CHRISTUS Health expands children's services with first pediatric ICU in East Texas

In a milestone moment for families across East Texas, CHRISTUS Health has announced the region’s first pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), bringing specialized, life-saving care for children closer to home.

The Dec. 8 opening represents the beginning of a larger vision for advanced pediatric care in Northeast Texas.

Construction is underway at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital to create a spacious, state-of-the-art healing environment that will provide specialized care for infants and children who face life-threatening illnesses, injuries and complex medical conditions.

Dr. Mark Anderson, chief medical officer for CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, said traditionally, children with severe conditions had to be transferred to hospitals in the Dallas area.

“The need for our Northeast Texas families to have access to an advanced care unit for their children has been evident for some time,” he said. “The PICU reflects our dedication to ensuring every child has access to exceptional care, close to home.”

The new unit integrates with CHRISTUS Health’s growing pediatric services in the region, which include enhanced pediatric emergency services, growing specialty clinics and upgraded inpatient services.

It will be staffed by specialty trained nurses, advanced practice clinicians and physicians that have training and experience focusing on serious pediatric illnesses, support and resuscitation.

In preparation, nearly a dozen pediatric ICU nurses from Tyler spent six weeks and more than 200 clinical hours with the renowned staff at CHRISTUS Children’s in San Antonio, focusing on critical care, detailed assessments and management of children with severe conditions.

“This program is only going to grow, and we are excited to be pioneers of something great,” said Taylor Weathers, MSN, clinical director for pediatrics and pediatric intensive care unit at CHRISTUS Health in Tyler. “We have learned to care for patients at the highest levels, and we are ready to bring that knowledge to families in East Texas.”

Funding and philanthropic efforts through the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Foundation are ongoing, and the community is encouraged to be part of the project.

“We are building more than a unit. We are building a family centered space for healing,” said Robin Rowan, executive director of philanthropy. “This is a call to action for our community to invest in the future of pediatric care in Northeast Texas.”