umms - Chestertown Spy

Frontline Health Care Workers Get First Round of COVID-19 Vaccines

December 16, 2020 by Spy Desk

Fifteen University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) frontline health care workers from throughout the hospital system’s five-county region were vaccinated today with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Those vaccinated included employees from emergency departments throughout the Shore, COVID units and infectious disease departments, as well as respiratory therapists, nursing staff, environmental services team members and security personnel.

University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) began vaccinating its frontline health care workers on Monday. The vaccine is being administered in a tiered system that prioritizes frontline team members involved in patient care.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the first vaccine granted emergency authorization in the United States on December 11, nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 300,000 Americans.

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health were the first in the U.S. to test the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, studying its safety, efficacy and dosing, and hosted clinical trials. Vaccine experts from around the world have determined that the new vaccine is safe and effective.

UMMS received an initial shipment of 975 vaccine doses and has fairly allocated doses across its 13-hospital System, with additional vaccine delivery expected later this week. UM SRH intends to administer of its allocations of the COVID-19 vaccine to team members this week.

Vaccines are being distributed according to the Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine — developed by the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) — as well as ACIP’s Ethical Principles for Allocating Initial Supplies of COVID-19 Vaccine. These guidelines ensure the vaccine is allocated ethically across our populations of health care professionals, including students, faculty and other essential workers, while still in limited supply.

“For many months, we have been looking forward to the day when vaccines would be available to protect our health care workers and very soon for the community at large,” said Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, president and CEO of the University of Maryland Medical System. “As we begin vaccinations, and finally begin the process of ending this pandemic, I’m thankful to our UMMS and UM School of Medicine colleagues who have been working tirelessly to care for our community and lead in the development of innovative treatments and vaccines.”

Ken Kozel, president and CEO, UM SRH, said he is proud of the way the UM SRH team has tackled the continually evolving challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“During these past nine months, and well before that, the dedication, perseverance and skill of our Shore Regional Health family has always been incredible to witness,” Kozel said. “This vaccine is the hope we have all been waiting for — not just for our frontline health care workers, but also our communities. The recent authorization of this safe and effective vaccine paves the way for our System to begin vaccinating our frontline staff. We are proud to be among the first in the country to receive this life-saving vaccine so we can continue to care for the communities we love and who trust us to provide exceptional care.”

William Huffner, MD, chief medical officer and COVID-19 incident commander for UM SRH, said he is proud of the UM SRH team effort in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and looks forward to turning the page on this moment in our nation’s history as more people are able to be vaccinated in the coming days and months ahead.

“This vaccine is a critical part of our ability to successfully combat this highly infectious disease,” Dr. Huffner said. “We have been looking forward to this day for months. Protecting our communities is what we do. Now, with the vaccine, we can ensure we are further protecting our frontline teams’ ability to do just that.”

The first UM SRH team member to receive the vaccine was Rosa Mateo, MD, an infectious disease specialist with UM SRH. Dr. Mateo oversees the COVID care units at UM Shore Medical Centers at Chestertown, Dorchester and Easton. Dr. Mateo believes in the science behind the vaccine.

“I have been fighting COVID-19 for more than nine months now and I’ve been waiting for this day since the pandemic started,” Dr. Mateo said. “We finally have the tool we’ve been waiting for to finish the fight against COVID-19. I’m excited to be the first team member to receive the vaccine. I did this not only for myself, but for my family, my co-workers and all the patients that may need to visit us from our communities. This vaccine will help us get back to our normal lives, before the pandemic started.”

UM SRH looks forward to being able to vaccinate employees across its five-county region in the days and weeks ahead, as more vaccine supply becomes available. For the latest information and updates on UM SRH COVID-19 response efforts, visit umshoreregional.org/coronavirus.

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UMMS Survey: Majority of Marylanders Plan To Get COVID-19 Vaccine, Many Not Changing Thanksgiving Plans

November 25, 2020 by Spy Desk

Surging coronavirus and Thanksgiving holiday convergence could create ‘perfect storm’

A new survey commissioned by the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) found that more than 4 in 10 Marylanders are unwilling to change their in-person Thanksgiving or other holiday plans.

On a positive note, the survey also found that the nearly two-thirds of Marylanders plan to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, when available.

The online survey found that 44% will not change their in-person Thanksgiving or other holiday plans due to COVID-19. The survey found that 65% of Marylanders are very or somewhat likely to get a COVID-19 vaccination when the vaccine is available.

The survey, conducted November 16-23, polled 525 Marylanders throughout central and southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore, where UMMS operates a network of 13 hospitals, ambulatory centers and urgent care facilities.

