Children’s National Hospital DC: Pediatric Care & Info

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Children’s National DC Guide · Pediatric Care · Emergency · Portal

Children’s National Hospital DC guide for pediatric care, emergency visits, appointments, MyChildrensPortal, records, billing, parking, and family support

Children’s National Hospital DC usually refers to Children’s National Hospital at the Sheikh Zayed Campus for Advanced Pediatric Medicine in Washington, D.C.

This guide helps parents and caregivers find the right official route for pediatric emergency care, specialty appointments, patient portal access, medical records, insurance, billing, financial assistance, parking, visitor rules, Child Life, social work, and family support.

Open Children’s National Call Hospital: 202-476-5000 Appointments: 1-888-884-BEAR Emergency Info
Medical emergency? If your child is in immediate danger or may have a life-threatening illness, injury, poisoning, breathing problem, seizure, allergic reaction, severe pain, severe bleeding, or mental health crisis, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Online guides and patient portals are not emergency tools.
Official hospital Children’s National Hospital

Pediatric hospital and specialty-care system serving children, teens, young adults, and families in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

Main hospital address 111 Michigan Ave NW

Washington, DC 20010. Use official campus directions and parking updates before driving.

Hospital operator 202-476-5000

Use for general routing, department transfer, patient services, and hospital information.

Appointment line 1-888-884-BEAR

Use for appointment scheduling and specialty-care routing when the clinic page directs you to call.

Patient portal MyChildrensPortal

Use for medical records, visit scheduling, refills, care-team messages, test results, and visit summaries.

Medical records 202-476-5267

Health Information Management helps families and providers request official record copies.

Start here: what do you need from Children’s National Hospital DC?

The right Children’s National route depends on urgency, location, referral status, insurance, records needs, and whether the child needs emergency, specialty, inpatient, outpatient, or support services.

Your need Best starting point What to confirm
Life-threatening symptoms or serious injury Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department Do not wait for portal messages, online appointment tools, or non-urgent callbacks.
Children’s National main hospital 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20010 Building, entrance, parking garage, appointment desk, arrival time, records, and visitor requirements.
Pediatric emergency care in DC Main Hospital Emergency Department or Cedar Hill Pediatric Emergency Department Which location is closest and safest, whether 911 is needed, and whether transfer to the main hospital may be required.
Specialty appointment Appointment line, specialty clinic page, or referring pediatrician Referral, insurance authorization, records, imaging, labs, clinic location, and whether the visit can be virtual.
Patient portal access MyChildrensPortal Medical record number, guardian access, patient age, account setup, refill needs, and urgent-care limitations.
Medical records Health Information Management / Medical Records Patient identity, parent or caregiver authority, record date range, recipient, delivery method, and formal request tool.
Billing, insurance, or cost estimate Insurance and Billing, Customer Service, or Financial Assistance Statement type, access code, insurance plan, facility fees, estimate request, payment plan, and assistance eligibility.
Family support during hospitalization Family Services, Child Life, Family Resource Center, Language Services, or Social Work Caregiver needs, interpreter needs, lodging, transportation, school support, playroom access, and discharge planning.
Best first call: Call the hospital operator at 202-476-5000 for general routing. Call 1-888-884-BEAR for appointments. Call 911 for immediate danger.

Children’s National DC emergency care: main hospital, Cedar Hill, trauma, and urgent decisions

Children’s National provides pediatric emergency care in Washington, D.C. For immediate danger, call 911 first.

