Ft. Belvoir, Va. –– There’s an air of excitement around Ft. Belvoir as its new hospital inches closer to the date it will accept the first patient.
The massive $1 billion Fort Belvoir Community Hospital is slated to open August 10. It will replace DeWitt Community Hospital.
The new hospital will boast 120 beds with 10 operating rooms that will be able to treat more than 37,000 patients per year. It will be staffed with more than 1,600 employees; all whom will help make it one of the newest, most cutting-edge medical facilities.
“There’s never been a hospital that’s been built like this before, not in the Army and nowhere else in the nation,” said U.S. Army Col. B. Allan Shoupe, M.D.
The facility broke ground in 2007, and since then crews have been working diligently to meet the government-imposed BRAC deadline of September 2011. That’s when many military basses will be realigned or closed, shifting some 20,000 people to Ft. Belvoir.
The hospital has been built with a design, bid, build approach, said Shoupe. Many of the plans for the hospital weren’t even finalized when the overall construction began.
This construction approach led to what medical professionals believe will promote a better hospital experience, including open access hallways, natural light that beams through large windows throughout the building, colorful murals on walls, and large recovery rooms with space for family members to sit bedside with a loved one on the mend.
“People just heal better when they have family members by their side. If mom wants her hand held while she’s staying in the room, a family member will be able to be at her side to help, and they deserve to stay here,” said Shoupe.
The hospital is laid out in five sections, or pavilions, most of which have two floors. The main section of the hospital, at the center of the structure, has seven floors.
In addition to emergency and primary care, the center will offer 55 specialties, including cancer treatment, cardiac catheterization and treating soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The hospital will also have doctors, nurses and patients communicating in new ways.
Through “Smart Suite” technology, doctors will be able to check a monitor on the wall outside a patient’s room to see basic medical information about a patient, as well as access medical history and X-rays prior to walking into the room. The technology will also allow the patient to easily identify at any time which member of the medical treatment staff is in the room, said Shoupe.
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Looking for a cozy way to spend your morning? Join the Cup of Cozy Mysteries book discussion at Vita Nova Creatives & Coffee in Nokesville on Tuesday, January 28, from 11 a.m. to noon. This month’s featured book is Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge.
Enjoy tasty treats while chatting about this delightful, cozy mystery at 13051 Fitzwater Drive. Need the book? Stop by Nokesville Library to grab a copy, or check out the e-book or e-audiobook on Hoopla. Questions? Email [email protected].
Have a great local event coming up? Share it with the community for free! Submit your event quickly and easily using this link: https://form.jotform.com/221630757468058.
The Virginia House of Delegates Subcommittee of the Cities, Counties, and Towns Committee rejected a bill that sought to regulate the siting of data centers near schools, parks, and residential areas. Delegate Ian Lovejoy (R-22, Prince William County) presented HB1984, which would have required local government approval for data center developments only if they were located at least a quarter mile away from such properties. The subcommittee voted 8-0 to “lay the bill on the table,” effectively killing it.
The vote dealt a setback to those advocating for tighter regulation of Virginia’s rapidly growing data center industry. Data centers, which house servers and infrastructure critical for cloud computing and internet services, have been a source of contention due to their noise, construction impacts, and potential encroachment on residential and community spaces.
A bill to protect individuals experiencing homelessness by prohibiting criminal penalties for seeking temporary shelter in legally parked vehicles failed to advance in the Virginia House of Delegates Subcommittee of…
On January 24, 2025, the Virginia House of Delegates Cities, Counties, and Towns Committee reviewed several critical bills advanced. A charter amendment for the Town of Dumfries was unanimous, while a proposal to protect unhoused individuals seeking shelter in vehicles was rejected.
Delegate Candi Mundon King (D-Stafford, Woodbridge) introduced House Bill 2352, which proposes significant updates to the charter of Dumfries in Prince William County. The bill seeks to modernize the town’s governance structure and clarify its administrative framework. After receiving an 8–0 recommendation from the subcommittee, the committee voted 19–0 to report the bill to the full House of Delegates.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
