Pediatric and Advanced Intensive Care Units

The MCH is the only provincial referral centre for neonatal respiratory ECMO and provides support for children of all ages with lung or cardiac failure. Our program is part of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO), a world-wide consortium of healthcare centres.

Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is commonly used to provide renal support for critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. Our nurses receive specialized ongoing education in administering Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy.

The PICU offers advanced modes of ventilation such as high frequency oscillatory ventilation and high frequency jet ventilation.

The MCH is a provincially designated Trauma Centre with renowned clinical programs including neurotrauma, burn trauma and concussion management. For more information about our program, please click here.

Parents are welcome to stay in the PICU/ACU 24 hours a day. Other visitors are welcome during visiting hours, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.. Please do not visit if you are sick or symptomatic or have been in contact with someone who is sick or symptomatic.

Two people are allowed in the patient room at a time. Children who are visiting must be supervised by an adult at all times.

Hallways in the PICU must remain clear at all times for safety reasons. Please make sure that visitors stay in the patient room or in one of our designated lounges.

Rooms are designed for only one parent to sleep overnight. If both parents wish to stay the night, the second parent is welcome to sleep in one of our designated parent sleep rooms in the family lounge. The nurse in charge makes arrangements for the parent sleep rooms every evening. Please speak to your child’s nurse if you are interested in a parent sleep room.

For safety reasons, parents are not allowed to sleep in their child’s bed. 

Our PICU and ACU each have a family lounge, which is a shared space reserved for parents or guardians only. The lounge has a refrigerator and a microwave. Label your food with your child’s name and the date, and remove your food from the fridge when your child is transferred to another floor or discharged home. The lounge also has a bathroom with a shower and towels. After using the shower, please clean it using the disinfectant wipes provided. Finally, please respect other families by keeping the lounge clean and quiet. 

Consider bringing the following personal items for your child or for yourself:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Hairbrush or comb
• Socks
• Non-skid slippers
• Personal toiletries, including sandals for the shower
• Comfortable clothing both for your child and yourself
• Pyjamas
• A favourite item, such as a toy, book or blanket
• Diapers

You can contact the PICU or the ACU for updates about your child any time. You are also welcome to participate in the daily morning rounds with the PICU team to hear about the plan for the day for your child and ask questions. Rounds occur every day between 9 and 11 a.m.

If you notice any changes in your child, please speak with your child’s nurse or doctor.

Do not forget to take time for yourself to rest and eat. Take breaks outside of your child’s room when you can.

You may find it helpful to speak to a spiritual counsellor, psychologist, social worker or child life specialist. Ask your child’s doctor, nurse or the nurse in charge for a referral.

When you are with your child, do as you normally would by talking to them, reading to them and touching them even as they receive medication for pain relief and sedation. Remember that your child is comforted by your presence.

Pressure sores result from constant pressure on your child’s skin from medical devices like an IV or from lengthy stays in bed without any changes in body position. The key is for your child to change positions.

We ask that you do not try to reposition your child on your own. However, you can help us lower the chances of your child getting a pressure sore:

•   Tell us if your child has a history of pressure sores.
•   Look closely at your child’s skin when washing or dressing them and tell us of any changes you see.
•   Ask the team if your child is at risk of developing a pressure sore.
•   Help us when we turn or reposition your child and let us know your child’s usual sleeping position.
•   Change diapers frequently to prevent moisture build-up on the skin.
•   Encourage your child to move if they are able.

If you have more concerns about pressure sores, don’t hesitate to ask us. You can also consult this pamphlet for more information.

Securely latched side rails play a key role in keeping your child safe in bed. Ask a staff member to show you how the rails and latches work and remember to keep the side rails up at all times. For children in the ACU, there is a poster about falls prevention in the room.

Your child will be further evaluated and may possibly undergo more tests. The nurses and doctors will monitor your child’s progress and let you know when your child is expected to return home. The nurses or doctors on the ward will be able to tell you when your child is expected to return home.

Most concerns can be resolved quickly by talking with staff. Please talk to a member of your child’s care team about your concerns. You can also contact the delegate to the Ombudsman at 514-412-4400 ext. 22223 or write to [email protected].

Your rights and responsibilities as a patient are outlined and protected by the MUHC Patients’ Committee, a dedicated group of patient representatives. This group has been legally mandated by the Quebec Ministry of Health.