Prince George's County, state officials unite behind new regional hospital

ANNAPOLIS – Prince George’s County is calling in the cavalry in the fight for the new regional medical center, which recently added another front.

In addition to reduced operating and capital funding for the hospital in Gov. Larry Hogan’s 2018 budget, officials say the hospital is threatened by the possibility of a competing cardiac surgery program at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC). County Executive Rushern Baker, III journeyed to Annapolis with county councilmembers and hospital officials on Jan. 25 to stand with the county’s General Assembly members in their public declaration of support for the hospital.

“What you see here is the Prince George’s County delegation, in the House (of Delegates) and Senate, the Prince George’s County Council and the county executive office, and what you’re hearing is a lot of frustration,” Baker said. “Number one, we need the governor to immediately follow the law. Put the money back in. The other is, we built a program, then you take it away? That’s a dumb investment for the state.”

The cardiac surgery program at Prince George’s Hospital Center has seen exponential growth after the hospital partnered with the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS). Neil Moore, president and chief executive officer of Dimensions Healthcare System, which currently operates the hospital, said the program has approximately 240 active cases now, compared with fewer than 25 two-and-a-half years ago. It has also earned a three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgery.

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