Patients who are admitted to the PICU are suffering from a life-threatening illness or injury or require intensive care to recover after major surgery. These patients are admitted to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital from communities throughout Northern California, largely in the nearby Bay Area.  The referral base extends east to Nevada and north to Oregon for select subspecialty services such as neurosurgery and liver transplantation. A dedicated pediatric 24/7 transport team brings children to the unit. Other critically ill or injured children are admitted from the Stanford Health Services emergency room.