This is an executive summary of the 2019 update of the 2004 guidelines and levels of care for PICU. Since previous guidelines, there has been a tremendous transformation of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine with advancements in pediatric cardiovascular medicine, transplant, neurology, trauma, and oncology as well as improvements of care in general PICUs. This has led to the evolution of resources and training in the provision of care through the PICU. Outcome and quality research related to admission, transfer, and discharge criteria as well as literature regarding PICU levels of care to include volume, staffing, and structure were reviewed and included in this statement as appropriate. Consequently, the purposes of this significant update are to address the transformation of the field and codify a revised set of guidelines that will enable hospitals, institutions, and individuals in developing the appropriate PICU for their community needs. The target audiences of the practice statement and guidance are broad and include critical care professionals; pediatricians; pediatric subspecialists; pediatric surgeons; pediatric surgical subspecialists; pediatric imaging physicians; and other members of the patient care team such as nurses, therapists, dieticians, pharmacists, social workers, care coordinators, and hospital administrators who make daily administrative and clinical decisions in all PICU levels of care.

Pediatric critical care medicine has evolved over the last 3 decades into a highly respected, board-certified specialty that has become an indispensable service for inpatient programs of most children’s hospitals as well as a highly valued resource supporting most community-based programs. The earlier published guidelines for pediatric critical care medicine were used to help establish the basic needs for a state-of-the-art PICU. These guidelines were used by both physician leadership and policy makers to advocate for personnel, supplies, and space that were unique to PICUs. However, there has been a tremendous transformation of pediatric critical care medicine over the past 10 years, with explosive growth in specialized PICUs in pediatric cardiovascular medicine, transplant, neurology, trauma, and oncology as well as improvements of care in general PICUs. This has led to the evolution in both human and material resources and training in more highly specialized areas such as cardiovascular medicine, neurosurgical ICUs, and trauma care.1,2 

To provide a 2019 update of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Society of Critical Care Medicine’s 2004 Guidelines and levels of care for PICUs (https://journals.lww.com/pccmjournal/Fulltext/2019/09000/Criteria_for_Critical_Care_Infants_and_Children_.7.aspx).3 

A group of nationally and internationally recognized clinical experts in pediatric critical care medicine made up the pediatric critical care admission guidelines task force. The task force reviewed the work of the previous guidelines and made decisions regarding topic selection inclusion. The topic selection for the guidelines addressed PICU characteristics and interventions by the PICU level of care, including quaternary or specialized, tertiary, and community. Interventions addressed included PICU admission, team structure, transport and transfer mechanisms, outreach programs, and quality metrics.

A comprehensive literature search on the topics and agreed-on questions determined by the task force was performed by a dedicated Society of Critical Care Medicine librarian in selected biomedical databases. The 2004 guidelines and levels of care for PICUs served as the starting point for searches in Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), and PubMed on articles published from 2004 to 2016. Members of the task force received the set of citations and abstracts relevant to the section of the guidelines; references not directly related to the content area were excluded from the review. The full-text articles were retrieved and reviewed to determine appropriate inclusion for appraisal.

The admission to the PICU literature search identified 832 articles. The review of article titles resulted in 299 relevant articles, of which all abstracts were reviewed. The full text of 75 articles and 12 additional articles obtained by hand searching reference lists were reviewed. Twenty-one relevant pediatric studies in which outcomes related to pediatric level of care, specialized PICU, patient volume, or personnel were evaluated were found. The discharge and unplanned readmission literature search yielded 68 articles. The full text of 24 articles and 6 additional articles obtained by hand searching reference lists were reviewed. No articles were found in which PICU discharge criteria were evaluated, and only 14 relevant studies were found in which outcomes related to unplanned PICU readmissions were evaluated. Since publication of the 2004 revised guidelines, evidence on evaluating the impact of the level of PICU care on patient outcomes remains limited. After deliberation, the task force determined that the strength and quality of the current pediatric evidence for the selected topics was insufficient to use the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system in supporting evidence-based recommendations. The sparse literature and the nature of the questions under review did not lend itself to the use of the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome format. Therefore, a modified Delphi process was undertaken, seeking expert opinion to develop consensus-based recommendations where gaps in the evidence exist.

Members were selected to be on the panel on the basis of their experience as PICU directors, administrators, or other leadership roles and were chosen to represent a variety of hospital settings, from academic centers to community hospitals. The American Academy of Pediatrics also appointed a hospitalist and critical care physician liaison to serve on the panel and to assist in the development of the guideline. An American College of Critical Care Board of Regents member served as a liaison to the committee to support its work.

The guidelines panel consisted of 2 groups: a voting group consisting of 30 members and a writing group of 20 members. The voting panel used an iterative collaborative approach to formulate 30 statements on the basis of the literature review and common practice. Five of the 30 statements were multicomponent statements specific to PICU level of care, including team structure, technology, education and training, academic pursuits, and indications for transfer to a tertiary or quaternary PICU. These statements were then presented via an online anonymous voting tool to a voting group by using a 3-cycle interactive forecasting Delphi method. With each cycle of voting, statements were refined on the basis of votes received and comments. Consensus was deemed achieved once 80% or higher scores from the voting group were recorded on any given statement or when there was consensus after review of comments provided by voters. Of the 25 final statements, 17 met the consensus cutoff score. The writing panel evaluated the survey data and together with literature findings formulated admission recommendations.

Critically ill or injured pediatric patients should be cared for in a child- and family-centered environment by a multidisciplinary pediatric critical care team. Three levels of care are described in these recommendations on the basis of the results of the Delphi survey and expert panel consensus: community-based PICU, tertiary PICU, and quaternary or specialized PICU.

