The Al McGuire Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) delivers the highest level of pediatric critical care in the region.

We meet the Level I guidelines of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

A child may come to the PICU after experiencing a serious accident, a complex surgery or with a severe infectious disease or respiratory illness. Whatever the problem, the critical care specialists at Children's Wisconsin are ready to provide individualized, intensive care and treatment for any condition.

Depending on your child’s condition, we have state-of-the-art care options, which may include:

• Specialized monitoring of your child’s breathing and heart
• Support for children who have problems breathing
• Mechanical support for children whose hearts and lungs are failing
• Ventricular devices, such as the Berlin Heart, HeartMate II, HeartWare and Syncardia temporary artificial heart, to bridge children in heart failure to transplant

You can be with your child at all times in their room or in a nearby family lounge.

Most patient rooms have a single sleeper couch for caregivers to stay overnight.

Family lounges offer a seating area complete with phone, computer and printer, table and chairs and TV. A kitchenette has a microwave, coffeemaker, refrigerator, toaster and space to prepare food.

For long stays, the Ronald McDonald House is located across the street from Children's Wisconsin.