Guidance for Visiting the Emergency Department Regarding Coronavirus
Children’s National Hospital has implemented strategies to limit the spread of coronavirus in our community. As a precaution to protect our patients, families and staff, we are following the recommendations from the CDC.
If your child has developed a fever, cough or flu-like symptoms, or has been within 6 feet of someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19, you should contact your child’s primary care provider. If you feel that your child is having a medical emergency, please come to the Emergency Department. They will then work with your local or state health departments to determine the appropriate next steps for your child’s care.
Please only visit the Emergency Department if you are experiencing a major or life-threatening issue. This will help limit the potential spread of the virus in our community, and will help ensure that our Emergency Department is able to care for patients with the most critical needs first.
Based on recommendations from public health authorities, we are not providing testing based solely on the request of a child’s primary caregiver. We will work closely with the Department of Health to determine if testing is required based on a patient’s symptoms and risk of exposure.
Emergency Care for Kids
(en español)
The Emergency Medicine and Trauma Center at Children’s National is the only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, as verified by the American College of Surgeons. As the only freestanding children’s hospital in the area, Children’s National serves as the regional referral center for pediatric emergencies.
In addition, our Emergency Medicine and Trauma Center is recognized as Maryland’s out-of-state regional pediatric burn center by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS). Under this designation, our team of experts is recognized as being best equipped to share the volume of Maryland burn patients with Maryland’s in-state pediatric trauma center.
As a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, we are uniquely qualified to provide emergency care for children, from the design of the department to our highly skilled professionals who understand the special needs of younger, smaller patients.
Our center provides a full range of emergency diagnostic and treatment services for acutely ill and injured patients. Our team includes leading fellowship trained experts in pediatric emergency care, and ensuring all of our pediatric subspecialists are available for consultations. Division units add another level of service for children and families:
- Rapid Treatment Unit. The Rapid Treatment Unit’s pediatric physicians and nurse practitioners help patients with minor acute illnesses and injuries. The Rapid Treatment Unit is open daily from 7-3 a.m.
- Evaluation and Treatment Unit. The Evaluation and Treatment Unit provides care to those patients who require up to 24 hours of treatment, but do not require a hospital admission.
- Decontamination Unit. In the event of a biological, chemical or radiological event, Children’s has a state-of-the-art Decontamination Unit designed specifically for kids, the only one of its kind in the region.
Locations
Our pediatric emergency services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at two locations in the nation's capital:
- Children's National Hospital Sheikh Zayed Campus for Advanced Children's Medicine
- 111 Michigan Ave, NW Washington, DC 20010
- Children’s National Emergency Department at United Medical Center
- 1310 Southern Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20032
Help for Victims of Violence
If you or someone that you know is a victim of verbal, emotional, physical or sexual abuse, we strongly encourage you to seek help immediately. Learn how you can protect yourself and others from violence with these resources.
Pediatric Emergency Guide App for Health Care Professionals
The Pediatric Emergency Guide is an app designed for users to dose pediatric emergency medicines and equipment to patients based on weight or age. Learn more.
Future-Focused Training and Education
We are training the next generation of pediatric emergency and trauma specialists at Children's National. Learn more about our training opportunities that provide experience and education to develop exceptional leaders within the field of emergency medicine.
The Power of Prevention
Patient, parent and community injury prevention education is an extension of the care we provide at the hospital. It may surprise some to know that harmful and sometimes life-threatening poisonings and ingestions are still significant concerns with children and teens.
Recent statistics from the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), notes cosmetics and personal care products, pain killers and household cleaning products as the most common poisons in children five years old and younger.