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Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
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The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin provides highly specialized care to critically ill children and neonates.
This 72-bed unit, which is one of the best equipped and staffed units in the nation, is directed by experts in pediatric critical care who provide care or serve as consultants in all cases. Other team members who will help care for your child include anesthesiologists, pediatricians, pulmonologists, otolaryngologists, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and a variety of pediatric surgeons including general, thoracic, cardiovascular, plastic, orthopedic and neurosurgeons. All have been trained to care for critically ill pediatric patients.
This unit also is staffed with nurses who specialize in the care of children with heart or lung disease, life-threatening birth malformations, severe head and body trauma, severe burns, pre- and post-organ transplant recipients, post-heart surgery, and any medical illness. |
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Services include: |
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- Complete electronic monitoring and life-support systems.
- Flexible and rigid bronchoscopy.
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to provide temporary heart/lung bypass for neonates and older children with reversible respiratory or heart failure.
- Ventricular assist devices to bridge children in heart failure to transplant.
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Children's Transport is a specialized medical team that brings infants and children from other medical centers to Children's Hospital. They are available 24 hours a day and travel by ambulance, helicopter or airplane. Team members are trained to stabilize and care for critically ill children and infants. |
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Visiting your child |
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Visitation is unlimited for parents, grandparents and legal guardians. Other visitors may visit from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please limit visitors to two per patient at a time. Brothers and sisters may visit, but check with your child's nurse to prearrange a visit from children younger than 14 years of age. Child Life specialists are available to help prepare younger siblings before they enter the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Ask your child's nurse for this service.
Many of your friends and relatives will want to know how your child is doing. To protect your family's privacy, your child's nurse will give updates on your child's condition to parents and grandparents only. We suggest you ask a family member or friend to keep others informed about your child's progress. Also, it is helpful if you make a list of who may visit. This will be put in your child's chart and passed on to other staff who may care for your child.
We realize there will be times you will not be able to be with your child because of other family or work commitments. Please feel free to call us at any time for an update at (414) 266-3070. |
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Family lounges |
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The family lounges are nice places to rest or relax, yet still be near your child. Because lounges are small, each family needs to limit the number of visitors in the family lounges. Please be considerate of each family's needs for quiet space and support. Quiet hours are observed from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. in the family lounge. |
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Sleeping arrangements |
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A single sleeper couch is available in most patient rooms for one parent or grandparent to stay. Please let your child's nurse know if you wish to stay overnight. you will be asked to wear appropriate sleep attire, such as pajamas pr sweats that cover your whole body. If needed, parent sleepwear is available and can be requested formyour child's care provider. The hospital will provide linens and a pillow. You will need to pring your own toiletries. Siblings and other minor children are not allowed to stay overnight.
Families may stay at the Ronald McDonald House, located across the street from Children's Hospital. For details, call Family Services at (414) 266-2800.
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More about the intensive care unit.
View a virtual tour of the PICU, along with other areas of the hospital. | |
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