Feb. 4, 2004

VCU Medical Center dedicates new Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

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By Michael Ford
University News Services

Fully equipped with the latest instrumentation and life support techniques,the VCU Medical Center's PICU is a Level-1, 12-bed critical care area, staffed for the care of critically ill children, including heart surgery patients, liver transplant patients and head injury patients. In addition to admissions from the emergency room, pediatric floors, and operating rooms, the PICU is a referral site for hospitals in the Richmond area and regional hospitals from Fredericksburg to Virginia's southern border. Patients arrive from local and distant hospitals via ambulance or helicopter, using VCU Medical Center's helicopter transport service VCU LifeEvac.

First established as a 4-bed unit in 1978, the PICU is celebrating 25 years of service to the most critically ill children in the Greater Richmond area and averages 950 admissions a year.

Dedicating VCU Medical Center's $2.3 million new pediatric intensive care unit. From left, Beth McCutcheon, community affairs, Food Lion; Ken Kuller, district operations, Food Lion; Doug Eley (background), Food Lion; Cindy Adkins, mother of former PICU patient; Mark Adkins, (background) district manager for Food Lion, Richmond and father of former PICU patient; Sarah Adkins; Reece Adkins, former PICU patient; Dr. Sheldon Retchin, VCU vice-president for health sciences and CEO of the VCU Health System; Rita Roberson, community affairs, Food Lion; Dwayne Gilley, vice-president for Food Lion's Northern Division, Dr. Eugene P. Trani, VCU President & chair of the VCU Health System official kick off a new era for pediatric critical care with the official dedication of the new unit.
Dedicating VCU Medical Center's $2.3 million new pediatric intensive care unit. From left, Beth McCutcheon, community affairs, Food Lion; Ken Kuller, district operations, Food Lion; Doug Eley (background), Food Lion; Cindy Adkins, mother of former PICU patient; Mark Adkins, (background) district manager for Food Lion, Richmond and father of former PICU patient; Sarah Adkins; Reece Adkins, former PICU patient; Dr. Sheldon Retchin, VCU vice-president for health sciences and CEO of the VCU Health System; Rita Roberson, community affairs, Food Lion; Dwayne Gilley, vice-president for Food Lion's Northern Division, Dr. Eugene P. Trani, VCU President & chair of the VCU Health System official kick off a new era for pediatric critical care with the official dedication of the new unit.


Partners in pediatric critical care. Dr. Sheldon Retchin, VCU vice-president for health sciences and CEO of the VCU Health System; Dwayne Gilley, vice-president for Food Lion's Northern Division, Dr. Eugene P. Trani, VCU President & chair of the VCU Health System; John J. Mickell, M.D., professor and chair, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, VCU Medical Center; Joseph H. Laver, M.D., professor and chair, Department of Pediatrics, VCU Medical Center pause a moment in front of the new sign for the VCU Medical Center's Food Lion Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. The VCU Health System provided $1.3 million in matching funds after Food Lion donated $1 million through the Children's Miracle Network.
Partners in pediatric critical care. Dr. Sheldon Retchin, VCU vice-president for health sciences and CEO of the VCU Health System; Dwayne Gilley, vice-president for Food Lion's Northern Division, Dr. Eugene P. Trani, VCU President & chair of the VCU Health System; John J. Mickell, M.D., professor and chair, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, VCU Medical Center; Joseph H. Laver, M.D., professor and chair, Department of Pediatrics, VCU Medical Center pause a moment in front of the new sign for the VCU Medical Center's Food Lion Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. The VCU Health System provided $1.3 million in matching funds after Food Lion donated $1 million through the Children's Miracle Network.


Pediatric critical care providers. Pictured, from left: Lauren Goodloe, Ph.D., R.N., director, medical & pediatric nursing, Mary Walker, R.N., nurse manager, Joseph H. Laver, M.D., chair, pediatrics, Monica Relvas.M.D., pediatric intensivist, Dr. John J. Mickell, chair, pediatric intensive care division, Sue Sreedhar, M.D., pediatric intensivist. During the construction phase Walker, in particular, worked closely with architects for the new space to ensure the new design would accommodate PICU staff and patients." Photos by Allen T. Jones, Creative Services
Pediatric critical care providers. Pictured, from left: Lauren Goodloe, Ph.D., R.N., director, medical & pediatric nursing, Mary Walker, R.N., nurse manager, Joseph H. Laver, M.D., chair, pediatrics, Monica Relvas.M.D., pediatric intensivist, Dr. John J. Mickell, chair, pediatric intensive care division, Sue Sreedhar, M.D., pediatric intensivist. During the construction phase Walker, in particular, worked closely with architects for the new space to ensure the new design would accommodate PICU staff and patients." Photos by Allen T. Jones, Creative Services