90 percent of Children's National's international patients received from the GCC

Home of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation received over 1,000 patient visits from the GCC last year

428 patient visits came from the United Arab Emirates in 2014

90% of Children's National's 1,160 international patients visited from the GCC

Abu Dhabi, UAE, March 2, 2015: Children's National Medical Center - home of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation - has revealed that it received more than 1,000 patient visits from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in 2014.

The Washington D.C.-based health system received 1,044 inpatient and outpatient visits from the GCC last year - 90 percent of the 1,160 international patients in total.

41 percent (428) of the inpatient and outpatient visits from the GCC came from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Children's National provided support for specialized, child patient requirements to 25 countries last year. Children's National and its innovative research institutes - including the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation - ensure that children with unique illnesses from across the world, the GCC and the UAE are provided with world-class levels of treatment and primary care.

The 1,044 inpatients and outpatients that visited Children's National from the GCC in 2014 were treated in the following sub-specialty areas:

Cardiology/Cardiovascular Surgery, Minimally Invasive and Robotic procedures, Neurosurgery, Neuro-oncology, Hematology/Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant, Genetics and Metabolic Disorders, Urology, Thoracic and Bariatric Surgery, Cranio-facial Reconstruction, as well as General Surgery.

Kurt Newman, MD, President and CEO of Children's National Medical Center said:

"The 1,044 patients we received from the GCC demonstrate the strength of our relationship with the region and the UAE in particular. In the UAE we work to provide a high level of support to children with complex illnesses, as well as support the evolution of pediatrics through our focus on collaboration in innovation and research. In Washington D.C., Children's National hosts physicians and residents from the UAE, while also working closely with academic institutions and key healthcare providers in the UAE on training and education, research and innovation."

About Children's National Medical Center
Children's National Medical Center, based in Washington, DC, has been serving the nation's children since 1870. Children's National is Magnet® designated, and is consistently ranked among the top pediatric hospitals by U.S.News & World Report. Home to the Children's Research Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's National is one of the nation's top NIH-funded pediatric institutions. With a community-based pediatric network, seven regional outpatient centers, an ambulatory surgery center, two emergency rooms, an acute care hospital, and collaborations throughout the region, Children's National is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as an advocate for all children. For more information, visit ChildrensNational.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 

About the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation
The creation of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation was made possible by a $150 million (AED 355 million) gift from the government of Abu Dhabi, representing a shared vision to significantly and measurably advance medical innovation to create healthier and safer surgical outcomes for children worldwide. The government of Abu Dhabi made the gift in honor of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the United Arab Emirates and the country's president from 1971 until his death in 2004. 

Launched in September 2009, the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children's National Medical Center is redefining what is possible in surgery through innovative, integrated research.  The Institute's physician-scientists apply their expertise in their specialized fields to pursue the common goal to make pediatric surgery more precise, less invasive, and pain-free. By combining research and clinical work in this area, the Institute is developing knowledge, tools, and procedures that will benefit children in the Washington region, across the country, and around the world. For more information about the Sheikh Zayed Institute, please visit innovationinstitute.childrensnational.org/  

© Press Release 2015