Mayor Muriel Bowser and Universal Health Services are teaming up to deliver a new freestanding emergency department (FED) for the residents of Ward 7, situated on the Fletcher-Johnson campus, according to a DC government announcement. The district's commitment to expand health care services East of the River is bolstered by this latest collaboration, following the October 2022 opening of Cedar Hill Urgent Care GW Health in Ward 8.
"This facility will kickstart the important work of bringing new services and investment to Fletcher-Johnson and it will continue the important work we are doing to grow our network of health care East of the River," Bowser said. Serving over 12,000 patients a year, the new FED is expected to provide hospital-quality emergency care around the clock. Joined with Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health, currently under construction and anticipated to open in 2025, they form an expanding health care network.
The new Ward 7 FED project, set to cost around $20 million—funded solely by UHS—will provide a suite of emergency services, staffed with board-certified doctors, nurses, and ER technicians. The facility will be equipped for a range of emergency situations, from strokes and chest pain to broken bones and more. Serious cases requiring hospitalization will be transferred to a hospital of the patient's choosing.
Ward 7 residents have eagerly been awaiting improved access to quality health care, a desire echoed by Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent C. Gray. "A new emergency treatment center in Ward 7 is a big step toward achieving our goal of building a comprehensive health care system that serves the needs of all District residents," Gray stated. With the developments making headway on the Fletcher-Johnson Campus, local economic growth along the Benning Road corridor is also expected.
Mayor Bowser's Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposed $42 million for the redevelopment of the Fletcher-Johnson campus, allowing for necessary upgrades and the demolition of old structures. The deputy mayor for Planning and Economic Development, Nina Albert, emphasized the redevelopment as a community project, meeting the desires for amenities, services, and housing for Ward 7 residents.
The project's green light is part of a larger initiative to revitalize various facilities and bring parity to health care access across the District. Last year saw the inauguration of the Whitman-Walker Max Robinson Center and new headquarters for DC Health, setting the pace for this year's milestone addition.
