A Look into Pediatric Critical Care Services at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio

The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Pediatric Intensive Critical Care Unit (PICU) provides care and management of critically ill children from newborn to 18 years of age.  Dedicated to providing patients with the best possible care, the unit is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by in-house pediatric physicians, as well as multiple pediatric residents, advanced practitioners, highly trained nurses, and respiratory therapists.

Common diseases treated in the PICU include congenital heart defects, brain malformations, lung disease, severe infections requiring life support, epilepsy, and many more. “We have a fantastic, highly skilled team that provides world-class care. I’ve worked around the world, so as I build our team, I’m taking the best practices I’ve learned from each hospital and we’re implementing them here. We are hiring the right kind of people to do the right things, and it’s working tremendously well,” said Dr. Elumalai Appachi, M.B.B.S., Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Section Chief of The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Critical Care.

Dr. Appachi developed the “Just in Time” training for his employees. This training allows physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and nurse practitioners to use simulations at the bedside. Employees will train on simulators made to look like real patients in hospital beds. They will be able to use the simulators to predict normal complications and to practice handling complications so that they are primed to take care of a patient in any situation.

Every aspect of the Hospital’s transformation has been an effort to create a comfortable space for patients and families to stay while they receive treatment. The new PICU incorporates a designated family space in each room to include a sleep area, work area, and bathroom/shower. Patients also have access to a playroom located on the patient care floor.

The Hospital’s PICU was recently recognized by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses with a Silver Beacon Award for Excellence. It is the first and only PICU in Texas to receive this honor.

For more information about the Hospital and how you can help make a difference please visit, childrenshospitalsafoundation.org.