DC metro sees many health system mergers, expansions

Hoping to capture a share of the business in the prosperous Maryland and Virginia suburbs near DC, area health systems are building new facilities and closing merger deals at a fast clip, according to new research from HealthLeaders-InterStudy. As population levels in these suburbs grow, the demand for medical services has grown as well, opening up new market share opportunities for the systems. Medical services demand is most pronounced in Virginia's high-income Loudoun County, which ranked fourth-highest in the nation for population growth between April 200 and July 2006.

Inova Health System, which has properties in both states, has proved particularly aggressive in battling for market share. Maryland's Prince William Hospital and Inova have announced plans for a merger, currently under review by the Federal Trade Commission. Meanwhile, Prince William is continuing with plans to build a new, comprehensive outpatient center in the western portion of the county.

To learn more about the DC metro's growth patterns:
- read this HealthLeaders-Interstudy press release [1]

Related Articles:
Building momentum for health facilities. Article [2]