[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 42 (Monday, April 18, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       TRIBUTE TO DONALD L. BROWN

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 18, 1994

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, on April 30 of this year, Mr. Donald L. Brown 
will conclude 10 years of service to Children's National Medical 
Center. As many of my colleagues know, Children's is a premier 
pediatric health care facility. Last year, more than 1,600 children 
were admitted to the trauma service at Children's National Medical 
Center, where they received immediate treatment for their injuries.
  Mr. Brown began his association with Children's in 1984, when he 
joined the hospital as executive vice president and chief operating 
officer. In October 1986, he was named president and chief executive 
officer. Throughout his association with Children's National Medical 
Center, Don Brown has demonstrated exceptional leadership in guiding 
the growth and development of Children's National Medical Center to 
protect, preserve, and advance the unique medical needs of children in 
this region.
  Under Mr. Brown's leadership, the hospital developed a 5-year 
strategic plan to guide the growth of the hospital's programs and 
services, including a corporate restructuring in 1989 that enabled the 
hospital to function more effectively and efficiently. In 1989, in 
anticipation of a changing market, Mr. Brown constituted a hospital 
task force to examine future challenges in pediatric health care and 
their potential impact on Children's National Medical Center. This 
group produced ``Vision for the Year 2000'' which outlined strategies 
to address such issues as increasing operating costs and decreasing 
reimbursements. The medical center has been employing those strategies 
effectively in recent years.
  Under Don Brown's leadership, Children's National Medical Center 
expanded a number of its clinical activities in ways that greatly 
improved access to high quality pediatric health care for the children 
and families in northern Virginia. Children's National Medical Center 
built a helipad as part of their renowned trauma service so that 
children could arrive by helicopter as well as by ambulance. They also 
developed the national safe Kids campaign, which is a nationwide effort 
to reduce the number of childhood accidents. The Safe Kids campaign now 
has more than 160 State and local coalitions in 46 States, the District 
of Columbia, and Canada.
  Another notable accomplishment was the expansion and enhancement of 
the main hospital facility. Under Don Brown's leadership, the hospital 
has grown facility. Under Don Brown's leadership, the hospital has 
grown by 175,000 square feet between 1986 and 1993. A long-range 
facilities plan was developed, and construction of new facilities for 
research and expanded ambulatory and emergency care areas undertaken. 
These physical changes to the infrastructure symbolize the commitment 
of Children's National Medical Center to the continued health and 
vitality of the children and families of this region.
  Most notably, Children's has worked to enhance and expand services 
and access for the children of northern Virginia. The Children's 
satellite center in Annandale, VA, is an important pediatric health 
care follow-up clinic and referral center for our families and our 
community's primary care physicians. The hospital is developing even 
stronger ties to children in northern Virginia by expanding its 
clinics. Clearly, Mr. Speaker, Children's National Medical Center is 
very important to me and to my constituents. I was pleased to 
participate in last year's Children's Miracle Network Telethon on 
behalf of the hospital. Our regional community raised a record breaking 
$2.2 million.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleagues to join with me in 
saluting Don Brown for his accomplishments as president of Children's 
National Medical Center and his continued leadership on behalf of the 
special needs of children. Don Brown's vision and commitment have 
helped ensure that the children of northern Virginia and their families 
will be able to count on Children's National Medical Center and its 
unique brand of pediatric health care well into the next century.

                          ____________________