06-07-2025
A new D.C. hospital grapples with too many patients and too few nurses
As soon as D.C.'s newest hospital opened its doors in April, the emergency room was overwhelmed with too many patients and not enough staff. Nurses were pulled from other departments. The top nursing administrator clacked downstairs in heels to treat patients herself. The chief operating officer cleaned beds.
Hospital and city officials say the all-hands approach is a sign Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health has dedicated staff. But, they say, it also reflects the challenges of opening a new hospital amid a national nursing shortage in a medically underserved community where residents face barriers to accessing primary care.
