Our Regenstein Cardiac Care Unit (CCU), which opened in June 2012, is a state-of-the-art 36-bed unit devoted to the care of young patients with cardiac disease.
The Regenstein CCU is one of the few cardiac units of its kind in the nation, allowing each child to stay in the same private room from admission to discharge. The high-tech rooms adapt to the level of care the patient needs, and eliminates the need to transfer the patient to other units in the hospital. Our rooms are technologically equipped for intensive care while providing the family amenities of a regular acute care patient room. Cardiac patients have the same healthcare team throughout their hospital stay.
Research shows that this unique model of care greatly improves patient and family comfort and satisfaction, as well as patient safety.
Our cardiac intensive care physicians are available at all times, so your child will receive prompt medical attention. With our knowledgeable staff, family-centered care and advanced technology, the Regenstein CCU gives young patients with heart disease an exceptional place to heal.
Led by Medical Director John M. Costello, MD, MPH, the Regenstein CCU team treats critically ill infants, children and young adults who are admitted to the hospital for complex heart conditions.
To bring the highest level of knowledge and expertise to each patient, our team of pediatric cardiac intensivists collaborates closely with the Heart Center's cardiologists, surgeons, neonatologists, anesthesiologists, cardiac advanced nurse practitioners and cardiac nurses. We also work with experts from different healthcare specialties to make sure your child gets the most comprehensive care possible. This team meets every day to discuss and decide on a care plan for each patient, which allows multiple doctors to weigh in on treatment options for your child.
We understand how important family is to the healing process. In addition to offering private rooms, the Regenstein CCU features:
The Regenstein CCU offers the most advanced technology available, including:
Committed to improving patient care, our team conducts many quality initiatives. Our physicians are studying:
Our high-risk patients are transitioned from the hospital for the period of convalescence as HeArT (High-Acuity Transition) patients from the CCU to their primary cardiologist’s care.
The murals along the entry to the CCU are scenes from Peter & the Wolf.
Family Great Room Kitchen Area
Patient Care Rounds
South Side Patient Room 
The main doctors who will care for your child in the CCU are pediatric cardiac intensivists who are specially trained in pediatric cardiac intensive care. Your child will receive around the clock care from one of these attending physicians with advanced expertise focusing on the care of critically ill young patients.
The Medical Director of the Regenstein CCU, John M. Costello, MD, MPH, is board certified in pediatrics, pediatric cardiology and pediatric critical care medicine. He has more than 10 years of experience in cardiac critical care. He also is the Director of Inpatient Cardiology at Lurie Children’s and is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
The cardiac critical care team includes:
This team of experts works closely with other specialists as needed, including cardiologists with experience in advanced cardiac imaging, catheterization and catheter-based interventions, arrhythmias, heart failure, heart transplantation and adult congenital heart disease, as well as specialists from the Department of Cardiac Imaging.
Physicians can arrange emergency transport of a patient to the Regenstein CCU by calling the Transport Team at 1.800.540.4131.
To schedule an appointment with our specialists, please contact the Division of Cardiology at 312.227.4100 or Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery at 312.227.4240.
