The Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU) at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital provides extraordinary high-level care for newborns, infants and children with heart conditions, both congenital (present from birth) and acquired.
Our doctors and nurses are among the world's most experienced in treating congenital heart disease and have been pivotal in developing new treatments, such as radioablation therapy for heart rhythm disturbances, catheter-based treatments, pulmonary vascular therapies, surgical strategies that protect the neurological system and heart-lung support called rapid-deployment extracorporeal assist devices.
Your child will be cared for by a team of pediatric specialists including cardiologists, anesthesiologists, heart surgeons and intensivists, who have additional training in caring for very sick children. We are committed to excellent care and family participation as well as to research to improve the care we provide.
The unit includes eight beds for patients who suffer from heart conditions or are recovering from surgery or catheter-based treatment. Newborns with heart problems may be transferred to the Intensive Care Nursery once their heart conditions are stabilized.
The PCICU, along with the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and the Intensive Care Nursery, make up the intensive care services at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, which together care for more than 1,000 children a year. About half are already UCSF patients. Others arrive by ambulance, helicopter and airplane from throughout the western United States. For information on transport options, refer to the Pediatric Transport Service.
Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
505 Parnassus Ave., Seventh Floor
San Francisco, CA 94143
Phone: (415) 353-1955
Fax: (415) 353-9144
Hours: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Parents may visit at any time. However, you may be asked to leave the PCICU if there's an emergency or a need to perform a special procedure. All visitors must complete a health screening before entering the unit. Young siblings are welcome to visit, but we ask that you closely supervise your children at all times. Our Child Life Department provides activities and play spaces for patients' siblings while in the hospital.
Family members and friends may visit if accompanied by a patient's parent. When a parent can't visit for an extended period, arrangements can be made to allow relatives or friends to visit unaccompanied by a parent. However, you must leave written permission with the unit service coordinator. Please keep in mind that we may need to limit the number of visitors to maintain a calm and safe environment.
We have a waiting room for visitors. There is also a kitchen equipped with a microwave oven, refrigerator, freezer and cabinets that you may use if you wish to bring food to the hospital. Please ask your nurse if you have questions.
Visitors are not allowed if they have colds, flu or fever or if they were recently exposed to a contagious disease.
Public parking for an hourly fee at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital is available in the seven-level Millberry Union Garage at 500 Parnassus Ave. There are two garage entrances — one on the north side of Parnassus Avenue and another on Irving Street, just east of Third Avenue.
Another garage with an hourly fee, at 350 Parnassus Ave., is open Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Metered street parking is rarely available.
Patients being admitted to the hospital may be dropped off at the circular driveway leading to the main entrance at 505 Parnassus Ave. This area also may be used to pick up patients who are being discharged.
For more information about parking at Parnassus, call Campus Parking Services at 476-2566.
Valet parking service is available at the Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) at 400 Parnassus Ave. from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The valet service is free but patients must pay regular parking fees. For more information about the valet service, call (415) 476-6200.
A UCSF "greeter" also is available at the ACC from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to assist patients find their way.
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital is accessible via Muni streetcar line N-Judah*, which stops at Second Avenue and Irving Street, and the following Muni bus lines, which stop in front of the hospital:
For more information about Muni visit, www.sfmuni.com.
* Wheelchair accessible bus routes
