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Critical Care
The Section of Critical Care at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children’s is committed to excellence in clinical care, education and research.
In addition to providing family-focused clinical care of the highest quality to children needing critical and perioperative care, we aim to provide excellent educational opportunities in clinical care and research for medical students, pediatric residents and subspecialty fellows. Our section provides an academically stimulating environment that promotes excellence in clinical and basic research and other scholarly activity for faculty and trainees. We also promote excellence in clinical care, education and research in related disciplines such as nursing and respiratory care.
The Section of Critical Care oversees a wide range of programs and services available at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children including:
- Pediatric Critical Care Services, which are provided in the 33-bed clinical areas in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CCU), transitional care unit, (Special Care Unit) and Pediatric Burn unit.
- Rapid Response Team
- Code Blue Team
- Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
- Palliative Care Services
- Procedural Sedation Services
Within the section, our teaching programs include:
- Daily Pediatric Resident Lecture Series
- Weekly Clinical Review
- Bi-monthly Critical Care Morbidity and Mortality Conference
- Monthly Emergency Medicine/Critical Care Conference
- Monthly Journal Club
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Courses
- High Fidelity Simulation Program
- Mock Code exercises
Our training programs include senior medical student electives, a Pediatric Resident training program, sub-specialty fellow training program and an advanced practice nurse training program.
Outreach Programs
The section provides clinical support to referring hospitals and physicians in the management of critically ill children and their transportation. The section has outreach educational and training programs, including simulator-based training for regional providers. The section also collaborates with area long term and rehabilitation facilities as well as hospice providers to help transition care in a smooth and family-focused manner.
Research
The section has an active clinical and outcomes research program. There is a strong collaborative effort between members of the section and other sections at St Christopher’s Hospital. Research opportunities exist for trainees under the mentorship of faculty.
Important Phone Numbers
Critical Care Section: (215) 427-8818
PICU: (215) 427-5143
CCU: (215) 427-5156
SCU: (215) 427-5154
Meet the Team
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia has a highly qualified team of board-certified experts who are specially trained to work with the individual and unique needs of infants and pediatric patients.
The team is led by Shonola Da-Silva, MD, MBA, Chief, Section of Critical Care.
