The diverse patient population in the PICU reflects the subspecialty areas practiced by our physicians: all pediatric subspecialaties, pediatric surgery, ENT, orthopedics, urology, neurosurgery, and cardiovascular surgery.  Throughout this rotation, we emphasize the fundamentals of respiratory, hemodynamic, metabolic, and neurologic pathophysiology, and resuscitation.  

Of nearly 650 ICU patients treated in an average year, half are pediatric medicine patients, one-quarter are cardiovascular surgery patients, and the remainder belong to pediatric surgical subspecialties.   Together, the medical and surgical staffs mange the children's care.

Intensive Training in Neonatology

warmer.jpg (39281 bytes)Children's Hospital has a 40-bed NICU with 20 ventilator beds.  This Level III unit is staffed by five full time neonatologists, seven neonatal/perinatal fellows, as well as senior pediatric residents and first-year pediatric residents.  We employ 100 registered nurses, two neonatal nurse practitioners and two clinical nurse specialists.  Respiratory therapists trained in neonatal care are always on duty.

Our NICU is one of the only three centers in the state that is certified to perform extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).  Many patients are referred to us specifically for this service.  The unit is the site of high-tech support services, including high frequency jet ventilation, and several nationally-funded research projects.

W treat nearly 700 premature or critically ill newborns annually, some weighing as little as 400 grams upon admission.  About 80 percent of the babies are transferred from other Level III nurseries.  As a resident here, you learn how to deal with referred neonates who need the many specialized services available at an academic children's hospital.  You also benefit from experienced caring for high-risk and normal infants born at nearby Hutzel Hospital.

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