Children’s National Hospital is the only health system in the Washington, D.C. metro area specializing in pediatrics. In 2019, more than 390,000 children from the nation’s capital, Maryland, and Virginia were served at the hospital, its community-based primary care network, and eight specialty outpatient centers.
Children’s National has a long standing chartered hospital-wide PFAC, eight clinic or unit-based Parent Advisory Councils, and a Virtual Advisory Council which is inclusive of a teen council. Although not all these groups could be mobilized immediately in response to COVID-19, the Executive Committee (with four parent members) of the hospital-wide PFAC now meets 1-2 times per week and has reviewed language for the website, signage, and scripts for staff to use when talking to parents about changes in policy. They also discuss how the PFAC can continue to be a resource to patients, families and staff during these unprecedented times, which has included the development of parent-to-parent videos acknowledging the impact of limitations on family presence and suggesting ways to stay connected. The videos will be available through the GetWellNetwork in all patient rooms.
Children’s National Patient and Family Advisory Council
The hospital’s website provides clear and comprehensive information (in English and Spanish) on “what patients and families need to know” about the pandemic, including the revised Family and Caregiver Policy, FAQs and family hotline about coronavirus and guidance about telehealth appointments.
For families of children with special healthcare needs, Children’s has a team of six full-time Parent Navigators embedded in its Primary Care and Complex Care programs. The Navigators, parents themselves, provide peer support, direct families to resources, and, even, accompany them to clinic appointments. Working remotely since COVID-19, the team has helped families become “Zoom enabled,” participates with them in video visits, and has conducted webinars on available resources.