CVICU Information for Parents
Family-Centered Care
Parents are core members of our dedicated Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) care team. As a parent of a CVICU patient, you can be as involved in your child's care as you want to be. Every family chooses the level of involvement that's right for them. We invite you to:- Attend daily rounds in the CVICU
- Participate in the development of your child's care plan
- Participate with the bedside nurse in selected care activities
- Provide feedback to help improve the CVICU for future patients and families
Children’s Heart Center parent mentors are parents of children who have had heart surgeries and treatment at Packard Children's Hospital. They are trained to support parents of current patients. Mentorship is available throughout your child’s diagnosis and treatment. You can meet with mentors at the hospital bedside or can speak by telephone to discuss a variety of topics.
Learn more about Family-Centered Care services for Heart Center families.
Tour the CVICU
We offer in-person tours of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) to future patients and families. Tours include a walk-through of the CVICU, parents lounge and surgical waiting area. Our guides provide information about how the CVICU works, visiting guidelines and our staff. Spanish-speaking tour guides are available. Please call a Heart Center Social Worker at (650) 497-8649 before your next visit to the hospital to arrange a tour.You can also take our video tour (
Windows / QuickTime) to get a glimpse of the unit.Help for Out-of-State Families
Some of our long-distance or out-of-state families may receive a referral to the Nurse Navigator Program. The nurse will contact you and assist in orienting your family to the Packard Children’s Hospital experience. The nurse will also evaluate your family for other resources you may need before you travel to Palo Alto. This may include:- Traveling to and from Packard Children’s Hospital
- Making plans to travel with medically-fragile children and their equipment
- Referrals to Social Services and Child Life
- How to find clinics and appointments
- Eating, sleeping and visitor information
- Parking, valet and visitor services
- What to expect at different stages of your child’s hospital experience
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