BRAC might save Laurel Regional

While most hospitals see the military restructuring in Maryland as a challenge, one facilitysees it as a savior. Laurel Regional Hospital?s parent company, Dimensions Healthcare Systems, has been in financial trouble for years and its facilities on the verge of closure, which would present a major health care problem near Fort Meade.

“If Laurel closed down, someone would have to open another hospital,” said Thomas Burguieres, chairman of the hospital?s emergency department. The area hospitals cannot absorb our [40,000] emergency room patients. And I think that message got through to state and county officials.”