Riley at IU Health is the leading provider of medical care for critically ill and seriously injured infants and children in Indiana. Our healthcare providers have the knowledge and expertise to care for children with complex medical, surgical and traumatic conditions.
Our doctors—pediatric intensivists with expertise in the care of critically ill children—provide 24-hour on-site medical care. Our team also includes specially trained pediatric critical care nurse practitioners, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists and nutritionists. Our critical care specialists work closely with Indiana University Health LifeLine to ensure the safe transport of patients to Riley at IU Health.
Led by a group of faculty attending physicians, our critical care team uses advanced medical technology to support and treat children with life-threatening conditions. Riley Hospital for Children is Indiana's longest-standing Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, verified by the American College of Surgeons since 1993.
We care for children with a wide variety of medical and surgical conditions, including:
Congenital heart disease
Post-operative recovery from a variety of surgical procedures, including those performed by pediatric general surgeons; neurosurgeons; ear, nose and throat surgeons; plastic surgeons and orthopedic surgeons
Kidney, liver, multivisceral (multi-organ) and cardiac transplants
Traumatic injuries
Burn injuries and smoke inhalation
Sepsis
Respiratory failure
Inborn errors of metabolism
Pediatric cancer, including children receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplants
As part of our patient- and family-centered approach, we encourage parents and caregivers to participate in their child's care. We welcome parents and caregivers to observe and participate in daily rounds as they feel comfortable.
Children in critical care may be required to have extended hospital stays, numerous surgical procedures and ongoing, meticulous care. Our skilled medical, nursing and support team has expertise in helping patients and families through these challenges. We also provide guidance and support to those who will care for your child as he or she prepares to go home.
We offer a number of different Critical Care services. Below are some, but not all, of the services that we provide. If you have a question about a specific service that is not listed here, please contact our department.
Our highly experienced doctors provide a full spectrum of critical care services for children with the most severe illnesses and injuries.
Locations
Locations
In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.
Within a team environment, conference participants will learn and discuss topics regarding evidence-based guidelines, scientific inquiry, and tools and resources available to provide the best...
By Maureen Gilmer, IU Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org
Five years ago, Dr. Veda Ackerman left Riley Hospital for Children after a long and distinguished career in pediatric critical care...
He lost his mother in an accident that left him critically injured, but 9-year-old Chance Charters is recovering, thanks to the love of family and the support of many hospital specialists.
Sixteen-month-old Jack received a bone marrow transplant from his sister to slow the progression of MPS 1. He was the first in the state identified through newborn screening since the metabolic disorder was added to the screening list in 2020.
So many times, someone could have said, “No, we can’t do that.” Instead, teams from three hospitals said “yes,” and a 15-year-old boy is alive because of it. Read how Riley and Methodist worked together to save a patient who was clinging to life at an Evansville hospital.
“It’s kind of surreal, but forty-four-and-a-half years is a long time, and who gets to work with people you love doing what you love for that long? I am grateful, but I am also tired. I will miss the people in this hospital so much. I’m just so incredibly proud of them.”
We work with referring physicians to care for patients from throughout Indiana and surrounding regions. Our team also seeks to advance the field of pediatric intensive care, participating in clinical research and clinical trials at both the institutional and national levels in close partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine.
We partner with the IU School of Medicine to provide the next generation of pediatric critical care physicians with education, training and clinical experience. Our department offers an accredited pediatric critical care fellowship training program.
