The new Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, GW Health in Ward 8 will improve access to high quality, integrated care for all District residents and help address disparities in health outcomes.
In the summer of 2020, Mayor Muriel Bowser submitted to the Council of the District of Columbia a 75-year agreement for a new Hospital and Ambulatory Pavilion at St. Elizabeths East in Ward 8, to be operated and maintained by Universal Health Services.
The new hospital will look, feel and function much like Johns Hopkins Sibley Memorial Hospital. Specifically, the agreement ensures that a wide array of critical health and specialty services will be readily accessible to the residents of Wards 7 and 8 at state-of-the-art facilities, including, but not limited to: trauma care, newborn deliveries and maternal health, orthopedic, cardiac and hypertension, cancer, kidney, rehabilitation, general surgery and mental health services.
Timeline
Approved Act and Agreements
- New Hospital at St. Elizabeths Amendment Act of 2020
- Development Agreement
- Operations Agreement
- Lease Agreement
- Collaboration Agreement
- Guaranty
Community Engagement
What will the new hospital look like?
View renderings of the new hospital in this presentation.
Additional images of the new hospital:
- Overhead Map
- Street View
- View from Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE
- View from future Pecan Street, SE
- Learn more about Cedar Hill
When will the new facilities open?
The new hospital and ambulatory pavilion is currently scheduled to open in early 2025.
How many beds will the new hospital have?
Upon opening in early 2025, the new hospital will have 136 beds and be constructed to expand to 184 beds.
Will newborn deliveries and maternal health be available at the new hospital?
Yes. The new hospital will include maternal health and newborn nursery services, obstetric services, and a Level II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
In September 2021, Muriel Bowser, Universal Health Services (UHS), and Children’s National Hospital announced a Letter of Intent for Children’s National pediatricians, nurses, physician assistants, and other medical staff to operate and provide professional services at the new hospital at St. Elizabeths East, which is scheduled to open in late 2024. Specifically, Children’s National staff will operate the pediatric emergency department and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
What type of services will be offered at the ambulatory pavilion and hospital?
The services will include, but are not limited to:
- Verified trauma center
- Newborn deliveries
- Maternal health
- Orthopedic
- Cardiac and hypertension
- Cancer
- Kidney
- Rehabilitation
- Wound care
- General surgery
- Mental health services
The new hospital will also be clinically integrated with the GW University Hospital at Foggy Bottom. GW Medical Faculty Associates and the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences are working with UHS regarding the clinical services and academic programs at the new hospital.
What community benefits is Universal Health Services providing?
UHS will invest a total of more than $75 million in Wards 7 and 8 over ten years, including opening two urgent care centers, one each in each ward. In addition, UHS will operate, manage and maintain the new hospital. They must also establish educational, training, hiring, apprenticeship, and mentoring programs for District residents interested in pursuing health care careers.
How much money is being invested in the Project?
The Bowser Administration has budgeted $412.6 million for the construction of the hospital, including Universal Health Services’ contribution of an additional $17.1 million.
Does the new hospital have to follow Certified Business Enterprise and First Source requirements?
Yes, the District’s CBE and First Source laws apply to both the construction and operations of the new hospital.
What will happen with United Medical Center (UMC)?
UMC will continue to operate until the new hospital is opened.
What will happen to the current staff who work at UMC?
The agreement includes a training program for existing United Medical Center staff who wish to work at the new hospital to help ensure that existing UMC staff meet the credentialing and/or hiring standards of the new hospital. Staff who meet those standards and are interested in working at the new hospital will receive a hiring preference. The District will begin the training program two years prior to the hospital opening.
What else is happening on the St. Elizabeths campus?
The redevelopment of St. Elizabeths envisions a multiuse, mixed-income, walkable, and livable community. The campus also includes the new Entertainment and Sports Arena as well as a new emergency shelter for men. Learn more here: stelizabethseast.com.
How is the District supporting the building of a new Howard University Hospital on Georgia Avenue in Ward 1?
The District is partnering with Howard University so it can build a new, Level 1, Howard University Hospital by 2026. Specifically, the District is investing:
- $225 million through a 20-year tax abatement.
- $25 million in infrastructure support.
- $26.6 million over six years to support five Centers of Excellence at the existing and new Howard University Hospital, including: Centers on Trauma and Violence Prevention, Women’s Health, Oral Health, Sickle Cell, and Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders.
- A District agency to be a tenant in the future redevelopment.
This partnership reflects the critical role that Howard plays in the District’s delivery of healthcare—especially to underserved residents—and the Howard College of Medicine’s leadership in training African American physicians and health professionals. Howard and its partner, Adventist Heathcare, plan for the new $650 million Howard University Hospital to open by 2026. The new Academic Teaching Hospital will have a Level 1 trauma center and 225 beds. The current hospital will remain open until the new facility is complete.
How can I learn about work opportunities in the construction of the new hospital?
To get involved or to learn more, please email Johnny Seikaly at Johnny.Seikaly@mcnbuild.com.