Friends:
Along with the rest of Maryland, we learned this morning that despite being vaccinated and boosted Governor Hogan has tested positive for COVID-19. Upon learning the news, we immediately reached out to Governor Hogan and leaders on his team to let them know of our prayers, love, and support for the Governor and to wish him a speedy recovery. We at HFAM and I personally have had many interactions with Governor Hogan over the last two years, and we know him to be super vigilant in terms of COVID-19 precautions. And, again, Governor Hogan is vaccinated and boosted.
As we have been sharing, in Maryland and across the nation, COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots are more important as ever with the rise of the Omicron variant. Booster shots increase the protection that an individual has against COVID-19 infection and severe outcomes resulting from infection. It is imperative to get as many residents and staff their booster shot as soon as possible. If you have not already, we urge you to schedule a booster clinic at your center. If you are having trouble scheduling a clinic at your center, please contact mdh.congregate@maryland.gov for assistance.
Reminder on Monoclonal Antibody EUA:
This morning we had a productive daily video conference with Col. Jeff Woolford, MD and the leaders of the MDH Surge Operations Command Center. We are at the beginning of what promises to be a challenging holiday surge of the COVID-19 virus. As we have previously shared, this surge is different because hospitals are full of non-COVID patients. So as this surge begins, acute care bed availability is lower than during previous surges. In addition, emergency departments are overwhelmed with traditional med-surge patients, COVID patients, and historically high levels of patients facing a mental health or behavioral crisis. We are also facing more severe workforce shortage than during past surges, with all healthcare settings are competing for the same staff.
The current staffing crisis in our sector represents a potential existential crisis because Maryland skilled nursing and rehabilitation are funded differently than Maryland hospitals and unlike other enterprises, nursing homes cannot increase rates to cover staffing costs. Emergency funds must come from state or federal government. So again, this is perhaps the most challenging time for our sector relative to care capacity, our ability to be part of the solution for current patient volume, and ultimately to outcomes of this period in Maryland’s Total Cost of Care contract with the federal government.
In addition to seeking much-needed emergency financial support and a much-needed increase to Maryland’s base Medicaid rate, are also exploring Maryland’s previous innovative solutions and those of those states, such as this one outlined in media in Minnesota:
Additionally, this article from today’s McKnight’s Long-Term Care News might be of interest:
Maryland can count on HFAM and our sector to be part of the quality care solution, we continue to be committed to our partnership with Maryland hospitals, and our message to all healthcare workers is “You are heroes and you are not alone. We are dedicated to doing anything we can to support you.”
As Always:
- Focus on what is in your control and not what is out of your control.
- Let’s get those boosters and the flu vaccine in the arms of people.
- Overcommunicate – with residents, patients, families, staff, and government partners.
- Adapt and innovate.
- Rely on your partnerships.
- Speak up when you need help.
- Double efforts on infectious disease protocols, training, and operations.
- Take and document your action; keep a timeline.
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CLICK HERE for the Dr. Katz Video, and please see the Donning and Doffing Checklist we have been sharing.
Be well,
