LAUREL, Md. — The doors to Laurel Regional Hospital will remain open under a new partnership announced Monday by Prince George’s County, the state of Maryland and the University of Maryland Medical System.
A deal that promises to overhaul health care services throughout Prince George’s County kicks in upon state approval of a new regional medical center to be built in Largo, Maryland.
A decision on that is expected before year’s end. Then, within 90 days of approval for the new facility to serve southern Prince George’s County, the university system would take over operations of Laurel Regional Hospital.
“We are the second largest jurisdiction in this state,” Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker said Monday at an event unveiling the deal. “We are right next to the nation’s capital. It makes no sense — it is unacceptable — for any part of this great county not to have quality health care.”
The plan states that all services currently provided in Laurel will remain at least through Dec. 31, 2017. In the meantime, a strategic planning work group will hear from the public, evaluate options and make recommendations for future operations at Laurel Regional Hospital.
There’s great concern in the community over whether the hospital will remain at full service, with a maternity ward, inpatient beds and psychiatric care. No decision has been made yet about whether a new facility would be built, or if Laurel Region Hospital would be renovated.
“Nothing is off the table” said Maryland State Senator Jim Rosapepe. “We are going to be working over the next year or so to figure out what services Laurel needs.”
The university system operates 12 hospitals throughout Maryland including Shock Trauma in Baltimore.
Read more plans outlined by the strategic planning work group for Laurel Regional Hospital.
