(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor 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).
“Families and parents trust Children’s National Hospital, and for good reason – because Washingtonians know to expect high-quality care and a staff that cares deeply about protecting the health and well-being of our babies, children, and teens,” said Mayor Bowser. “This agreement is going to change the health care landscape for moms, babies, and families not only in Ward 8, but across DC.”
The new $375 million full-service community hospital at St. Elizabeths East will support 136 beds, with the ability to expand, will provide a complete range of inpatient services to all District residents, and include maternal health and newborn delivery services, normal and neonatal intensive care, a verified trauma center, an ambulatory office building for outpatient and community health services, and a 500-space parking garage. The facility is expected to open in late 2024. Most recently, Mayor Bowser has continued to move the project forward by presenting the hospital’s design to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts in July and September.
“UHS remains steadfastly committed to advancing healthcare in the District by developing a comprehensive, integrated academic delivery system of care,” says Kimberly Russo, Group Vice President of the Washington, DC Region for UHS and Chief Executive Officer of The George Washington University Hospital (GW Hospital). “We are pleased to already partner with Children’s National – the nation’s number one provider of neonatology – on NICU services at GW Hospital. We look forward to continuing this partnership to elevate care. Together, UHS, GW’s Medical Faculty Associates and Children’s National will bring high quality and evidence-based, integrated pediatric and maternal care to the new hospital. This is one more step toward enhancing healthcare for all who live in the District.
“Children’s National Hospital is proud to partner with Mayor Bowser, the District and Universal Health Services to offer high-quality care in a brand new facility which will be closer to home for the children and families of southeast D.C.,” said Kurt Newman, M.D., president and CEO of Children’s National. “This new healthcare facility is a strong commitment to improving community health and the patient experience. I’m proud of the role we’ll play in helping the children of Wards 7 and 8 grow up stronger. Today’s announcement builds on our 150-year legacy of serving the residents of the District and the surrounding region.”
The Agreement between Universal Health Services and Children’s National is another step in establishing a robust system of health care in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River and will ensure that children and mothers can receive the highest quality of care without leaving their communities. In addition to the new hospital, UHS will open two urgent care facilities, one in Ward 7 and one in Ward 8.
The new hospital at St. Elizabeths East is part of Mayor Bowser’s larger vision for the redevelopment of the campus, located in the Congress Heights community of Ward 8. The campus also features the Entertainment and Sports Arena, the home of the world champion Washington Mystics, and the RISE Demonstration Center. The redevelopment also includes 252 multifamily units, 88 townhomes, the new Whitman-Walker Health facility, a new 750-space parking garage, and over 200,000 square feet of retail and commercial office space.
To learn more about the new hospital visit newhospitals.dc.gov.