Children with critical and potentially life-threatening injuries and illnesses need doctors and nurses trained to meet their unique medical needs. The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Mission Children's Hospital is an advanced critical care unit serving children in Western North Carolina from infancy through 18 years of age. Our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit considers family support essential to the health and recovery process for each child. We feature a host of family-centered aspects to compliment your child's care.
The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit provides critical care medical management at the request of referring physicians. Talk to your primary care provider if your child requires any hospitalization.
Treating a Variety of Illnesses and Conditions:
- Asthma
- Pneumonia
- Diabetes
- Organ failure
- Brain injury
- Acute respiratory infection
- Respiratory failure.
- Severe breathing problems
- Serious infections
- Injuries from auto accidents and falls
Family-Centered Amenities and Services
Because we consider family support essential to your child's recovery, the Mission Children's PICU staff is skilled at communicating with families and provides a variety of amenities and services dedicated to supporting your collaboration in each child's care, including:
- An ICU waiting room specific to pediatrics. This room is available for family members, where we keep you updated regarding your child's treatment and condition.
- Around-the-clock care with a highly-coordinated medical team.
- Daily Family Centered Rounds, where a team dedicated to your child's care will discuss condition and treatment options, including ways for the family to help with overall management of your child's health.
- 24/7 access to your child. While not permitted to sleep in the patient room, parents of critical care patients have access to their child and interaction with staff is encouraged.
- Lodging and support services with extended hospitalization. Families can coordinate this option with the Rathbun Center for this option.
- Support for breastfeeding mothers. We will store milk during your stay.
Your Care Team
Children referred to the PICU will be cared for by a coordinated team of clinicians, physicians, nurses, and specialists skilled in the field of pediatrics. Our PICU team includes Western North Carolina's only board certified pediatric intensivists (physicians with a specialization in hospital care of critically ill and injured children) and pediatric hospitalists who focus on caring for hospitalized children. Our respiratory and board certified staff are continually trained on advanced technology as it becomes available in the Unit. From nurses to nutritionists and pharmacists to physicians, every aspect of your child's care is highly coordinated. Throughout the hospital stay, our pediatric intensivist regularly consults with other subspecialists and provides regular updates to the referring physicians via telephone. Once discharged, we send the child back to your primary care provider
| Meet the specilists from this team: | |
| Cecelia Caldwell, MD | |
| Rebecca Carchman, MD | |
| Colby J Colasacco, MD | |
| Leon DeJournett, MD | |
| Ansley Miller, MD | |
Get a Referral from Your Physician
The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit provides critical care medical management at the request of referring physicians. Talk to your primary care provider if your child requires any hospitalization.
