Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Children's Hospital
Critically ill and injured children are cared for in our PICU, where specialty physician care is combined with the expertise of our pediatric intensivists, Patricia Wankum, MD and Craig Downs, DO.
The staff is dedicated to pediatric critical care and can provide a full range of services including ventilatory support, invasive and noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring in a high-tech, yet family-centered environment.
"There really is no average case here," explains PICU manager Cindy Brooks. "All our patients are special." As patients come in by helicopter or ambulance, they usually bypass the University Hospital emergency room and go directly to the Children's Hospital PICU. Brooks says this protocol benefits pediatric patients and families because PICU staff members are specially trained in pediatric critical care. In addition, PICU equipment is designed specifically for patients up to age 18.
PICU Facts
- The 11-bed unit is a part of the only facility in central Missouri with a Level 1 Trauma Center.
- Children up to age 18 are cared for in the unit.
- Certified as a Cystic Fibrosis Center, Children's Hospital draws patients from across the state. These patients often are cared for in the PICU.
- The PICU is staffed by 25 nurses.
- Child-life specialists, a teacher, social workers and chaplains are available.
- Subspecialists in more than 15 areas of pediatric medicine care for patients.
