In order to ensure constant monitoring and care for our young patients, the PICU has a higher nurse to patient ratio than the general pediatric unit of the hospital. These pediatric critical care nurses have received additional training and certification in caring for seriously ill or injured children.

Along with pediatric critical care nurses, the pediatric intensive care team includes physicians certified in various pediatric sub-specialties, as well as:

• Pediatric nurse practitioners
• Respiratory therapists
• Physical therapists
• Occupational therapists
• Nutritionists

In the PICU, a specially trained Cedars-Sinai physician manages the care of each child. This physician, called an intensivist, stays in close contact with a patient’s regular pediatrician to coordinate the medical treatment across a continuum of care. This ensures that your child will continue to receive appropriate treatment once they have been discharged from the hospital.

The seven-bed PICU unit has four open unit bed spaces, as well as three isolation rooms that are assigned according to diagnosis. The unit is designed to provide intensive nursing care and ongoing monitoring of heart rates, blood pressure, and respiration. Intensive therapies can be provided in the PICU as well, including ventilators and specialized medications.

• Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency - Designated Pediatric Medical Center
• Los Angeles Department of Public Health - Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics EDAP