Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Expert Care for Kids with Urgent Needs

Sanford Children’s Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) provide the highest level of medical care for children and young adults. Young patients in the PICU get immediate attention for critical injuries or illnesses.

When children’s medical needs can’t be met elsewhere, they go to the PICU to receive intensive nursing care. We have the largest pediatric critical care team in the region and continuously monitor our patients. The PICU also provides after-surgery care.

For physicians: Refer a patient to Sanford Health.

Care When It’s Needed Most

Sanford Children’s believes in a team approach to pediatric intensive care. Pediatric intensive care physicians, known as intensivists, work with nurses, primary care providers and other pediatric specialists to coordinate your child’s care. As a team, these professionals will support, stabilize and provide advanced care for critically ill children.

Sanford Health is proud to offer the only tertiary children’s hospital in the region. Tertiary care locations can give a higher level of specialized care to patients. They have specialized equipment and experts specifically for children.

NICU vs. PICU

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) cares for newborn babies in need of advanced medical treatments. We have specially trained caregivers to care for our youngest patients. The PICU treats children older than newborns.

In the PICU, children benefit from highly-trained specialists constantly monitoring their condition. Any child in need of advanced medical treatments will find the highest level of care in the PICU.