Peter Pastuszko, MD, Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and the Director of Pediatric Cardiovascular Services, center, with, from left: Lucia Sembrano, RN; Biji Varrughese, RN; Emily Petrillo, RN; Juliana Guiney, RN, BSN; Felicia May-Parodneck, RN; Michael Mitchell, RN; George Ofori-Amanfo, MD, Division Chief, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine; David L. Reich, MD, President and Chief Operating Officer, The Mount Sinai Hospital; Scott Aydin, MD, Director, Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit; and Howard Seiden, MD, Director, Pediatric Cardiac Inpatient Services.
A ribbon-cutting for the newly renovated pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PCICU) at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital celebrated not only a bright and comforting environment for patients and their families, but a new approach in care. Unlike most hospitals that have separate cardiac care units depending upon the patient’s age or specific type of care (surgical, nonsurgical, recovery, for example), the PCICU will serve as the one place for all pediatric heart patients requiring critical care.
The goal of this effort is to create a continuum of care over time, whereby patients and families interact with a dedicated team of pediatric cardiac intensivists, surgeons, nurses, social workers, and other staff trained to treat or care for a wide range of cardiac conditions.
The PCICU is part of the Children’s Heart Center, an alliance between Mount Sinai and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.