The Wallace Critical Care Complex: Intensive caring at its best

This area houses the regional pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and intermediate care unit. This state-of-the-art area reflects months of planning, which included input from parents and families as well as physicians, staff and experts in designing healing environments.

Our pediatric critical care team

At Dayton Children's, the pediatric experts in the critical care complex care for more than 1,600 children every year. No other intensive care unit in our region offers this level of experience.

We are the only critical care complex in the region staffed by board-certified pediatric intensivists--doctors specially trained in critical care medicine.
The nursing staff all have pediatric advanced life support training and all complete trauma nurse core curriculum. An advanced practice nurse and a clinical nurse specialist work closely with families to make sure children get the very best care.
Respiratory therapists and other professionals also have special training and experience in caring for infants, children and teens.
Members of the Dayton PICU staff are part of Dayton Children's NICU/PICU transport team. This team is specially trained to transport infants and children in mobile intensive care units.

Our healing environment

Family-centered care in a child-friendly, healing environment
Family amenities that include private rooms; a place for children to spend the night with their child; a family lounge with shower, laundry and kitchen facilities; Playstation2s in each room; meditation room for quiet reflection; design and decor to promote healing
The most up-to-date technology to help the most seriously ill and injured children
Recognized nationally for leading the country in preventing central venous catheter bloodstream-related infections. The Dayton PICU has gone more than a year without a single central venous catheter infection.
Recognize parents are the experts--We put families at the center of all we do. The doctors and staff in the critical care complex include parents in daily discussions about their child and address the child's issues, including pain management.
The Dayton PICU is key to Dayton Children's regional trauma program. The PICU is close to the regional pediatric trauma and emergency center and next to surgery. This ensures critically sick and injured children have quick access to vital services.

The most up-to-date technology

Ceiling-mounted, rotating headwalls allow for 360-degree access to patients--a crucial advantage when caring for the most critically ill or injured children.
Improved design allows patients to be closely monitored from outside their rooms, which reduces external stimulation. This is key to providing a healing environment.

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