Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

Welcome

UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital
757 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Pediatric ICU West: 310-267-7540
Pediatric ICU East: 310-267-7541

Welcome to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Pediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (PCTICU) at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital. We understand that this is a very difficult time for both you and your child.

Our medical team is here to support you and your child and is available throughout the day and night to provide up-to-date information on your child's condition and to answer any questions you may have.

Download and print our brochure
Read in Español (Spanish)

Our Team

Pediatric ICU Medical Team

Pediatric ICU Nursing Team

Visitation

Parents/legal guardians are welcome to visit 24 hours a day. Close family members may also visit with your permission. Visitors must call from outside the PICU/PCTICU to request entry into the unit. For your child's safety and security, all parents and visitors must obtain a visitor badge or ID band from the information desk located in the lobby of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Siblings and close child relatives may visit, provided you complete a health screening form for each child (please ask your child's nurse for a form). Children under 18 years of age must be supervised by an adult family member at all times.

The PICU/PCTICU can be frightening to visiting children. UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital has a group of professionals who are trained to help children cope with a new and possibly scary place. We recommend that visiting children meet with a Child Life Specialist prior to entering the unit. Your bedside nurse or the charge nurse can help arrange this for you. Your family's clergy may visit, with your permission, at any time.

Between the hours of 7 to 8 am and 7 to 8 pm, the on-duty bedside nurse will discuss each patient's case with the new shift nurse. This process is known as the "nursing shift report". During these times, visitors are asked to wait inside their child's room with the door closed. To comply with federal law regarding patient privacy, free movement through the unit cannot be permitted during these times.

Visitors must allow staff clear access to the patient and equipment at all times.

During an emergency or a procedure, you may be asked to wait outside the unit. Your bedside nurse or the charge nurse may call support staff to help answer your questions.

Important phone numbers

PICU WEST
310-267-7540

PICU EAST
310-267-7541

Unit Director
Shanae R. Williams, MSN, RN, NE-BC, RNC-NIC, CPN 
310-267-7590

Assistant Unit Directors
Kim Snider, RN, CCRN
310-267-7493

Amy Houchens, MBA, BSN, RN
310-267-7573

Clinical Nurse Specialist
Theresa Kirkpatrick, RN, MSN, CPNP, CCRN, CNS
310-267-7589