Providence to close PICU at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center

Sept. 16, 2025 

 A message from Ray Moreno, M.D., Elizabeth Paxton, RN, and Kristine Bell, RN:

After thorough evaluation and with deep consideration, we have made the hard decision to close the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center the first week of November.

This decision comes after persistent challenges over the past several years including an ongoing low patient census. In 2024, the PICU was empty for 155 days. On days when the unit was not empty, we typically had one patient in the four-bed unit.

We want to assure our patients, families, and colleagues that we remain committed to pediatric care at Providence St. Vincent. Moving forward, we will continue to serve our pediatric community through our inpatient pediatric unit, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the specialized surgical services of the Gerry Frank Center, and our Children’s Emergency Room that is open 24/7. These resources will ensure continuity of high-quality care for our young patients and their families.

We are grateful there are other health care systems in Portland that provide PICU services on a much larger scale. Leaders at OHSU and Legacy have expressed their readiness to support PICU needs in the community, as they have in the past. In these challenging times for health care, we need to focus on the specialized services the community expects and relies on Providence to provide.

This is a difficult time for everyone involved, particularly for those who have dedicated themselves to the PICU. For the past 12 years, the PICU team has demonstrated extraordinary compassion, skill, and resilience. We are profoundly grateful for their tireless service and the difference the PICU team has made in the lives of so many children and their families.

Thank you to all who have contributed to the legacy of the PICU. Your dedication will not be forgotten, and we appreciate your understanding and support as we transition during this challenging period.

Ray Moreno, M.D.
Chief Executive, Providence St. Vincent Medical Center

Elizabeth Paxton, RN
Chief Nursing Officer, Providence St. Vincent

Kristine Bell, RN
Executive Director,  Providence Women & Children’s Services