. Nurses give medications, manage feeds and breathing equipment, check vital signs and respond to seizures.
• On-site therapy. PT, OT, speech, respiratory therapy and ABA happen here, on the schedule your child's doctor prescribes.
• Meals and nutrition. Meals follow each child's feeding plan, whether by mouth or by tube.
• Learning and play. Age-appropriate activities help each child keep developing at their own pace.
• After school care. School-age children can come to us when the school day ends, with nurses still on site.

You can see the full list of what we provide on our PPEC services page.

How it is paid for

For children who qualify, PPEC is covered by Florida Medicaid, including Medicaid managed-care plans. Eligible families pay nothing out of pocket: no copays and no monthly bills. Transportation to and from the center is included when applicable.

Coverage requires two things: the physician's prescription and a prior authorization from Medicaid or your child's plan. That second step is paperwork most parents have never seen before, and our team helps with it from start to finish. For a deeper look, read how Medicaid covers PPEC in Florida.

How to get started

Most families follow the same four steps. None of them have to happen before you call us.

• Call or send a message. Tell us about your child's day and their medical needs.
• Free eligibility review. We check your child's Medicaid coverage and talk through whether PPEC fits.
• Physician referral. Your child's doctor writes the prescription. Our step-by-step guide to getting a PPEC referral in Tampa explains what to ask for.
• Tour and first day. Visit the center, meet the nurses and plan your child's first week.

Many families also ask how a center compares with a nurse at home. We explain the trade-offs in PPEC vs home nursing.

Frequently asked questions