Overview

Overview

Cleveland Clinic Children's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

The department provides care in the 15 bed Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU), 10 bed Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and 13 bed Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU). The units are staffed 24/7 by a team of highly skilled pediatric intensivists, nurse practitioners, ICU nurses and respiratory therapists, ensuring safe transition from the emergency department or operating room to recovery. We treat and care for over 1,500 pediatric patients a year.

Our staff quickly recognizes early signs of respiratory failure, cardiac instability, changes in mental status and pain. Thereby allowing for timely interventions and speedier recoveries, while focusing on the comfort of our patients and their families.

The Pediatric Critical Care Transport team is available 24/7 to transport critically ill children to our hospital from locations throughout the United States and across the globe via, ambulance, helicopter and fixed wing aircraft. The team transports over 1,300 children to our hospital annually.

Skilled and experienced pediatric intensivists and nurses

A team of highly skilled board-certified pediatric intensivists work closely with experienced pediatric nurse practitioners with additional certification in acute care.

24 hour care and supervision

A full-staff, attending pediatric intensivist is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays.

Multidisciplinary approach

  • Pediatric ICU physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and respiratory therapists co-manage patients, working together with Cleveland Clinic Children's specialists and sub-specialists as needed.
  • Developmental pediatricians and physiatrists from Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital for Rehabilitation evaluate potential candidates for follow-up rehabilitation, often initiating therapy prior to discharge to the rehabilitation setting or home.
  • Pediatric nutritionists, child life specialists and social workers are engaged in the daily care of each child and provide support to patients, parents and siblings as needed.

Critical care transport

  • One phone call brings the expertise of Cleveland Clinic physicians, nurse practitioners, critical care nurses, paramedics, and allied health professionals to those who need it anywhere at any time.
  • Specialty care teams are provided for infants, children and adults.
  • The transport team is guided by our intensivists during the transport.
  • Our team also can facilitate return transport when needed.
What We Treat

What We Treat

Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU)

  • Patients admitted to the PCICU range from newborn babies with congenital heart disease to those patients, both pediatric and adult who have undergone congenital heart surgery.
  • We work collaboratively with our colleagues in the Pediatric Cardiology and CT Surgery department to provide coordinated multidisciplinary care.
  • Active heart transplant, ECMO and VAD programs.

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

  • Respiratory failure is one of the most common reasons for PICU admission and may arise from acute pneumonia, airway obstruction, bronchiolitis or following complex surgeries.
  • Multiple types of ventilator support are available: noninvasive, conventional, high frequency oscillatory ventilation, and delivery of inhaled nitric oxide.
  • Pediatric intensivists work in concert with nationally respected Cleveland Clinic epileptologists and pediatric neurosurgeons in managing complex cases of epilepsy.

Our PICU staff also has vast experience with:

  • Bone marrow, liver and kidney transplant patients.
  • Renal replacement (dialysis) therapies.
  • Pediatric brain tumors.
  • Diabetes.

Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU)

  • The IMCU provides specialty pediatric care for those patients who may require frequent monitoring of vital signs and nursing interventions, but who do not require invasive monitoring.
  • Patients following complex ENT, orthopedic and general surgical procedures are admitted and cared for together with their primary surgical team.
  • Advanced respiratory support such as non-invasive ventilation and high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) are provided on the IMCU under our supervision.
  • Also step down of patients transitioning out of intensive care will be cared for in the IMCU.
Our Doctors

Our Doctors

Appointments

Appointments

Referrals

For consultations with intensivists or to arrange admission to the PCICU, PICU or Intermediate Care Unit:

Transfers

For hospital transfers, physicians can contact us below:

  • Call: Call: 216.444.8302 or 800.553.5056
  • Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Online: Send us an email

Critical Care Transport

  • Call: 216.444.8302