Critical Care for Children

Our pediatric critical care unit, or PCCU, provides around-the-clock care for infants, children and teens with traumatic injuries or life-threatening illnesses, and recovery care services for children after surgery.

We provide more than just intensive care and monitoring. Our services in the PCCU include nutritional support, pain management, complex patient evaluation and anything else your child may need while staying with us. Our team includes doctors, nurses, physical and respiratory therapists, child life specialists, and more, all specially trained to work with children.

The ICU setting can be a scary place for kids, but our team is specifically trained and to care for critically ill children and their families 24-7.  We have 30 beds split between the seventh and eighth floors of Helen DeVos Children's Hospital where each child gets their own individual room. We welcome 1-2 family members to stay with their child and our family ambassador, social workers and chaplains are available to help support families in any way possible.

Beginning February 2025, kids needing Critical Care across the state of Michigan can be transported by our dedicated Critical Care Transport ambulance. The vehicle is a mobile intensive care unit that has special supplies and equipment to care for children. This team’s goal is to provide the highest standard of care to critically ill children requiring advanced pediatric care, beyond the walls of Helen Devos Children’s Hospital.

Occasionally we use a helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft if needed due to distance or critical nature of the child. The transport team consists of a specially trained transport nurse and respiratory therapist. One of our critical care physicians is always available to provide direction by phone.

Time matters when your child needs critical care and our goal is to safely and quickly transport your child to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital so they can receive the important care they need.