Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
Compassionate, Specialized Care for Critically Ill Children
When a child requires intensive medical care, families need both clinical expertise and compassionate support. The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at CHKD delivers 24/7, specialized critical care for infants, children, and adolescents with serious or life-threatening conditions.
Our PICU integrates advanced monitoring technology, evidence-based protocols, and a family-centered approach to ensure the highest standards of pediatric critical care.
Care is led by board-certified pediatric intensivists who partner with a multidisciplinary team of experienced PICU nurses, respiratory therapists, pediatric surgeons and subspecialists, clinical pharmacists, child life specialists, social workers, and care coordinators. Together, they provide coordinated, high-acuity care focused on patient safety, clinical stabilization, recovery, and long-term outcomes.
For children requiring continuous monitoring, mechanical ventilation, or advanced life-sustaining therapies, our team is equipped to deliver comprehensive, complex critical care.
As the region’s largest pediatric critical care unit, CHKD’s PICU treats approximately 1,500 patients each year from throughout Hampton Roads, Virginia’s Eastern Shore, and northeastern North Carolina.
Conditions Treated in the PICU
The PICU cares for children with complex and acute medical needs, including:
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Severe infections and sepsis
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Respiratory distress or failure
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Traumatic injuries and emergency conditions
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Recovery after major surgery
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Neurological emergencies
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Cardiac complications
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Multi-organ or complex systemic illness
What to Expect During a PICU Stay
Having a child in intensive care can feel overwhelming. Our team prioritizes clear communication and family involvement throughout your child’s stay.
During a PICU admission:
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Your child receives continuous monitoring and specialized nursing care.
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Physicians conduct daily rounds and review treatment plans.
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Families are encouraged to ask questions and participate in care discussions.
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Frequent updates keep you informed.
Parents and caregivers are essential members of the care team.
Family Support in the PICU
Critical illness affects the entire family. CHKD offers resources to support parents, siblings, and caregivers, including:
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Integrative care services to reduce fear and anxiety
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Social work and care coordination
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Discharge planning and transition support
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Spiritual care services
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Guidance for siblings and extended family
Our goal is to care for your child while supporting your family through every stage of recovery.
Helpful Information
Location: Main Hospital
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Phone: (757) 668-7315
PICU Rules and Visitation Guidelines
Related Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Overnight visitors must be age 18 or over. If you would like to request a sleeping room, please let your nurse know. Due to space limitations, sleeping rooms cannot be guaranteed.
Parents/caregivers are permitted to visit at almost any time of the day. Other family members are permitted to visit during visiting hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is a limit to the number of visitors at any one time. The following policies were put into place to balance our patients' needs for close medical supervision with their needs to have loved ones nearby.
- When a child is admitted to the PICU, the parents will be asked to compile a list of people who are allowed to visit their child. Only people whose names appear on this list will be allowed to visit.
- Each family will be permitted to add six names to the visitors list, this includes the parents/caregivers. In addition, only two visitors, including parents/caregivers, are allowed at the bedside at one time. Additional visitors, not on the visitors list, will need to wait in the lobby and are not permitted up to the unit or PICU lounge.
- Siblings of the patient may visit during the visiting hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Siblings under the age of 18 years old must be designated in the sibling section of the visitors list. Siblings and children that are not siblings, must be listed as one of the six visitors on the visitors list.
- Visitors are not allowed when nursing shifts change duty, generally 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Visitors may also be asked to leave for brief periods of time to allow doctors and/or patients privacy.
Parents, families, and visitors may eat in the KD Café on the first floor or visit our vending areas on the first and fourth floors. Microwave and toaster ovens are available in this area.
No visitor food is allowed at your child's bedside. You may eat or store food in the family lounge. All food and beverages stored in the family lounge must be labeled with date, time, and room number. The refrigerator and freezer is cleaned out daily. Any unlabeled items may be disposed of. Beverages with lids are permitted.
When you are away from your child's bedside, you are welcome to call the unit to find out how your child is doing. Please call (757) 668-7315. We may ask you to identify yourself in a special way (for instance, by giving us a special password) to make sure we are giving information to the proper person.
Loitering or making phone calls in the hallway is not permitted. To protect patient privacy, please remain at your child's bedside when visiting. Staff will escort you to other areas of the unit, as needed.
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