Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)   Families and hospitals from miles around rely on the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at CCH. Our eight-bed unit provides a level of care higher than an acute pediatric department and offers a full range of services, including ventilator support and invasive/non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring. Specially-trained pediatric critical care physicians, also called pediatric intensivists, are available 24 hours a day, working closely with referring area hospitals to manage the care of infants and children with life-threatening illnesses and injuries. By concentrating a rich blend of pediatric specialty services and staff in one location, Cottage Children's Hospital is able to bring about significantly improved outcomes for critically ill and injured children who need hospitalization.

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Every child challenged by illness is a hero. At Cottage Children's Hospital, we care for young heroes everyday.

Andrea knew it was serious when her eight month old daughter's temperature soared to 105.4 degrees.  Andrea brought their baby Alyssa to the Emergency Room at Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital. Doctors there recognized the graveness of her condition and immediately sent her to the pediatric specialists at Cottage Children's Hospital. Diagnosed with meningitis, which can be fatal if not identified and treated immediately, Alyssa was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Despite the seriousness of Alyssa's condition, the family was comforted by the skilled and dedicated staff at CCH. Alyssa went home on Christmas Day, her first, for a double celebration.