Main Hospital Emergency Care

Children’s National Hospital
111 Michigan Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20010
Appointments/info: 1-888-884-2327
Hospital operator: 202-476-5000

Cedar Hill Pediatric Emergency Department

Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health
1200 Pecan St SE
Washington, DC 20032
Phone: 771-444-6500

Call 911 when the child may be unstable. Trouble breathing, blue lips, severe allergic reaction, seizure, severe bleeding, poisoning, major injury, altered consciousness, or suicidal danger requires emergency action.
Bring key medical information if safe. Bring medication list, allergies, diagnosis list, medical devices, specialist names, insurance card, guardian ID, and recent discharge papers or test results.
Expect triage by urgency. Families with non-urgent issues may wait longer, while life-threatening emergencies are treated immediately.
Use primary care or urgent care when appropriate. If the child is stable and symptoms are not emergency-level, ask the pediatrician or local urgent care whether ED care is necessary.
Ask for mental health crisis help when needed. If a child, teen, or family member is at risk of self-harm or immediate danger, call 911 or 988 and follow emergency instructions.
Emergency billing note: Emergency medical needs come first. Billing, insurance, portal messages, referrals, and appointment scheduling should not delay emergency evaluation.

Children’s National locations: main hospital, Cedar Hill, primary care, and specialty care

Children’s National has hospital, emergency, primary care, specialty care, rehabilitation, and regional locations across the DC area.

Location need Best route Before you go
Main hospital care Main Hospital at 111 Michigan Avenue NW Confirm entrance, parking garage, appointment floor, registration desk, and family-support needs.
Emergency care Main Hospital Emergency Department or Cedar Hill Pediatric Emergency Department Call 911 if the child may be in immediate danger.
Primary care in DC Children’s National Pediatricians and Children’s Health Centers Confirm clinic location, provider, insurance, vaccine records, forms, and sick-visit availability.
Specialty care The named department or specialty clinic Check referral, authorization, records, labs, imaging, appointment type, and campus location.
International patient care Global Services / International Patients Gather English medical records, passport/ID, insurance or payment information, travel plan, and interpreter needs.
Rehabilitation or specialized care billing Rehabilitation & Specialized Care billing and location pages Confirm service date, statement type, provider, insurance, and payment route.
Location tip: Do not enter only “Children’s National” into GPS without checking your appointment message. The main hospital, emergency entrances, Cedar Hill, specialty clinics, and primary-care locations may use different addresses.

Appointments, referrals, specialty clinics, and visit preparation

Some Children’s National appointments can be scheduled through the Bear Line, while others require department-specific referral review.

Appointment task What to do Practical detail
Make an appointment Call the Bear Line at 1-888-884-BEAR or use the clinic’s official scheduling route. Have the child’s name, date of birth, insurance, reason for visit, referring provider, and preferred location ready.
Specialist visit Ask the pediatrician or referring provider to send the referral and records if required. Some clinics may need test results, imaging, growth charts, medication list, school notes, or prior specialist records.
Insurance authorization Call your insurance plan and ask whether Children’s National, the provider, and service are in network. Ask about referrals, prior authorization, deductible, copay, coinsurance, facility fees, and out-of-pocket estimate.
Virtual or follow-up visit Ask the clinic whether the visit type can be virtual and whether MyChildrensPortal is required. Not every service can be handled virtually, especially exams, imaging, procedures, urgent symptoms, and complex decisions.
Before arriving Check appointment location, garage, entrance, forms, records, medications, and arrival time. Garage construction and parking delays may require extra arrival time.
Scheduling script: “My child needs an appointment with ____ at Children’s National. Do we need a referral, insurance authorization, outside records, imaging, labs, portal setup, or a specific campus location before scheduling?”

MyChildrensPortal: records, visits, refills, messages, and immediate-care limits

MyChildrensPortal is the main online account for many Children’s National patient and caregiver tasks.

What the portal helps with

Use MyChildrensPortal to access medical records, schedule visits, request refills, message care teams, view test results, and review visit or admission summaries.

What you need to sign up

Children’s National says you need the child’s medical record number, which may appear on discharge papers, clinic notes, hospital wristband, or billing statement.

When not to use it

Do not use the portal for immediate assistance. Call the physician’s office directly or call 911 for a life-threatening emergency.

Privacy and access

Parent, caregiver, teen, and patient access may differ. Ask the portal team or medical records if information is missing or access changes.