Community medical center PICUs play an important role in health care systems that provide care to infants and children. In the previously published guidelines, these centers were categorized as level II PICUs. These units provide a broad range of services and resources that may differ on the basis of institution, hospital size, and referral base. The majority of these will be located in general medical-surgical institutions with the capability of treating pediatric patients. Tertiary PICUs provide advanced care for many medical and surgical illnesses in infants and children. In the previously published guidelines, these units were categorized as level I PICUs, as distinguished from level II PICUs. Tertiary PICUs should provide advanced ventilatory support such as high-frequency oscillatory ventilation and inotropic management but would not be expected to provide extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. There would be ready access to most pediatric medical subspecialties but there may not be in-house coverage. A quaternary or specialized PICU facility provides regional care and serves large populations or has a large catchment area. The center should provide comprehensive care to all complex patients. Uniquely, a specialized PICU provides diagnosis-specific care for select patient populations. This highest level of PICU facility should have readily available resources to support an American College of Surgeons (ACS) verified Level I or Level II Children’s Surgical Center or Level I or Level II Pediatric Trauma Center. Of note, premature newborns are not addressed in these guidelines unless they require complex cardiovascular surgical interventions.

Specific recommendations are detailed in Table 1 regarding the PICU level of care admission criteria, the structure and provider staffing model, the personnel and resources, the quality metrics and education, the equipment and technology, and the discharge and transfer criteria. Table 2 reveals the necessary resources needed for each level of care. Table 3 reveals the personnel needed, including the qualifications, competencies, roles, and responsibilities based on each level of PICU.

