Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center
Encyclopedia
Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center is located in Richmond, Virginia
.
after World War II
along State Route 10 and Richmond's Belt Boulevard, an early highway bypass. That area of the county, about 6 miles (9.7 km) from downtown Richmond in the Southside area
, was annexed by the independent city
in 1970.
The facility was the first Veterans Administration
hospital to perform heart transplant surgery in the 1970s. It is also a major facility for patients with spinal cord
injuries. The physical plant was entirely rebuilt and expanded in the late 20th century.
Major General Stonewall Jackson
during the American Civil War
(1861-1865).
Dr. McGuire was a resident of nearby Bon Air
outside Richmond and served as a president of the American Medical Association
. Prominent in his field, Dr. McGuire helped found the medical schools and institutions which became important portions of the Medical College of Virginia (MCV), organized by his son, Dr. Stuart McGuire, which became part of Virginia Commonwealth University
(VCU) in 1968.
In addition to the VA hospital, Hunter Holmes McGuire is also memorialized by a statue in Capitol Square at the Virginia State Capitol
, the only physician so honored.
The medical center currently has 399 operating beds, which includes acute care, spinal cord injury, mental health services, women's health center and a skilled nursing home.
Plans have been announced to expand the facility substantially in the early 21st century. It is located on a large site with additional land available for that purpose. Currently there are plans to expanded specialty clinic area and Polytrauma Center.
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
.
History
McGuire VA Hospital (as it is known locally) was established on the land of a former racetrack in Chesterfield County, VirginiaChesterfield County, Virginia
Chesterfield County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. In 2010, its population was estimated to be 316,236. Chesterfield County is now the fourth-largest municipality in Virginia . Its county seat is Chesterfield...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
along State Route 10 and Richmond's Belt Boulevard, an early highway bypass. That area of the county, about 6 miles (9.7 km) from downtown Richmond in the Southside area
Southside (Richmond, Virginia)
The Southside of Richmond is an area of the Metropolitan Statistical Area surrounding Richmond, Virginia. It generally includes all portions of the City of Richmond which lie south of the James River, and includes all of the former city of Manchester...
, was annexed by the independent city
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
in 1970.
The facility was the first Veterans Administration
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
hospital to perform heart transplant surgery in the 1970s. It is also a major facility for patients with spinal cord
Spinal cord
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
injuries. The physical plant was entirely rebuilt and expanded in the late 20th century.
Hunter Holmes McGuire, M.D.
The facility was named in honor of Hunter Holmes McGuire, M.D. (1835-1900). Dr. Hunter McGuire was a famous Virginian notable for being the young personal physician to ConfederateConfederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
Major General Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
(1861-1865).
Dr. McGuire was a resident of nearby Bon Air
Bon Air, Virginia
Bon Air is a census-designated place in Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States. The population was 16,366 at the 2010 census. The community is considered a suburb of the independent city of Richmond in the Richmond-Petersburg region, and shares a post office with Richmond...
outside Richmond and served as a president of the American Medical Association
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
. Prominent in his field, Dr. McGuire helped found the medical schools and institutions which became important portions of the Medical College of Virginia (MCV), organized by his son, Dr. Stuart McGuire, which became part of Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public university located in Richmond, Virginia. It comprises two campuses in the Downtown Richmond area, the product of a merger between the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia in 1968...
(VCU) in 1968.
In addition to the VA hospital, Hunter Holmes McGuire is also memorialized by a statue in Capitol Square at the Virginia State Capitol
Virginia State Capitol
The Virginia State Capitol is the seat of state government in the Commonwealth of Virginia, located in Richmond, the third capital of Virginia. It houses the oldest legislative body in the United States, the Virginia General Assembly...
, the only physician so honored.
Current facility, future plans
The facility has a full range of health care services ranging from comprehensive outpatient care to complex inpatient services such as heart, liver and lung transplantation, and care of traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. The facility is a leader in the care for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and is one of four Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers that provide intensive inpatient treatment for traumatic brain injuries as well as other injuries sustained during combat. The medical center is also one of six highly specialized centers that provides care and conducts research on Parkinsons Disease in its Parkinsons Disease Research Education and Clinical Care Center (PDRECCC)The medical center currently has 399 operating beds, which includes acute care, spinal cord injury, mental health services, women's health center and a skilled nursing home.
Plans have been announced to expand the facility substantially in the early 21st century. It is located on a large site with additional land available for that purpose. Currently there are plans to expanded specialty clinic area and Polytrauma Center.