Gov. Hogan announces additional actions as COVID-19 hospitalizations rise in Maryland
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – As Maryland surpassed 1,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations on Friday, Governor Larry Hogan announced a series of actions to ensure hospitals are prepared for current and future surges due to the convergence of the flu, as well as the Delta and Omicron variants.
The Maryland Department of Health has directed hospitals to update emergency plans by December 15th and immediately take steps to maximize hospital bed capacity. These actions include:
- Implement practices to balance patient admissions and “level load” the number of COVID-19 inpatients versus the number of non-COVID-19 inpatients
- Maximum available staffed medical-surgical and ICU bed capacity
- Balance patient capacity by maximizing the use of all regional hospitals and alternate care sites
State health officials have also directed hospitals to establish community-based monoclonal antibody infusion programs, including the capacity to do in-home infusions.
In addition, state health officials are urging the Maryland Board of Physicians, Maryland Board of Pharmacy, and Maryland Board of Nursing to take necessary steps to permit the temporary licensure of recently retired licensees and simplify or eliminate the administrative burdens for interstate compact or out-of-state healthcare practitioners to practice in Maryland.
The governor has also announced that emergency legislation will be introduced next month to provide hospital systems with more tools to help address staffing shortages.
