Washington, DC, Sept. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Children’s National has launched Provider Direct, a new initiative to enhance and streamline families’ access to specialty care across the Mid-Atlantic region.
Provider Direct harnesses state-of-the-art information technology and an expanded team to help more patients receive the care they need, when and where they need it. A $3.5 million gift from the Schattner Foundation helped establish the program. The Schattner Foundation invests in causes that positively impact people’s lives, including through health and human services.
Every two minutes, a family turns to Children’s National for answers. Access to care is the first step in every child’s health journey. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks Children’s National among the nation’s top children’s hospitals. Yet families nationwide encounter lengthy waits and other complexities before obtaining care.
“Every child deserves timely access to the expert care they need, regardless of where they live or their socio-economic background. Provider Direct reflects our growing commitment to removing barriers for patients and families across the region by making it easier to connect with specialized care,” says Michelle Riley-Brown, MHA, FACHE, president and CEO of Children’s National. “When children receive the right care at the right time, we improve health outcomes, reduce stress for families and help every child reach their fullest potential.”
Expanding access to care is a key focus for Children’s National. In January 2026, Riley-Brown appointed Marc DiFazio, MD, MBA, as the health system’s first vice president of access. Dr. DiFazio, a national leader in access science, will guide Provider Direct. These efforts will coincide with the adoption of Epic electronic health records to streamline care. Provider Direct will bolster access in multiple ways, including:
- An expanded team – including dedicated customer service representatives, specialized triage nurses and physician liaisons – will expedite connections to specialized care. The team will work in close collaboration with primary care providers.
- An enhanced contact center will use advanced digital call and text routing technologies to simplify how families obtain services. The center’s Salesforce Health Cloud platform will make it easier for doctors across the region to refer patients to Children’s National specialists.
- An expanded smart waitlist system will allow families to make earlier appointments when they become available.
- Future implementation of a virtual 24/7 agent that uses artificial intelligence will help families schedule appointments around the clock.
These enhancements will yield meaningful benefits for kids in our region. Shorter wait times and faster access to doctors, testing and procedures will improve patient safety and experience. “When a child’s care is delayed, it can impact their well-being for a lifetime and disrupt the lives of an entire family during their most vulnerable moments,” says Sidney Bresler, president and chairman of the Schattner Foundation. “This is why the Schattner Foundation is committed to improving access at Children’s National in our nation’s capital.”
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About Children’s National
For 155 years, Children’s National in Washington, D.C., has delivered expert pediatric care at every milestone. As the region’s only standalone children’s hospital, kids have been the center of its mission since 1870. Today, it is one of the top 10 children’s hospitals in the nation and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. Children’s National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children.
The Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus opened in 2021, a first-of-its-kind pediatric hub dedicated to developing new and better ways to care for kids. Children’s National has been designated four times in a row as a Magnet® hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty care locations in the D.C. metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia. Children’s National is home to the Children’s National Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation. It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels.
In 1987, Children’s National founded Safe Kids Worldwide, a non-profit dedicated to reducing unintentional injuries among children through comprehensive national and global education, research and advocacy. As a non-profit, Children's National relies on generous donors to help ensure that every child receives the care they need.
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Jennifer Stinebiser Children's National Hospital 2024764500 Media@childrensnational.org