TABLE 1

Recommendations Summary

Recommendations
Recommended PICU level of care admission criteria 
 Patients who are appropriately triaged according to level of illness and services provided in community, tertiary, or quaternary PICU facilities will have comparable outcomes and quality of care. The specifics of each PICU level of care described above serve as a reference for minimum standards of quality care to guide appropriate PICU admissions and promote optimal patient outcomes. 
 Individual hospitals and their PICU leadership team should develop admission criteria to assist in the placement of critically ill children that are aligned with their PICU level of care. 
 Pediatric patients requiring specialized service interventions such as cardiac, neurologic, or trauma-related surgery have improved outcomes when cared for in a quaternary or tertiary ICU, and early interfacility transfer to the appropriate regional facility should be the standard of care. 
 Congenital heart surgery should only be performed in a hospital that has a PICU with a dedicated pediatric cardiac intensive care team, including but not restricted to pediatric intensivists and nurses with expertise in cardiac intensive care, cardiovascular surgeon with pediatric expertise, pediatric perfusionists, pediatric cardiologists, and pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists. 
Recommended ICU structure and provider staffing model 
 Expertise in the care of the critically ill child is required in all PICU levels of care. 
 All critically ill children admitted to any PICU should be cared for by a pediatric intensivist who is board eligible, board certified, or undergoing maintenance of certification as primary provider while in the ICU setting. 
 Trauma patients should be cared for by both the trauma service (including trainees) and the PICU service in a collaborative manner. The ACS requires that surgeons be the primary provider on all patients admitted with traumatic injuries. Programs in which the attending surgeon has training and certification in surgical critical care may (institution specific) allow for the primary attending to be a surgeon with such expertise working with the PICU attending. 
 Burn patients should be comanaged by the burn surgeon of record (discipline may be pediatric surgery, general surgery, or plastic surgery) and the PICU service. 
 In a PICU that supports an ACS-verified children’s surgical center, an ICU team that demonstrates direct surgeon involvement in the day-to-day management of the surgical needs of the patient is essential. Both PICU and surgery services must be promptly available 24 h per d. 
 Any level of PICU that supports advanced ACGME training programs such as pediatric residency, general surgery residency, pediatric critical care medicine fellowships, pediatric surgery fellowships, and pediatric surgical critical care fellowships (among others) will promote the participation of trainees in interprofessional care of patients providing appropriate communication and collaboration. Clear delineation of responsibilities will be sought on each patient. This requirement reflects the common program requirements outlined by the ACGME. 
 A qualified medical provider (in quaternary facility PICUs, the qualified medical provider should be a critical care specialist) who is able to respond within 5 min to all emergent patient issues (eg, airway management or cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is necessary for optimal patient outcomes in all levels of PICU. Specialized or quaternary facility PICUs have a minimum of an in-house critical care fellow. 
 A qualified surgical provider who is able to respond readily to emergency surgical issues in critically ill patients should be available. The designation of qualified is defined by the surgical problem, and availability should be commensurate with the level of care of the PICU and level of ACS Children’s Surgery Verification of the institution. 
 Night coverage response requirement for pediatric intensivists who are not in house, primarily in community and tertiary PICUs, includes being readily available by telephone and present in the PICU within 30 min of request. 
Recommended ICU personnel and resources 
 The ICU structure and care delivery model components that are essential in all PICU levels of care include nursing staff and respiratory therapists with PICU expertise as well as multidisciplinary rounds. In tertiary and quaternary facility PICUs, 24/7 in-house coverage, a dedicated clinical pharmacist, a social worker, a child life specialist, and palliative care services are necessary. 
 All PICUs should have access to an on-site pediatric pharmacist who is available for daily rounds, pharmacy support, and ongoing educational activities. 
 All providers, including pediatric hospitalists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who provide first-line night coverage in PICUs, must be skilled in advanced airway, intravenous and intraosseous line placement, and ventilator management. 
 All PICUs must have access to a transfer and transport program that can ensure the safe and timely movement of a critically ill or injured child from a community hospital to an institution with a higher PICU level of care. 
 Quaternary facilities or specialized PICUs have access to a critical care transport program with a dedicated trained pediatric team and specialized equipment. 
 When PICUs require outsourcing of critical care transport activities, the transport service team members must all have training in pediatric emergency and critical care. 
Recommended performance improvement and patient safety 
 Quaternary facilities and tertiary levels of PICUs should participate in academic pursuits. 
 All quaternary facilities and tertiary levels of PICUs should be involved in providing peer community outreach education such as educational conferences, technical skill competencies, stabilization, and resuscitation (eg, PALS education). 
 Community and tertiary PICUs should be involved in providing community outreach through educational events that focus on technical skills needed for stabilization, resuscitation, and communication for the triage and transport of critically ill and injured children. These activities might include case conferences. 
 All levels of PICU should provide feedback to referral centers after transfer of a patient to a PICU, which is essential for both quality improvement and education. 
Recommended equipment and technology 
 Some emergency resuscitative therapies such as invasive and noninvasive respiratory support and central line access can be safely performed in community PICUs. 
 Renal replacement therapies (peritoneal dialysis, continuous hemofiltration and hemodialysis, and intermittent hemodialysis) may be offered in a community-based PICU when appropriately trained support personnel, which must include a nephrologist, are present. 
 All PICU levels must have access to helium-oxygen. In selected PICUs, epoprostenol sodium, nitric oxide, and anesthetic agents may be used if appropriate personnel and equipment are available for the safe delivery and monitoring of these agents. 
 The following are appropriate indications for PICU transfer from a community to a tertiary or quaternary level of care: intracranial pressure monitoring, acute hepatic failure leading to coma, congenital heart disease with unstable cardiorespiratory status, need for temporary cardiac pacing, head injury with initial GCS ≤8, multiple traumatic injuries, or heart failure requiring an interventional cardiologist. For complicated burns >10% TBSA, access to a specialized burn unit or burn center is recommended. 
Recommended PICU discharge and transfer criteria 
 Each PICU should have clearly defined criteria for escalation and de-escalation of resources and, therefore, level of PICU required on the basis of the physiologic status of the patient. 
 All levels of PICU should have policies and protocols in place that specify when the patient’s physiologic status requires escalation of care, with transfer to a more appropriate level of care as expeditiously as needed. 
 When a patient’s physiologic status improves, discharge from the PICU can occur in many ways: 
  Transfer to an appropriate acute care bed within that facility 
  Return transfer to the referring facility 
  Transfer to a skilled nursing or rehabilitation facility 
  Discharge from the PICU to home 
 After discharge from the PICU, the following should take place: 
  Appropriate communication with the accepting facility, including oral handoff, a clear and concise written summary, and exchange of necessary health information 
  Discharge planning and communication with the family or caregivers if going home 
  Communication with the primary care physician who will assume care of the child once the patient is returned to the community 
  Communication with subspecialists caring for the child and appropriate follow-up arranged as necessary 
  As needed, careful care coordination with outpatient services such as but not limited to: 
   Delivery and instruction in the use of durable medical equipment 
   Home pharmacy and nutrition support 
   Ongoing rehabilitation needs such as occupational or physical therapy 
   Ancillary support as required 
