By Yuchabel Sanon and Kayla Hunt
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writers
As the surge of COVID-19 cases continues to increase in Maryland, hospitals are requiring staff to work more hours, increasing their medical supplies and looking for ways to expand the number of patients they can see, according to several interviews conducted last week.
The hospitals are taking such measures as the Maryland Department of Health reports that Maryland added 3,202 new coronavirus cases today, which includes 1,720 people who are currently being hospitalized.
Michael Schwartzberg, the University of Maryland Medical System spokesperson, said that its 2,500 licensed beds are filling up with significant numbers of patients across the organization’s 13 hospitals. He said the system currently has 300 COVID-19 patients, adding that many health professions have had to work extra shifts, potentially missing time at home during the holiday season.
“They do it for their patients,” Schwartzberg said. “They do it to save lives.”
Dr. John Chessare, the president and CEO of healthcare at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, said GBMC has created multiple mitigation plans to address a surge of patients if and when it comes to the five medical centers it runs in Baltimore County, including the three-building facility at its main campus in Towson.
He said GBMC created an Incident Command Team in March as part of the health system’s emergency management process. The team is responsible for overseeing plans and execution of key work systems related to COVID-19.
The hospital has restricted visitors from entering the hospital in compliance with Gov. Larry Hogan’s Nov. 18 directive. The hospital also has a universal mask policy in all areas and utilizes appropriate PPE, vigorous hand washing, and physical distancing, Lazarou said.
A person should visit the emergency department if they are experiencing shortness of breath, confusion, and coughing up blood, Lazarou said. In addition, one should consider a telemedicine visit with their health provider before visiting the emergency room if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, are 60 years or older, and are diagnosed with any comorbidities such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, and cancer.
Some hospitals are trying to remain optimistic as they are tackling the increase in the number of cases and hospitalizations.
“Morale at GBMC remains positive and hopeful as our staff continues to stand up to the pandemic,” said John Lazarou, media relations manager at GBMC. “We are touched by the support of the community and appreciative of the steps the community is taking to wear masks, wash their hands, and social distance. It is critical for people to take these measures, even with distribution of a vaccine on the horizon.”
The Maryland Department of Health has partnered with the Maryland Hospital Association and hospitals around the state to ensure that everything is ready for an increase of COVID-19 patients.
In the spring they acquired several dozen medical tents, assisted in the increase of beds available on hospital campuses and have supported hospital’s financially to allow three alternate care sites that can house about 500 patients.
Other measures include Hogan’s Dec. 1 request for people with a clinical background to work at hospitals, nursing homes, testing sites, and vaccinations clinics.
Hogan has also asked universities in Maryland to allow health care seniors who fit the graduation requirements to have an early exit, and he called for expedited testing and licensing procedures. Hogan has also urged hospitals and nursing homes to hire unlicensed individuals to perform less critical tasks in order to free up nursing staff.
The University of Maryland Medical Center located in Baltimore has opened a fully equipped 16-bed auxiliary ICU in its parking lot.
Hogan has said there are 1,900 ventilators and 1,200 ICU beds in Maryland. The Greater Baltimore Medical Center has roughly 342 total beds, 24 of which are in ICUs.
The state has at least a 60-day supply of critical PPE and continues to order additional gowns, masks, face shields, and gloves to maintain a reliable supply of PPE.
Hospitals are doing everything they can to maintain supplies such as creating their own manufacturing capabilities. For example, the University of Maryland Medical System has established a warehouse of PPE supplies that can be distributed as needed to their facilities.
Hospitals are also partnering with local, national and international companies, as well as the Maryland Hospital Association, to help maintain the number of supplies available.
“The need to continuously restock and to compete against hospitals in other states for personal protective equipment has been ongoing since the spring,” said Charles Gischlar, the deputy director of media relations at the Maryland Department of Health.
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