Trinity Partners with Children's National for Covid-19 Testing

Children’s National Hospital Launches Pediatric Drive-Up/Walk-up COVID-19 Testing on Trinity’s Campus

Trinity Washington University is proud to partner with Children’s National Hospital to host a drive-up/walk-up testing site on its campus where primary care doctors in the Washington, D.C., region can refer young patients up to age 22 for COVID-19 testing.  This is the first such drive-up site to open in Washington, D.C. Watch the NBC4 Washington news report on the testing site at Trinity.

“We are so grateful to everyone who has contributed time, support, space and energy to this effort,” said Kurt Newman, M.D., president and CEO of Children’s National. “The hope is that we created an additional, more convenient option for the primary care doctors in our community to safely identify the children who require quarantine and care. It also means fewer families will be forced to visit an emergency department for a COVID-19 test.” 

“Children’s National has been a wonderful educational partner for Trinity in our nursing and allied health programs, and the remarkable medical professionals at Children’s National have also provided excellent health care for Trinity students and their children over the years,” said Patricia McGuire, president of Trinity Washington University. “With a century-old mission grounded in social justice, Trinity educates a large number of students from D.C. and nearby Maryland counties, so we are pleased to be able to share a portion of our campus with Children’s National in their critical work to help and heal Washington-area children.” 

“We experience our mission at Trinity with the extra dimension of our Catholic commitment to social justice,” said President McGuire. “A few years ago, Pope Francis gave an interview in which he said, famously, ‘I see the Church as a field hospital’ bringing care and healing for the wounds of the community. It never occurred to me that one day there would be so grave a public health crisis that Trinity would realize that message literally, but we do so today with certainty that through living our mission faithfully, we can find the grace and strength we need to rise through this period of so much sickness and sorrow.” Trinity also donated a ventialtor, N95 masks and other PPE supplies to Children’s. Read President McGuire’s blog: Trinity and Children’s National Hospital: A Great Partnership!

“Children’s National continues to lead in what they do best – providing paramount care to our youth and ensuring their families have access to high-quality services,” said Mayor Bowser, who toured the site during a soft launch.  “This critical drive-up service will help ensure our children can get tested and support the District’s efforts to flatten the curve. We’re all in this together, and we’ll get through it together.”

Mayor Muriel Bowser (white vest), Children’s National CEO Dr. Kurt Newman (white hat), Trinity President Pat McGuire (left) and the talented and dedicated team of doctors, nurses and volunteers from Children’s National at Children’s testing site on Trinity’s campus.

Planning for the program began after community pediatricians shared the challenges they experienced with safely evaluating young patients for possible COVID-19, especially in terms of maintaining appropriate personal protective equipment and preventing virus spread to more families.

Children’s National leadership reached out to President McGuire about using Trinity’s campus for the testing site; she immediately said, “Yes, of course.” The logistics were coordinated between Children’s National and Trinity immediately, and in just 48 hours, the site was ready for safe testing.

The drive-up/walk-up site and other urgent needs are made possible by the generosity of philanthropists who raised more than $1 million.

For a child to be tested at this location, the parent or guardian must show a paper copy or electronic copy of the physician referral form completed by their primary care provider. Families can get more information about how to get a physician referral here. The tests collected are sent offsite to the program’s laboratory partner, Quest Diagnostics, for analysis.

“While we wish we could provide testing for everyone who thinks they need it, we do not have that capacity—which is why getting a doctor’s referral is required,” says Joelle Simpson, M.D., medical director of Emergency Preparedness at Children’s National. “We encourage anyone who believes their child needs a COVID-19 test reach out to their primary care doctor first to have symptoms evaluated, even if remotely.”

Children’s National has photos and b-roll available for use by media to maintain patient privacy. If you are interested in setting up an interview with a medical expert at the site, contact Jennifer Stinebiser at 703-568-8825 or email (Children’s) or Ann Pauley (Trinity Washington University) at 703-477-1048, pauleya@trinitydc.edu .

Watch the NBC4 Washington news segment on the testing site launch.