Recommendations
Recommended PICU level of care admission criteria 
 Patients who are appropriately triaged according to level of illness and services provided in community, tertiary, or quaternary PICU facilities will have comparable outcomes and quality of care. The specifics of each PICU level of care described above serve as a reference for minimum standards of quality care to guide appropriate PICU admissions and promote optimal patient outcomes. 
 Individual hospitals and their PICU leadership team should develop admission criteria to assist in the placement of critically ill children that are aligned with their PICU level of care. 
 Pediatric patients requiring specialized service interventions such as cardiac, neurologic, or trauma-related surgery have improved outcomes when cared for in a quaternary or tertiary ICU, and early interfacility transfer to the appropriate regional facility should be the standard of care. 
 Congenital heart surgery should only be performed in a hospital that has a PICU with a dedicated pediatric cardiac intensive care team, including but not restricted to pediatric intensivists and nurses with expertise in cardiac intensive care, cardiovascular surgeon with pediatric expertise, pediatric perfusionists, pediatric cardiologists, and pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists. 
Recommended ICU structure and provider staffing model 
 Expertise in the care of the critically ill child is required in all PICU levels of care. 
 All critically ill children admitted to any PICU should be cared for by a pediatric intensivist who is board eligible, board certified, or undergoing maintenance of certification as primary provider while in the ICU setting. 
 Trauma patients should be cared for by both the trauma service (including trainees) and the PICU service in a collaborative manner. The ACS requires that surgeons be the primary provider on all patients admitted with traumatic injuries. Programs in which the attending surgeon has training and certification in surgical critical care may (institution specific) allow for the primary attending to be a surgeon with such expertise working with the PICU attending. 
 Burn patients should be comanaged by the burn surgeon of record (discipline may be pediatric surgery, general surgery, or plastic surgery) and the PICU service. 
 In a PICU that supports an ACS-verified children’s surgical center, an ICU team that demonstrates direct surgeon involvement in the day-to-day management of the surgical needs of the patient is essential. Both PICU and surgery services must be promptly available 24 h per d. 
 Any level of PICU that supports advanced ACGME training programs such as pediatric residency, general surgery residency, pediatric critical care medicine fellowships, pediatric surgery fellowships, and pediatric surgical critical care fellowships (among others) will promote the participation of trainees in interprofessional care of patients providing appropriate communication and collaboration. Clear delineation of responsibilities will be sought on each patient. This requirement reflects the common program requirements outlined by the ACGME. 
 A qualified medical provider (in quaternary facility PICUs, the qualified medical provider should be a critical care specialist) who is able to respond within 5 min to all emergent patient issues (eg, airway management or cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is necessary for optimal patient outcomes in all levels of PICU. Specialized or quaternary facility PICUs have a minimum of an in-house critical care fellow. 
 A qualified surgical provider who is able to respond readily to emergency surgical issues in critically ill patients should be available. The designation of qualified is defined by the surgical problem, and availability should be commensurate with the level of care of the PICU and level of ACS Children’s Surgery Verification of the institution. 
 Night coverage response requirement for pediatric intensivists who are not in house, primarily in community and tertiary PICUs, includes being readily available by telephone and present in the PICU within 30 min of request. 
Recommended ICU personnel and resources 
 The ICU structure and care delivery model components that are essential in all PICU levels of care include nursing staff and respiratory therapists with PICU expertise as well as multidisciplinary rounds. In tertiary and quaternary facility PICUs, 24/7 in-house coverage, a dedicated clinical pharmacist, a social worker, a child life specialist, and palliative care services are necessary. 
 All PICUs should have access to an on-site pediatric pharmacist who is available for daily rounds, pharmacy support, and ongoing educational activities. 
 All providers, including pediatric hospitalists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who provide first-line night coverage in PICUs, must be skilled in advanced airway, intravenous and intraosseous line placement, and ventilator management. 
 All PICUs must have access to a transfer and transport program that can ensure the safe and timely movement of a critically ill or injured child from a community hospital to an institution with a higher PICU level of care. 
 Quaternary facilities or specialized PICUs have access to a critical care transport program with a dedicated trained pediatric team and specialized equipment. 
 When PICUs require outsourcing of critical care transport activities, the transport service team members must all have training in pediatric emergency and critical care. 
Recommended performance improvement and patient safety 
 Quaternary facilities and tertiary levels of PICUs should participate in academic pursuits. 
 All quaternary facilities and tertiary levels of PICUs should be involved in providing peer community outreach education such as educational conferences, technical skill competencies, stabilization, and resuscitation (eg, PALS education). 
 Community and tertiary PICUs should be involved in providing community outreach through educational events that focus on technical skills needed for stabilization, resuscitation, and communication for the triage and transport of critically ill and injured children. These activities might include case conferences. 
 All levels of PICU should provide feedback to referral centers after transfer of a patient to a PICU, which is essential for both quality improvement and education. 
Recommended equipment and technology 
 Some emergency resuscitative therapies such as invasive and noninvasive respiratory support and central line access can be safely performed in community PICUs. 
 Renal replacement therapies (peritoneal dialysis, continuous hemofiltration and hemodialysis, and intermittent hemodialysis) may be offered in a community-based PICU when appropriately trained support personnel, which must include a nephrologist, are present. 
 All PICU levels must have access to helium-oxygen. In selected PICUs, epoprostenol sodium, nitric oxide, and anesthetic agents may be used if appropriate personnel and equipment are available for the safe delivery and monitoring of these agents. 
 The following are appropriate indications for PICU transfer from a community to a tertiary or quaternary level of care: intracranial pressure monitoring, acute hepatic failure leading to coma, congenital heart disease with unstable cardiorespiratory status, need for temporary cardiac pacing, head injury with initial GCS ≤8, multiple traumatic injuries, or heart failure requiring an interventional cardiologist. For complicated burns >10% TBSA, access to a specialized burn unit or burn center is recommended. 
Recommended PICU discharge and transfer criteria 
 Each PICU should have clearly defined criteria for escalation and de-escalation of resources and, therefore, level of PICU required on the basis of the physiologic status of the patient. 
 All levels of PICU should have policies and protocols in place that specify when the patient’s physiologic status requires escalation of care, with transfer to a more appropriate level of care as expeditiously as needed. 
 When a patient’s physiologic status improves, discharge from the PICU can occur in many ways: 
  Transfer to an appropriate acute care bed within that facility 
  Return transfer to the referring facility 
  Transfer to a skilled nursing or rehabilitation facility 
  Discharge from the PICU to home 
 After discharge from the PICU, the following should take place: 
  Appropriate communication with the accepting facility, including oral handoff, a clear and concise written summary, and exchange of necessary health information 
  Discharge planning and communication with the family or caregivers if going home 
  Communication with the primary care physician who will assume care of the child once the patient is returned to the community 
  Communication with subspecialists caring for the child and appropriate follow-up arranged as necessary 
  As needed, careful care coordination with outpatient services such as but not limited to: 
   Delivery and instruction in the use of durable medical equipment 
   Home pharmacy and nutrition support 
   Ongoing rehabilitation needs such as occupational or physical therapy 
   Ancillary support as required 

