Pediatric Intensivists Provide Personalized Care in the PICU

Having a child hospitalized due to illness or injury can be a stressful experience for parents. Our skilled pediatric intensivists provide compassionate care to young patients - and knowledge and support to families - facing a health care crisis.

Pediatrix® Medical Group's intensivists provide child-specific critical care medicine to children in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) across the country. Our highly trained team of physicians partners with specially trained critical care nurses and respiratory therapists, family members, primary care physicians and others to deliver safe, effective care.

"It really is a team approach," explained Eric Norman, M.D., a pediatric critical care physician with Pediatrix Critical Care of Florida. Dr. Norman practices at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital in Loxahatchee, Fl where he cares for patients 18 years of age and younger admitted to the Pediatric ICU.

"Doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, pharmacists, residents - everyone works together. It's like the crew on a ship. The captain is ultimately responsible for making the final decision, but he or she can't run the ship alone. Similarly, everyone here has an important role in caring for a sick child, and patients benefit the most when the team functions well together. Parents also play a big role. We partner with our patients' parents and share decision-making with them because parents know their kids better than anyone else."

Common Conditions Treated in the PICU

Our pediatric intensive care specialists are specifically trained to treat infants, children and adolescents with complex and potentially life-threatening conditions. They understand that children are not just small adults but have their own unique needs.

Conditions commonly treated in the PICU Include:

• Acute renal failure
• Acute viral and bacterial infections, such as pneumonia and meningitis
• Complications from cancer or blood disorders
• Congenital heart disease
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Seizures
• Severe respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and bronchiolitis
• Trauma caused by accidents or abuse

Caring for Kids One Patient at a Time

Children's health can change rapidly. One example is in the case of a respiratory illness, such as pneumonia. That's one reason it's important to seek treatment early and to follow up with your child's primary care physician.

"In most cases, if caught early, pneumonia can be treated at home, but sometimes kids get very sick and need to be treated in the hospital," explained Dr. Norman. "They may need oxygen or IV antibiotics. Sometimes, the child may have another medical condition that makes them more susceptible to severe infection."

Some children with severe pneumonia may experience respiratory issues later in life.

"Kids have a remarkable ability to heal," said Dr. Norman. "However, sometimes children have areas where the lung tissue doesn't regrow or a pocket of fluid that remains, predisposing him or her to future infections. Since we don't follow kids after they leave, it's very important to integrate care and ensure everyone has the proper follow-up care."

Lastly, Dr. Norman said, "If the child currently sees a pediatrician or pediatric subspecialist, we always instruct the parents to follow up with their pediatrician. "If a patient is in the hospital for a diabetes complication, for example, and they are currently being treated by an endocrinologist, we ask them to follow up with their endocrinologist. If they don't have a relationship with the appropriate physician for follow-up care, we refer them to someone in their community."

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