The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) provides specialty care for critically ill and injured children from 30 days to 19 years of age.
Our ten-bed, state-of-the-art environment is designed to maximize efficient care delivery and provide a supportive place for families.
Your PICU health care team
Every patient in the PICU is cared for by one of our PICU attending physicians who are trained specifically to take care of children with critical illness.
Patients with surgical or traumatic issues are cared for primarily by the surgical team; however, the PICU attending physician will see each patient every day and collaborate with our surgical colleagues for medical decisions.
In addition to the PICU attending physicians, the team is comprised of nurse practitioners and physician assistants who work exclusively in the PICU. A member of our team can be available at the bedside 24/7.
As a teaching hospital, we also have pediatric residents. They are physicians who have completed medical school and are now learning pediatrics as a specialty. Other medical services (surgeons, trauma team) will also have residents as part of their "team."
Transferring to the Pediatric Inpatient Unit
Once your child is doing better, he or she may be moved from the PICU to the Pediatric Inpatient Unit.
Remember, the move to the Pediatric Inpatient Unit on the 5th floor of the hospital is a positive one. Your child's healthcare team believes your child is no longer in need of intensive care, and you are a step closer to going home. You will be welcomed by a new team of caregivers.
All of the staff in the Pediatric Inpatient Unit are here to assist with your child's needs and care. Please do not hesitate to ask questions or let us know if you have any concerns.
What to expect
- The Pediatric and Adolescent Inpatient Unit is much bigger than the PICU, which means there are more patients and more staff taking care of them.
- Only one family member may be provided with a sleep chair.
- There are many activities for the patients including a playroom, a teen lounge, D'Barn, Camp CHaD, and Wii and Nintendo stations.
- Although a nurse will not be at your child's bedside or right outside the room all the time, a nurse is assigned to every child and will check on your child frequently to do treatments, provide medications, answer questions, and listen to concerns.
- Since your child is getting better, the nurses will not be checking your child's temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, etc., as often as in the PICU.
- You will be able to be involved in your child's care throughout the stay in the Pediatric and Adolescent Inpatient Unit.