Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center Addresses the Behavioral Health Needs of Prince George’s County Residents

rendering of new unit

Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center (LHDCMC) has submitted a Certificate of Need (CON) to the Maryland Health Care Commission for a 16-bed inpatient behavioral health unit.

“Adding this new service is an important step for Luminis Health and the community. We are committed to removing barriers to health care, and ensuring everyone has access to the care needed to live a healthy life,” stated Victoria Bayless, chief executive officer of Luminis Health. “We will also be adding outpatient programs and services, as well as working to eliminate healthcare disparities, not only on our Lanham campus, but in the community at large. This would be impossible without the support of leaders from Prince George’s County. This is truly a partnership that will benefit the entire region.”

Prince George’s County is home to nearly one million residents and spans an area of 500 square miles, with two acute care units for inpatient behavioral health currently in the county. In 2019, more than half of the adult admissions from Prince George’s County (1,900 cases) were admitted to out-of-county hospitals. More than 900 patients required hospital-to-hospital transfer for psychiatric admission.

We know that when a community member requires inpatient mental health care, half of the residents leave the county, with nearly a quarter traveling to Washington, D.C.,” said Deneen Richmond, President of LHDCMC. “On the Lanham campus, we will develop a continuum of behavioral health services by providing local access to acute inpatient services and additional outpatient and crisis options for individuals facing mental health and substance use disorder challenges.”

The proposed project will include a 16-bed acute adult care behavioral health unit at LHDCMC. The acute care program is designed to provide a safe and clinically expert environment to engage patients and families in their treatment and healing, link patients directly to care transition services, and assure continued patient-provider relationships after discharge.

Richmond explained, “We are more committed than ever to continuing our mission to provide Prince Georgians with the care they need and deserve. We look forward to working with the Maryland Health Care Commission to gain approval for these needed beds.”  

Residents can learn more about the project or write a letter of support by visiting here: https://www.dchweb.org/behavioral-con .