(en español)
What to Expect in the Emergency Department During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Children’s National Hospital is currently experiencing much longer than normal wait times in the Emergency Department (ED).
- The hospital reports that there is no single issue causing this increase.
- The situation is similar to what many hospitals are experiencing across the region.
- For anyone experiencing a life-threatening emergency, there is currently no wait and they will be seen immediately.
- If families are experiencing an issue that does not require immediate care, we recommend parents contact their pediatrician to determine how to obtain care.
Masking and Visitor Guidelines
While in the ED, we ask that you help us to keep everyone safe by observing the following policies:
- All caregivers and children aged 2 years and up must wear masks that covers nose and mouth throughout the hospital facility.
- If your child is admitted to the hospital, inpatient visitor policies apply.
Remember that our Emergency Department is open, safe and ready to provide a full range of emergency diagnostic and treatment services for acutely ill and injured children.
Emergency Medicine at Children's National
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:
- Fast Track Unit. The Fast Track Unit’s pediatric physicians help patients with minor acute illnesses and injuries. The Fast Track Unit is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
- Evaluation and Treatment Unit. The Evaluation and Treatment Unit provides care to 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:
We also offer pediatric emergency services from 1 p.m. - 11 p.m., seven days a week at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center, located at 8118 Good Luck Road, Lanham, MD 20706.
Help for Survivors of Violence
If you or someone that you know is a survivor 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.
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.