Providence Hospital (Washington, D.C.)

Coordinates: 38°56′38″N 76°59′28″W / 38.944°N 76.991°W / 38.944; -76.991
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Providence Hospital
Ascension Health
Photo ca 1910-1926
Map
Geography
Location1150 Varnum Street, NE, Washington, D.C., United States
Organization
Care systemPrivate not-for-profit
TypeTeaching
Services
Beds408
History
Opened1861 (1861)
Links
Website"Providence Health System". Archived from the original on 12 Nov 2019.
ListsHospitals in Washington, D.C.

Providence Hospital was a 408-bed hospital located in the District of Columbia, United States. Founded in 1861 on Capitol Hill by the Roman Catholic Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul,[1] it was the longest continuously operating hospital and the last public hospital in the District. It moved to Brookland in 1956. Providence Hospital was a member of Ascension Health, the largest non-profit health care organization in the United States.[2]

Description[edit]

Providence Health System consisted of Providence Hospital (the main hospital), as well as several offsite clinics and healthcare facilities: Carroll Manor, Seton House, Perry Family Health Center, and Fort Lincoln Family Medicine Center.

Providence maintained full accreditation by The Joint Commission and was also licensed by the District of Columbia Department of Health.

On October 16, 2017, the obstetrics unit was closed as part of a cost-savings measure.[3] Patients received notice less than two months before the unit closed. Previously, Providence delivered between 1,500 and 2,000 babies a year.[3]

In September 2018, Ascension announced that it would close the main hospital by the end of the year but continue operating its medical office buildings and Carroll Manor. The closing plan became a source of controversy for Ascension Health. The hospital served some of the most disadvantaged residents of the district.[4][5] In December most of the hospitals services ended but under pressure and a lawsuit from the city government, the Emergency Department and ten inpatient beds remained open until April 30, 2019,[6] at which point all remaining services were closed after 158 years of continuous service.[7]

In July 2019, Ascension Health began operating Providence Urgent Care Center at the site of the old Providence Hospital. The center provides care for the treatment for a wide range of common, non-emergency illnesses.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ DeFerrari, John (July 20, 2017). "Streets of Washington Presents: Providence Hospital, Washington's Oldest, in Pictures". PoPville. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  2. ^ "Providence Health System". www.providencehealthyvillage.org. Archived from the original on 12 Nov 2019. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  3. ^ a b Itkowitz, Colby (October 28, 2017). "Closure of two D.C. maternity wards hurts low-income women most". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  4. ^ "Attorney general in DC turns attention to Providence Hospital finances". National Catholic Reporter. January 18, 2019.
  5. ^ "Plans continue for closure of Providence Hospital's emergency care on April 30". Catholic Standard.
  6. ^ "In last-ditch effort, D.C. sues to try to keep Providence Hospital open". The Washington Post. 2018-12-14. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
  7. ^ Carrasco, Maria. "Providence Hospital Shuts Down Emergency Services". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
  8. ^ "Providence Urgent Care Center officially opens". Catholic Standard.

38°56′38″N 76°59′28″W / 38.944°N 76.991°W / 38.944; -76.991