Capability Summary
Equipment
Staffing
Capacity
Nursing
1. Equipment and Infrastructure
2. Staffing and Expertise
3. Clinical Capabilities and Sustainability
4. Advanced Therapies and Procedures
5. Support Services and Transfer Capability
6. Standardized Protocols and Quality Measures
7. Current Status and Bed Availability
Physician Assessment (Dr. Sofia Martinez, Pediatric Intensivist): "Our PICU can manage moderate-acuity pediatric patients including respiratory failure requiring ventilation, severe infections, and post-operative monitoring. We have limitations for very complex cases - no ECMO, no cardiac surgery support, limited dialysis capability. We maintain good outcomes for bronchiolitis, pneumonia, DKA, and post-op general surgery patients."
Equipment Status: "All three pediatric ventilators are functional. We currently have 2 patients ventilated with capacity for 2-4 more depending on acuity. Monitoring equipment is reliable. We have adequate IV pumps and central line supplies."
Staffing Reality: "Our two fellowship-trained intensivists cover Monday-Friday during business hours. Nights and weekends are covered by pediatric hospitalists with intensivist backup by phone. Our nurses are experienced with ventilated children but not all have formal PICU certification. We maintain 1:2 ratios for ventilated patients."
Transfer Threshold: "We transfer patients needing ECMO, cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, or prolonged ventilation (>7-10 days). We also transfer very unstable septic shock if not responding to initial resuscitation, and any child with multiorgan failure. We have good relationships with Hospital Escuela locally and can arrange air ambulance to Houston for complex cases."
8. Aksanio Assessment and Recommendations
This PICU can safely manage moderate-acuity pediatric patients with appropriate monitoring and stabilization capability. However, it functions more as a "step-down ICU" or "intermediate care" rather than a full-capability PICU by tertiary center standards.
Suitable For:
- Respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation (expected <5-7 days)
- Severe pneumonia or bronchiolitis
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Post-operative monitoring (non-cardiac)
- Sepsis (if responsive to initial resuscitation)
- Status epilepticus
Consider Immediate Transfer For:
- Cardiac surgery patients or complex congenital heart disease
- Need for ECMO or advanced cardiac life support
- Severe traumatic brain injury requiring neurosurgical intervention
- Multi-organ failure
- Need for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT)
- Prolonged ventilation expected (>7-10 days)
- Neonates (<28 days old)
- Any patient not stabilizing with initial therapy
Key Strength: Experienced with common pediatric ICU conditions. Good protocols for ventilator management and sedation. Can provide safe care for appropriate cases.