ACGME, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education; ACS, American College of Surgeons; GCS, Glasgow Coma Scale; PALS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support; TBSA, total body surface area.

TABLE 2

PICU Resources by Level of Care

Resources by Organ SystemQuaternary or Specialized FacilityTertiaryCommunity
Cardiovascular    
 Hemodynamic monitoring    
  Noninvasive Essential Essential Essential 
  Invasive Essential Essential Essential 
 Inotropic support Essential Essential Essential 
 Echocardiogram (24-h availability) Essential Essential Essential 
 ECMO or ECLS Essential Optional NE 
 VADs Essential Optional NE 
 Transplant: heart Desirable Optional NE 
Gastrointestinal    
 Upper and lower endoscopy Essential Essential Desirable 
 Transplant: liver Desirable Optional NE 
Hematologic    
 Plasmapheresis or leukapheresis Essential Essential Desirable 
 Transplant: bone marrow Essential Optional NE 
Neurologic    
 Intracranial pressure monitoring Essential Essential Desirable 
 External ventricular drain Essential Essential Desirable 
 Lumbar drain Essential Essential Desirable 
 Continuous EEG Essential Essential Optional 
 Video EEG Essential Essential Optional 
Respiratory    
 Noninvasive ventilation (HFNC, CPAP, BIPAP, NPV) Essential Essential Essential 
 Conventional mechanical ventilation Essential Essential Essential 
 Advanced mechanical ventilation (HIFV, HFOV) Essential Essential Desirable 
 Conventional inhalation therapies (heliox or continuous albuterol) Essential Essential Essential 
 Nitric oxide Essential Essential Desirable 
 Advanced inhalation gases (flolan or anesthetic agents) Essential Desirable Optional 
 Bronchoscopy Essential Essential Desirable 
 Transplant: lungs Desirable Optional NE 
Renal    
 Continuous renal replacement therapy Essential Essential Optional 
 Hemodialysis Essential Essential Optional 
 Peritoneal dialysis Essential Essential Optional 
 Charcoal hemofiltration Essential Essential Desirable 
 Transplant: kidney Essential Optional NE 
Radiology    
 Diagnostic imaging, including CT (24-h availability) Essential Essential Essential 
 Advanced Diagnostic Imaging, including MRI (with sedation) Essential Essential Desirable 
 Interventional neuroradiology Essential Desirable Optional 
 Interventional cardiology Essential Desirable Optional 
 Cardiac MRI Essential Desirable Optional 
Resources by Organ SystemQuaternary or Specialized FacilityTertiaryCommunity
Cardiovascular    
 Hemodynamic monitoring    
  Noninvasive Essential Essential Essential 
  Invasive Essential Essential Essential 
 Inotropic support Essential Essential Essential 
 Echocardiogram (24-h availability) Essential Essential Essential 
 ECMO or ECLS Essential Optional NE 
 VADs Essential Optional NE 
 Transplant: heart Desirable Optional NE 
Gastrointestinal    
 Upper and lower endoscopy Essential Essential Desirable 
 Transplant: liver Desirable Optional NE 
Hematologic    
 Plasmapheresis or leukapheresis Essential Essential Desirable 
 Transplant: bone marrow Essential Optional NE 
Neurologic    
 Intracranial pressure monitoring Essential Essential Desirable 
 External ventricular drain Essential Essential Desirable 
 Lumbar drain Essential Essential Desirable 
 Continuous EEG Essential Essential Optional 
 Video EEG Essential Essential Optional 
Respiratory    
 Noninvasive ventilation (HFNC, CPAP, BIPAP, NPV) Essential Essential Essential 
 Conventional mechanical ventilation Essential Essential Essential 
 Advanced mechanical ventilation (HIFV, HFOV) Essential Essential Desirable 
 Conventional inhalation therapies (heliox or continuous albuterol) Essential Essential Essential 
 Nitric oxide Essential Essential Desirable 
 Advanced inhalation gases (flolan or anesthetic agents) Essential Desirable Optional 
 Bronchoscopy Essential Essential Desirable 
 Transplant: lungs Desirable Optional NE 
Renal    
 Continuous renal replacement therapy Essential Essential Optional 
 Hemodialysis Essential Essential Optional 
 Peritoneal dialysis Essential Essential Optional 
 Charcoal hemofiltration Essential Essential Desirable 
 Transplant: kidney Essential Optional NE 
Radiology    
 Diagnostic imaging, including CT (24-h availability) Essential Essential Essential 
 Advanced Diagnostic Imaging, including MRI (with sedation) Essential Essential Desirable 
 Interventional neuroradiology Essential Desirable Optional 
 Interventional cardiology Essential Desirable Optional 
 Cardiac MRI Essential Desirable Optional 

BIPAP, biphasic positive airway pressure; CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure; CT, computed tomography; ECLS, extracorporeal life support; ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; HFNC, high-flow nasal cannula; HFOV, high-frequency oscillatory ventilation; HIFV, high-inspiratory flow ventilation; NE, not expected; NPV, negative pressure ventilation; VAD, ventricular assist device.

