Children's National Emergency Room — Local services in Washington

I was referred to Children's from Patient First in Annapolis when xrays determined my daughter fractured her Tibia. We arrived at Children's at approximately 10 pm on a Sat with xrays in hand having been referred for "expert immobilization and evaluation for any vascular damage". After the initial triage eval we were told to wait and they would get us back ASAP since she was confirmed diagnosis. My 3 yo daughter had a broken leg and we were forced to wait for hours in a waiting room chair as she was in pain and we tried our best to keep her still. We waited from 10:30 pm until after 1 am when I finally went up to express concern that the referring physician sent us there for time sensitive treatment and asked for a status update. The front desk nurse echoed my concern seemed like maybe they missed us or forgot about us some how? After that they did get us back around 1:30 am. The room we were put in was shared with 2 other children and families w flu like systems. We waited about 2 more hrs to see the Pediatric Orthopedic specialist. The hospital lost our xrays we brought in the time we were waiting so no one had even read them at that point now about 5ish hrs after arrival. They did find them and the Dr was professional and attentive when we finally saw him. Around 6 am the next day we finished eval and got my daughter casted.The nurses were also nice and capable.

However, overall this hospital ER was a mess and I wouldn't recommend if you have other options. The hospital was simply overwhelmed so I'm not sure what they could do except maybe triage primary care type visits from true emergency visits (which it seemed they were trying to do). I have been to emergency rooms and know it is never a pleasant experience but this was by far the worst I have been a party to. The facility was also dirty and dated and it seemed very risky to have children in there as there was literally vomit on the floors and sick people everywhere. Again not sure what the hospital could do but just a fair warning you may be better at another ER if you...

Really bad ER experience. My child twisted her knee and fell at school. She could not put weight on it, extend her leg fully either direction without extreme pain. My PT recommended I take her to CNH ER, as she thought we would get diagnostics more quickly than waiting for an orthopedic appointment. Wrong choice. After 4 hours waiting, my child had a brief exam by a very dismissive Dr, no diagnostics (X-ray or other imaging). She was given an ace bandage and crutches. Never again. We have taken our children to Sibley’s ER and they have gotten excellent care (even though Sibley doesn’t have pediatrics). I wish I had followed my own instincts & gone to Sibley or Georgetown. We ended up going to an orthopedist, who did an X-ray and ordered an MRI and weeks later we know what the injury is. A lot of time & worry could have been saved if the ER had just done some imaging. It’s a hospital— they must have X-rays & ultrasound? The orthopedist was astounded when I told him that not even an X-ray had been done. I just paid the ER bill, which was $$ wasted. The staff, other than the Dr, were all very nice. But, I will never go back to Children’s. If my child needs hospital care, I will go to Georgetown. If they need an ER, Sibley...

Emergency room waiting time is 6 hours or more. Evening.and night. Can be 9 hours some nights. Crowded. Sick children cough, vomit (at least there are bags for that). Waiting time is uncertain, you cant leave which requires sick children and parents to wait all night sleepless in the waiting room. There is bottled water if you are smart to find it. Or buy snacks at a wending machine. Nothing warm or healthy. Not well kept. Maybe because of the night time, the floor in the emergency room is dirty. No one is teaching to use masks, how to use masks, or when to change. A random acts of kindness. A cleaning guy changes his route so that his loud floors washing machine would not bother a child who fell asleep on chairs in the atrium.Yes, while the child was one of the emergency room patients checked in the emergency room and waited.. During the long wait, I have not seen anyone change a mask. 6 hours. During the night, no one has cleaned chairs and other surfaces. All that does not look healthy or promote good health care but may increase the health risks for sick children and their families. Sleepless night in unhealthy unsanitary conditions. Can't believe it is the US National...