Critical Care

The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) provides state-of-the-art medical care for children who need consistent observation or advanced life support. It is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by a specially trained team of pediatric critical care physicians, residents, nurse practitioners, nurses, respiratory therapists, and child life specialists. This team provides multidisciplinary care while working side-by-side with families and providers. The PICU focuses on providing compassionate and comfortable care to families during the child’s hospitalization.

We are one of five in the state of Georgia and the only PICU for the children in the central and southern regions of the state. Our PICU offers comprehensive care for children with a wide variety of diagnosis including respiratory illness/ failure, trauma, infection, pulmonary disease, seizures, and multiple organ failure. We average 1100-1200 admissions annually. The team utilizes evidence-based practice and guidelines, while following national recommendations of pediatric critical care.

The PICU provides a full range of advanced critical care services and supports all major subspecialty services. We are a Level 1 Trauma Center and the PICU physicians direct the 24/7 Pediatric Transport Team and Transfer Center referrals.

For more information, please call (478) 633-1560.

Our Philosophy

Our philosophy is based on providing the highest standard of patient and family centered care through an engaging, vibrant and evidence based specialized care. We work hard to stimulate intellectual curiosity, excitement, creative energy, enthusiasm and optimism. We see communication as the human connection to success, it is the essential ingredient and the foundation principle that holds all relationships. We strive to make a difference in the lives of the critically ill children.

Residency Training

Our education program includes an exciting, ACGME-accredited residency program, that includes training of pediatric residents, surgery critical care fellows, and critical care nurse practitioners. Trainees in these programs are exposed to traditional bedside and didactic teaching, procedural skills using ultrasound, simulation programs, and web-based learning modules.

HUGS- Pediatric Palliative Care Services

The PICU also offers Pediatric Palliative Care Services (HUGS) which is specialized medical care for children with serious illnesses. It focuses on providing relief from symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness—whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the child and the family.

Pediatric palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a child’s primary doctors as an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage of an illness and can be provided along with treatment meant to cure.

Pediatric palliative care addresses serious medical conditions. It relieves the symptoms of these diseases, such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping. In short, it helps the child and the family gain the strength to carry on with daily life. Above all, pediatric palliative care is family-centered. It helps with communication and coordination of care. With the close communication that palliative care provides, families are better able to choose options that are in line with their values, traditions and culture. This improves the well-being of the entire family.

For more information, visit HUGS.

Providers

Jean Dozier, MD
Umesh Narshinghani, MD
Meral Patel, MD
Stephen Tomek, MD
Lauren Villo, MD

Contact Us

Address
Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital
888 Pine Street
Macon, GA 31201

Contact Information
Office: (478) 633-1560

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