About Our Patient Care Units & Departments
Medical nursing divisions at MCH include:
Ambulatory Units
Dialysis Unit
Miami Children's Hospital Dialysis Unit provides specialized modalities for the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Pediatric population throughout South Florida. As part of Outpatient Center Services, the Hemodiaylisis unit encompasses 5 stations with the capacity of serving 30 patients per week on an outpatient basis. The unit also provides acute services to adjacent units;
PICU, NICU, CICU, and 3NE respectively. The advanced modalities of continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF), Peritoneal Dialysis, and Hemodialysis are implemented with specific attention to the individual needs of the patient in acute renal failure. The care team provides 24 hour on-call services 365 days per year. In addition, the dialysis unit also serves the needs of those end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients receiving Peritoneal Dialysis home therapy. The team educates the patient and family prior to discharge on all facets of peritoneal dialysis specific to care and management in the home environment. Interdisciplinary rounds are held within the unit, in which all facets of client care; dialysis prescription, renal osteodystrophy, anemia, lab adequacy, nutrition, access management, clinical status, medications, social services, and spiritual counseling are reviewed.
The unit values the significance of research, preventive maintenance, and education. In addition to continual daily education with our ESRD population, patient management classes are provided to nurses hospital-wide for knowledge and hands-on skill in the care of pediatric patients in need of peritoneal dialysis on adjacent units. This is a rewarding environment to work in with opportunities to learn specialized nursing.
For more information, please contact
Deborah.Salani@mch.com
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Critical Care Units
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit 
MCH's 24-bed Pediatric Intensive Care unit (PICU) has the most sophisticated and extensive pediatric intensive care technology and experience available. The PICU consistently outperforms national averages in both outcomes and length of patient stays.
The staff includes pediatric intensivists, pediatric intensive care fellows, pediatric residents and maintains a 1:2 nurse/patient ratio to ensure optimal and personal care.
The PICU is home to the state's first and largest pediatric and neonatal Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) resource for children with life-threatening heart and lung conditions. It is also one of three pediatric apheresis blood treatment centers in the state.
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Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
The 37-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) provides care for babies who are born early. It includes 30 designated Level III beds and 7 designated level II beds. Our Level III nurse/patient ratio is 1:1 or 1:2 depending on the level of care required by the patient. The Level II nurse/patient ratio is 1:3 or 1:4. The unit is capable of invasive and non-invasive monitoring of the neonate's cardiorespiratory systems and can provide oxygen, suction and age appropriate thermoregulation. In addition, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation are monitored continuously.
For more information, please contact:
Mirtha.Gonzalez@mch.com.
Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Miami Children's Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) is one of the few pediatric CICUs in the nation. The unit provides highly specialized pre- and post-operative care for children undergoing cardiac surgery and interventional catheterization. The latest equipment and a multidisciplinary team ensure the finest care for pediatric cardiac patients. Innovative therapies available in the pediatric CICU include nitric oxide (an inhaled medication used to relax blood vessels), new inotropic agents, mechanical cardiac assist technology, and a computerized data collection and storage system providing an integrated database for management of patients with complex lesions.
MCH Pediatric Care Center
Nurses provide primary care for well and sick children. Services include immunizations and sub-specialties including ENT, dermatology, genetics, neurology, neuro-developmental, endocrinology,
allergy, pulmonology, urology as well as a Diabetic Clinic. In an office-like setting, the nurses provide primary care for children ranging from newborns and preemies to young adults. Nurses administer vaccines, coordinate treatment and procedures and aid in patient education.
For more information, please contact
Deborah.Salani@mch.com
Emergency Department
The Emergency Department (ED) at MCH provides care for nearly 80,000 children annually and serves as a regional Pediatric Trauma Center. The ED includes a state-of-the-art Triage Center, an outdoor play area for siblings and a raised helipad. The Emergency Department offers one of the shortest emergency room waiting times in country. The department achieves this success through continuous evaluation of services and processes, and a commitment to implementing changes that enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction.
For more information, please contact
Susan.Churchill@mch.com.
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Urgent Care Centers
The four Urgent Care Centers located in Weston, Doral, West Kendall and Palmetto Bay provide after-hours care for minor injuries and illnesses. These fast paced centers are open in the evenings and weekends.
Inpatient Units
Pediatric Surgical Unit/Orthopaedic (2 East)
This 30-bed surgical/ orthopedic unit provides care for children newborn to adolescent who have undergone general pediatric surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, urological surgery and orthopedic surgery and treatment. The unit also provides care for general medical patients. This is an exciting high paced nursing unit with the opportunity to acquire advanced level nursing skills.
