Critical Care Medicine
The Section of Critical Care Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics is a multi disciplinary team of attending critical care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, postdoctoral fellows, and research support personnel committed to the care of patients suffering from a life-threatening illness or injury.
The section has 20 attending physicians headed by Dr. Lara Shekerdemian. Two additional faculty members have appointments to the section as long-range transport physicians with the Kangaroo Crew. An expanding group of 18 nurse practitioners and physician assistants along with 16 clinical postdoctoral fellows (academic year 2009-10) receiving sub-specialty training in pediatric critical care help ensure delivery of truly excellent medical care to pediatric patients from around the world.
The section is responsible for the 31-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit on floor 3 of West Tower in Texas Children's Hospital. The PICU provides care for children with severe illnesses and injuries that require advanced technology such as mechanical ventilation, continuous renal replacement therapy, and other supportive care.
The section also oversees the care of many patients in the 36-bed Progressive Care Unit on floor 7 of West Tower. The PCU provides care for children with illnesses requiring more frequent observation or intervention than can be provided in the general care areas and frequently serves as a transition unit for patients from the PICU or operating room.
The pediatric critical care section participates in a variety of clinical research trials offering patients and their families the opportunity to access potentially life-saving therapies while adding to the body of pediatric medical knowledge. Individual faculty members also participate in additional research endeavors associated with BCM and its affiliated institutions.