Portal caution: A portal message is not the same as a triage call. For worsening symptoms, medication reactions, breathing trouble, mental health crisis, or urgent safety concerns, use direct medical contact.

Medical records, test results, imaging, school forms, and formal release requests

Check MyChildrensPortal first for many records. Use the Medical Records Department when a formal release, provider copy, attorney request, school form, or complete chart request is needed.

Record need Best route What to include
Test results or visit summary MyChildrensPortal Patient login, guardian access, visit date, clinic, provider, and test name.
Formal medical record copy Children’s National online patient record request tool Patient name, date of birth, date range, record type, recipient, release purpose, and legal authority.
Provider-to-provider record transfer Provider request tool or Health Information Management Receiving provider, fax or delivery route, specialty clinic, date needed, and records requested.
Third-party record request ChartSwap or the third-party request process listed by Children’s National Requester identity, authorization, request scope, billing/payment handling, and tracking information.
Official identification issue Medical Records Department Birth certificate, adoption decree, Social Security card, passport, state ID, court order, or home-country identification where applicable.
Medical Records help Call 202-476-5267 The department’s posted phone hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on federal observed holidays.
Records request script: “I need Children’s National records for my child. Dates are ____. I need ____ records sent to ____. I am the parent/guardian/caregiver with authority. Which online request tool and ID documents should I use?”

Billing, insurance, facility fees, online payment, and cost estimates

Children’s National billing can include hospital bills, physician bills, outpatient hospital-based facility fees, Rehabilitation & Specialized Care bills, Pediatric Care bills, and separate provider charges.

Billing question Best route What to ask
Can I pay online? Children’s National Pay Your Bill page For hospital and physician bills, have the child’s name, date of birth, and access code from the paper bill ready.
Who do I call about billing? Billing Customer Service Call 301-572-3542 or toll-free 1-800-787-0021, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST.
Does Children’s National accept my insurance? Insurance page and your insurance company Ask about network status, referral, authorization, deductible, coinsurance, copay, and facility fees.
What is a facility fee? Hospital Services and Charges or Insurance FAQ Ask whether the visit is hospital-based and whether the facility fee is separate from provider charges.
Can I request an estimate? Patient financial services estimate tool or Customer Service Ask for a cost estimate for scheduled visits or procedures. For Good Faith Estimates, submit the request in writing at least three days before the service when applicable.
Why did my bill go to collections? Billing Customer Service Children’s National’s billing FAQ says one common reason is no valid address on file. Call to update address and discuss the balance.
Billing caution: Confirm whether a bill is from Children’s National Hospital, a physician group, Pediatric Care, Rehabilitation & Specialized Care, a transport provider, or another outside provider before paying.

Financial assistance, Medicaid help, payment plans, and Good Faith Estimates

Families who are uninsured, underinsured, or worried about hospital costs should use Children’s National financial assistance and customer service resources early.

Financial Assistance Policy

Children’s National describes a Financial Assistance Policy for eligible patients receiving discounted emergency or other medically necessary healthcare services.

Required application

Families must submit a completed Financial Assistance Application with related documentation before eligibility is determined.

Medicaid help

If a child is not covered by insurance, financial counselors may help determine eligibility for Medical Assistance and charity or financial assistance programs.

Payment plans

Payment plan options for balances after insurance can be discussed with Customer Service during posted weekday hours.

Good Faith Estimate

Uninsured or self-pay families may request a Good Faith Estimate for scheduled non-emergency services.

Financial counselor numbers

The billing FAQ lists A–K: 202-476-3326 and L–Z: 202-476-5505 for uninsured-coverage help by last name.

Financial-help checklist: Bring income documents, household details, insurance cards, Medicaid or denial letters, billing statements, date of service, access code, account number, and any explanation of benefits.

Visitor information, patient contact, gifts, language services, and family rights

Visitor and patient-contact rules can change by unit, infection status, patient condition, time of day, and hospital policy.

