Supporting families every step of the journey
The Pediatric Complex Care Resource Centers (PCCRCs) are dedicated to helping families and caregivers navigate the non-medical aspects of caring for a child with complex medical needs, ensuring they feel supported while receiving in-home care services.
We are committed to offering family-centered support, with an emphasis on fostering communication, providing education, and connecting families to community resources.
MyODP online training hub (coming soon)
No-cost essential training, information and support materials for children with complex medical needs. Self-paced training topics to include:
- Fundamental Patient Support and Behavioral Health Training
- Durable Medical Equipment
- Advocacy Guidance
- Transition/Environmental Support
- Relationship Management
Family advisory workgroups
Our Pediatric Coaches also lead our family advisory workgroups, designed to support families caring for children with complex medical needs. These workgroups will act as a safety net where families can voice care concerns, offer feedback on the services they use and make suggestions. The workgroups provide a way for families to connect with each other to decrease feeling isolated or alone in their journey. Workgroups are held quarterly in person, virtual or hybrid.
Family facilitator
Our family facilitator assists in the safe and sustainable transition of children with medical complexities to their families or family-based alternative settings. As a transition navigator, they serve as a liaison between departments to inform families about in-home services and options for family-based alternatives to institutions. Additionally, the family facilitator focuses on the diversion of placements from community to pediatric facilities.
Services provided by family facilitator
- Meeting with children, families, and providers in their homes and communities to assess needs and assist with transition planning.
- Connecting with families, health organizations, hospital social workers, and discharge planners to discuss in-home care services and family-based alternatives to institutional care.
- Serving as transitional coordinators until the child finds placement in a family or family-based alternative.
- Collaborating with health care systems, Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), and the Department of Human Services (DHS) to accept referrals for children needing permanent family or community-based care.
Contact:
Andrea Runkle, LSW
alrunkle3@geisinger.edu
570-293-4536
Pediatric coaches
Services provided by pediatric coaches
- Providing non-medical caregiver support and intervention
- Problem solving and conflict resolution as teams work together to meet the child’s needs
- Bridging the gap between family, social, and medical goals to ensure holistic care
- Empowering individual family members to confidently advocate for their child’s needs
- Ensuring families and caregivers have the support to continue to care for the child in their home and divert congregate care placement
- Cross system coordination, collaboration, and resource sharing
- Providing education and training to families and health care providers.
Contact:
James Houston, LSW
jhouston3@geisinger.edu
570-293-4536
Amanda Bachinger, MSW
albachinger2@geisinger.edu
570-452-1427