Montgomery General Hospital in Olney is weighing whether to partner with one of two local hospitals later this year.
Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring and Columbia-based MedStar Health are the two hospitals in contention for a partnership, spokeswoman Lynne Myers said Thursday.
“We are hoping, by later this fall, to narrow it down to one of the two,” Myers said. “The two organizations do very great things for health care in the state of Maryland and just had great track records; that was very compelling for us.”
Montgomery General recently began construction on a new emergency wing and a conversion to private rooms only — a $30 million project that will last through 2009.
But the hospital lacks the capital to make additional improvements and began soliciting merger or partnership bids in March.
Myers said it received a number of responses, but couldn’t specify how many for legal reasons.
Representatives from the hospital will meet with both entities during the summer to discuss details, Myers said.
The hospital still may choose to remain independent, depending on the results of the meetings, Myers said.
If a partner is chosen, a merger likely would take place by the end of 2007, Myers said.
Holy Cross spokeswoman Yolanda Gaskins declined to comment on the proceedings, citing contractual reasons.
Representatives from MedStar did not return calls for comment.
