SKIP of New York
Encyclopedia
Sick Kids need Involved People (SKIP) of New York, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) not-for profit agency for families who want to care for their chronically ill
, medically fragile, or developmentally disabled
children. SKIP is an advocacy and service agency that helps families who have seriously ill children access the necessary resources and support to enable them to live at home with their families. SKIP helps set in place the health insurance
and services required for these children and serves as collaborative and innovative stewards to these families and children as they navigate the health care system
. It insures that families remain equal partners with professionals in determining their children's needs.
In the early 70's, medical technology
had advanced beyond the bounds of health care
policy and throughout the country there were too many children living in intensive care units who required long-term life sustaining equipment and treatment. Julia Mikol was one of these children, a little girl who had spent almost every day of her two and a half years of life in an intensive care unit
. The technology to support Julia’s life existed, but the system to grant her a childhood did not. There was no precedent, so the social work
ers, doctors and insurance providers refused to discharge her. Determined to find a way, the Mikols researched meticulously and became the first family in New York State
bring a child home on life support
equipment. The costs of caring for their daughter at home decreased by more than 85%, inspiring the Mikols to take action to prove that this was possible for all parents who were spending days, hours, and years in hospitals, acting as observers in the lives of their children. As they walked out of the hospital for the last time, Margaret and Yves Mikol looked back and saw four other children with situations similar to Julia’s. Their parents wanted to know how they could bring their child home, and the Mikols knew they now had to help other parents follow in their footsteps.
After five wonderful years at home, Julia died, and in 1983 SKIP of New York was founded as her legacy. Parents began reaching out to the Mikols as a resource for advice and information. Started with 10 families, over the past 25 years the agency has grown to positively impact over 10,000 families statewide. SKIP is a recognized advisor to the Department of Health, the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, and national health care forums. SKIP continues to grow at a rate of 50% annually, and continues to respond to the needs of families of children who are chronically ill, medically fragile and/or developmentally disabled, partnering with them for as long as SKIP is needed.
Chronic (medicine)
A chronic disease is a disease or other human health condition that is persistent or long-lasting in nature. The term chronic is usually applied when the course of the disease lasts for more than three months. Common chronic diseases include asthma, cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS.In medicine, the...
, medically fragile, or developmentally disabled
Developmental disability
Developmental disability is a term used in the United States and Canada to describe lifelong disabilities attributable to mental or physical impairments, manifested prior to age 18. It is not synonymous with "developmental delay" which is often a consequence of a temporary illness or trauma during...
children. SKIP is an advocacy and service agency that helps families who have seriously ill children access the necessary resources and support to enable them to live at home with their families. SKIP helps set in place the health insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
and services required for these children and serves as collaborative and innovative stewards to these families and children as they navigate the health care system
Health care system
A health care system is the organization of people, institutions, and resources to deliver health care services to meet the health needs of target populations....
. It insures that families remain equal partners with professionals in determining their children's needs.
History
SKIP of New York began in 1970 with two parents' dream of caring for their seriously ill child at home.In the early 70's, medical technology
Medical technology
Medical Technology encompasses a wide range of healthcare products and is used to diagnose, monitor or treat diseases or medical conditions affecting humans. Such technologies are intended to improve the quality of healthcare delivered through earlier diagnosis, less invasive treatment options and...
had advanced beyond the bounds of health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
policy and throughout the country there were too many children living in intensive care units who required long-term life sustaining equipment and treatment. Julia Mikol was one of these children, a little girl who had spent almost every day of her two and a half years of life in an intensive care unit
Intensive Care Unit
thumb|220px|ICU roomAn intensive-care unit , critical-care unit , intensive-therapy unit/intensive-treatment unit is a specialized department in a hospital that provides intensive-care medicine...
. The technology to support Julia’s life existed, but the system to grant her a childhood did not. There was no precedent, so the social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
ers, doctors and insurance providers refused to discharge her. Determined to find a way, the Mikols researched meticulously and became the first family in New York State
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
bring a child home on life support
Life support
Life support, in medicine is a broad term that applies to any therapy used to sustain a patient's life while they are critically ill or injured. There are many therapies and techniques that may be used by clinicians to achieve the goal of sustaining life...
equipment. The costs of caring for their daughter at home decreased by more than 85%, inspiring the Mikols to take action to prove that this was possible for all parents who were spending days, hours, and years in hospitals, acting as observers in the lives of their children. As they walked out of the hospital for the last time, Margaret and Yves Mikol looked back and saw four other children with situations similar to Julia’s. Their parents wanted to know how they could bring their child home, and the Mikols knew they now had to help other parents follow in their footsteps.
After five wonderful years at home, Julia died, and in 1983 SKIP of New York was founded as her legacy. Parents began reaching out to the Mikols as a resource for advice and information. Started with 10 families, over the past 25 years the agency has grown to positively impact over 10,000 families statewide. SKIP is a recognized advisor to the Department of Health, the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, and national health care forums. SKIP continues to grow at a rate of 50% annually, and continues to respond to the needs of families of children who are chronically ill, medically fragile and/or developmentally disabled, partnering with them for as long as SKIP is needed.