The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton intensive care unit named 2007 ICU Design Citation Award winner

The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton pediatric intensive care unit recently was named the recipient of the 2007 ICU Design Citation Award, which is cosponsored by the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) and the American Institute of Architects Academy on Architecture for Health (AIA).

This national award was conceived to identify and recognize a critical care unit already in operation whose design demonstrates attention to both functional and humanitarian issues. The award has been in existence since 1992. In 1999, Dayton Children’s newborn intensive care unit won the award. Dayton Children’s is the only hospital to have won this ICU Design Award more than once.

The new Wallace Critical Care Complex at Dayton Children’s includes the regional pediatric intensive care unit and intermediate care unit. Children and families who are cared for in the pediatric intensive care unit and intermediate care unit require special care. Environment plays an important role in the healing process. The healing environment in The Wallace Critical Care Complex uses color, design and art to reduce stress, uplift the spirit and convey hope and compassion. Warm colors of yellows, blues and greens coupled with original artwork of nature settings create a nurturing experience for patients and families.

“Dayton Children’s is so honored to have been named recipient of this award,” says David Kinsaul, president and chief executive officer. “When a child is seriously ill or injured and requires intensive care, the whole family needs care and surroundings that add to their comfort and healing.  We wanted to design the very best place for our region’s children and families to heal and we believe we have accomplished that. This award is a testament to the hard work of everyone who was a part of this project—from the donors, to the architect, to our facilities staff and the entire team that provides care in the complex.”

The national design citation is awarded to the entry that best resolves functional and humanitarian issues in a unique and complimentary manner. The focus of the award is on planning and design characteristics rather than process or administrative features.

Units were reviewed in a blinded fashion according to the following criteria:

• Demonstrates commitment to creating a healing environment
• Demonstrates commitment to promoting safety and security
• Demonstrates commitment to efficiency
• Demonstrates attention to innovative, unique aesthetic and creative design features

The patient bedside area, overall unit design, integration of technology, staff/support areas and family/waiting areas are assessed. Dayton Children’s staff will receive the design award at the 36th National Congress of the Society of Critical Care Medicine in Orlando, Florida in February. David Glover of Pinnacle Architects was the architect on this project and also will be recognized during the February awards presentation.

About The Wallace Critical Care Complex
The Wallace Critical Care Complex has the most advanced equipment and medical facilities available for pediatric care. It offers family-centered care in a child-friendly, healing environment with the most up-to-date technology for the most seriously ill and injured children. More than 1,600 patients annually are admitted to the regional pediatric intensive care unit and intermediate care unit.

Caring for the region’s most seriously ill or injured children requires the work of a specially trained team. Hospital-based board-certified pediatric intensivists, specially trained in the care of critically ill children, staff Dayton Children’s regional pediatric critical care complex.

The pediatric intensive care unit and intermediate care unit nursing staff all have pediatric advanced life support training and all complete trauma nurse core curriculum. An advanced practice nurse—a clinical nurse specialist—works closely with families to provide the best care for patients.

Specially trained pediatric respiratory therapists provide supportive care for patients in the pediatric intensive care unit and intermediate care unit. Additionally, specially trained staff assistants are cross-trained to provide patient and administrative care.
Families are at the center of all of the work at Dayton Children’s. The specially trained staff at the hospital involves parents in daily rounding about their child and works closely with parents to address their child’s issues, including pain management.

The Wallace Critical Care Complex offers many amenities for families including: private rooms; a place for parents to spend the night in the room; a family lounge with shower, laundry and kitchen facilities; and Playstation2s in each room. The regional pediatric critical care complex at Dayton Children’s also has the most up-to-date technology.

Additionally, earlier this year, Dayton Children’s pediatric intensive care unit received a national patient safety and quality award for the staff’s work to prevent central venous catheter-related bloodstream infections. Dayton Children’s pediatric intensive care unit went for more than 500 days without one of these infections—keeping patients safe from these dangerous infections and shortening hospital stays.

Dayton Children’s transported 900 pediatric patients by mobile intensive care unit to the hospital last year from the hospital’s 20-county region. Dayton Children’s has the region’s only pediatric transport team. An experienced, pediatric-trained transport team in mobile intensive care units transports children. Members of the pediatric intensive care unit staff Dayton Children’s pediatric mobile intensive care unit.

The pediatric intensive care unit is an integral part of Dayton Children’s level 2 regional pediatric trauma program. The pediatric intensive care unit at Dayton Children’s is conveniently located for quick access to the trauma and emergency department, surgery and medical imaging. Children who receive care at Dayton Children’s have access to Dayton Children’s full complement of pediatric specialists.