Universal Pediatrics

28/02/2025

Show Your Stripes! 🦓 Today is Rare Disease Day - Raising awareness for the 300 million people worldwide living with a rare disease and their families.
Since 2008, this global movement has worked tirelessly to ensure equity in healthcare and social opportunities for those living with rare diseases. Together, we advocate for diagnosis, therapies, and support! You can learn more by visiting https://www.rarediseaseday.org/

27/02/2025

This Friday is International Rare Disease Day. "Sloan was diagnosed with Batten disease, or neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (CLN1) infantile type in January of 2023. Sloan’s diagnosis journey began in 2022 after we observed signs of regression or non-normal progression of life skills. Sloan was beginning to walk and pull herself up, she was saying words like “uht oh” and “dada”. Slowly we observed Sloan losing these skills and was no longer walking while assisted. A trip to her primary care physician was made and he completed x-rays and observed she may have a need for glasses. From here, things quickly progressed, and Sloan began having issues with eating and would have episodes of blank staring followed by periods of extreme exhaustion. We followed up with Sloan’s primary care doctor and he then got us scheduled with many specialists.
Although this disease has taken Sloan’s sight, speech and mobility, she is still as sassy as can be. She will let it be known when she doesn’t like something and when she is happy. One of the hardest things to process was the loss of Sloan’s smile and laughter. Recently, whether it be due to medication changes, routines, or a miracle, we have been blessed again to see Sloan’s smile and laugh.
Sloan has touched the lives of many and has taught me the importance of living for each day and cherishing the little things in life." -Sloan's Dad

Read more about Sloan and her family’s inspiring story here: https://www.universalpediatrics.com/news/rare-disease-day-2025-meet-sloan

26/02/2025

“This Friday is International Rare Disease Day. There are more than 6000 rare Diseases. The mascot for rare diseases is the zebra so on that day everyone is encouraged to wear stripes.🦓 My daughter, Cece, has one of those rare diseases.
Cece has a condition called Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata type 1 (RCDP1) classic. That means she has a very rare form of Dwarfism that affects her physically and mentally. Cece is almost 14 months old and is roughly 22 inches long and just hit the 12-pound club - whoop whoop!
There are less than 200 people in the world with her type of genetic condition.
She was recently set to undergo spinal surgery because she was born with cervical stenosis but, by the power of prayer, some amazing angels up above, Cece doesn’t need spinal surgery!! You read that right, does NOT need surgery. ” – Cece’s Mom

Read the full story of Cece's incredible journey here: https://www.universalpediatrics.com/news/rare-disease-day-2025-meet-cece

25/02/2025

Join our team at Universal Pediatrics and enjoy stable hours and a rewarding career. We have full-time and part-time opportunities for day and overnight positions in the Watertown, SD area.🩺
As a home health nurse, you get to support kids to integrate themselves, as best they can, into school, family, extracurricular activities, and the community while promoting and maintaining their health and safety. You also get to support families to learn, provide, and succeed in creating balance for their medically-complex kiddo with consistency, skill, and passion.
📌 Apply Today ----> https://bit.ly/4hYy37K

07/02/2025

It's National Wear Red Day! ♥️National Wear Red Day occurs on the first Friday in February each year to show support for the awareness of heart disease. Since the American Heart Association’s founding in 1924, deaths from cardiovascular diseases have been cut in half. Learn more at https://www.heart.org/

06/02/2025

✨ Lisa F. is our incredible Sr. Scheduler, taking on double duty as Scheduler for both our Sheldon and Sioux City offices. She has been with the company for 10 years! She began her journey as an Office Support Specialist in 2015 before transitioning to the Scheduler role in 2019. Lisa enjoys the variety her work brings each day and appreciates the strong family atmosphere at Universal Pediatrics.
Lisa and her husband, Tom, have been married for 36 years and are high school sweethearts. They live on an acreage south of Archer, IA. Tom works as the Road Maintenance Supervisor for O’Brien County, and in his spare time, he and their youngest son, Tyler, custom feed 2,400 hogs and manage 60 cow-calf pairs. Lisa and Tom have two sons, Austin and Tyler. Austin and his wife, Danielle, who have two sons, 13 & 8 years old. Tyler and his wife, Alex, have a 4-year-old son. Lisa absolutely loves spending time with her family and attending her grandsons’ activities.
She finds her work at Universal Pediatrics incredibly rewarding and values the meaningful connections she has built throughout the years.
We are so lucky to have her apart of our team!