Hospital operator
Call 202-476-5000 for general hospital routing and patient-service direction.
Admissions
Children’s National lists Admissions at 202-476-4068.
Language Services
Children’s National lists Language Services at 202-476-5444. Ask for an interpreter when discussing care, consent, discharge, billing, or serious decisions.
Family Services
Children’s National lists Family Services / social work at 202-476-3070.
Gift and resource caution
Before bringing gifts, food, flowers, balloons, toys, or electronics, ask the unit because restrictions may apply for ICU, immune-suppressed, allergy, infection-control, or safety reasons.
Privacy
Hospital staff cannot share protected health information with unauthorized callers. Ask the patient, parent, guardian, or care team what communication is permitted.

Family Resource Center, social work, transportation, lodging, and support services

Children’s National offers family-support services that can help with information, hospital life, communication, coping, and practical needs during care.

Family Resource Center

The Family Resource Center offers educational resources and materials for patients, families, and caregivers, a family workstation, a reading nook, and a teen center with a TV and gaming console.

Social work

Social workers can help with family stress, discharge planning, insurance or financial concerns, transportation, lodging, resources, and safety needs.

Language support

Ask for Language Services when discussing diagnosis, procedures, consent, medications, discharge instructions, records, or billing.

Accessible wayfinding

Children’s National describes audible signage through the RightHear app to help visitors who are blind, visually impaired, or whose primary language is not English.

Healing Garden and playroom

Main Hospital amenities include a Healing Garden, playroom, Wi-Fi, cafeteria, coffee bar, library, lactation room, ATM, pharmacy, and valet parking.

Caregiver planning

For longer stays, ask about overnight caregiver rules, meals, laundry, parking passes, school support, sibling support, and discharge supplies.

Family-support note: Availability of playrooms, teen activities, gaming, social work, interpreter help, school support, and bedside services may vary by unit, patient age, infection-control status, schedule, and medical condition.

Child Life, play support, procedures, and coping help

Children’s National Main Hospital lists Child Life specialists as part of family support. They help children cope with visits and medical procedures.

Child Life need What to ask Why it helps
Procedure anxiety “Can Child Life help explain the procedure in an age-appropriate way?” Preparation and coping tools can reduce fear and improve cooperation.
Long wait or inpatient stay “Are bedside activities, playroom time, books, games, art, or teen resources available?” Play and familiar activities help children feel more normal in the hospital.
Sibling support “Is there support for siblings who are worried or confused?” Siblings may need simple explanations and supervised activities.
Medical play “Can my child use play to understand IVs, imaging, surgery, or the hospital room?” Medical play can help children process unfamiliar equipment and routines.
Teen support “Are teen activities, gaming, TV, reading, or quiet spaces available?” Teens often need privacy, choice, connection, and developmentally appropriate coping tools.
Ask the nurse first: “Can we see Child Life today, and what play, comfort, gaming, reading, music, or distraction options are safe for my child’s current condition?”

Children’s National DC parking, directions, garage rates, validation, and maps

Parking and traffic around the main hospital campus can change. Check the official directions and parking page before driving.

Parking item Official detail to check Practical tip
Main GPS address 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20010. Use official directions and allow extra time because garage improvements may cause delays.
Welcome Desk help For transportation details or directions, call the Welcome Desk at 202-476-3000. Ask for entrance, garage, drop-off, and accessible-arrival instructions.
Main garage The main campus garage is open 24 hours a day. Keep your ticket and validate it when eligible.
Parking rates Official listed rates include 0–45 minutes free with validation, 45 minutes–1 hour $4, 1–2 hours $8, 2–3 hours $12, over 3 hours $16, max daily $16, lost ticket $16, 7-day pass $50, and 30-day pass $120. Check current rates before arrival because parking costs can change.
Validated daily discount Families at the main campus for appointments or inpatient stays can validate for a reduced daily rate listed as $10. Validate at the Main Welcome Desk, East Welcome Desk, or Parking Office.
Valet parking Valet parking is listed Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with regular parking rates applying. Ask staff where to pick up keys after hours or on weekends.
Accessibility Parking for people with disabilities is on P-1; elevators go from P-1 to the main hospital entrance. Use the tan phone on P-1 if you need wheelchair or mobility help.