“No question about it, these survey results are concerning, as our statewide mission to slow the spread of COVID-19 and stop the current surge relies on people heeding the advice of the CDC and Governor Hogan to not travel and refrain from holding large family events during Thanksgiving,” Dr. David Marcozzi, UMMS COVID-19 incident commander, said in a statement. “This could be setting up a perfect storm, with COVID cases on the rise throughout the state and multiple super-spreader events, it could cause a significant strain on the state’s healthcare system.”

The survey found respondents in southern Maryland and Eastern Shore are less likely to say they have canceled in-person holiday plans than those in other regions of the state. Women, older adults and those with higher education levels are more likely to have changed holiday plans.

The 65% of Marylanders saying they would take a COVID-19 vaccine, once available, is a positive finding, but is still below what state and federal health officials advise for the elimination of the pandemic in the United States.

“While we’re encouraged that nearly two-thirds of Marylanders would take a COVID vaccine, this survey points out that we have more work to do to educate the public about the necessity to vaccinate and alleviate fears and concerns about the vaccines that will become available,” Dr. Mohan Suntha, MBA, president and chief executive officer of UMMS, said in a statement. “UMMS will be working tirelessly to make the vaccine available to as many Marylanders as possible, at the appropriate time, and ease concerns by communicating the facts.”

Those saying they are likely to take the vaccine include white men (76%), men age 45+ (78%) and people over age 65 (76%), the survey found. Those groups with higher levels saying they are not likely to take the vaccine include Black women (49%), women in general (43%), those with a high school education or less (49%), and people age 18-34 (42%). Regionally, people in the Baltimore metro area were more likely to say they would take the vaccine (70%), while those in southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore (55%) and Prince George’s County (62%) report lower levels of likelihood.

About the Survey

The survey, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and commissioned by the University of Maryland Medical System, was conducted from November 16-23, 2020, among 525 adults 18+ living in the UMMS’ expanded service area, which includes all counties statewide except Allegany, Garrett, Montgomery, and Washington. The survey has a credibility interval of ±4.88%.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the UM Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry in Baltimore.

As one of the largest private employers in the state, the health system’s 28,000 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations and at 13 hospitals. UMMS’ flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore is partnered with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care. Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the state. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

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In Wake of Scandal, UMMS Embraces Ethics Reforms, Lawmakers Are Told

October 29, 2020 by Maryland Matters

More than a year after a conflict of interest scandal led to the resignation of top officials — and the mayor of Baltimore — the University of Maryland Medical System is “a new organization in a new place,” agency leaders told state lawmakers on Wednesday.

During a briefing for a House panel, a trio of officials laid out the steps the system has taken to bring in new leadership, prevent board member conflicts of interest, and empower lower-level staff to serve as potential whistleblowers.

The reforms the 13-hospital system has adopted follow the 2019 scandal that resulted in the resignation of UMMS’ president and CEO and several board members, including Mayor Catherine E. Pugh (D). She stepped down from the board and her municipal post — and is now serving a prison sentence — after being convicted of fraud regarding sales of a self-published children’s book.

“We have evolved quite a lot,” said Donna Jacobs, UMMS’ head of government affairs. “We certainly have now a very engaged and committed board, responsible and responsive to conflict of interest issues and considerations.”

Jacobs said the system has adopted all 24 recommendations for structural and internal reform crafted by the General Assembly’s Office of Legislative Audits. In addition, the system has a new conflict of interest policy and training requirement for board members.

Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) and legislative leaders slammed UMMS leaders last year following media reports that board members, including some who had served for many years, had lucrative contracts with the system.

Chief Compliance Officer Lisa Adkins, a new hire, told lawmakers the system is committed to a “culture of compliance” throughout the 28,000-employee organization. A whistleblower hotline has been established for workers who want to raise a concern anonymously.

“Part of building that culture of compliance is also making sure that our employees feel comfortable in raising their hand and letting us know if they have a concern or they see something amiss or a concern that they would like to have addressed,” she said.

UMMS’ new general counsel, Aaron Rabinowitz, noted that the president of Brigham and Women’s Hospital just resigned from the board of pharmaceutical giant Moderna, a company working on a potential COVID-19 vaccine, to avoid even the appearance of a conflict.

When those things happen, he said, UMMS reviews its policies. “Just because it didn’t happen here doesn’t mean it couldn’t,” Rabinowitz said. “So we’re constantly learning and trying to make sure we’re doing whatever would be considered best in class.”

By Bruce DePuyt

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UMMS Announces Visitor Restrictions At All Facilities

March 20, 2020 by Spy Desk

With the first confirmed COVID-related death in Maryland, more than 100 confirmed coronavirus cases across the state and an 88 percent increase in cases statewide during the past 48 hours, the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is enacting updated visitor restrictions at all 13 system hospitals and other UMMS healthcare facilities.

