Published on September 11, 2008

News Release

Washington Adventist Hospital Receives Special Exception  Approval to Relocate Hospital

Takoma Park , MD - Washington Adventist Hospital received an important land use approval this week, a significant step in the process to relocate Montgomery County's first hospital from its small, congested campus in Takoma Park in order to provide improved health-care services for the communities it serves.

In a unanimous vote, the Montgomery County Board of Appeals Wednesday approved the hospital's Petition for Special Exception, allowing Washington Adventist Hospital to be relocated to a 48.8-acre parcel of land near the White Oak/Calverton section of Montgomery County along the Prince George's County border. 

"This is a very positive development for health care in our region," said Jere D. Stocks, President of Washington Adventist Hospital. "This new location and the development of a 21^st century hospital and health-care services will allow Washington Adventist Hospital to greatly enhance our ability to serve the community and remain viable long term."

The Board of Appeals decision follows recent favorable recommendations by the Montgomery County Planning Board and county Hearing Examiner. In advance of the Planning Board's public hearing in April, Park and Planning received 700 letters from the community in support of the hospital's relocation.  

Stocks noted that in addition to the relocation, the hospital has an exciting vision to continue to use the current Takoma Park campus for health-care and other services. After interviewing more than 200 people and working closely with the community over 18 months to find appropriate uses for the campus, the hospital will share some concepts for the campus in the next few weeks.

"The development of a new hospital on a larger, more accessible campus coupled with the continued use of the Takoma Park campus will improve health-care services and strengthen the region's health-care infrastructure," Stocks said. "Health care will be central to the Takoma Park campus plan. We are devoting considerable resources to ensuring that all in the communities we serve continue to have the health care they need."

The relocation of the hospital and the continued use of the Takoma Park campus are part of Washington Adventist Hospital's Vision for Expanded Access, a multi-part initiative developed to provide for improved facilities and services, and to improve access to health care for all in the communities served by the hospital.  

The replacement Washington Adventist Hospital will match the complement of licensed beds at the current hospital, but with all private rooms located on a medical campus complete with doctors' offices, outpatient services and other health-care services. The site is conveniently located near Cherry Hill Road and Route 29, off Plum Orchard Drive , providing multiple means of access.

The Montgomery County Planning Board will now review the hospital's site plan this fall, the final step in the local land use process. Following all local land use approval, the hospital will seek state regulatory approval.

"We look forward to working with county and state leaders, and the local community throughout this process, in order to preserve and expand access to health care for the residents we now serve in Montgomery County, Prince George 's County and surrounding communities," said William G. "Bill" Robertson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Adventist HealthCare. "We are working diligently to create sustainable access to 21st century health care for everyone."