TABLE 3

PICU Level of Care Matched to Personnel

StaffQualificationsRolesQuaternary or SpecializedTertiaryCommunity
Leadership      
 Medical director • Board certified for pediatric critical care medicine after completion of an ACGME-accredited pediatric critical care medicine fellowship • Primary attending physician Essential Essential Essential 
 • Participates in training to meet ongoing education and certification requirements • Provides consultation for PICU patients    
  • Participates in development, review, and implementation of policies    
  • Supervises quality control and assessment activities    
  • Supervises and coordinates all medical staff education and competencies    
  • Participates in program development, including budgetary preparation and policy implementation    
  • Available to the PICU 24 h per d, 7 d per wk for both clinical and administrative issues (or similar qualified physician)    
 Nurse manager or director • Training and expertise in pediatric critical care • Ensures appropriate nurse to patient ratios Essential; nurse to patient ratios: 1:1, 1:2, 2:1 Essential; nurse to patient ratios: 1:1, 1:2 Essential; nurse to patient ratios: 1:1, 1:2 
 • Master’s degree in pediatric nursing or nursing administration • Participates in development, review, and implementation of unit and nursing policies and procedures    
 • Participates in education and training to meet ongoing education and certification requirements • Assurance of nursing orientation and competency, performance reviews    
  • Participates in program development, including budgetary preparation and policy implementation    
  • Participates in development of quality improvement projects    
  • Available to PICU for clinical and administrative issues 24 h per d (or qualified designee)    
 Surgical director or leader • Board certified for pediatric surgery after completion of an ACGME-accredited pediatric surgery fellowship. Additional certification in surgical critical care is desirable but not required. • A children’s surgeon who serves within the medical leadership structure of the PICU (who may be designated as the surgical director) and is responsible for setting policies and defining administrative needs related to PICU patients with general or subspecialty pediatric surgical needs Essential Essential Desirable (a general surgeon with pediatric interest would be an alternative) 
 Trauma director • Board certified for pediatric surgery after completion of an ACGME-accredited pediatric surgery fellowship • A children’s surgeon who serves within the medical leadership structure of the PICU (who may be designated as the trauma director) and is responsible for setting policies and defining administrative needs related to PICU patients with traumatic injuries (the surgical director or leader may serve in this capacity for nontrauma centers) Essential Essential Desirable (a general surgeon with pediatric interest would be an alternative) 
Primary medical and surgical providers      
 Pediatric intensivist or equivalent • Board eligible or board certified in pediatric critical care medicine after training in an ACGME-accredited program • Physician in-house 24 h per d Essential Essential (desirable: physician in-house 24 h per d) Essential (optional: physician in-house 24 h per d) 
 • Participates in training to meet ongoing education and certification requirements for pediatric critical care • Available in ≤30 min (24 h per d)    
  • Provides medical care and oversight for care provided by physicians in training, NPs, and PAs for all PICU patients    
  • Participates in development of quality improvement projects    
 Pediatric surgeon • Board certified for pediatric surgery after completion of an ACGME-accredited pediatric surgery fellowship. Additional certification in surgical critical care is desirable but not required • Available in ≤1 h to the PICU Essential Essential Desirable (a general surgeon with pediatric interest would be an alternative) 
 • Participates in training to meet ongoing education and certification requirements for pediatric surgery • Provides surgical care and oversight for care provided by physicians in training, NPs, and PAs    
  • Participates in development of quality improvement projects    
 Other physicians: hospitalists, pediatric trainees, surgical trainees • Postgraduate year 2 level or higher assigned to PICU • In house PICU coverage 24 h/d within ACGME restrictions Essential (may include combination of hospitalists and NPs) Essential (may include combination of hospitalists and NPs) Desirable (may include combination of hospitalists and NPs) 
 • ACGME-accredited pediatric or surgery critical care with focus on pediatric critical care residency program • Participates in monitoring of quality improvement projects    
 Participate in training to meet ongoing education and certification requirements     
 APPs or NPs • Training and expertise in pediatric critical care • Provide collaborative, comprehensive management of PICU patients Desirable (may include combination of hospitalists and NPs) Desirable (may include combination of hospitalists and NPs) Desirable (may include combination of hospitalists and NPs) 
 • Pediatric NP certification; preferred acute care • Performance of advanced therapeutic procedures    
 • Master of science in nursing or doctorate in nursing practice • Participate in development of quality improvement projects    
 • Participates in training to meet ongoing education and certification requirements     
  PA • Training and expertise in pediatric critical care • Direct patient management with physician supervision Desirable (may include combination of hospitalists and PAs) Desirable (may include combination of hospitalists and PAs) Desirable (may include combination of hospitalists and PAs) 
 • Graduate of PA program • Performance of advanced therapeutic procedures    
 • Participates in training to meet ongoing education and certification requirements • Participates in monitoring of quality improvement    
Additional medical and surgical providers      
 Pediatric medical subspecialists • Cardiologist • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Essential 
 • Pulmonologist     
 • Neonatologist     
 • Nephrologist • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Desirable 
 • Hematologist and/or oncologist     
 • Endocrinologist     
 • Gastroenterologist     
 • Neurologist     
 • Infectious disease specialist     
 Interventional cardiologist • Available 24 h per d Essential Desirable Optional 
 • Allergist     
 • Geneticist     
 • Rheumatologist     
 • Child advocacy     
 Pediatric surgical subspecialists • Cardiovascular surgeon • Available in ≤1 h to the PICU Essential Desirable (essential: nonpediatric) Optional (desirable: nonpediatric) 
 • Neurosurgeon     
 • Otolaryngologist     
 • Orthopedic surgeon     
 • Ophthalmologist     
 • Plastic surgeon     
 • Urologist     
 Pediatric anesthesia • Anesthesiologist • Available in ≤1 h to the PICU Essential Essential Desirable (essential: nonpediatric) 
 Pediatric radiologists • Radiologist • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Desirable (essential: nonpediatric) 
 • Interventional radiologist • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Desirable (essential: nonpediatric) 
 • Neuroendovascular • Available 24 h per d Essential Desirable Optional 
 Psychiatrist or psychologist  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Essential 
Nursing staff      
 RNs • Bachelor of science in nursing degree preferred • Provision of continuous care based on the needs and characteristics of the patient Essential Essential (desirable: pediatric CCRN certification) Essential (desirable: pediatric CCRN certification) 
 • Hospitals with magnet designation require <10% non-BSN RNs • Provision of physiologic assessments, implementation, and evaluation of responses to treatment plan    
 • Completion of PICU orientation • Skilled in advanced technology monitoring    
 • Continuing education requirements for licensure renewal • Appropriate No. nurses trained in highly specialized therapies such as CRRT and roles, including:    
 • BLS and PALS  Charge nurse    
 • Pediatric CCRN certification  Arrest team nurse    
 • Maintenance of designated PICU competencies  Transport team nurse    
   Trauma team nurse    
  • Preceptor for novice nurses    
  • Participates in development and monitoring of quality improvement projects    
 Nurse educator or clinical nurse specialist • Training and expertise in pediatric critical care • Participates in and coordinates nursing staff education Essential Essential Desirable 
 • Master of science in nursing or education or doctorate or DNP prepared • Clinical resource for nursing staff    
 • Pediatric nursing expertise • Participates in development of quality improvement projects    
 • Pediatric CCRN certification • Participates in clinical research efforts    
 • BLS and PALS     
 Nursing assistants or unlicensed personnel  • Assists RNs in patient care tasks Desirable Desirable Optional 
  • Supervised by nursing staff    
Respiratory therapy staff      
 Supervisor • Registered respiratory therapist with training and expertise in pediatric critical care • Responsible for training therapists Essential Essential Essential 
  • Clinical resource for therapists    
 Respiratory therapists • Registered respiratory therapist • Therapist assigned to PICU 24 h per d Essential Essential Essential 
 • BLS and PALS • Skill in management of pediatric patients with respiratory disease    
 • Demonstrate competence with pediatric mechanical ventilation • Maintenance of equipment and quality control and review    
 • Adjunctive respiratory therapies including gases     
Other team members      
 Pediatric pharmacist • Pediatric clinical doctor of pharmacy • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Desirable (essential: nonpediatric) 
 Rehabilitation services • Physical therapist, occupational therapist, and speech therapist • Available for consultation Essential Essential Essential 
 Nutritionist or clinical dietitian  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Essential 
 Social worker  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Essential 
 Clergy  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Essential 
 Child life specialist  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Desirable 
 Pain team  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Desirable 
 Palliative care  • Available for consultation Essential Desirable Desirable 
 Rapid response team  • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Essential 
 Transport team  • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Desirable 
 Ethics committee  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Essential 
 Quality and safety  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Essential 
 Legal or risk management  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Essential 
 Biomedical technician  • In-hospital or available within 1 h, 24 h per d Essential Essential Essential 
 Radiology services  • Available in ≤1 h Essential Essential Essential 
 Laboratory services  • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Essential 
  • Provide basic hematologic, chemistry, blood gas, and toxicology analysis    
 Blood bank services  • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Essential 
 Neurodiagnostic services  • EEG available on call for emergencies Essential Essential Desirable 
 Unit clerk  • Staffed 24 h per d Essential Essential Desirable 