Children’s National Main Hospital

111 Michigan Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20010
Hospital operator: 202-476-5000
Directions help: 202-476-3000

Use for Main Hospital campus orientation. Confirm entrance, parking, and building before arrival.

Cedar Hill Pediatric Emergency Department

1200 Pecan St SE
Washington, DC 20032
Phone: 771-444-6500

Use for Cedar Hill pediatric emergency location planning. Call 911 if the child is in immediate danger.

Children’s National DC important phone numbers

Use these official phone routes for common parent and caregiver tasks.

Need Phone number Use it for
Hospital operator 202-476-5000 General routing, department transfer, hospital information, and patient-services direction.
Appointments / Bear Line 1-888-884-BEAR Appointment scheduling and specialty-care routing.
Admissions 202-476-4068 Admission-related routing and hospital stay questions.
Billing customer service 301-572-3542 Bills, payment questions, statement access, payment plans, and account issues.
Billing toll-free 1-800-787-0021 Toll-free billing customer service during posted weekday hours.
Medical Records 202-476-5267 Medical record request help, patient or provider copies, release status, and authorization questions.
Language Services 202-476-5444 Interpreter and language-access support.
Family Services / Social Work 202-476-3070 Social work, family resources, discharge support, stress, lodging, and practical needs.
Welcome Desk directions 202-476-3000 Directions, travel, parking, and arrival help for the main hospital campus.
Children’s Hospital Foundation 301-565-8500 Foundation, donations, fundraising, and giving questions.

When to call Children’s National instead of searching online

Search results can help with navigation, but same-day care, medical symptoms, visitor rules, billing, records, and location details should be confirmed directly.

Situation Call or ask Reason
Emergency symptoms 911 or nearest emergency department Online information cannot triage a potentially life-threatening condition.
You are unsure which clinic your child needs Pediatrician, Bear Line, or hospital operator The correct specialty may require referral review or records before scheduling.
Referral or insurance may be missing Referring provider, insurance plan, and Children’s National billing/insurance route Missing authorization can delay or reschedule care.
Records are needed before a visit Medical Records, the outside provider, or the clinic Specialists may need imaging, labs, discharge summaries, medication history, and prior notes.
Parking or entrance rules matter Welcome Desk or hospital operator Garage construction, valet, after-hours entrance, and accessible arrival details can change.
Bill looks wrong or confusing Billing Customer Service Hospital, physician, facility, outpatient, rehabilitation, pediatric care, and outside-provider bills can differ.

Official source checklist for this Children’s National Hospital DC guide

Use these official Children’s National resources for final verification because hospital policies, phone routing, parking, portal access, billing, and family services can change.

