Using named pipes as files

Simple question here (although perhaps not as simple an answer):

Can I provide a path for a (existing) named pipe that programs can use as if they were opening in a regular file?

According to this MSDN page , the pipe names on the local computer can be specified using the following path syntax: \\.\pipe\PipeName

but I'm "out of luck using this from standard Windows programs."

As a side point, if anyone has suggestions for interacting with programs that can use the filesystem more efficiently than physical I / O (like named pipes), I would be happy to accept them.