Reservation 13 is a 64-acre site including the former DC General Hospital, the DC Jail, and a new boarding school imposed by Congress. The current plans for that site include a mix of development of housing, retail, health, and other government uses. Only 9 of the 64 acres will be utilized for this proposed National Capital Medical Center campus.
Current plans are for a 250-bed full service hospital with Level 1 Trauma certification; Pharmacy; Specialty Care; In-patient and Outpatient care; Mental Health; Wellness and Prevention Care; Teaching and Research Facilities; and Professional Medical Office spaces.
The NCMC is just 1 of a multi-part strategy by our government to improve, enhance, and address healthcare priorities. The other strategies are:
Improve the infrastructure of our Primary Care System by funding the Medical Homes Initiative;
Continue to do all that is possible to preserve Greater Southeast Community Hospital (GSCH);
Establish a regional approach to healthcare by partnering with PG County;
Maintain broad healthcare coverage for all residents under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level through the DC HealthCare Alliance and Medicaid;
Develop a comprehensive public health plan to address key chronic conditions that plague the District;
Create incentives for healthcare professionals/practitioners in underserved areas.
The primary targeted populations to be served by the NCMC are residents of Wards 5, 6, 7, and 8. These are the same areas identified as having a “high” number of residents with “No Regular Source of Care.” Defined: “Regular source of care includes doctors’ offices, health centers, and outpatient hospital departments.”
The city has no intention of building a “poor-peoples” hospital. Current projections are that the hospital will serve ALL payer types: 32 % Alliance/Medicaid; 29% Medicare; 28% Commercial; and 11% Self Pay. It will be a hospital for all people.
Current projected costs are approximately $400M. The city will commit to pay half of the capital costs; Howard University (HU) will pay the other half. The District will not provide an operating subsidy.
The partnership with HU was the result of the City Council passing Emergency Legislation directing the Mayor to partner with HU to develop this plan. Reportedly, Howard University is the only hospital that demonstrated an interest in developing the NCMC.
Currently the District has 3 Certified Level 1 Trauma Care centers: Howard University Hospital, Children’s Hospital, and Washington Hospital Center. All are clustered and located WEST of N. Capital St.
Currently the District is home to 9 hospitals: Howard University Hospital; Washington Hospital Center; Children’s National Medical Center; Providence Hospital; Greater Southeast Community Hospital; Sibley Memorial Hospital; Georgetown University Hospital; George Washington University Hospital, and Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Only 2 are located EAST of N. Capital St., NE ( Providence and GSCH); Only 1 is located east of the Anacostia River (GSCH). Because of this geographic configuration, more than 252,000 East Washington residents live without adequate access to healthcare!
The current geographic distribution represents a potential medical security risk because of the clustering. Terrorist or Natural Disaster in one area of the city could eliminate 50% of our hospitals, about 25-30% of existing Health Centers, and ALL of our Certified Level 1 Trauma Centers.
There is a well-documented need to enhance the medical services capacity for residents living East of North Capital St. According to data compiled by the DC Primary Care Association, only 39 of the total 675 District based Doctor’s Offices are located in Wards 7 (10) & 8 (29). The NCMC and its adjoining medical office building will provide access to sophisticated diagnostic testing and physicians of all specialties.
The NCMC will fill the disparity gap as a Community Health Hub for East Washington. There is a need for expanded health center services/facilities to serve those residents of East Washington. The NCMC will effectively address the current disparity in the distribution of hospital beds.
According to data from the District’s Emergency Medical Service, the vast majority of the calls for Trauma related ambulance runs, originates from neighborhoods located East of North Capital St. A large number of these patients are then admitted to the hospital.
