Bethesda Starfleet Hospital is a medical facility located in Bethesda, Maryland on Earth. The hospital is operated by Starfleet Medical. The hospital was first built in 1940 and served as the premier medical facility for the United States Navy. By the 24th century the hospital was still in existence, and served as a medical facility for the Federation Starfleet. In 2364 Doctor Leonard McCoy was sent to Bethesda after tripping over one of his great-great-grandchild's toys. As a result McCoy missed the launch of the USS Enterprise-D. (TNG novelization: Encounter at Farpoint)