Arlington Hospital
Efforts to establish a hospital in Arlington began in the early 1930s.
In the early 1930s, efforts to establish a hospital in Arlington began, and a nominating committee from the central group named twenty individuals to serve on the Board of Trustees for the proposed hospital. The Arlington Hospital Association was officially incorporated on July 14, 1934, with the state granting a hospital charter on August 1, 1934.
The association's vision was clear: to create a non-profit, voluntary community facility that would serve all individuals regardless of race, creed, or ability to pay. The Board of Trustees consisted of dedicated individuals who volunteered their services without compensation, and membership included all county segments.
One notable figure in this endeavor was Gilbert L. Hall, whose indomitable will and determination were instrumental in shaping the Arlington Hospital's history. He passionately championed the cause of providing first-class hospital care for Arlington County residents.
Collaboration played a crucial role in the hospital's early years. The Arlington County Board of Public Welfare joined forces with the Arlington Hospital Association to further their shared goal.
By 1941, the Board of Trustees completed the final payment for the hospital property, while the Health Security Administration created a master plan for hospital expansion and development in the metropolitan area that same May.
During the declaration of war, there was a proposal to build a 500-bed temporary evacuation facility on the Arlington Hospital site. The Board of Trustees remained firm in their opposition and continued their pursuit of Lanham Act funds to establish their own hospital. Even though the federal government would temporarily own the hospital, its operations would be entirely in the hands of the Board of Trustees of the Arlington Hospital Association.
Despite early financial challenges, the hospital gained financial stability through Gilbert L. Hall's dedicated administration and the policies set by the Board of Trustees. Hall also took on the role of the hospital's public relations officer, actively engaging with service and community organizations to secure financial support.
By 1953, the American Hospital Association accredited the hospital, calling it one of the finest of its kind anywhere. In 1965, the Board hired hospital consultants, James Hamilton Associates, to survey the hospital service area and recommend expansion plans.
Financial support for expansion came from multiple sources, including Hill-Burton funds, the hospital's building fund, and funds raised within the community.
The Arlington Hospital maintained a teaching affiliation with the Georgetown University School of Medicine for over thirty years. It also established an affiliation for licensed practical nurses with the Arlington County Public Schools.
Every year, the Arlington Hospital served approximately 12,000 patients, saw nearly 30,000 Emergency Department visits, conducted 1.5 million laboratory tests, 50,000 x-rays, and witnessed 1,200 births.
The Arlington Hospital's journey began as a community service project initiated by five women's clubs in 1933. Over time, it evolved from a small project into a fully operational 100-bed facility, completed in 1944.
Today, it's known as VHC Health™, committed to providing the highest quality clinical care. The hospital has grown from 100 beds to 394, offering a state-of-the-art, 530,000-square-foot facility designed with patient and visitor comfort in mind. It includes a nine-story hospital building, 1,100 parking spaces, and a fully-equipped Emergency Department.
In November 2004, the new $150 million VHC Health officially opened its doors to patients, marking a significant milestone. The Hospital celebrated its 70th anniversary in March 2014. It embarked on a $250 million expansion project in 2019, which included the creation of a new Outpatient Pavilion to meet the community's growing healthcare needs.
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