Bowel Management Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Bowel Management Program uses a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, with access to all of the pediatric colorectal specialists needed to oversee your child’s care in one place.

How often is the program held?

What is your typical bowel management week schedule?

Children and families coming to Children’s National can expect to spend just under one week in D.C. The first clinic appointments are on a Friday, with subsequent visits the following Monday and Wednesday. Of course, daily communication with the team is essential and is provided to all patients. This schedule allows families to enjoy a weekend of free sightseeing activities in our nation’s capital!

Who leads the bowel management team?

What support is provided for patients and their families who are traveling from out of town?

Lodging assistance is provided through drbearslodging@childrensnational.org and includes multiple options. The Ronald McDonald House in Washington, D.C., is currently expanding and will enable us to host more patients and families. Additionally, we have agreements with several extended stay hotels; allowing our families to dine together, meet for social activities and even sightsee together! Shuttle service to the hospital as well as breakfast and meeting space is provided at most of these locations.

How are questions or problems handled between appointments?

How are patients followed after the program is over?

Once your family joins our colorectal team, you can expect to receive ongoing care! We are currently caring for patients from across the country and in several other countries. We have utilized telehealth appointments to help care for children who cannot easily travel back to Washington, D.C., for follow up care. Our goal is to make continuing treatment easy for your family! Any time we are needed, we can set up a visit, and routine 3 month and 12 month appointments are scheduled.

Does the program offer transition of care for adolescent and adult patients?

At this time we are only enrolling patients under the age of 21 in our program. We recognize the unique needs of the adult patient and know they are best served with someone who specializes in transitional care. Plans for a transition to adult program are under way for colorectal needs, but this is not yet established. We do already have gynecology and urology transition capacity in place with providers who care for both pediatric and adult congenital colorectal problems.

What data demonstrates that your program produces positive outcomes for bowel management patients?

Marc Levitt, M.D., has been a pioneer in the field of tracking outcomes and utilizing data to ensure best outcomes for the colorectal patient. Much of this work is already in the medical literature, and continues to accrue with our collaboration with the Pediatric Colorectal and Pelvic Learning Consortium. The team at Children’s National is fully committed to evidence-based medicine. We are utilizing validated tools to measure our outcomes and our patient’s experience with our program. We recognize that a patient’s satisfaction with their quality of life is what matters most to your family. While we strive to provide your child with multiple methods to remain clean and dry, we will always place your child’s happiness as our top priority!