LifeBridge Health Celebrates $61.6 Million Transformation of Grace Medical Center

"The people of West Baltimore have always been at the heart of our mission at Grace Medical Center," says Amy Shlossman, president of Grace Medical Center and Sinai Hospital. "This transformation reflects our deep commitment to providing the highest quality care and creating a healthier future for our entire community."

Virtually every square inch of the building has now been renovated. Since acquiring the facility in November 2019, LifeBridge Health has modernized the emergency department, upgraded the dialysis unit and expanded outpatient clinic areas—enhancing primary care and introducing new medical specialties based directly on community feedback.

Teams will begin moving into the new behavioral health space in early May and will start seeing patients later that month, offering services such as individual therapy and group counseling. The new entrance will open in early May.

“When LifeBridge Health brought Grace Medical Center into our family, we envisioned a place where West Baltimore residents could access the services they need today and into the future,” says Neil Meltzer, president and CEO of LifeBridge Health. “We’re so grateful for the community’s support throughout the construction process and are excited to share this remarkable transformation.”

The renovation of Grace Medical Center started in early 2020; however, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the health system from bringing people in to see the progress. The medical facility remained open and operational throughout the renovations.

Now, with major construction complete and the campus ready to open fully, LifeBridge Health is excited for the community to see the transformation firsthand—from the modern clinics to the new green spaces that promote health and healing.

A Transformation in Three Phases

Phase One: Emergency Department, Outpatient Clinics and New Medical Specialties 
Opened in January 2021, the relocated and modernized 17,000-square-foot emergency department now serves approximately 20,000 patients annually. It features 29 modern treatment rooms, a behavioral health pod and negative pressure rooms for isolating patients with suspected infectious diseases. A new CT scanner—part of a larger imaging upgrade—enables rapid diagnosis of strokes, heart attacks and more.

Phase One also included renovations to outpatient clinics. Guided by community input gathered through neighborhood forums and direct conversations with residents and local leaders before the acquisition, LifeBridge Health expanded primary care and specifically introduced specialists in pediatrics, OB/GYN, orthopedics and ophthalmology. Teams in the outpatient clinic also provide care in cardiology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, vascular services and kidney care with more than 8,500 outpatient clinic visits each year.

"Our neighbors told us what they needed, and we listened," says Michelle Berkley-Brown, assistant vice president of operations at Grace Medical Center. "We’re proud to have fulfilled our promise to provide these essential services right here in West Baltimore.”

Grace also offers wraparound support with care coordination, nurse navigation, medication management, nutrition counseling and a community outreach coordinator who connects residents to resources and education.

A final piece of Phase One was the renovation of Maryland’s oldest dialysis unit—one of just three independent dialysis units in the state. With 41 treatment chairs, the dialysis team provided more than 12,000 treatments last year.

Phase Two: Demolition and a Change in Plans 
Phase Two focused on demolishing the oldest section of the hospital, which dated back to 1924. At the start of Phase Two, LifeBridge Health had announced plans to construct a 20,000-square-foot, two-story building on part of the cleared site to house outpatient behavioral health services.

However, pandemic-related supply chain issues and construction delays created an opportunity to reassess and improve the approach. With the pandemic affecting every aspect of patient care, the team at the time also reevaluated the two outpatient surgical suites constructed at Grace that had not seen the patient demand that had been anticipated.

“We realized we could repurpose the surgical space for the behavioral health clinics—eliminating the need for new construction and allowing us to create more green space and tree coverage across the campus,” explains James Roberge, LifeBridge Health senior vice president of campus services and real estate.

President Shlossman, who is also senior vice president at LifeBridge Health, adds, “We know access to green space promotes healing, and it also nurtures the health of the entire community. We believe this additional green space will be a welcome benefit for our patients, our team members and our greater community.”

The newly created green space will also serve as a venue for Grace’s annual Community Day—a fall event that draws hundreds of West Baltimore residents for family activities and health screenings.

