February 2025 Utilization Report

The charts and tables in this publication are intended to provide aggregate and comparative data on health care facility utilization in the District of Columbia. The source of the data is the DCHA’s Monthly Utilization Survey (self-reported by individual facilities). Please note, though not annotated on every graphic, the impact of the closure of Providence Hospital – Ascension in the Spring of 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic beginning in the Spring of 2020 can be seen in utilization patterns throughout this report.
The District of Columbia Hospital Association and our member hospitals thank the extraordinary nurses that are the heart of health care. May 6-12 is National Nurses Week. Thank you for being a lifesaver!
Ospedale Nazionale dei Bambini, Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health, Centro ospedaliero MedStar Washington, Ospedale Nazionale di Riabilitazione MedStar, Sibley Memorial Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine, MedStar Ospedale universitario di Georgetown, Washington DC VA Medical Center, DC Health, Ospedale Universitario Howard, Ospedale universitario George Washington, Istituto Psichiatrico di Washington, BridgePoint Healthcare
#NursesSettimana
Join us in our fight to preserve DC Medicaid. Cuts will undermine the stability of our health care providers, increase emergency room wait times, raise the cost of care and threaten services for everyone who lives, works, and visits our nation’s Capital.
Cutting DC’s Federal Medicaid match would force hospital closures, workforce reductions, and budget and service cuts that will put public safety at risk. Please join us in our fight to preserve DC Medicaid by signing this petition because Medicaid cuts would undermine the stability of all our healthcare providers, increase emergency room wait times, raise the cost of care and threaten services for everyone who lives, works, and visits our nation’s Capital.
Come work for an outstanding association and team at the Associazione ospedaliera del distretto di Columbia as Executive Assistant to the President & CEO and Liaison to the Board of Directors. The District of Columbia Hospital Association has, for almost 45 years, worked to advance the missions of the hospitals and health systems of the District of Columbia by promoting policies and initiatives that strengthen the system of care, preserve access and promote better health outcomes for the patients and communities they serve. The Executive Assistant provides high-level administrative support to the President and CEO of the DC Hospital Association and serves as the key staff liaison to the DCHA Board of Directors. The Executive Assistant is responsible for managing the Executive office’s daily operations, coordinating communications, assisting with Board planning and activities, and ensuring smooth organizational functions. The role requires exceptional organizational, communication, writing, and multitasking abilities.
Highlights: Looking at utilization metrics this month, three out the five metrics show an increase in volumes. Acute care admissions went from -13% below pre-COVID baselines in December to -11% in January, with all but one hospital presenting increase in volumes as depicted in Table 2 of the report. Psychiatric admissions also present a slight uptick in volumes going from -27% below baseline in December to -25% in January. Although ambulatory surgeries percent change remains steady in Fig. 1 below, a slight increase in volumes can be noted as presented in Table 17 of the report. Emergency department visits show a slim decline in volumes going from -20% below baselines in December to -22% in January, and observation admissions mirror the same pattern going from -1% to -4% below baselines as pictured in Fig. 1 below.
On April 4, 2025, the DC Hospital Association proudly joined members of the DC health care community in the 2025 Annual Medical Response and Surge Exercise (MRSE). Hosted by the DC Health and Medical Coalition under the Hospital Preparedness Program Grant, the MRSE serves as a vital, annual opportunity to evaluate and strengthen our collective emergency response capabilities.
This year’s exercise simulated a mass casualty event stemming from a coordinated attack during World Pride, scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C. this June. The realistic scenario tested the region’s ability to manage a sudden influx of patients, coordinate communications, and provide critical care under pressure.
Participants included a broad spectrum of health care stakeholders— DC Health, hospitals, long-term care and ambulatory providers, DC Fire and EMS, the DC Primary Care Association, and others. Their joint involvement demonstrated the power of collaboration and coordination across the District’s health care infrastructure during high-stress emergency situations.
Key information systems were tested during the MRSE:
The MRSE highlighted not only the technological readiness of DC’s health care system, but also the preparedness of its people. Exercises like these are critical in ensuring that staff and leadership at every level of the health care continuum are trained and ready to respond when it matters most.
As DC prepares to welcome global visitors for World Pride this summer, the lessons learned and strengths demonstrated during the MRSE affirm our shared commitment to the health and safety of all who live, work, and celebrate in the nation’s capital.
DCHA has arranged a special event to celebrate our incredible health care professionals and health heroes in our community. Please join us in celebrating the Washington Wizards Health Care Appreciation Night! Tickets include access to the Early Entry experience where fans can watch warm-ups from 100-level seating before gates open for the night, as well as a chance to join the post-game picture experience. Use the link below to get the lowest price tickets available. Please share with your teams and networks as we all deserve a night to celebrate.
Wizards vs. Magic, April 3, 2025 @ 7 pm, Capital One Arena
Mette in risalto
Three out of five of the focus utilization metrics saw a decrease in volume from November to December 2024. Observation admissions showed only a small decline compared to January 2020 baseline going from 0% in November to -1% below baseline in December. Ambulatory surgeries and psychiatric admissions also showed a relatively small decline compared to baseline going from -2% to -5% and -24% to -27% respectively. Emergency department visits and acute care admissions present a slight uptick in volumes respectively going from -26% to -20%, and -16% to -13% below baseline as shown in Fig. 1 below.
The shift in psychiatric admissions remains this month as volume continue to remain below the median for the reported period as shown in Fig. 2 below. Although not a statistical shift, specialty admissions show a similar pattern in recent months as shown in Fig. 3 below.