Largo, MD - Prince George’s County has a vast gap in healthcare infrastructure and access compared to the rest of the state, but, we have taken a monumental stride in eliminating that disparity. The Maryland Healthcare Commission recently voted to approve Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center's (LHDCMC) expansion, adding obstetrics care to its comprehensive women’s health program in Lanham, MD. This approval is an investment in the health and well-being of Prince Georgians, a key priority for the Alsobrooks Administration, and indicative of additional healthcare needs that will put our community on equal footing with the rest of Maryland. 

Expanding Obstetric Services

Prince George’s County has the second highest birth rate in Maryland, yet due to the scarcity of obstetric services, eight out of 10 women leave the County to deliver their babies. Once fully operational, the expansion of LHDCMC facilities will allow for approximately 2,000 babies to be delivered each year. That means that more expecting mothers will be able to receive the care they need right here at home. The state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to open in 2028 and will feature a family birth center that includes: 

• Private rooms for labor and delivery and post-delivery suites 
• Two dedicated C-Section operating rooms 
• Level II Special Care Nursery 
• Access to family planning, lactation, mental health, and other supports in maternal care 

“This new program serves as a beacon of hope, aiming to shrink health disparities that have disproportionately impacted Black and Brown women here in Maryland and across our country. 

We are grateful for the support and partnership of our communities and Prince George’s County leadership as we continue on this path.”  

-Tori Bayless, CEO of Luminis Health

Prioritizing Healthy Communities 

The Alsobrooks Administration has prioritized investments to expand access to care countywide to promote, enhance, and preserve the physical, and mental health, and well-being of all Prince Georgians. A few of these improvements that will provide a wide range of health resources and services based on our community needs include:   

• Broke ground on a new, state-of-the-art public health center
• Provided a $20 million investment to open the County’s first behavioral health center: Luminis Behavioral Health Facility
• Allocated an additional 8.5% ($2.5 million) of the County budget to expand staffing and resources in the County Health Department. 
• Secured $67 million from the State of Maryland to go towards a new cancer center opening in Spring 2024, in partnership with University of Maryland Capital Region Health 
• Funded the Dyer Care Center, a new crisis stabilization center to support residents experiencing a mental health crisis. 
• Expanded Prince George’s County’s mobile suicide and crisis response team.

Inequities in our Healthcare Infrastructure 

In October of this year, a new comprehensive report on healthcare needs identified inequities in healthcare services and access in Prince George’s compared to the rest of Maryland. This includes a shortage of 1,050 physicians, a 475-hospital bed deficit, and an inequitable distribution of physicians throughout the County, amongst other areas of needed improvement. We must continue making substantial healthcare infrastructure investments that meet the County's unique needs. 

The approval of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center's expansion signifies a transformative step for equitable healthcare in Prince George’s County. This accomplishment, coupled with the Alsobrooks Administration's broader healthcare initiatives, addresses critical gaps and underscores a commitment to the community's well-being. Moving forward, we look forward to continued collaboration and commitment to additional investments, ensuring comprehensive and accessible healthcare for all residents. 

 

Yours in Service,  

Angela Alsobrooks  

Prince George’s County Executive