SPI Insights

Washington, D.C. – The district’s mayor announced on April 30 that it reached agreements on the construction of a 136-bed hospital at St. Elizabeths East and a 225-bed Howard University Hospital.

The Howard University location will house a Level 1 trauma center and academic teaching hospital operated by a not-for-profit organization. Total estimated cost is $450 million.

Plans are for the current Howard Hospital to remain open until the new hospital is completed by 2026. In addition, the district is committing $25 million in public infrastructure support and $26.6 million over the next six years to support five Centers of Excellence at Howard Hospital – Sickle Cell, Women’s Health, Oral Health, Trauma and Violence Prevention, and Substance Abuse. In support of Howard’s redevelopment plans, the district committed to establishing a government agency as a tenant in one of the planned new office buildings.

St. Elizabeths East’s $306 million facility is expected to open in fall 2024 and include 136 inpatient beds, with the ability to expand to 196 beds. The district is also funding the construction of a $69 million health services complex (ambulatory center) at St. Elizabeths that is expected to open in fall 2023.

The full agreement between the parties will be submitted to the City Council for approval in June. The current United Medical Center will remain open until the new hospital is completed.