The Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (PCICU)

If your child is ever admitted to the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, you’ll have the peace of mind in knowing we are one of the only ICUs dedicated exclusively to pediatric congenital heart care, with an average of 375 admissions per year. Our 20-bed unit is designed around families like yours — and is built to handle even the most complex heart conditions.

During your child’s stay in the PCICU, you can expect care from an experienced team of professionals. This includes round-the-clock staffing of a physician and nurse practitioner, and access to a variety of specialists, including:

• Cardiac physicians
• Child Life specialists
• Discharge planners
• Nurse practitioners
• Nutritionists
• Occupational, physical and speech therapists
• Pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons
• Pediatric pharmacists
• Registered nurses
• Respiratory therapists
• Social workers
• Technologists

Visitation is permitted 24 hours a day, with a few exceptions, but we ask that only one parent stay overnight as their child’s condition allows (cots and recliners are available). Siblings and other children, ages 17 and younger, may not stay overnight. Each morning at 9:00 am, your healthcare team will make rounds to discuss your child’s care. In addition, parents will be given a four-digit privacy code if they need to call the unit to check on their child.

Have questions about a current patient?

Contact the PCICU Nurse Station. Call (407) 649-6944.

The Advantages of the Child Life Program

Hospital stays can be difficult for some children. That’s why the PCICU at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer offers a Child Life Program to create a more positive and stress-free experience for the whole family. If your child is scheduled for future cardiac surgery or other cardiac interventions, call our Child Life Specialist to schedule your project P.L.A.Y. session, designed to help your child understand what to expect before surgery. Siblings are also encouraged to participate in this orientation program.

Have Questions?

Contact our Child Life Specialist. Call (321) 841-6641.

Discharge Planning

Discharge planning is the process of coordinating resources to help you continue to care for your child at home after hospitalization. This may include assistance with:

• Health insurance or Medicaid application/verification
• Care coordination with pediatricians and other specialists
• Referrals to additional agencies or programs, which may be helpful in the care and development of your child.

In addition, our discharge coordinator helps to ensure a smooth transition for returning home by obtaining medication, nursing assistance and durable medical equipment, such as oxygen, feeding pumps, pulse oximeters, etc., if needed. Medication instructions and equipment training will be arranged prior to discharge. The discharge coordinator will also schedule any follow-up outpatient appointments, and make sure that your child’s pediatrician receives a report of your child’s hospitalization.

The pediatric cardiac intensive care unit has a full-time discharge coordinator who attends daily interdisciplinary rounds each morning, and is available 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.

Contact Us

For more information about the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, please call (407) 649-6944.