LHDCMC PRESIDENT MESSAGE: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM MOVES FORWARD

Rendering of new behavioral health pavilion

Today (9/23), the Maryland Health Care Commission voted to approve Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center’s (LHDCMC) Certificate of Need (CON) application for a 16-bed adult inpatient behavioral health unit. This is an incredible step forward for expanding access to critically needed mental health care in our community.

Building on the legacy Luminis Health has established with mental health care in Anne Arundel County, this new behavioral health unit will allow LHDCMC to expand comprehensive and integrated mental health care right here in Prince George’s County.

Today’s positive vote means we can move forward with our plans to begin construction of the inpatient unit this fall, with doors opening to our community in the winter of 2022. This is in addition to the construction of our outpatient programs, which is expected to be complete in spring 2022.

Across both areas, our new behavioral health pavilion will include inpatient psychiatric care for adults, outpatient therapy and medication management, walk-in urgent care, psychiatric day treatment programs (partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient), family support services, prevention programs, and care coordination with community-based support services.

These programs and services would be impossible without the support of Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, the county council and health department and their commitment to the needs of our community. We continue to work in close partnership to deliver these much needed services.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you for your support. Many of you have been with us from the beginning, and provided impactful letters of support as part of our application. The support of everyone in our Luminis Health family and our community has helped bring this approval for much needed inpatient behavioral health services.

I look forward to keeping you updated on our progress.

Thank you,

Deneen Richmond, president of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center