In an effort to keep pace with Anne Arundel County's growing population, the area's two hospitals are planning multimillion-dollar expansions that will take several years and add services and space.
Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie will begin construction on its $112 million project early next year behind the medical center's main parking garage.
The expansion will include a six-story patient tower, a women's health center with obstetrics services and an expanded emergency room.
"When you think about this organization, I think it has a tremendous future ahead of it," said James Walker, president and chief executive officer of what was formerly known as North Arundel Hospital. "Anne Arundel County is such a dynamic place, and we are very excited about the chance to bring obstetrics to Baltimore Washington Medical Center."
Near Annapolis, Anne Arundel Medical Center is planning a nine-story expansion that will add 50 beds and eight operating rooms, expand emergency and radiology services, and include parking facilities. Construction on the $200 million expansion could begin in the fall of 2007 next to the Acute Care Pavilion. Administrators hope to finish the expansion by 2010.
"We're very excited to be able to move into the next phase of our growth and expansion for the folks we serve," said Martin L. Doordan, president of Anne Arundel Health System, which includes Anne Arundel Medical Center.
"It's just time, and we're ready and we have the permissions, so we're full speed ahead," he added.
Both expansion plans were approved last month by the Maryland Health Care Commission, a state regulatory body appointed by the governor that monitors proposed expansions at facilities around the state. Both hospitals went through some haggling with the commission over expansion plans, both noting growth in the county as a principal reason for the projects, including major expansions at Fort Meade and the National Security Agency.
Northern Anne Arundel County is also served by Harbor Hospital in Baltimore, just over the county line.
Officials from Harbor Hospital objected at the commission hearing Nov. 22, saying a new obstetrics program could cut births at Harbor by as much as 20 percent.
Baltimore Washington Medical Center officials said their proposed service would not adversely affect births at Harbor and would improve care for low-income families in the area.
