By HFT Editorial Staff

The state of Maryland recently surpassed the threshold of 1,500 COVID-19 hospitalizations, according to Gov. Larry Hogan. The event triggered additional actions by hospitals, as required by a Maryland Department of Health order issued earlier this month. Among the steps the state’s hospitals now can take as part of pandemic plans include:

• Optimize existing bed capacity
• Adjust hospital capacity, such as bringing additional staffed beds into service
• Redeploy staff or alter staffing models
• Reduce non-urgent and elective procedures and surgeries
• Transfer patients to alternate care sites
• Bridge idle clinical or administrative space online or convert other space for clinical care.

Earlier this week, Hogan announced an additional $100 million in emergency funding for hospitals and nursing homes to help address urgent staffing needs.

“Our projections now show that in the coming weeks, we could reach record levels of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Maryland, possibly over 2,000,” Hogan says. “We have been actively preparing for this scenario in coordination with all of our hospitals, and today’s actions are the latest step in that planning.With unvaccinated patients driving the strain on our health care system, we urge Marylanders to do your part by getting your vaccine or booster shot as soon as you can.”