Aug. 27, 2002
It’s Operation-al
GW and UHS Cut the Ribbon on the District’s First
New Hospital in More Than 25 Years
By Thomas
Kohout
For the first time in more than 25 years, a new hospital is open for
business in the District of Columbia — The George Washington University
Hospital. The Aug. 14 ribbon cutting ceremony, which featured addresses
by White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card and Mayor Anthony Williams,
concluded a five-year odyssey to construct the 400,000-square-foot,
371-bed facility — the fifth hospital in the University’s
158-year tradition of medical training and health care.
The record-breaking heat of the August afternoon did little to deter
the enthusiasm of Dr. John “Skip” Williams, vice president
for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences,
as he described the new facility.
“I am most proud of the sixth floor of the hospital where we have
put together a clinical learning simulation skills center,” said
Williams. The sixth floor education and research center features a pair
of surgical simulation rooms — to enhance operating room, emergency
room, and intensive care unit training — and standardized patient
rooms where students and residents can practice taking patient histories
and performing physical examinations on model patients.
“[GW] is one of the few places in the United States that has this
kind of center,” beamed Williams, “and it’s inside of
the hospital, and I want to thank Universal Health Services.”
According to Dr. Richard Becker, medical director and assistant dean
for clinical affairs, ideas for many of the hospital’s advancements
— such as a filmless radiology center and the wireless micropaq
telemetry system that allows hospital staff to monitor patients from
anywhere in the building — came from the wealth of experience brought
to the table by the partners.
“We used the collective George Washington University and Universal
Health Services memory to build countless improvements and solutions
into the new hospital and the results are tangible,” said Becker.
“This makes The George Washington University Hospital one of the
most technologically advanced facilities in the nation, and a clear
first choice for any patient who requires care.”
In addition to commemorating the opening of the new hospital, the event
served to memorialize the unique approach GW and UHS have taken to meeting
the challenges of providing health care in the 21st century. President
Stephen Joel Trachtenberg recognized the person responsible for the
University’s unique partnership with UHS, which began in 1997.
“Alan Miller is a seer and a very courageous man, and I want to
say thank you before God and all of these people here for his optimism
about doing this deal five years ago,” said Trachtenberg. “Today
I think everybody views what we’ve done as extraordinary and grand,
but five years ago it took courage as well as business acumen.”
“This is a wonderful partnership of the private sector, the non-profit
sector and the for-profit sector, government, and community,” agreed
Card. He added that because the facility is the hospital serving the
president, extra effort had to be taken in its design. “The Secret
Service worked in partnership with those who planned this hospital,
so that it could accommodate an emergency need that might come from
the commander in chief. So we are grateful not just for the services
you provide those of us who work in the neighborhood, we are also grateful
for the way you work with those who have to serve those who work in
this neighborhood — the Secret Service and the White House medical
staff.”
“It’s all part of a great University that contributes immeasurably
in terms of employment and other benefits to our city,” said Mayor
Williams. “I want all of you in The George Washington University
community to know that this city recognizes and acknowledges it. I know
it’s not often apparent, but we really do. You do a wonderful job
in this city and we salute you on this special day.”
• Editor’s note: Check out the Sept. 6 edition of ByGeorge!
for coverage of the patient migration and more on the sixth floor education
and research center.
Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu
