Inpatient Care at UPMC Children’s in Harrisburg

Some hospital visits may lead to overnight stays, and UPMC Children’s understands an overnight stay may make kids and families a little nervous. Our team of pediatric specialists work hard to make sure that your child and family feel comfortable and cared for while in the hospital.

At UPMC Harrisburg, UPMC Children’s has a 72-bed inpatient unit staffed with child life specialists, physicians, and nurses, focused on caring for newborns through young adults with mild or critical needs through its NICU and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Did You Know?

• A dedicated, secure elevator leads you to the ninth floor for the pediatric acute care and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
• Of the 30 private pediatric rooms, we have 11 pediatric intensive care beds for the critically ill patients with conditions such as severe asthma, bronchiolitis, diabetes, specialized surgeries, and more.
• We have a comprehensive care team of pediatric specialists, with additional support from UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, which is nationally ranked in all 11 pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. The team is available 24/7 through bedside telemedicine, providing real-time consultation with additional experts.
• Our child life specialists use play, preparation, and emotional support to reduce fear and anxiety during the child’s stay. They support patients’ psychosocial and developmental needs by working one-on-one with patients and in group activity areas in coordination with providers and families.
• The inpatient unit also includes Austin’s Playroom. It’s filled with games, activity tables, iPads, and more for toddlers, school-age children, and teens to help provide comfort to patients and families.
• A family lounge filled with snacks, frozen meals, and kitchen appliances is available within the child life area.
• We provide patient education at the bedside, allowing parents and caregivers to access information to support their child’s healing and recovery.

UPMC Hanover also has dedicated pediatric beds for sudden but not critical conditions that require overnight care. Patients can be transported from our other hospitals to the PICU if necessary.

Donate to Our Unit

The Child Life Department uses play and expressive arts to help meet the developmental, psychosocial, emotional, and educational needs of our patients. These experiences and opportunities can help children to cope and adjust to illness and hospitalization.

UPMC Children’s in Harrisburg has a contactless donation process allowing donors to purchase items of greatest need from our wish list and gift registry. They are shipped directly to us from the store. While the holidays are one of the busiest times in the hospital and also the most popular time for donating, items are needed year-round to help support our patients.

If you wish to donate something that is not listed on our registry, please contact Sandy Schreffler at 717-782-5724 or schrefflers@upmc.edu. 

Thank you for thinking of our patients and families.

Additional Pediatric Services in Central Pa.

Whether it’s a routine checkup, a specialized procedure, or an unexpected emergency, UPMC Children’s in Central Pa. provides care for children of all ages close to home.

Learn more about all of our pediatric services.