Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Rupert Chang, MD

The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit is a 14 bed acute care unit with the capacity to open an additional 6 to 9 beds for intermediate level care patients. We admit approximately 500 children per year with a vast array of medical and surgical problems, ranging from sepsis to congenital heart disease, and respiratory failure. Patients from all over the Pacific are transported to the PICU, and we have an active, well-trained, transport team. We are also involved in the care of Medically Fragile children throughout the State. In 2007, our division is welcoming two new attending physicians, further enhancing the capabilities of the PICU.

The PICU team provides complex care to the critically ill patients in our PICU. Continuous veno-venous hemofiltration, high-frequency ventilation, and nitric oxide therapy are among the therapies available to our patients. We have a small, but excellent open-heart surgery program. We are also partnering with neonatologists and intensivists from Kapi’olani, Kaiser, and Tripler in the new Hanuola ECMO program. While the Hanuola program officially started in July 2007, prior to that date there were two pediatric patients placed on ECMO.

Community services include providing on-going medical care to Medically Fragile Children residing in Nursing Facilities and at homes throughout the community. PICU physicians have also played an integral role in returning many Medically Fragile Children to their homes, and providing the medical support necessary to keep them there. This year brought the opening of the new Kulana Malama Pediatric Nursing Facility in Ewa. With their medical staff, we have collaborated in the transitioning of care of Medically Fragile children from the acute setting in the PICU, to the convalescent setting at Kulana Malama.