Under the Strict Patient Safety Policy, which will be implemented by 3 p.m. Friday, March 20, there will be no visitors allowed, except under specific circumstances, and by prior approval of the physician administrative officer or their designee. This policy applies to all patients within UMMS hospitals and other facilities, is in alignment with Johns Hopkins Medicine, and is consistent with approaches taken by other leading health care institutions nationwide.

“Due to rapid escalation of COVID cases across Maryland and increased community spread of the disease, we have decided to enact this more aggressive and comprehensive, systemwide policy, which will be in effect until further notice,” said David Marcozzi, MD, COVID-19 Incident Commander for UMMS, associate professor and associate chair of population health within the Department of Emergency Medicine at the UM School of Medicine (SOM) and assistant chief medical officer for acute care at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Exceptions to the Strict Patient Safety Policy include:

For in-patient facilities

• End-of-life care or end of life decision making. For these situations, two visitors will be permitted.

• One parent or caregiver of a child in the neonatal intensive care unit

• One parent or caregiver of pediatric patients as long as they are not symptomatic

• One visitor inclusive of a professional support person or postpartum helper of a patient in the labor and delivery and the postpartum units

• One visitor for patients in inpatient hospice units

• One visitor to accompany patients for hospital discharge

• One visitor for patients undergoing emergency surgery

• Visitors who have been asked by the patient’s care team to be a part of scheduled family training for patients with rehabilitation needs.

For all outpatient appointments

• One visitor will be permitted to accompany a patient to facilitate care or treatment such as an ambulatory visit, procedure or same-day surgery

UMMS experts urge the public to practice vigilant hand hygiene, follow respiratory etiquette (cover mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing), maintain social distances when possible and avoid shaking hands. These strategies are fundamental to protecting our workforce, patients and the community.

More information about the Strict Patient Safety Policy can be found on the UMMS dedicated COVID-19 information webpage, https://www.umms.org/covid.

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UMMS Announces Visitor Policy Changes at All Facilities in Response to Coronavirus

March 10, 2020 by Spy Desk

As part of its ongoing preparedness and response effort regarding COVID-19 and in order to protect patients, staff and visitors, the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) today announced changes to the visitor policy at all 13 system hospitals and other UMMS healthcare facilities. As this is a rapidly evolving situation, these changes are in effect beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday, March 11, until further notice.

Highlights of the Enhanced Patient Safety Policy include:

• All visitors must check in at the front desk.

• No one under age 18 (except the parent of a hospitalized patient) is permitted to visit the hospital including all waiting areas and common spaces. This also applies to ambulatory clinics and urgent care facilities.

• Only one adult visitor is allowed per patient for all areas of the hospital.

• Visitors may be screened for flu-like symptoms and are not permitted to visit the hospital if symptoms are present.

• Visitors with international travel may not visit for 14 days after arrival into the United States.

“The coronavirus disease poses several challenges to an extended family presence at a patient’s bedside including potential spread of the virus to patients and staff by those with asymptomatic or mild infection,” said Dr. David Marcozzi, COVID-19 incident commander for UMMS. “Enacting these changes to visitation is consistent with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding response to the coronavirus.”

“These enhanced visitor limitations are designed to protect the health and safety of the public, our staff and our patients, now that there are confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Maryland,” Dr. Marcozzi said, noting hospitals also implement visitor restrictions during the annual seasonal influenza season as needed.

“We understand this is a challenging time for many in our communities and we are continuing to remain vigilant and work with local, state and federal partners to keep patients and health care workers safe,” added Dr. Marcozzi, who is also associate professor and associate chairman of population health within the Department of Emergency Medicine at the UM School of Medicine (SOM) and assistant chief medical officer for acute care at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Certain exceptions to the policy may be made in particular circumstances and with prior approval by the physician administrative officer, including:

• For end-of-life care

• Two parents/caregivers of pediatric patients will be permitted as long as neither adult is symptomatic

• Two visitors will be permitted in Labor & Delivery units, inclusive of a professional support person or post-partum helper, as long as none of the adults are symptomatic

In addition to the changes outlined above, based on reports of canine COVID-19 transmission, under the recommendation of Infection Prevention experts, UMMS is also suspending all animal therapy indefinitely. Service animals will continue to be permitted. Community education and outreach classes and events are being evaluated; as decisions are made regarding possible cancelations, announcements will be made on the UMMS website and social media channels.

More information about the Enhanced Patient Safety Policy including a Frequently Asked Questions document can be found on the UMMS dedicated COVID-19 information webpage, https://www.umms.org/covid.

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