PICU

Providing Care After an Accident, Surgery or Special Diagnostic Procedure

Texas Children's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) provides compassionate care 24/7

A child may come to the PICU after an accident or after special diagnostic procedures. Other children are admitted directly after surgery. All children in the center have one thing in common — the need for special, intensive care. Nurses and doctors closely watch every child around the clock. With the help of special equipment, they are able to respond quickly to emergencies.

Special Information for Parents and Visitors

Calling the Unit

When parents cannot be with their child, they may call the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit to inquire about the status of their child. To ensure each patient's privacy, only parents may call the unit. Telephones are available in the waiting room for parents to call family and friends.

Waiting room

The waiting room is meant to be a comfortable, quiet place for families during a stressful time. A Texas Children's Hospital volunteer or receptionist is at the waiting room desk to assist families and answer questions. Only children 14 years of age or older are permitted in the waiting area. Because of limited space, only parents of intensive care patients are allowed in the waiting room after 9 pm.

Visiting

Visiting periods are as long and as flexible as an intensive care setting permits. Two family members may be in the unit during each visiting period. Visitors must be at least 14 years of age. All visitors must wash their hands before they come into the unit. Visitors may need to wear a gown, mask and gloves.

Related Services

Texas Children's Hospital Kangaroo Crew^®

Texas Children's Hospital Kangaroo Crew^® transports critically ill babies and children to Texas Children’s Hospital via ambulance or fixed-wing aircraft.

Texas Children's Progressive Care Unit (PCU)

Patients in the PCU are acutely or chronically ill and frequently are admitted from intensive care. Nurses take the lead in coordinating care for patients who require continuous monitoring and observation, with special emphasis given to respiratory, neurological and surgical disorders. Many patients depend on technological support, notably those with tracheotomies or negative pressure ventilators (also known as "iron lungs)". Nurses in the PCU teach families to care for their child at home.

Chief of Service	Lara Shekerdemian, MD, FRACP, FAAP
Medical Director of PCU	Fernando Stein, MD
Medical Director of Quality	Eric A. Williams, MD
Medical Director of PICU	Jeanine Marie Graf, MD
Medical Director of CVICU	Paul Checchia, MD
Clinic Physicians	Ayse Arikan, MD Patricia Bastero, MD Aarti Bavare, MD Ronald Bronicki, MD Danny Castro, DO Paul Checchia, MD Jorge Coss-Bu, MD Moreshwar S. Desai, MD Hilel Frankenthal. MD Jeanine Marie Graf, MD Curtis E. Kennedy, MD Yi-Chen Lai, MD Fong Wilson Lam, MD Laura L. Loftis, MD Mona L. McPherson, MD Matthew Musick, MD Trung C. Nguyen, MD Renan A. Orellana, MD Joseph Philip, MD Kevin Roy, MD Lara Shekerdemian, MD Fernando Stein, MD Moushumi Sur, MD M. Hossein Tcharmtchi, MD Satid Thammassitboon, MD James Thomas, MD Eric A. Williams, MD
Research Coordinators	Ursula G. Kyle, MS, RD Nancy Jaimon, RN, BSN Michelle Goldsworthy, RN, BN
Nurse Practitioners/Physicians Assistants	Ruth M. Abelt, NP Megan Arnold, PA Elizabeth Elliott, PA Kemi Hamed, PA Amy Howells, NP Anne Lam, NP Jennify Lusk, NP Jennifer Mauney, NP Wendy Nasser, NP Cynthia Nelson, PA Elizabeth Neptune, PA Mervin Nunez, PA Patricia Oakland, NP Kathleen Parks, PA Mark Riccioni, NP Monica Rocha, PA Kenya Samuels, PA Graciela Sanabria, PA Amanda Shelton, PA Jenilea Thomas, NP Peggy Walsh, PA Brent Woodward, PA