Phase Three: Behavioral Health Clinics and New Entrance 
Crews in Phase Three renovated space within the existing building to house outpatient adult and pediatric behavioral health clinics on two adjacent floors. Along with individual counseling and group therapy, Grace offers a partial hospitalization program for adults needing more intensive mental health treatment. In its most recent fiscal year, Grace Medical Center had more than 8,000 behavioral health visits across its programs.

The Phase Three spaces include counseling rooms, classrooms, administrative offices and an 80-seat conference center. A new serenity space for Grace team members incorporates stained glass windows preserved from the original Bon Secours Hospital.

The main entrance was relocated to improve access and create a more welcoming experience. Another new feature is a community health room, located across the hall from the first-floor Walgreens pharmacy.

Additional Services at Grace
Grace Medical Center is also home to the Health Care for the Homeless West Baltimore clinic, located near the outpatient services. The facility includes 3D mammography for breast imaging, laboratory testing and outpatient physical therapy.

The violence response team through LifeBridge Health’s Center for Hope provides 24/7 response at Grace to assist patients who may be affected by violence.

Care Beyond the Walls

Grace’s impact extends into the community through a dedicated Community Health & Wellness team that serves as a bridge between residents and available services. This team regularly visits senior centers, attends health fairs and collaborates with the Baltimore City Health Department for the care of homebound individuals and other initiatives.

Each month, Grace’s outreach teams connect with hundreds of residents through programs such as chronic disease self-management, smoking cessation, health and housing initiatives, and the Faith Community Partnership.

A mobile care unit, the Care Happens Here van, also goes to health fairs and some local schools where the team provides pediatric vaccinations, sports physicals and well-child visits.

Honoring a Legacy: The Name Grace Medical Center

Shortly after the 2019 acquisition, LifeBridge Health renamed the facility as Grace Medical Center to honor its legacy and future. The name reflects the spirit of its team members, many of whom have worked at Grace for decades and are truly devoted to the West Baltimore community, as well as the mission of the Sisters of Bon Secours, who founded the hospital in 1919.

“As we got to know the Sisters of Bon Secours during the acquisition, we recognized our shared passion for community-focused healthcare,” says CEO Meltzer. “The name Grace Medical Center represents both the history of this place and our vision for the future of healthcare in West Baltimore.”

He concludes, “As we celebrate the completion of the Grace modernization, we also mark the beginning of a new era—one defined by an unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of the people of West Baltimore.”

Community Investment

The completion of the Grace modernization represents the majority of LifeBridge Health’s $85 million investment in the West Baltimore community related to the acquisition of Bon Secours Hospital. Inpatient care previously provided at Bon Secours moved to other LifeBridge Health facilities with Sinai Hospital receiving nearly $7 million and Northwest Hospital receiving just over $4 million for upgrades to care for additional patients.

Approximately $12.5 million went for construction of the Factory, a former gelato factory and warehouse that has been converted into a community opportunity center and provides office and programming space for LifeBridge Health community facing-entities as well as nonprofits offering services to meet local needs. Located six blocks from Grace, the Factory is home to the West Baltimore Renaissance Foundation (WBRF), a separate non-profit created by LifeBridge Health as part of the health system’s agreement to invest in the wellbeing of the West Baltimore community to improve social determinants of health, ranging from employment to food access.

Since its creation, WBRF has awarded 283 grants to 121 organizations serving the West Baltimore community. Total grants over five years, including fiscal year 2025 commitments, stand at more than $23 million. WBRF grants focus on four key areas: food access, workforce development, youth mentoring and population health.

About LifeBridge Health:

LifeBridge Health is one of Maryland’s largest and most comprehensive healthcare systems, known for high-quality care, compassion and innovation. It operates hospitals, outpatient centers and community-based programs across the region. Facilities include Sinai Hospital, Northwest Hospital, Carroll Hospital, Grace Medical Center, and Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, along with affiliates such as LifeBridge Health & Fitness. With more than 14,000 employees and an extensive physician network, LifeBridge Health provides a full continuum of care. 

For more information: lifebridgehealth.org/grace

Contact: Sharon Boston, svboston@lifebridgehealth.org, 410-601-4350