Psychiatry Unit
The Psychiatry Department provides inpatient and outpatient services to children and adolescents. The inpatient unit is an acute care, crisis-stabilization unit for children and adolescents between the ages of 5-17, with a capacity of 20 beds. As a licensed Baker Act Receiving facility, the unit’s structured and safe therapeutic environment offers a multi-disciplinary approach with structured activities and group sessions on a daily basis. The inpatient unit focuses on diagnostic evaluation, stabilization, discharge and after-care planning. All patients attend daily activities during their stay that include school, group therapies, family therapy, and individual therapy. The multidisciplinary team members include: psychiatrists, nurses, nurse practitioners, family therapists, psychologists, psychology interns and students, clinical coordinators, behavioral health technicians and activity coordinator. Outpatient services include psychiatric evaluation and medication management with psychiatrists, psychological testing, individual and family therapies, and group therapies. Additionally, the Intensive Outpatient Program offers an alternative to inpatient care or for the transition from inpatient care to home. The Intensive Outpatient Program provides intensive education, multi-family group therapy, and other group therapies 3 days per week after school.
Neurological and Neurosurgical Services Unit (3 South)
This 30-bed unit emphasizes holistic care in the treatment of patients who are receiving care for neurological conditions or who have undergone neurosurgery. The unit provides care for children experiencing seizures and neuro developmental delays, brain tumors and head trauma. The unit is also a general medical unit that admits all types of general medical diagnoses.
For more information, please contact:
Maria.Soto@mch.com.
Renal/Gastroenterology/Endocrinology Unit (3 Northeast) 
This 30-bed unit utilizes a holistic approach to the care of children ranging from newborns to young adults. The following are the most common diagnoses admitted to the unit: diabetes, nephrotic syndrome/renal diagnosis (including dialysis), gastroenterology disorders, respiratory diseases, general medical disorders. This is a rewarding nursing unit with the opportunity to acquire advanced level nursing skills such as peritoneal dialysis and insulin pump technology.
For more information, please contact:
Jane.Bragg@mch.com.
Respiratory Unit (3 East) 
This 30-bed unit provides care for children with respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchiolitis, RSV, croup, pneumonia and cystic fibrosis, as well as some general medical patients. This is an exciting high paced nursing unit with the opportunity to acquire advanced level nursing skills such the care of chronic ventilated-tracheostomy patients.
For more information, please contact:
Maria.Soto@mch.com.
Hematology/Oncology and Immunology Unit (3 North)
This unit consists of 26 rooms, 10 of which are isolation rooms. Isolation rooms are used for post bone marrow transplant patients, febrile patients and neutropenic patients. All 3 North rooms have a HEPA filtration system to decrease risk of infection. Located within 3 North is a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, which has 3 Laminar air flow rooms and an Infusion Unit for patients requiring short-term infusion care.
Cardiac Care Unit (2 Northeast)
The Cardiac Care Unit is a 15 bed unit which provides continuing care to our cardiac patients and families as they recover and prepare to go home. The unit is also a general medical unit that admits all types of general medical diagnoses.
For more information, please contact:
Bing.Wood@mch.com
Infant Care Unit (2 North)
2 North is a 14-bed private rooms unit. 2 North has a unique group of patients of infants less than 1 year of age, with different diagnosis such as surgical, bronchiolitis, RSV, croup, pneumonia, ALTE, reflux, sepsis and infants transitioning out of the NICU.
LifeFlight® Critical Care Transport Program
Miami Children's Hospital LifeFlight® provides specialized advanced life support via ground, helicopter and fixed wing aircraft for neonatal and pediatric patients throughout South Florida, the Caribbean and South America, day or night, 365 days a year.Staffing is provided by a team of an RN, Paramedic and EMT and Communication Specialist. If needed, a physician will accompany the LifeFlight® medical crew members. Drivers are EMT's or paramedics and have been trained in the safe operation of emergency vehicles and equipment. LifeFlight® provides a specialty neonatal/pediatric team of an RN and Paramedic on all transports. Quality patient care is assured during transport because LifeFlight's medical crew members are recognized for their high standards of professional excellence. They have advanced neonatal/pediatric cardiac and critical care experience. Each RN and Paramedic is certified in PALS (Pediatric advanced Life Support, ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life support) and NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) and has specialized Department of Transportation flight training and safety. These programs include survival training, skill labs as well as intubation training. EMT's and Paramedics have been trained in the safe operation emergency vehicles and equipment.
Surgical Services
Same Day Surgery Unit
This eight-bed same day surgery unit includes a 10- to 12-bed post-operative care unit. Average monthly census is approximately 500, with the age of patients ranging from newborns to 21 years. The unit provides care to all morning admissions for the following surgeries: general, ophthalmology, ENT, orthopedics, plastic and reconstructive, neurosurgery, cardiovascular, urology, dermatology and dental.
Cardiac Catheterization Lab 
This unit provides the highest quality cardiac catheterization in terms of accuracy and timeliness in the safest possible manner. The unit participates in many clinical trials and is a world leader as the site of numerous medical firsts.
The OR includes nine OR suites and well as two minor procedure rooms. The OR provides care for 700 to 800 children each month. Patient ages range from newborns to 21 years of age. The OR also has a Level I Trauma Center.
Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) 
This unit has stretcher capacity to serve twelve patients and one isolation patient. PACU provides safe and accurate post-operative monitoring and observation of patients.