The District of Columbia Department of Employment Services estimates that employment at hospitals in the greater Washington, D.C. metro area will increase by 6.6% from 2020 to 2030, creating opportunities for healthcare professionals looking for permanent and travel positions. To help you discover potential employers in the area, we gathered facility and employee reviews and examined the specialties of hospitals in Washington, D.C. We also considered rankings each facility received from U.S. News & World Report in 2022-2023 and data from other independent reporting outlets. Based on our research, we created this list of healthcare facilities in the D.C. area in no particular order.
1. Inova Fairfax Hospital
U.S. News and World Report placed Inova Fairfax Hospital at the top of its list of overall best hospitals in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. In addition, the facility ranked 10th in the nation in obstetrics and gynecology and 40th in neonatology.
Throughout the region, Inova Fairfax is known for its family-centered birthing centers that feature private labor-delivery suites offering state-of-the-art technology. Their Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) allows mothers and infants to remain together and requires staffing from qualified neonatal nurses. The on-site Inova Alfred Khoury Antenatal Testing Center offers advanced ultrasounds and screenings for high-risk pregnancies, creating opportunities for technicians who enjoy working with expectant mothers.
Other notable specialties at Inova Fairfax include cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology and pulmonology. For permanent employees, the Inova Health System provides an attractive suite of benefits and perks, including school loan reimbursement, continuing education assistance and medical, dental and vision benefits.
2. MedStar Washington Hospital Center
If you’re looking for healthcare jobs in Washington, D.C. as a cardiac care nurse, surgical technologist or cardiovascular technologist/technician, MedStar Washington Hospital Center may be the right place to start your permanent or travel job search. According to the facility’s website, the health system performs 2,200 heart surgeries, 5,000 vascular procedures, 5,000 electrophysiology procedures and 12,000 cardiac catheterizations every year. In addition, the MedStar Cardiovascular Research Network has more than 120 cardiology and vascular health clinical trials currently underway, which could create opportunities for healthcare professionals who wish to work in research rather than direct patient care.
Joining the team in a permanent or travel position allows you to gain experience at the facility ranked 28th in the nation for cardiology and heart surgery hospitals. MedStar Washington Hospital Center also ranked as a top performer in cancer treatment, gastroenterology and urology.
3. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
Oncology nurses, physician assistants, dosimetrists and other healthcare professionals specializing in cancer care may want to place MedStar Georgetown University Hospital on their job search list. The facility is home to the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute and ranked 44th in the U.S. for oncology care.
The MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute cares for both children and adults with areas of focus including blood and bone marrow transplantation, pain management, palliative care, genetic counseling and the treatment of breast and gynecological cancers. The hospital also ranked well for colon and liver cancer surgeries. Outside of oncology, the hospital received high-performing grades for gastroenterology, geriatrics, neurology and neurosurgery and orthopedics.
Permanent employees at MedStar Georgetown and other hospitals in the MedStar Health System receive a generous paid time off program. The health system also offers employees career development opportunities through clinical ladders and tuition discounts at more than 200 schools participating in its EdAssist program.
4. Inova Fair Oaks Hospital
Inova Fair Oaks Hospital is an acute care hospital located in the D.C. suburb of Fairfax, Virginia. The hospital serves as one of the primary diagnostic imaging centers for the Inova Health System. Patients visit the center for breast imaging, CT scans, bone density scans, fluoroscopy and interventional radiology. The facility also offers MRIs, nuclear medicine testing, ultrasounds and X-rays and has a team of qualified allied health professionals to perform these services.
Maternity care is another popular service at Inova Fair Oaks. The hospital is home to a private Level III NICU and the Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Lactation Center, staffed by board-certified lactation consultants.
The facility was also a top performer in gastroenterology and GI surgery. It’s received recognition from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program for its comprehensive weight loss program, which includes nonsurgical programs, support groups and a range of bariatric surgical options.
5. Sibley Memorial Hospital – Johns Hopkins Medicine
Sibley Memorial Hospital – Johns Hopkins Medicine ranked 7th on the list of top hospitals in Washington, D.C. Specifically, the facility earned high marks in colon and lung cancer surgeries.
