Issues inside Cedar Hill hospital now catching the attention of DC leaders

WASHINGTON (7News) — 7News first reported on serious staffing and care issues at Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center last fall.

The district promoted the public/private partnership as life-changing for an underserved area of DC that was in desperate need of a state-of-the-art hospital.

However, 7News uncovered that Cedar Hill is still plagued by problems, and as some see it, falling short of its promise.

“We’re talking about $434 million in taxes raised to (for) this hospital,” said Ward 8 Councilman Trayon White. “Universal Health Services has not done a great job providing quality services.”

Months after Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center opened, 7News reported on documented violations related to patient care.

Thursday, 7News discovered issues at the hospital have gotten the attention of city leaders.

“If you’re going to sit up here and invest all this money into the hospital and put it here as we advocated for, then again, do right by the people,” said Ward 8 Board Education member and mother LaJoy Johnson- Law. “If you promised A, B, C, D, and E, then the community deserves A, B, C, D, and E.”

Johnson- Law brought her daughter to Cedar Hill for care. However, after a 9.5-hour wait, Johnson–Law said Cedar sent her to another hospital because they couldn’t treat the girl.

“It really does hurt because everybody wants this hospital to be so successful,” Johnson- Law said. “And it still can be.”

7News spoke with Councilman Trayon White on Thursday, not long after what he calls an intense meeting with the hospital board. White said Cedar Hill does not have the staff or the systems.

“We’ve had more services at United Medical Center than we have in this hospital,” said White. “We’re short almost 500 employees, the fully staffed, this hospital.”

Councilman white also told 7News the hospital is losing millions right now.

“The billing has not been correct since the hospital opened,” said White.

7News asked the councilman if he would feel comfortable sending a family member there.

“Depending on the issue,” said White.

White and Johnson-Law aren’t the only city leaders wanting answers about what’s going on at Cedar Hill.

7News learned that multiple council members have sent letters to the hospital asking the same questions.

Councilman white also suggested D.C. leaders might call hospital administrators to testify about the situation before the full city council.

7News reached out to G.W. Health, which runs Cedar Hill in partnership with Universal Health Services, but did not hear back from them in time for this report.