Our Services

Transitional Care Unit


How to Refer

For information about referrals, please contact the TCU Social Worker by phone at
(804) 249-8620 or by e-mail.


Children’s Hospital’s Transitional Care Unit (TCU) is a 47-bed long-term care program and serves children from birth to age 21. The TCU provides care that focuses on the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of the child and family. The services are child-focused and family-centered. Depending on the needs of the child, the care they receive can include:

  • Long-Term Care: Rehabilitative, restorative and/or skilled care that is provided over an extended period of time, aimed at assisting residents with activities of daily living.
  • Transitional Care: Care that is aimed at improving a child’s health status in order to transition the child to a home setting or rehab facility, or to an adult long-term care facility when the child reaches 21 years of age.
  • Palliative Care: Care that is aimed not at curing or rehabilitating, but at maximizing the child’s quality of life through relieving the symptoms produced by a life-threatening medical condition. Allows for and manages the deterioration of health status.
  • End-of-Life Care: Care that is given when death is imminent (within 2-3 weeks).

Admission Requirements

To receive services on the TCU, the child must have ongoing health conditions that require both medical and nursing supervision and specialized equipment or services. Children can be admitted either through transfer from a facility or admitted directly from home.

At a minimum, the child must require:

  • At least weekly physician visits;
  • Licensed nursing services 24 hours a day;
  • Coordinated multidisciplinary care to meet their needs.

In addition, the child must meet one of the following requirements:

  • Need special equipment such as mechanical ventilator or cardio-respiratory monitoring;
  • Require daily respiratory therapy treatments that must be provided by a licensed nurse or respiratory therapist;
  • Require 1.5 to 3 hours per week of physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech/language pathology;
  • Require ostomy care to be provided by a licensed nurse;
  • Need care for a terminal illness.

The Neighborhood Care Team

The TCU has 2 neighborhoods that provide state-of-the-art, comprehensive, family-centered care designed specifically for children and their families. An interdisciplinary team of pediatric health care providers is available to each child. The attending physician, who directs clinical care, leads the team. In addition, the team typically includes nursing, respiratory therapy, recreation therapy, social work, pastoral care, nutrition, and physical, occupational and speech therapy. Each team member is dedicated to providing individualized care.

Family-Centered Care

TCU team members focus on the needs of the family, creating a friendly, supportive and comfortable environment. The staff works with each child’s family to coordinate care that promotes collaboration, planning and education. Additionally, families can stay connected to the unit through a newsletter, monthly family care conferences, routinely scheduled family dinners, and periodic “family fun” days—all focused on providing opportunities for the families to participate in their child’s care. For families that need overnight lodging, the Ronald McDonald House and the Hospital Hospitality House, Inc. are available.

Related Pediatric Specialty Services:

  • Assistive Technology
  • Certified Rehabilitation Nursing
  • Chaplain
  • Children’s Feeding Program
  • Clinical Laboratory Services
  • Education (special ed. teachers on-site)
  • Motion Analysis
  • Nutrition Services
  • Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy
  • Pediatrician and Physiatrist on Staff
  • Physician Specialist Services
  • Psychology and Neuropsychology
  • Radiology
  • Respiratory Therapy (24-hour, in-house)
  • Skilled Nursing Care
  • Therapeutic Recreation

For referral information, please contact the TCU Social Worker at (804) 249-8620.

Related Articles:

  • How to “Be There” for Families During a Child’s Illness
  • Taking Care of Siblings

    • The information on this site is provided for informational and educational purposes only; it does not contain specific medical advice. If you have specific health questions or problems, consult a health care professional for personal medical advice.