StaffQualificationsRolesQuaternary or SpecializedTertiaryCommunity
Leadership      
 Medical director • Board certified for pediatric critical care medicine after completion of an ACGME-accredited pediatric critical care medicine fellowship • Primary attending physician Essential Essential Essential 
 • Participates in training to meet ongoing education and certification requirements • Provides consultation for PICU patients    
  • Participates in development, review, and implementation of policies    
  • Supervises quality control and assessment activities    
  • Supervises and coordinates all medical staff education and competencies    
  • Participates in program development, including budgetary preparation and policy implementation    
  • Available to the PICU 24 h per d, 7 d per wk for both clinical and administrative issues (or similar qualified physician)    
 Nurse manager or director • Training and expertise in pediatric critical care • Ensures appropriate nurse to patient ratios Essential; nurse to patient ratios: 1:1, 1:2, 2:1 Essential; nurse to patient ratios: 1:1, 1:2 Essential; nurse to patient ratios: 1:1, 1:2 
 • Master’s degree in pediatric nursing or nursing administration • Participates in development, review, and implementation of unit and nursing policies and procedures    
 • Participates in education and training to meet ongoing education and certification requirements • Assurance of nursing orientation and competency, performance reviews    
  • Participates in program development, including budgetary preparation and policy implementation    
  • Participates in development of quality improvement projects    
  • Available to PICU for clinical and administrative issues 24 h per d (or qualified designee)    
 Surgical director or leader • Board certified for pediatric surgery after completion of an ACGME-accredited pediatric surgery fellowship. Additional certification in surgical critical care is desirable but not required. • A children’s surgeon who serves within the medical leadership structure of the PICU (who may be designated as the surgical director) and is responsible for setting policies and defining administrative needs related to PICU patients with general or subspecialty pediatric surgical needs Essential Essential Desirable (a general surgeon with pediatric interest would be an alternative) 
 Trauma director • Board certified for pediatric surgery after completion of an ACGME-accredited pediatric surgery fellowship • A children’s surgeon who serves within the medical leadership structure of the PICU (who may be designated as the trauma director) and is responsible for setting policies and defining administrative needs related to PICU patients with traumatic injuries (the surgical director or leader may serve in this capacity for nontrauma centers) Essential Essential Desirable (a general surgeon with pediatric interest would be an alternative) 
Primary medical and surgical providers      
 Pediatric intensivist or equivalent • Board eligible or board certified in pediatric critical care medicine after training in an ACGME-accredited program • Physician in-house 24 h per d Essential Essential (desirable: physician in-house 24 h per d) Essential (optional: physician in-house 24 h per d) 
 • Participates in training to meet ongoing education and certification requirements for pediatric critical care • Available in ≤30 min (24 h per d)    
  • Provides medical care and oversight for care provided by physicians in training, NPs, and PAs for all PICU patients    
  • Participates in development of quality improvement projects    
 Pediatric surgeon • Board certified for pediatric surgery after completion of an ACGME-accredited pediatric surgery fellowship. Additional certification in surgical critical care is desirable but not required • Available in ≤1 h to the PICU Essential Essential Desirable (a general surgeon with pediatric interest would be an alternative) 
 • Participates in training to meet ongoing education and certification requirements for pediatric surgery • Provides surgical care and oversight for care provided by physicians in training, NPs, and PAs    
  • Participates in development of quality improvement projects    
 Other physicians: hospitalists, pediatric trainees, surgical trainees • Postgraduate year 2 level or higher assigned to PICU • In house PICU coverage 24 h/d within ACGME restrictions Essential (may include combination of hospitalists and NPs) Essential (may include combination of hospitalists and NPs) Desirable (may include combination of hospitalists and NPs) 
 • ACGME-accredited pediatric or surgery critical care with focus on pediatric critical care residency program • Participates in monitoring of quality improvement projects    
 Participate in training to meet ongoing education and certification requirements     
 APPs or NPs • Training and expertise in pediatric critical care • Provide collaborative, comprehensive management of PICU patients Desirable (may include combination of hospitalists and NPs) Desirable (may include combination of hospitalists and NPs) Desirable (may include combination of hospitalists and NPs) 
 • Pediatric NP certification; preferred acute care • Performance of advanced therapeutic procedures    
 • Master of science in nursing or doctorate in nursing practice • Participate in development of quality improvement projects    
 • Participates in training to meet ongoing education and certification requirements     
  PA • Training and expertise in pediatric critical care • Direct patient management with physician supervision Desirable (may include combination of hospitalists and PAs) Desirable (may include combination of hospitalists and PAs) Desirable (may include combination of hospitalists and PAs) 
 • Graduate of PA program • Performance of advanced therapeutic procedures    
 • Participates in training to meet ongoing education and certification requirements • Participates in monitoring of quality improvement    
Additional medical and surgical providers      
 Pediatric medical subspecialists • Cardiologist • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Essential 
 • Pulmonologist     
 • Neonatologist     
 • Nephrologist • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Desirable 
 • Hematologist and/or oncologist     
 • Endocrinologist     
 • Gastroenterologist     
 • Neurologist     
 • Infectious disease specialist     
 Interventional cardiologist • Available 24 h per d Essential Desirable Optional 
 • Allergist     
 • Geneticist     
 • Rheumatologist     
 • Child advocacy     
 Pediatric surgical subspecialists • Cardiovascular surgeon • Available in ≤1 h to the PICU Essential Desirable (essential: nonpediatric) Optional (desirable: nonpediatric) 
 • Neurosurgeon     
 • Otolaryngologist     
 • Orthopedic surgeon     
 • Ophthalmologist     
 • Plastic surgeon     
 • Urologist     
 Pediatric anesthesia • Anesthesiologist • Available in ≤1 h to the PICU Essential Essential Desirable (essential: nonpediatric) 
 Pediatric radiologists • Radiologist • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Desirable (essential: nonpediatric) 
 • Interventional radiologist • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Desirable (essential: nonpediatric) 
 • Neuroendovascular • Available 24 h per d Essential Desirable Optional 
 Psychiatrist or psychologist  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Essential 
Nursing staff      
 RNs • Bachelor of science in nursing degree preferred • Provision of continuous care based on the needs and characteristics of the patient Essential Essential (desirable: pediatric CCRN certification) Essential (desirable: pediatric CCRN certification) 
 • Hospitals with magnet designation require <10% non-BSN RNs • Provision of physiologic assessments, implementation, and evaluation of responses to treatment plan    
 • Completion of PICU orientation • Skilled in advanced technology monitoring    
 • Continuing education requirements for licensure renewal • Appropriate No. nurses trained in highly specialized therapies such as CRRT and roles, including:    
 • BLS and PALS  Charge nurse    
 • Pediatric CCRN certification  Arrest team nurse    
 • Maintenance of designated PICU competencies  Transport team nurse    
   Trauma team nurse    
  • Preceptor for novice nurses    
  • Participates in development and monitoring of quality improvement projects    
 Nurse educator or clinical nurse specialist • Training and expertise in pediatric critical care • Participates in and coordinates nursing staff education Essential Essential Desirable 
 • Master of science in nursing or education or doctorate or DNP prepared • Clinical resource for nursing staff    
 • Pediatric nursing expertise • Participates in development of quality improvement projects    
 • Pediatric CCRN certification • Participates in clinical research efforts    
 • BLS and PALS     
 Nursing assistants or unlicensed personnel  • Assists RNs in patient care tasks Desirable Desirable Optional 
  • Supervised by nursing staff    
Respiratory therapy staff      
 Supervisor • Registered respiratory therapist with training and expertise in pediatric critical care • Responsible for training therapists Essential Essential Essential 
  • Clinical resource for therapists    
 Respiratory therapists • Registered respiratory therapist • Therapist assigned to PICU 24 h per d Essential Essential Essential 
 • BLS and PALS • Skill in management of pediatric patients with respiratory disease    
 • Demonstrate competence with pediatric mechanical ventilation • Maintenance of equipment and quality control and review    
 • Adjunctive respiratory therapies including gases     
Other team members      
 Pediatric pharmacist • Pediatric clinical doctor of pharmacy • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Desirable (essential: nonpediatric) 
 Rehabilitation services • Physical therapist, occupational therapist, and speech therapist • Available for consultation Essential Essential Essential 
 Nutritionist or clinical dietitian  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Essential 
 Social worker  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Essential 
 Clergy  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Essential 
 Child life specialist  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Desirable 
 Pain team  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Desirable 
 Palliative care  • Available for consultation Essential Desirable Desirable 
 Rapid response team  • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Essential 
 Transport team  • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Desirable 
 Ethics committee  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Essential 
 Quality and safety  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Essential 
 Legal or risk management  • Available for consultation Essential Essential Essential 
 Biomedical technician  • In-hospital or available within 1 h, 24 h per d Essential Essential Essential 
 Radiology services  • Available in ≤1 h Essential Essential Essential 
 Laboratory services  • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Essential 
  • Provide basic hematologic, chemistry, blood gas, and toxicology analysis    
 Blood bank services  • Available 24 h per d Essential Essential Essential 
 Neurodiagnostic services  • EEG available on call for emergencies Essential Essential Desirable 
 Unit clerk  • Staffed 24 h per d Essential Essential Desirable 

