VCU Medical Center Hospital.Safe area day & night? (Richmond: violent crime, construction)

[Positiveone]

Hi everyone.
I may need to go back & forth often to VCU hospital in Richmond. VCU Medical Center Main Hospital
1250 E. Marshall Street
Richmond,VA 23219

Is that area safe to walk around at night? Days? I eventually will need a major surgery at that location in Richmond. My family wanted to stay in the vicinity of the hospital. Unfortunately I may be hospitalized for 4-5 weeks.

If you know anything about the surrounding neighborhood, area. Please respond, or direct message me anytime.
Thank you
Have a safe and wonderful night.

[spencer114]

I’m sorry that you’ll be needing medical attention. That’s a scary prospect but VCU Medical is an excellent place with very skilled doctors.

The area around the hospitals is very congested with lots of construction currently. It may be a bit anxiety inducing but it is absolutely safe, day and night. The ER can be sketchy at night (large urban public hospital) but everyone there isn’t feeling well or they are concerned about a loved one so it isn’t like they will be aggressive with you.

During the day there are thousands of students and visitors and tourists (there are a few museums sprinkled in between hospital buildings) so it definitely looks and feels safe. At night those people leave so it can feel a bit spooky at first (buildings crowding the streets without any people around) but it is absolutely safe. No one lives near the hospitals (that part of downtown is bit of an island) so you don’t have mischievous people walking around.

The facilities are nice, the staff is nice and the treatment is excellent. The area is even kind of pretty with some tranquil gardens where family members can seek serenity.

The safety of the area should be your last concern. People not used to city hospitals may find it bristly at first but it will feel very safe and natural after an hour or so. My family from costal Virginia always comes up to VCU for any major treatment and they have been since the 80’s. No complaints. I’ve lived about ten blocks from the campus for the last 15 years. I’m sure a few cars have been broken into over that time (thousands of cars over thousands of days, I’m sure it has happened) but I haven’t heard of any violent crime or robberies happening anywhere near the hospitals.

Good luck and be at ease with your choice. You’ve made a good one.

[Bigfoot424]

Crime can and does happen at hospitals. But for you it is primarily employees committing the crimes and even then it is not a big issue. We would arrest employees at our hospitals at times for mostly theft but often the victim, usually a patient but also employees, did not want to prosecute so the hospitals handled it. Just keep your valuables with your loved ones or in a lock box if they have one. The VCU area surrounding the hospital was well known for crime issues but it's been several years since I've trained any LEO's from there and I hear there has been tremendous improvements. I spent some time in Minnesota across from one of their major hospitals and a local LEO advised walking around at night there was not advisable but this has been 4 years now. No city is crime free but I suspect you and your family will do fine here. Good luck.

[Positiveone]

Excellent information! Thank you for the responses!