Training facility
Advocate Children's Hospital - Park Ridge(ACH-PR):
Advocate Children's Hospital - Park Ridge (ACH-PR) is a premier 150-bed children's hospital primarily serving the north and northwest metropolitan area of greater Chicago, as well as farther beyond via a robust medical transport program. ACH-PR is part of the Virtual pediatric Systems (VPS) database, the largest database of pediatric critical care units. ACH-PR received the highest acuity score among hospitals in its cohort (based on size and location).
Pediatric intensive care unit:
The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Advocate Children's Hospital – Park Ridge is a fully monitored, 19-bed unit providing comprehensive care to critically ill patients ranging from newborns to young adults. The Pediatric Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) service manages approximately 1,500–2,000 admissions annually, offering high-acuity tertiary and quaternary care. Key areas of expertise include, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), complex neurosurgery, and an active renal replacement therapy program.
The PICU admits patients with a wide range of life-threatening conditions, including respiratory failure, trauma, severe infections, and postoperative instability.
The unit is staffed by a team of 13 full-time, board-certified pediatric intensivists who oversee all aspects of patient care. A multidisciplinary team of specialists—including pediatric cardiothoracic, neurologic, and general surgeons; anesthesiologists; and subspecialists in neurology, pulmonology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, and hematology/oncology—provide collaborative consultation, teaching, and research support.
The PICU maintains 24/7 in-house coverage by second- and third-year pediatric residents as well as PCCM attendings. Medical students frequently join for elective rotations. The nursing staff includes 70 registered nurses with specialized training in pediatric critical care, supported by round-the-clock respiratory therapists. Additional support is provided by a robust interdisciplinary team that includes clinical pharmacists, social workers, a nurse researcher, and other allied health professionals.
The Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine oversees a high-acuity pediatric transport team that provides ground and air transport for critically ill children. Transports are managed by PCCM fellows and attending physicians, ensuring expert care from bedside to bedside.