Recent advancements in the management of critically ill patients has led to improved health outcomes. Within this population, neurological outcomes are the strongest driver of quality of life following critical illness. One in five children admitted to the pediatric critical care unit suffer from a neurological complication.1, 2, 3 This realization has resulted in a need for joint specialization within pediatric intensive care and pediatric neurology fields and the development of pediatric neurocritical care (PNCC) as a subspecialty. Initial discussions of PNCC as a subspecialty highlight indicate that training in pediatric critical care medicine or pediatric neurology alone may be insufficient in sustaining the needs of this critical population. This suggests a need for cross training and exposure for neurologists and intensivists alike.4,5 Initial discussion of physician training in the design and of implementation of a neurocritical care (NCC) fellowship has been described, highlighting experiences from the establishment of a pediatric stroke center.5 The PNCC team discussed was comprised of a multidisciplinary team including attending physicians, an intensivist with NCC training, NCC fellows, and an advanced practice nurse.5 Similar PNCC team services have described a multidisciplinary team including pediatric intensivists, pediatric neurologist, neurology post-graduate fellow, and three pediatric neurosurgeons.6

The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) recognizes specialization in ambulatory care, cardiology, compounding, critical care, emergency medicine, geriatrics, infectious diseases, nuclear pharmacy, nutrition support, oncology, psychiatry and solid organ transplantation. Currently there is no avenue for adult pharmacists to demonstrate added qualification in NCC. For pediatric clinical pharmacy specialists, general board certification in pediatric pharmacotherapy (BCPPS) certification exists; however, there are no separate qualifications for those with advanced experience in any specialty areas. Pediatric pharmacists with PNCC experience provide vital benefits to patient care and education. Better understanding of PNCC as a subspecialty and the critical role of pharmacists in the development of a PNCC program is essential to maximize benefits within the multidisciplinary patient care structure.