Official source What it verifies When to use it
Children’s National Official hospital, condition, doctor, department, patient-family, and location information. Start here for general pediatric care navigation.
Contact Us Hospital operator, appointments, admissions, billing, medical records, language services, family services, foundation, and other key numbers. Use for phone routing and official contact verification.
Main Hospital Main hospital address, 24/7 pediatric emergency care, pediatric specialists, inpatient/outpatient specialty care, Child Life, amenities, map, and family support. Use before visiting the main hospital campus.
Emergency Visits Emergency locations, 911 guidance, Main Hospital emergency care, Cedar Hill emergency care, and wait-time guidance. Use for emergency-care location planning, not self-triage.
Emergency Medicine and Trauma Services Level I Pediatric Trauma Center context, emergency diagnostic and treatment services, Fast Track Unit, Evaluation and Treatment Unit, and emergency care services. Use for emergency and trauma service background.
MyChildrensPortal Portal access to records, visits, refill requests, care-team messages, medical record number requirement, and emergency-use warning. Use for portal setup and non-urgent account tasks.
Medical Records Health Information Management, online record request tools, requester types, department phone, hours, and MyChildrensPortal record access. Use for formal records, provider records, third-party requests, and identity-document questions.
Insurance and Billing Accepted insurance, Medicaid and private plans, payment options, billing process, medical records, and financial assistance navigation. Use before scheduled care or when a bill arrives.
Paying Your Bill Online hospital and physician bill payment, access code need, billing phone numbers, Pediatric Care bill pay, CNPA bill pay, and RSC bill pay. Use when paying or understanding statements.
Financial Assistance Financial Assistance Policy, emergency/medically necessary services, application requirement, and eligibility process. Use when costs or coverage are a concern.
Insurance and Billing FAQs Facility fees, payment plans, collection-address issues, cost estimates, Good Faith Estimates, and financial counselor numbers. Use for common billing questions.
Directions and Parking Main campus address, Welcome Desk phone, garage construction note, valet parking, parking rates, validation, long-term passes, EV charging, bike parking, and accessibility help. Use before driving to the main hospital campus.
Family Resource Center Family education resources, workstation, reading nook, teen center, TV, gaming console, and patient-family resource support. Use for family support and hospital-stay comfort resources.
Independent guide notice: This website is not Children’s National Hospital, Children’s National Foundation, a medical provider, an insurer, a billing office, or an emergency service. Use official Children’s National staff and official pages for medical decisions, appointment details, current visitor rules, records, billing, insurance, emergency care, patient privacy, and campus directions.

Children’s National Hospital DC FAQs

These questions focus on Children’s National Hospital location, pediatric care, emergency care, appointments, MyChildrensPortal, medical records, billing, insurance, parking, and family support.

1. What is Children’s National Hospital DC?
Children’s National Hospital DC usually means Children’s National Hospital at the Sheikh Zayed Campus for Advanced Pediatric Medicine in Washington, D.C. The main hospital address is 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20010.
2. What is the main phone number for Children’s National Hospital?
The hospital operator number is 202-476-5000. For appointments, Children’s National lists the Bear Line at 1-888-884-BEAR, which is 1-888-884-2327.
3. Does Children’s National Hospital DC have 24/7 pediatric emergency care?
Yes. Children’s National Main Hospital lists 24/7 pediatric emergency care. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately or go to the nearest emergency department.
4. Where is the Children’s National emergency department in DC?
Children’s National emergency care is listed at the Main Hospital, 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20010. Children’s National also lists a pediatric emergency department at Cedar Hill, 1200 Pecan St SE, Washington, DC 20032.
5. How do I schedule an appointment at Children’s National?
Call the Bear Line at 1-888-884-BEAR or use the scheduling route listed by the specific department or clinic. Have the child’s name, date of birth, insurance, referral details, reason for visit, and preferred location ready.
6. What is MyChildrensPortal used for?
MyChildrensPortal is used to access medical records, schedule visits, request refills, message care teams, view test results, and review visit or admission summaries. Do not use the portal for immediate assistance or emergencies.
7. How do I request medical records from Children’s National?
Check MyChildrensPortal first. For formal records, use Children’s National’s online medical record request tool or call the Medical Records Department at 202-476-5267 during posted weekday hours.
8. How do I pay a Children’s National bill?
Use the Pay Your Bill page for eligible online payments. For hospital and physician bills, Children’s National says families need the child’s name, date of birth, and access code from the paper bill. Billing Customer Service is 301-572-3542, with toll-free support at 1-800-787-0021.
9. Does Children’s National offer financial assistance?
Yes. Children’s National has a Financial Assistance Policy for eligible patients receiving emergency or medically necessary care. Families must submit a completed application and related documentation before eligibility is determined.
10. Where do families park at Children’s National Hospital DC?
Families driving to the main campus should use 111 Michigan Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20010, and check the official directions and parking page. The main campus garage is listed as open 24 hours, with validation options, valet hours, parking rates, long-term passes, and accessibility help.