ACGME, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education; APP, advanced practice provider; BLS, basic life support; BSN, bachelor of science in nursing; CCRN, critical care registered nurse; CRRT, continuous renal replacement therapy; DNP, doctor of nursing practice; NP, nurse practitioner; PA, physician assistant; PALS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support; RN, registered nurse.

This practice statement and guidance address important specifications for each PICU level of care, including the team structure and resources, technology and equipment, education and training, quality metrics, admission and discharge criteria, and indications for transfer to a higher level of care. The sparse high-quality evidence led the panel to use a modified Delphi process to seek expert opinion to develop consensus-based recommendations where gaps in the evidence exist. Despite this limitation, the members of the task force believe these recommendations provide guidance to practitioners in making informed decisions regarding pediatric admission or transfer to the appropriate level of care to achieve best outcomes. Additional well-designed clinical investigations are needed to determine and address the confounding factors that impact admission, discharge, and transfer of children in all levels of PICUs.

We thank the members of the previous PICU admission and levels of care guidelines task forces for their preliminary contributions. The members of the ADT task force acknowledge the limitations of this practice statement and guidance. As a result of the vast medical and health care management information to consider, constraints to evaluate rapidly available new evidence, human fallibility, and other considerations, readers should use their judgment on how best to apply our suggestions and recommendations.

Policy statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics benefit from expertise and resources of liaisons and internal (AAP) and external reviewers. However, policy statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics may not reflect the views of the liaisons or the organizations or government agencies that they represent.

The guidance in this statement does not indicate an exclusive course of treatment or serve as a standard of medical care. Variations, taking into account individual circumstances, may be appropriate.

All policy statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics automatically expire 5 years after publication unless reaffirmed, revised, or retired at or before that time.

This document is copyrighted and is property of the American Academy of Pediatrics and its Board of Directors. All authors have filed conflict of interest statements with the American Academy of Pediatrics. Any conflicts have been resolved through a process approved by the Board of Directors. The American Academy of Pediatrics has neither solicited nor accepted any commercial involvement in the development of the content of this publication.

FUNDING: No external funding.

ACS

American College of Surgeons

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Competing Interests

POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: The authors have indicated they have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.