Prince George’s County Council Asked To Block Pending Hospital Development

Representatives from Prince George’s County’s largest healthcare service provider are asking the County Council to block a looming hospital development for fear they could lose millions in revenue.

During a County Council meeting Tuesday, Dimension Healthcare System, which operates six hospitals and medical centers in the county, sought the support of council members to block a planned hospital in White Oak by the Washington Adventist Hospital.  The campus would sit less than 10 miles from Laurel Regional Hospital and compete for patient services.  

Kurt Fischer, attorney for Dimensions, told the council that a new hospital in an area he said was already well served would harm the viability of the company.  Dimensions estimates that if the hospital opened, it would result in the loss of  $8.5 million in gross revenues for Dimensions.

The plan would move Washington Adventist Hospital from its current location in Takoma Park to a 48-acre plot in White Oak near the intersection of Route 29 and Cherry Hill Road.

Washington Adventist Hospital representatives did not return phone inquiries by press time.

The area is “already well serviced by Laurel and Montgomery County General [hospitals],” said Kurt Fischer, attorney for Dimensions. “The loss of revenue to Laurel will be horrendous.  It’s bad public policy for Prince George’s County."

But Councilman Will Campos (D-Dist. 2) of Hyattsville blasted back saying that the application from Washington Adventist Hospital has been in process for nearly six years. He said he could not recall Dimension ever strongly opposing the project.

“This is the first time I heard Dimensions oppose this; it’s pretty late,” he said.

The decision on whether to approve the new hospital campus is up to the Maryland Healthcare Commission, which regulates the healthcare system in the state, Fischer said. He said he expects a hearing on the case by summer.

Fischer said opposition by the county council would have weight in the state commission’s decision.

While the council took no clear action, Chairwoman Ingrid Turner (D-Dist. 4) of Bowie said that the council would address any concerns about the new campus at another date. She said the council would write a letter to the commission expressing willingness to support Dimensions.

Dimensions Healthcare System is the largest provider of healthcare services in the county, serving 180,000 patients annually.  Among others, it operates Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly, Laurel Regional Hospital and the Bowie Health Center.

While the system has struggled in recent years to make the Cheverly campus profitable, its Laurel campus remains one of its most financially viable, said Kenneth Glover, CEO of Dimensions Healthcare System.