Pediatric Critical Care Medicine 

 

The University of Virginia Children's Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is a unit that cares for critically ill or injured children. The PICU has 14 beds for our patients, including 11 private rooms with sleep space for parents. Our patient population ranges in age from birth to 21 years of age. Each year the PICU admits approximately one thousand children to the unit through numerous referral sources. Consultation with the attending in the PICU is available 24 hours a day by any of the following methods:

1. Call the PICU directly at (434) 924-1761.

2. Page the PICU attending on call at (434) 924-0211.

3. Call Medical Information & Referral Services toll free at (800) 251-3627.

 

Transportation of critically ill children is available by neonatal and pediatric transport specialists via air or ground through UVa Pegasus and NETS services.

The PICU multidisciplinary caregivers provide state-of-the-art techniques in monitoring acute neurological, metabolic, respiratory, and cardiovascular functions in critically ill children.  In addition, the PICU offers all forms of support for multiple or individual organ failure including high frequency ventilation (HFOV), extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), extra-corporeal renal (CVVHD) replacement therapy, inhaled nitric oxide and other novel pharmacologic therapies. Additionally, children receive support and monitoring following a variety of surgical procedures by pediatric, cardiothoracic, orthopedic, plastic, ENT, urology, transplant and other pediatric surgical specialists.

The PICU is part of the UVa Children's Hospital, a tertiary/quaternary care institution serving the mid-Atlantic and Southeast and supports the  DeCamp Burn Center, the  UVa Trauma Center and the  Blue Ridge Poison Control Center.  The Division of Pediatric Critical Care is committed to excellence in caring for severely ill or injured children and their families, excellence in education and academic training for physicians, nurses, and ancillary staff, and excellence in research and investigations in basic science, clinical practice and translational research.