The PICU staff recognizes that the critical illness of a child can be one of the most difficult times a family ever experiences. Feelings of stress, as well as separation and loss of control are common.

It may help you to know that your feelings are shared by many families in similar circumstances.

Click here for a listing of some common reactions to this
stressful situation:

• Sleep disturbances (excessive sleeping or inability to sleep)
• Inability to concentrate
• Inability to eat or drink
• Unusual dreams/nightmares; often involving medical situations
• Frequent need to review details of child's care
• Fear of leaving bedside
• Sense of lost control
• Tearfulness
• Feelings of anger or guilt
• Need to know the what or why of diagnosis
• Concerns over finances, medical insurance, lost time from work
• Lack of support or understanding from friends or family; sense of isolation
• Concern about child's self-image (amputation, disfigurement)
• Dependency on others (staff or family)
• Neglecting own health needs
• Exhaustion
• Restlessness

About the PICU
The PICU of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was one of the first intensive care units in North America dedicated to the care of the critically ill child. The PICU provides highly specialized care, monitoring and support for children of all ages.

Parent Lounge: open 24 hours a day and staffed by a family resource coordinator for information on hospital and community resources. The Lounge is equipped with a shower and lockers as a temporary convenience for families.

Telephones: Public phones are located in the parents lounge. If you cannot leave your child's bedside, it may be possible to use the staff telephone in your child's room to receive calls. Please keep these calls brief. Also, please do not use cellular phones in the patient care unit as they interfere wth some life support systems.

Visiting Your Child

For parents and legal guardians: 24-hour visitation is permitted. Please wear ID bracelets issued at admission. We understand that there will be times when your are unable to be with your child. Please feel free to call for an update at any time.

Brothers and sisters: Please arrange these visits in advance with your child's nurse. Visiting children must be supervised by an adult family member. Also, the Hospital does not have a place for siblings to stay overnight, so be sure to make arrangements for them.

Friends and relatives: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (two visitors at a time only please, not including parents). Color-coded visitor's passes, available at the Information Desk, are required.

Meals
Please do not eat anywhere on the patient unit, except for the parent's lounge. However, covered drinks are permitted at the bedside. If your child is not allowed to drink, we suggest that you avoid having a drink near him or her.

Our kitchen has an ice machine and refrigerator for your use. Please label any food that you store there with your child's name and the date.

Families may also eat in the Connelly Resource Center for Families on the eighth floor of the Main Building. Meals and snacks are also available in the Hospital cafeteria and at McDonald's, both on the first floor of the Main Building. Vending machines are located throughout the Hospital.

Overnight Stays
Parent sleeping space is limited and is assigned by the family resource coordinator and the social worker. Please sign up on the sheet in the parent lounge. A few sleep chairs are available and sleeping at the bedside may be possible as long as it does not interfere with your child's care. If you do sleep in your child's room, please awaken at 7 a.m. when nursing rounds begin.

Download a PDF file of our brochure.
PICU Handbook - Information for Families (418K File)

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