Expanding Intensive Care Units
Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Expanding Intensive Care Units
Children’s Hospital is undergoing a major renovation to expand its intensive care offerings. The hospital is currently remodeling locations on the first and sixth floors to house a new Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU).
The CICU has been part of the hospital’s first-floor PICU for several years, but necessity has caused an expansion of both units, which are currently running 114 percent higher patient counts than before Hurricane Katrina.
“We have had a much bigger demand for intensive care services, and the expansion will increase our ability to take care of more patients in the future,” said Mary Perrin, vice president of hospital operations.
The PICU has been divided into segments during the renovation. Some beds will remain open in one half of the PICU, while others will be temporarily located in the first floor unit across from the PICU. Once one side is complete, it will open and the other half will close to complete the renovation.
In late 2009, the PICU will move to a new, state-of-the-art location on the sixth floor, above the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). It will have 18 beds, and at least 16 will be in private rooms.
The CICU will remain in the refurbished PICU location. It will have 20 beds, 10 of which will be in private rooms. Each bed space in the CICU will be equipped for surgical intervention at a moment’s notice, while imaginatively creating a warm and comforting environment for rest and care.
Both units will house the finest technology within individually organized critical care environments. They have been creatively designed to promote an atmosphere of quality care and healing. The family waiting areas will be comfortable and convenient and can house up to 24 parents.