Renovation of VCU's pediatric ICU underway

By Joe Kuttenkuler

With a ceremonial swing of sledgehammers, key VCU Health System faculty and administrators, along with representatives from Food Lion, officially marked the beginning of the pediatric intensive care unit's renovation project.

Fueled by a million-dollar gift from the Belgium-based grocery chain, the overhaul of the ICU will create 14 private rooms, family areas, a kitchen and a private conference room. In addition, the patient rooms will be designed so that medical equipment and monitors are less visible to children to make the environment less threatening.

"The PICU is one of the most important areas in our Children's Medical Center," said Sheldon Retchin, M.D., senior executive vice president and chief operating officer of the VCU Health System. "The renovation will create a family-centered environment that will better meet the needs of our patients and families."

The new Food Lion Pediatric ICU will be located down the hall from the existing unit on the 7th floor in the west wing of VCU's Main Hospital. The new space will be nearly twice the size of the present unit.

The heart of the new ICU will be a family lounge and resource center complete with a washer and dryer, computers and a play area for siblings of patients. Each patient room has a family area for parents who want to stay with their children.

"Research has shown that a child's healing process is improved by having their family close by," said Mary Walker, nurse manager of the PICU. "Designing a setting that encourages family involvement throughout a child's stay will add comfort, reassurance and love to what can be a difficult situation."

Renovations will be made in two stages and are expected to be complete during the fall of 2004. The total cost of the project is $2.5 million.

The Food Lion gift is only the second million-dollar donation in the history of the medical center.