Ultimatum For Prince George's Hospital

County Seeks 4 Resignations

The ailing Prince George's hospital system will receive no more public money until four members of its board of directors resign, County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) said this week.

Johnson's comments were the first to tie county funding to a shake-up of the board of Dimensions Healthcare System, the nonprofit company that runs Prince George's Hospital Center and four other county health facilities.

The county executive and some key County Council members have argued that the Dimensions board has mismanaged the hospital system, compounding its fiscal problems.

Last week, top county officials requested the resignations of four board members, a shake-up that could give elected county leaders greater say over hospital operations. The request was made by Johnson's chief of staff, Michael D. Herman, who is also a board member, during a closed board meeting.

The board tabled a debate on the request.

Johnson's comments this week set up a showdown between the 11-member volunteer board and top county officials over tens of millions of dollars in funding that hospital officials have said is needed to keep their doors open.

"There are many deficiencies in the hospital that must be addressed," Johnson said. "We need a board that can address these things and isn't going to just wait around for a check."

Also yesterday, the Maryland Board of Public Works agreed to spend $3.2 million in state money on renovations at the hospital center in Cheverly. But it did so only after receiving assurances that the county could not withhold the state dollars from the system.

Johnson wants Dimensions Board Chairman Calvin Brown to step down by Monday, along with three other board members: the chairmen of the boards of Prince George's Hospital Center and Laurel Regional Hospital, and the former president of the Prince George's County Medical Society.

Under the executive's proposal, remaining board members would select the replacements, choosing community members rather than Dimensions employees or board members from the system's hospitals.

Among the board members not targeted for resignation by Johnson were Herman and County Council Chairman Camille Exum (D-Seat Pleasant), along with two other members who were nominated to the Dimensions board by Herman.

Critics say Johnson is essentially trying to take over the system.