Kansas City, Kan.-based The University of Kansas Health System will discontinue pediatric ICU services amid low patient volumes and increased demand for inpatient beds from newborns and adults.
Only six of the health system’s 1,621 licensed beds are designated for pediatric patients that require heightened care. In 2025, the system’s PICU served just 150 unique patients out of 542,429 treated systemwide. The PICU is also often used for overflow from neonatal ICU or neo-natal patient care, a spokesperson for the health system said in a statement shared with Becker’s.
“The health system needs space to meet higher demands for care,” the statement said.
No firm timeline to end the PICU services has been reached, but discussions are ongoing regarding dates that could coincide with the health system’s fiscal year budget cycle. The system is also focused on managing the transfer of care for affected patients prior to services ending.
Care for pediatric patients who need emergency care will not change, and the health system will continue to collaborate with other area hospitals to handle rare, complex cases. The system will also communicate transition details to affected families once it completes a review of how the PICU is being used across all functions.
There will also be no job reductions following the PICU service closure.
“The staff now caring for PICU patients will continue to care for pediatric patients or infants,” the statement said. “We have 19 inpatient beds for pediatric patients who need hospitalization, but not intensive care.”
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