Pediatric Critical Care

Like adults, when a child has life-threatening symptoms or an unstable condition, they need special attention. A child may not be able to fight diseases and recover from health conditions the same way an adult can. So, medical care that specifically focuses on the child’s medical needs is crucial for recovery.

Stormont Vail’s Pediatric Intensive Care team includes highly skilled specialists to provide dedicated and uninterrupted care to children and teens.

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Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Stormont Vail Health

Our unit specializes in life-saving medical emergencies and exclusively serves children and adolescents from infants to 18 years old.

Our team integrates physicians and other health care providers from multiple specialties as needed for each patient. In addition to 24/7 care from our pediatric intensive care physicians (also called pediatric intensivists), we often work with cardiology, oncology, neurology, endocrinology, urology, ophthalmology, and trauma to design a treatment plan customized for each child or teen.

Every day, we also have team rounds that include a pediatric intensivist, pediatric pharmacist, child life specialist, social work, case manager, and nurse practitioner. These daily meetings aim to closely examine each patient’s holistic health status and discuss important decisions and plans with the family.

We have six private rooms within a private, secure unit to ensure patient safety. A procedural room within the PICU is equipped with additional technologies for more advanced procedures that may require sedation.

After your child is discharged from PICU, we will follow up with your child’s primary physician and let them know the treatments received here and further care instructions.

Conditions We Treat

Medical and surgical pediatric conditions most commonly treated in pediatric intensive care include:

Treatment Options

Our pediatric intensivists — specialists certified in pediatric critical care — provide care such as:

Evaluating a child’s condition and making a diagnosis

Prescribing medications and outlining treatment plans for children with lung disease and brain trauma

Monitoring the child’s condition around the clock

Placing catheters in the blood vessels and heart to examine if the heart is working well

Resources For Families

We believe family plays a central role in a child’s recovery, which is why we involve the patient’s family in the treatment plan. We update you on your child’s condition, educate you on providing care for your child, and offer emotional support. We have multiple resources available for families including:

Child Life Program to offer play-based methods of support for children

Daily bedside meetings with the patient, family, and full team of care providers

Ronald McDonald House to accommodate out-of-town families

Flexible visiting hours for families: Parents are able to be at the bedside 24/7. Other visitors can come to see a patient between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Grief and loss support

Your Pediatric Care Providers

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