The area’s only pediatric intensivist team provides care to patients who require hospitalization and intensive care.

HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital has a dedicated team of pediatric intensivists who make sure you are involved and aware of what’s going on every step of the way when your child is hospitalized. We also work with local and regional primary care doctors to make sure your child’s doctor is updated and involved in your child’s care plan to ensure seamless care with ongoing communication and collaboration.

What is an intensive care doctor?

A pediatric intensivist is a physician who specializes in critical care medicine for children. These physicians handle emergencies such as trauma, critical heart or lung disease, car accidents, or near-drowning that requires admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital.

Pediatric intensivists also care for children following major surgery, or who have a condition that interferes with breathing or requires the support of a respirator. Intensivists work closely with certified pediatric nurses so everyone in your family gets the best possible care.

Meet the Pediatric Intensivists

Pediatric Unit and PICU Services

  • Expert care for hospitalized pediatric patients
  • Major medical, surgical and trauma care
  • Pediatric procedural sedation
  • Pediatric bronchoscopy
  • 24-hour pediatric intensive care coverage
  • Certified Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) nurses
  • Access to pediatric critical care transport team
  • Access to child life specialists
  • All nurses have special certification and training in pediatric care from appropriate pain relief techniques to performing special procedures.
  • A pediatric case manager and pediatric registered dietitian are resources to parents who have questions or concerns about their child’s care or progress.
  • Pediatric-trained physical, occupational, and speech therapists provide inpatient and outpatient therapy based on the child’s treatment plan.
  • If a child needs home care, home health-trained pediatric nurses will come to the child’s home to help provide treatment.
  • Transportation from outlying areas. Children who need medical care at HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital may arrive in an ambulance, via Eagle III* with specially trained transport nurses, or via ambulance. This close collaboration allows for seamless care, which starts with pickup at the referring facility, and continues with care in St. Vincent’s Emergency Department or one of the Pediatric Units.


*Eagle III is a joint effort of St. Vincent Hospital, Bellin Hospital, and County Rescue Services.

Infection Control Measures

Hand washing is the single most important measure you can take to control infection in the ICU. Please wash your hands using soap and water or the water-less hand washing solution provided in the module before entering and after leaving patient rooms.

If yourchild requires special isolation, you will be required to wear protective coverings, including a gown, gloves and/or a mask. Our pediatric staff will be happy to assist you with this.

Visiting Rules

Visitor restrictions are currently in place for this safety of our patients and colleagues. To read the latest visitor restriction guidelines, please click here.

If your child is in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and siblings are allowed to visit, you will need to prepare them for their visit to the hospital. Click here for tips on how to prepare siblings for a visit to the PICU.

Child Life Can Help

If you have other children at home and you're concerned or have questions about how to talk to your child during your stay in the PICU or pediatric unit, Child Life Specialists at HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital can help. They are trained to help siblings and families deal with hospital experiences. If you are interested in speaking or meeting with a Child Life Specialist, call 920-433-8641 or notify your child’s nurse or doctor.