Area Officials Announce New Vision For Laurel Regional Hospital

From the City of Laurel:

City of Laurel Mayor Craig A. Moe, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker and president and CEO of the University of Maryland Medical System Robert Chrencik announced a new path forward for Laurel Regional Hospital (LRH) on Monday, July 18.

The agreement will keep in place all inpatient services currently offered at LRH through Dec. 31, 2017 and charts a course for enhanced health care options at the LRH campus after that.

The plan is contingent on Dimensions Health Corporation being awarded a Certificate of Need (CON) to build a new regional medical center in Largo. Once the certificate is approved, current Dimensions facilities, including Laurel Regional Hospital, would become affiliates of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS).

“Over the course of several months, we have agreed on a vision and plan for the transformation and modernization of Laurel Regional Hospital and we look forward, pending all necessary regulatory approvals, to make the vision a reality,” Mr. Chrencik says.

This announcement is the culmination of a yearlong effort, spearheaded by Mayor Moe and other county-elected officials, after the Dimensions Board of Directors voted on July 30, 2015 to transition Laurel Regional Hospital into an ambulatory care center.

Mayor Moe will co-chair a Strategic Planning Work Group along with UMMS Surgeon-in-Chief Stephen Bartlett, M.D. to get community input and make recommendations on how to improve the delivery of healthcare in Laurel and Northern Prince George’s county. The SPWG will also make recommendations about whether a new facility should be built or if Laurel Regional Hospital’s existing campus will be renovated.

“We appreciate UMMS’ commitment to move forward and focus on continuity of service and modernization of the current facility,” Mayor Moe says. “And just as important, we appreciate the opportunity to have the community involved in shaping the future of healthcare here.”

At a community forum attended by dozens of LRH supporters, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker pledged to get input from residents as the plan to build the regional medical center and change healthcare delivery in the area progressed.

“With the establishment of the strategic working group, the community will play an important role in crafting the type of medical service the area would like and will utilize,” County Executive Baker says.

Prince George’s County Councilwoman Mary Lehman was heavily involved over the last year to see this plan come to light, along with State Sen. Jim Rosapepe of the 21st District.

"If UMMS takes over LRH, I look forward to working with them and local residents, employees and others to redesign it as a high-tech, 21st-century community healthcare facility for the Laurel area,” Rosapepe says.

Many employees at Laurel Regional Hospital are represented by SEIU Local 1199.

The SPWG will review opportunities for alternate placement and re-training for current LRH employees as the facility transitions.

“Our union is proud to have joined with the Laurel community and elected officials in advocating for continued quality care in Prince Georges County. As caregivers, we are pleased that we have created this working group that will ensure that patients and employees are considered as we design how health care is provided in Maryland,” registered nurse Cynthia Medavarpu says.

The Maryland Health Care Commission is expected to make a final decision on the Certificate of Need for the regional medical center by the end of the year.

Additional appointments to the Strategic Planning Work Group are expected within the next few weeks.

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