Announcement of Possible Sites for new Prince George's County Hospital Imminent

As reported by Patch earlier this month, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is seeking $210 in funding to cover "real estate acquisition and architectural designs" for a new hospital. The funding would also potentially pay for improvements to Laurel Regional Hospital.

The Washington Business Journal reported last week that Prince George's County would identify four possible locations for the new facility by the end of January.

In 2011, the cost to replace the 69-year-old Prince George's Hospital Center with a 278-bed facility was estimated to be approximately $600 million, but has ballooned to $645 million, according to chief administrative officer Brad Seamon, whose testimony to the state budget committee was quoted in the Business Journal.

County officials hope to allow local residents at least 30-days to offer their comments and opinions, by hosting a public hearing in mid-March.

Dimension Health System, which owns and runs the existing hospital, would be the acquirer and owner of the land, but the county would assist in the process.

The Business Journal article speculates that the location decision could spur a debate between advocates for Metro-accessibility and urban design and heath care workers who prefer more space than an urban design would allow for.