Howard County General Hospital formally became a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine yesterday, unveiling a modified name and new logo.

The hospital will be known as "Howard County General Hospital: A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine."

The announcement cements a partnership that officials say will allow the 233-bed Columbia hospital to improve facilities and expand services as it begins developing clinics throughout the county.

As part of the deal, Hopkins will assume $57 million in Howard County General debt and put $40 million into a new foundation, which will fund a range of health services, including dental and teen-age pregnancy and disease prevention programs.

The foundation will begin work next year.

Hopkins has agreed that the hospital's board of trustees will be two-thirds Howard County residents not affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Pub Date: 7/02/98