Critical Illness Recovery Hospital Planned At Inova Mount Vernon

HYBLA VALLEY, VA — Expanded post-acute care is planned at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital in 2022, Inova Health System announced.

The hospital will add a Critical Illness Recovery Hospital, also known as a Long-Term Acute Care Hospital. This is a new Inova service for patients who need specialized attention in an extended stay but no longer need intensive care. This program will care for patients with conditions like heart failure, wound or burn care, severe brain injuries, respiratory therapy or ventilator weaning. A specialty care team led by physicians will staff the new program.

Inova expects the Critical Illness Recovery Hospital will be fully open by late 2022.

"The absence of this type of care in our region has previously required patients to be transferred to facilities in Charlottesville, Richmond, or DC — far away from their families," stated Inova president and CEO J. Stephen Jones. "With the addition of the CIRH at IMVH, all five Inova hospitals will be able to confidently transition patients to an Inova facility closer to home for this expert care."

In addition to adding this service, Inova filed a letter of intent with the state to add 20 behavioral health beds to Inova Mount Vernon Hospital. If approved, this could increase capacity to 50 behavioral health beds, and construction would begin in 2022.

The new program is part of the health system's expansion plan in its eastern region, which serves the City of Alexandria, Mount Vernon, Lorton, Franconia and Springfield. A redevelopment plan of the old Landmark Mall in Alexandria will include relocating Inova Alexandria Hospital from Seminary Road. Next week, Inova will break ground on a new emergency facility as part of the Oakville Triangle redevelopment at Potomac Yard in Alexandria. Inova also intends to build a hospital on property next to the current Inova HealthPlex Franconia/Springfield.