Our Services

Pediatric Cardiac Recovery Program (PCRP)

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC’s Heart Institute is a partner in the area's first Pediatric Cardiac Recovery Program (PCRP) with The Children's Institute, Pittsburgh's premier provider of pediatric rehabilitative care.

With both inpatient and outpatient components, the PCRP is designed to optimize the healing process and improve the quality of life for children with cardiac conditions and their loved ones. Pediatric specialists from Children's Hospital and The Children's Institute focus on the unique rehabilitation needs of each patient and their family, identifying possible complications early and making long-term recommendations.

Contact Us
For more information about the PCRP, call 412-420-2100 or visit www.pediatriccardiacrehab.org

For referrals or consultations, call 412-692-5540.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is PCRP important?
The advances made in pediatric cardiac care during the past half century are remarkable. From managing irregular heartbeats to performing heart transplants, pediatric cardiac care has evolved to help children survive heart surgery and new therapies, and lead meaningful lives. In fact, an entire generation of former pediatric cardiac patients has now reached adulthood.

But recent research reveals that critical heart disease in children has far-reaching effects that extend beyond the heart and last long after hospitalization. Physical, emotional, behavioral, social and cognitive areas may be affected, and the early identification and treatment of even slight difficulties in these areas can minimize potential consequences.

To enhance the recovery process of pediatric cardiac patients, heath care professionals are recognizing the value of caring for the entire patient and not just the heart. This holistic approach ensures that all aspects of a patient’s health and development–and that of their loved ones–are tended to, allowing them each to successfully adapt to a new way of life while reaching their fullest potential.

Is my child a candidate for the PCRP?
Your child’s cardiologist will determine if your child should be referred to the PCRP. Physicians at Children’s Heart Institute or from other cardiac programs also may refer patients to the PCRP’s nurse practitioner coordinator for evaluation based on their diagnosis, treatment plan and/or recovery process.

Where do PCRP patients receive inpatient care?
Inpatient care for PCRP patients will be provided at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Specialty and post-surgical care is provided in the hospital’s state-of-the-art eight-bed pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, the region’s only facility designed to meet the needs of our most medically fragile heart patients. As patients improve, they are cared for on a dedicated cardiac floor.

Where do patients in the PCRP outpatient program receive care?
After PCRP patients complete their inpatient care at the Heart Institute at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Their long-term, follow-up cardiac rehabilitation program continues at The Children’s Institute. The Children’s Institute’s main campus is located only minutes from Children’s Hospital in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh. Satellite centers are located in Green Tree, Monroeville and Wexford.

Who is the PCRP team?
The PCRP care team includes cardiac and rehabilitation specialists from both Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and The Children’s Institute. As leaders in pediatric health care and rehabilitation, both organizations are specially trained in treating infants, children, adolescents and young adults. PCRP patients will have access to all Children’s Hospital and Children’s Institute healthcare providers. Depending on the particular needs of each patient, the care team may include the following pediatric specialists: