Pediatric Critical Care

D. Jeannean Carver, MD
Division Director

The University of Virginia Children’s Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) cares for critically ill or injured children. The unit has 20 beds and 6 intermediate care beds including 18 private rooms with sleep space for parents. Our patient population ranges in age from birth to 18 years of age. Each year the PICU admits approximately 1,000 children to the unit through numerous referral sources.

The PICU is part of the UVA Children’s Hospital, a tertiary/quaternary care institution serving the mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. Our team of professionals includes physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, nutritionists, therapists, and others who work with the child and family to accomplish the goals of care. Caregivers provide state-of-the-art techniques for monitoring acute neurological, metabolic, respiratory, and cardiovascular functions in critically ill children. In addition, we offer all forms of support for multiple or individual organ failure including high-frequency ventilation (HFOV), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), extra-corporeal renal (CVVHD) replacement therapy, inhaled nitric oxide, and other novel pharmacologic therapies. Children also receive support and monitoring following a variety of surgical procedures by pediatric, cardiothoracic, orthopedic, plastic, ENT, urology, transplant, and other pediatric surgical specialists.

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.