FAQ & Family Resources

Universal Pediatrics provides families with a wide array of in-home health care solutions. Our nurses are available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each nurse is trained specifically for your child’s individual medical needs. We've helped children and young adults facing a wide variety of medical conditions and disabilities, including spina bifida, gastrostomy and tracheotomy patients.

Our nurses are available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Visit our client profiles to see how we've helped clients, like Braden, enjoy an independent life from the comfort of their own homes.

FAQs for Families

Find answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding home health care from Universal Pediatrics. Hopefully this will help provide additional details you need to help you make the best decisions for your loved one(s).

What type of patients do you care for?

What types of insurance are you contracted with?

We accept all insurances including Medicaid, regardless of in or out of network status.

What types of services do you provide?

Skilled nursing home health services, including visits and extended hourly care. We also provide Home Health Aide (HHA) visits.

Do you provide DME Supplies?

We do not provide DME supplies; however, we work with our clients to get the supplies they need through a network of DME providers.

We live in the country, how far are you willing to travel?

We have offices that covers all 99 counties in the state of Iowa, in addition to an office located in Sioux Falls, SD that also covers the entire state. We go where the patient lives and hire nurses case specific. See our service area map.

What role does my primary physician play?

Any and all home care services that would be provided to your child need to be approved and ordered by your child's physician. Your family physician is an integral part in the planning and continuation of the home health services we provide. They will be involved in every aspect of your child's care, as we communicate with doctors and continuously regarding the service we are providing or not providing, including but not limited to medications, treatments, therapies, and staffing. Your physician will be signing all orders for nursing care for your child and we will provide him or her a Plan of Care with a summary every 60 days.

What level of technology and skill level can Universal Pediatrics provide?

We can provide services to meet basic personal needs, such as bathing and grooming, all the way up to trained RN services, such as administering IVs. The level of skill we provide depends on the needs of the client and is determined through an assessment by Universal Pediatrics and consultation with the patient's family and primary care physician.

How do I get started as a new client? What is the process like?

The first step is for you (or your representative) to fill out the Get Started form on our website. After submission, our Admissions Coordinator will reach out to you to gather more information regarding services needed. We then take all your information, including insurance, physician and a release to gather past medical history. Once we receive the medical history, we can seek out the appropriate payer source for the services needed. This process can be lengthy and can take up to 6 weeks. After the client is approved for our services, we hire case-specific staff. All staff working in your home will be given individualized training. Once the staff is trained and in place, we will begin providing services. We welcome and encourage any and all questions or concerns that may arise during this process.

Do you include the patient and his/her family in developing the plan of care?

Of course! The client and family are always at the center of the plan of care. You will be an integral part of determining the needs of the client and helping develop the plan that will best meet those needs. Your input is not only appreciated, but encouraged.

Are there waiting lists?

Sometimes. We strive to give you the best home care experience possible. In order for your experience to be positive, we want to give you a realistic outlook on the time it will take for us to implement new services in your home. When circumstances require a change in our timeline, we will communicate with you regarding any changes. You are always welcome to call and inquire about the status of your case at any time.

Family Resources

We have provided the following links to assist you during your home health care research. To learn more about how Universal Pediatrics can help, please feel free to contact us. We're here to help!

Websites:

• Mayo Clinic
• Tips for Parents of Disabled Children
• A Plan for Parents of Disabled Children (NY Times)
• Child Health Specialty Clinics
• Iowa Medicaid
• Iowa Department of Human Services
• DrugWatch
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa
• South Dakota Medicaid
• Epilepsy Foundation
• Words Worth Repeating - Custom books to help children process medical issues, life changing events and remember loved ones

Phone Number:

• Iowa Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-362-2178
• South Dakota Child Abuse Hotline: 1-877-244-0864

Home Care Bill of Rights

• Eastern Iowa
• East Central
• Central Iowa
• Northwest Iowa
• Western Iowa
• South Dakota