title: Evaluation report of pediatric intensive care units in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To collect data from throughout Turkey in order to facilitate the organization of pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), and to develop short-term immediate action plans and draft long-term strategic plans.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 35 specialists including 17 pediatric critical care (PCC) specialists, 9 PCC fellows in training, and 9 pediatricians working in PICUs evaluated PICUs and their infrastructures, mortality rates, appropriateness of indications for PICU admissions, PICU bed numbers, and utilization of those PICU beds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PICU bed numbers, PCC specialist numbers, and PICU nurse numbers are insufficient in Turkey. The high percentage of inappropriate and inefficient use of current PICU beds is also another problem.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the light of this report, it is obvious that pediatric intensive care services are successful and efficient only in the presence of PCC specialists in PICUs. Studies for improving the infrastructure of PICUs and the training of PCC specialists and other health personnel should be started immediately.
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Benan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bayrakci
authors.forename: Selman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kesici
authors.forename: Tanıl
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kendirli
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kalkan
authors.forename: Aydın
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.forename: Necvan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tokmak
authors.forename: Gökmen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Orkun
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Baloğlu
authors.forename: İrfan
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Şencan
mesh_terms: D001509:Bed Occupancy; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D018579:Patient Selection; D014421:Turkey; D000078329:Workforce