Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, the first new hospital in Washington, D.C., in two decades, is set to open on April 15 at 1200 Pecan Street SE on the St. Elizabeths East campus. Replacing United Medical Center, the $434 million facility will offer full-service healthcare, significantly improving access for residents in Wards 7 and 8. The hospital has 136 beds, with the capacity to expand to 184 as needed. Mayor Muriel Bowser emphasized its importance, stating, "Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center represents my promise kept to Ward 8 and to all D.C. residents," asccording to WUSA9.
The Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health will provide maternal health services and a Level II NICU, addressing the need for local maternity care since the closure of United Medical Center’s maternity ward in 2017. Operated by Universal Health Services, the facility is part of a $75 million healthcare investment in Wards 7 and 8. CEO Kimberly Russo stated, "Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health is part of an integrated delivery network of care that includes The George Washington University Hospital, Cedar Hill Urgent Care GW Health in Ward 8, and the Fletcher-Johnson Freestanding Emergency Department, scheduled to open in 2027 in Ward 7," as noted by NBC Washington and WUSA9.
The name Cedar Hill honors abolitionist Frederick Douglass and his D.C. residence. As United Medical Center prepares to close and employees receive layoff notices, city officials describe the new hospital as a step toward improved healthcare access and economic development, as reported by The Washington Post.
