Ochsner Hospital for Children’s PICU offers top quality critical care providing ECMO, HFOV, Nitric Oxide and organ transplants for some of the sickest children in the gulf south. Every room in the PICU is a private room ensuring the highest level of safety and privacy. We have 24/7 attending coverage providing specialized care during all hours of the day and night. Our PICU works seamlessly with the Pediatric Critical Care Transport team, ensuring a safe arrival of your child via fixed wing, helicopter, or an ambulance. We are a restraint free environment and won the Children’s Hospital Association national patient safety award in 2018. We value the importance of safety in our unit and in the delivery of our care and participate in Solutions for Patient Safety, a nationwide network of children’s hospitals dedicated to children’s safety and high-quality care.

Click here for a virtual tour of Ochsner Medical Center PICU.

For the safety of our patients, the PICU is a locked unit. For access, all visitors must request permission to enter by using the phone located outside of the entrance to the PICU.

Two primary caregivers will be identified at the time of admission. You will receive two ID bands that identify you as a primary caregiver. ID bands may not be swapped, traded or loaned to anyone else.

No more than 3 visitors are allowed at the bedside at any time. Depending on the acuity level determined by your child’s doctor, visitation may be limited to primary caregivers only.

All visitors must be approved by a primary caregiver. Family and friends may visit between 8:00 am and 10:00pm (except during shift change 6:30 – 8:00 am and 6:30 – 8:00 pm).

Having a child in the pediatric intensive care unit can be a very stressful time for families. Many parents feel a need to be with their child as much as possible. We encourage parents, family and friends to visit as often as possible. Siblings who are greater than 12 years of age may visit as well. Siblings between ages 6 and 12 may be permitted to visit only after meeting with a Child Life Specialist.

The visiting policy is in place to ensure your child’s privacy as well as safety. Your child's nurse will provide you with a copy of detailed visiting guidelines during your first visit.

• Visitors may not be allowed to enter if they are ill
• Every visitor must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer when they enter and leave the patient’s room
• There is no eating in the PICU
• Cell phones must be placed on silent/vibrate mode.
• Potted plants and latex balloons are not allowed in the PICU

Primary caregivers are allowed access to the PICU during most hours of the day/night. The exception is between 6:30 – 8:00 am and 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. During these times only primary care givers may remain in the PICU. The patient room doors will remain shut to protect the privacy and confidentiality of all patients. During this time no visitor/primary care giver is allowed to enter or leave the PICU. Exceptions to this policy will only be made by the Nurse in Charge.

The following amenities are available for your convenience:

• Breast pumps are available
• Free wi-fi
• In room phones will dial locally by first pressing 9 then your local phone number
• The PICU rooms may be called directly at 504-842-82__ __ (enter room number into the blank spaces)
• Televisions and radios are in each room but should be kept to a reasonable volume, so as not to disturb other patients
• DVD/VCR players in each room
• There are showers available

The following are some options for overnight stays.

• Brent House Hotel
  • To make a reservation, call: 504-842-4140 or 800-535-3986
• Ronald McDonald House - New Orleans