title: Unique solutions in pediatric critical care.
abstract: This pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) functions as a part of a multidisciplinary adult ICU and has evolved into a unique health care setting. The Special Care Unit (SCU), which is the name for our ICU, serves a population of adult and pediatric patients, including trauma, open-heart surgery, medicine, surgery, and neurosurgery. All staff are expected to provide care for adults and children without regard to admitting diagnosis. In addition to meeting the critical care needs of this diverse pediatric population in the SCU, we provide a pediatric critical care ground transport program for critically ill children from outlying hospitals. Competency-based orientation tools were developed and are used to guide the orientation process. The tools identify the required knowledge base necessary for a staff member to adequately care for the adult and pediatric populations and track each staff member's progress through orientation. The model used to deliver care to adults and children in this setting is innovative. This model represents one solution to providing critical care to both the adult and pediatric population in today's era of health care redesign.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Associates of Southern Maine, Biddeford, ME, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bell-Scott
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schlichting
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003422:Critical Care; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D008281:Maine; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling