Pediatric Critical Care

Specialized Care for Critically Ill Infants, Children and Teenagers

Loyola Medicine is proud to offer our smallest patients expert care in world-class facilities. Boasting a 14-bed pediatric critical care unit, Loyola specializes in the medical care of infants, children and teens who require advanced life support, close monitoring and ongoing treatment after an emergency, severe trauma or major surgery, including a transplant.

Loyola offers supervision and support for patients of all ages who are at risk for, or suffering from, life-threatening conditions. These may include:

Loyola takes a multidisciplinary approach to caring for every patient. Our team of board-certified pediatric intensivists (intensive care specialists) work together with pediatric medical and surgical specialists and nurses specifically trained in pediatric critical care.

Our team works closely with other Loyola experts, including:

• Dietitians
• Occupational and physical therapists
• Pharmacists
• Respiratory therapists

Loyola’s pediatric critical care unit was specially designed with children and their families in mind. Providing home comforts, Loyola offers child-friendly amenities and comfortable accommodations for your family.

Why Choose Loyola for Pediatric Critical Care?

Specialists in Loyola’s pediatric critical care unit provide compassionate, advanced medical care, as well as supportive services.

Dedicated social workers and a child life specialist are trained to care for the special needs of hospitalized children, helping ease the child’s anxiety and managing the emotional effects of hospitalization. Chaplain services are also available at all times.

Loyola’s pediatric critical care unit is recognized by the Illinois Department of Public Health as a Certified Pediatric Critical Care Center for Excellence.

What Diagnostic Tests are Performed During Pediatric Critical Care?

Loyola’s skilled pediatric critical care staff uses high-tech monitoring systems to evaluate a patient’s progress. Your child’s healthcare team will monitor temperature, breathing, circulation and blood and tissue oxygenation in real time.

Occasional blood tests, X-rays and ultrasounds are used to monitor a child’s condition.

What Treatments are Available for Pediatric Critical Care?

Loyola offers ventilator support and state-of-the-art monitoring, as well as nutritional and psychosocial care.

Many of Loyola’s pediatric critical care patients need assistance breathing and will have a ventilator or a breathing tube, as well as an IV for medicine and fluids. Physical therapy is often needed during an extended hospitalization.

Newborn infants receive critical care at Loyola’s 50-bed neonatal intensive care unit.

On-Call Service to Transport Critically Ill Children to Nearby Facilities

Loyola’s one-call transfer center assists in bringing a ground or aeromedical critical care transport team to a patient’s bedside, no matter where he or she is located. Teams are standing by 24 hours a day to assist in the transport of critically ill children from outlying hospitals.

If you are a physician who needs to arrange transport to Loyola’s pediatric critical care unit, call 800-888-5862.

The call center is available 24 hours a day and will connect you immediately to attending physicians who can provide immediate management advice and accept your patient. The call center will also take care of all the details to arrange the transfer and admit your patient.