Pediatric Intensive Care
Highly skilled, compassionate critical care
If your child has a serious illness or injury, rest assured that you’ll receive exceptional pediatric intensive care treatment with compassion at Novant Health. Our highly skilled medical experts provide life-saving pediatric medical care daily using advanced technology designed to support critical conditions.
What is a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)?
If your child ever needs life-saving medical care, our pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) offer comprehensive, compassionate care. PICUs provide specialized and complex treatment and around-the-clock monitoring to children experiencing critical medical issues.
Our collaborative teams include children’s intensive care physicians, specially trained PICU nurses and respiratory therapists, pediatric pharmacists, nutritionists and child-life professionals. Your child will be monitored for 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Novant Health has two PICU facilities: Hemby Children’s Hospital in Charlotte and Betty H. Cameron Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Wilmington.
Remarkable care supported by advanced technology
We’ve invested in the latest equipment to provide the highest level of critical care your child deserves. At a Novant Health PICU, your child’s needs are supported by advanced technologies and therapies such as invasive mechanical ventilation, noninvasive ventilation, neurological pressure monitoring, cardiorespiratory monitoring, EEG monitoring, PICC line placement and deep sedation for painful procedures.
These technologies along with our staff’s expertise allow us to care for a range of conditions, including severe respiratory illnesses, cardiac illnesses, all infectious diseases, a broad range of neurological diseases, hematology and cancer-related illnesses. Your child also may receive post-operative care in the PICU for neurological, thoracic, abdominal, orthopedic, urological, or ENT surgeries.
Family support during intensive care stays
When your child is in the PICU, it can be frightening and disruptive. You’ll find large, private rooms that are family-friendly to support direct family involvement in the care of your little one. At our PICU facilities, you’ll find expert staff and medical social workers who can provide information and guidance regarding treatments and services at any time. Our child life staff is available to provide comfort to your child and family during your stay. Plus, you’ll have access to family resources to help make your stay as comfortable as possible.
Resources for PICU stays
We want to make your stay with us as comforting as possible. You’ll find a range of services and amenities, such as private family areas to rest, thanks to our generous partners. Our projects, partners and support resources include Ronald McDonald House Charities, Bee Mighty, Madelyn’s Fund and Beads of Courage. Each of these groups offers specialized resources for parents with children in intensive care. Our care team can share nearby support services so you can stay close to your child.
Bereavement support
We’re here for you when you suffer a loss. Our team will do everything possible to help you during your difficult time. Care teams at Novant Health can connect you with grief counseling for individuals or families.
Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care Transport
Our pediatric helicopter and ambulance transportation units bring newborns and critically ill or injured children to the highest level of care when needed. During transport, your child will receive expert intensive care treatment.
Support for Your Family
Our child life specialists understand the unique needs of children – especially during times of stress such as injury, illness or being in the hospital – and serve as integral members of your child’s care team. They help care for your child’s social and emotional needs and provide support for your entire family. We offer services at Hemby Children’s Hospital and Betty H. Cameron Women’s & Children’s Hospital.