WASHINGTON, July 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Specialty Hospitals of America (SHA) announced today the official opening of a new 50 bed Critical Care Hospital at United Medical Center, located at 1310 Southern Ave, in SE Washington. The new hospital, named The Specialty Hospital of Washington at United Medical Center will ultimately provide care to residents of SE DC and the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as provide upward of 400 new jobs to the SE community.

"The new hospital will fill a long-standing and vital need in this neighborhood," says said Chad Eichelberger, Chief Operating Officer of Specialty Hospital of Washington. "We employ new, state-of-the-art equipment that is among the best the country, so doctors can feel comfortable discharging appropriate patients into this long term critical care hospital, freeing up beds in the short term critical care unit." He adds, "The new hospital is an essential component in the continuum of care, and allows patients with a wide range of needs to be treated in one location."

The vision of Specialty Hospitals of America, the owner of SHW, is to develop centers of healthcare excellence in order to build a healthy community. "We are proud to serve this community and it is our mission to help critically ill patients recover faster and more fully with the new hospital at UMC," said Eric Rieseberg, President of Specialty Hospitals of America (SHA). "There are over 200,000 residents in our service area who now have access to the highest level of medical care available in the District."

The Specialty Hospital of Washington is a full service hospital with 24 hour In-House Physician, Nursing and Respiratory Therapy coverage that serves adult patients who still require close monitoring and a high level of specialized care. Specific services and conditions for which admission to The SHW should be considered can be found on their website, www.specialtyhospitalofwashington.com.

Additionally, SHW offers four focused programs of medical of excellence, including Cardio-Pulmonary Care, Wound Care, Medically Complex Patient Management and Rehabilitation Services. The community can reach the Admission Department at the Specialty Hospital of Washington Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at (202) 574-5780.

About Specialty Hospitals of America and Specialty Hospital of Washington:

SHA operates and develops focused, high acuity long and short term acute care hospitals and nursing facilities. The company's vision is to provide focused centers of medical excellence (FCME's) in its managed and owned hospitals and nursing facilities. The Specialty Hospital of Washington specializes in long-term intensive care and is licensed as a specialty hospital and a skilled nursing facility, respectively. SHW was established in the District of Columbia in July, 1995 to provide a comprehensive, cost-effective alternative to long term stays in an intensive care or critical care units of a short-term general acute care hospital.

SOURCE Specialty Hospitals of America