Nurses, physician assistants and allied health professionals specializing in oncology may consider looking for permanent and travel positions at the hospital’s cancer care clinic. As a member of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the clinic offers innovative therapies and treatments for bone and soft tissue sarcoma, melanoma and cancers of the blood, breast, colorectal, head and neck, lung and prostate.
Urology is another key specialty of Sibley Memorial Hospital and has been named a high performer in treating kidney failure. In addition, the facility performs laparoscopic urologic surgeries and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy therapy for complex kidney stones, giving urology nurses a chance to gain experience caring for patients receiving state-of-the-art care.
6. Children’s National Hospital
Healthcare professionals with a passion for pediatrics can care for patients at a highly-rated facility by taking travel and permanent positions at Children’s National Hospital. Named fifth on U.S. News & World Report’s national honor roll for children’s hospitals, the facility also ranked first among the top pediatric hospitals in Washington, D.C., and second among all pediatric hospitals in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Neonatology is a key specialty area for the hospital, and the facility ranked first in the nation in the field. NICU nurses can explore employment opportunities at the hospital’s Level IV NICU. Every year, the hospital provides care for more than 1,000 babies. The facility was the first in the nation to offer extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and is well known for its Neonatal Neurology and Neurocritical Care Program for infants suffering from brain injuries.
Children’s National Hospital received national recognition for excellence in numerous other specialties, ranking in the top 10 for pediatric oncology, diabetes care, neurology, orthopedics, pulmonology and nephrology. It also ranked in the top 50 for pediatric cardiology, urology and gastroenterology.
7. George Washington University Hospital
Physician assistants, nurses and allied health professionals wishing to gain more experience in the field of neurology might consider George Washington University Hospital. The hospital earned accolades as a top performer in the specialty. It also performs advanced neurosurgery not offered by many other hospitals in the area, such as awake craniotomy, endovascular neurosurgery and skull base surgery.
The hospital’s Comprehensive Stroke Center received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Get with The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for excellence in care. Allied health professionals working in the center may have the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art diagnostic neuroangiography imaging. The center also provides a comprehensive aftercare program that employs skilled physical, speech and occupational therapists.
In addition to stroke care, The Neurosciences Institute at George Washington University Hospital has specialized centers for treating epilepsy, migraines, multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular disorders, Parkinson’s disease, sleep disorders, spine pain and tumors.
8. MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital
Employment at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital allows healthcare professionals to help patients recovering from serious injuries and surgeries regain function and independence at a nationally recognized facility. The hospital ranked 18th best in the nation at providing rehabilitation care.
MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital is known as a top rehabilitation provider for spinal cord injuries. In addition, the facility offers amputation, orthopedic, cancer, pediatric and cardiac rehabilitation programs.
Depending on their position, healthcare professionals may work with patients on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Permanent employees receive lucrative benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance through the MedStar Health system.
9. Virginia Hospital Center
Affiliated with the Mayo Clinic Care Network, Virginia Hospital Center is an acute-care facility in Arlington, VA, and rated the seventh-best hospital in Washington, D.C., and 12th among hospitals in Virginia.
Surgical technologists and operating room nurses may find a wealth of job opportunities at Virginia Hospital Center, as the facility serves as a major surgical center for the region. It’s earned recognition as a high performer for treating colon cancer and performing hip replacement surgeries. The hospital also offers minimally invasive robotic surgery. For spinal procedures, the surgical team has access to the Mazor Stealth Spine Robot, a state-of-the-art 3D planning tool with a precision surgical arm.
Virginia Hospital Center also received high-performing designations for treating heart attacks and heart failure. The facility is home to a Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit that relies on cardiac and intensive care nurses to deliver exceptional care.
10. Mary Washington Hospital
Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, VA, is a part of the nonprofit Mary Washington Healthcare system. It ranked as the fifth-best hospital in Washington, D.C., and the 10th-best in Northern Virginia.
Healthcare professionals specializing in orthopedics may be particularly interested in exploring travel and permanent positions at the hospital. The facility is a top performer in total hip and knee replacement surgeries. Its Mary Washington Physical Therapy Center focuses on caring for patients recovering from surgical procedures and sports injuries and individuals living with arthritis pain.
The hospital is also home to Snowden, a 74-bed community mental health hospital. The center depends on psychiatric nurses, social workers, counselors and expressive therapists to deliver care to adults and teens dealing with mental health disorders and substance abuse.
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