29/01/2025

🎉Congratulations to our 2024 Caregiver of the Year winner – Erin F., LPN, from our Sheldon Office!🎉
Erin is incredibly deserving of this award! She has been with the agency for over 6 years and during this time she has been with the same client. Erin is the most consistent nurse in this home and works every week to ensure her client can go to school. She truly knows her client SO well. Erin has taken on the task of training multiple nurses in the home and writes notes, tips, and even the schedule of the client’s day-to-day for those trainings. She will update everyone on any changes in the client, so everyone is kept up to date.
Erin’s client cannot communicate but Erin communicates to her about every treatment that is being done. Erin keeps the client updated on tasks that are coming up and will be completed. She talks to her client about things they have going on in her home and about Erin’s own life. Every day when Erin comes in for her shifts, she will go to the client at eye level and says good morning.
Erin will have spa days with the client where they will do face masks, pedicures, and manicures for the client. Erin does phenomenal work on her client’s hair – creating updos and looking up new ways to do her client’s hair. Erin takes pride in making sure the client looks well put together each day. The client attends bible school each summer and Erin attends all of them. Erin ensures the client is integrated into everything they attend, even art camp! Erin and the client love to do art together.
Erin pays attention to detail and ensures things are in order - her documentation is superb. She is thorough and detailed in her charting to ensure the client’s whole day is documented, always keeping notes of important information. Erin keeps the parents up-to-date on any therapists who see the client at school. During the summer months, Erin ensures she is working on her client’s switch work and things she had been taught during the school year. This helps the client continue to maintain her skills.
Erin has led a preceptor student for a college along with another field nurse. When asked if she would preceptor again, she did not hesitate and excitedly stated “Yes”. (This student is now an employee of Universal Pediatrics and in the same home Erin works in!) Erin embodies the ICARE values daily with everything she does, even in rough days.
Not only is Erin an asset to this home and to this family, but a huge asset to Universal Pediatrics as a whole.

17/01/2025

🌟 Our office teams are growing! We are looking for full-time Clinical Managers to join our Sheldon, IA, and Sioux Falls, SD teams! To be successful in this role, the right candidate will have strong teamwork and communication skills, and the motivation to support our clients and field staff. Are you a detail-oriented, client-focused, and passionate RN ready to take on a Clinical Manager role?!
Apply Today! -----> https://bit.ly/3UL7p9d

09/01/2025

Annually, Universal Pediatrics’ Watch Out Award is given to an employee whose contributions to our mission are above & beyond. An employee who never waivers putting clients’ needs first, and whose work is looked at as an example of excellence.
In 2024, this employee has directly impacted every office and is worthy of recognition as one of the best in Universal Pediatrics’ history. When we think about her, every UP value is checked… Integrity, Compassion, Adaptability, Responsibility, & Excellence. She exemplifies them all in her day-to-day work.
She is looked upon as an expert in her role and a go-to for just about anything, whether it is work-related or even other random tidbits of knowledge. Her willingness to go above & beyond seems to be ingrained in her core - often the first to offer support to her colleagues. Her clients and families adore her. Every nurse she manages – and even some she does not- can’t stop bragging about her. She is passionate about advocating for her clients. No matter what – UP clients are her first priority, and she is always standing strong by their side to do right by them and their families.
🎉Please join us in congratulating Allison Burnette as the 2024 Watch Out Award Winner.🎉
https://bit.ly/3Pw4IEW

Now hiring RNs and LPNs of all levels of experience, including new graduates.Universal Pediatrics' nurses and office staff make it possible for children with...

01/01/2025

Happy New Year!

25/12/2024

Season's Greetings from our Universal Pediatrics family to yours.✨

21/12/2024

Winter is officially here, but we're staying warm and festive in our Sheldon, IA office! We've got the cozy vibes covered from tree toppers to twinkle toes. How are you staying warm this season?❄️🧦

20/12/2024

Your application can change a family's life in immeasurable ways! We are looking for caring RNs & LPNs to join our team in Sioux City, IA!🌟 Our nurses are 1-on-1 in their clients' homes working in coordination with our clinical team, physicians, therapists, case managers, and other healthcare professionals to deliver personalized care to each of our kiddos. Apply today --> https://bit.ly/3WdPxUP

18/12/2024

Our clients and nurses have been enjoying ALL the festivities this season has to offer! We have loved seeing everyone embracing the holiday spirit and spreading joy one festive moment at a time.🎄

16/12/2024

Rudolph’s on the road! 🚙🦌 Have you spotted our festive fleet out and about spreading holiday cheer in Eastern Iowa? If you spot Rudolph be sure to give us a wave! Snap a pic and let us know where you see Rudolph next! 🎅

13/12/2024

Attention Iowa Nurses!🌟We are looking for passionate RNs/LPNs to join our team in Manchester, IA, and their surrounding communities. Our 1-on-1 in-home care allows you to make a meaningful difference in the lives of kiddos and their families, while also growing your skills as a nurse.
Apply Today!----> https://bit.ly/3ZOXPVc

09/12/2024

One of our amazing kiddos was a part of the inaugural Go Baby Go Iowa Race Day this past Saturday and got her very own modified Jeep that she can control herself with a push button, or her family/caregiver can operate with a remote control. (So cool!) Both her primary nurse Ruth B., RN and Kate B., RN Clinical Manager were able to join and cheer her on. Along with the Universal Pediatrics staff, it was so awesome for her family to see just how big their support circle really is, from her PT/OT/ST providers, her AEA therapy providers, and her extended family all in attendance!
Go Baby Go Iowa is planning to have a yearly race day, and are working with Wartburg College currently to have the car modifications as part of a college course to increase the number of cars they can provide. 🌟

05/12/2024

Starting December in style!🎄The corporate office is feeling the holiday spirit with festive outfits to kick off the season!