Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) & Critical Care

When your child needs intensive care for a serious medical condition, you can be sure they’re in good hands in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Phoenix Children’s. Our Critical Care team cares for children who experience:

Complications from existing conditions, such as diabetes or asthma
Major surgeries, like heart operations or organ transplants
Severe illnesses and infections, such as pneumonia
Trauma and other serious injuries

At Phoenix Children’s, we believe in family-centered care. That means we explain every procedure and treatment so you’re well-informed about your child’s condition. We also involve family members in decision-making to help your child heal best.

We understand that a stay in the PICU can be a frightening and uncertain time. In addition to providing expert care for your child, we’re here to provide support when you need it most. You can count on us to stand beside your family throughout your stay.

Why Choose Us

Our 48-bed PICU delivers expert care, innovative treatments and compassionate support. As a tertiary referral center and Arizona’s only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, we’re equipped to handle the most complex medical cases.

Our PICU physicians, also known as intensivists, have additional training and certification in pediatric critical care medicine. They work across specialties, including neurosurgery and orthopedics, to coordinate your child’s holistic care and make your experience seamless. Our team also includes:

Child life specialists
Dietitians
Pediatric critical care fellows
Pediatric residents
Pediatric critical care nurse practitioners
Pharmacists
Respiratory therapists
Social workers

Inside the PICU

Our staff closely monitors PICU patients 24 hours a day. You can meet with your child’s care team during regular medical rounds at 8 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. We encourage family members to be present, engage in discussions and ask questions.

Watch our welcome video to learn more about what to expect while your child is in the PICU.

Clinical Trials

Phoenix Children’s is at the forefront of research to improve outcomes for children with critical illnesses and provide hope to families. We participate in several clinical trials and quality improvement initiatives, including:

Cooling Therapy After Cardiac Arrest — Investigating how temperature management can help children recover more effectively.
Blood Transfusion Strategies for Critically Ill Children — Studying the safest ways to give blood transfusions to children on life support (ECMO).
Best Approaches to Life Support for Severe Lung Disease — Comparing different ways to use ECMO for children with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Improving Airway Management in Pediatric ICUs — Contributing to a nationwide effort to improve advanced airway management practice for children with critical illnesses.

Learn More

Our Centers of Excellence

Our PICU cares for children who require intense attention for a full spectrum of medical and surgical illnesses. We provide intensive care services for patients at all our Centers of Excellence, including: