Maryland has seen some encouraging developments as COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state are down to levels not seen since mid-December. While that’s good news, hospital workers are getting ready for whatever comes next. Just over 1,100 COVID-19 patients in the hospital Monday, less than half the amount at the height of the surge but nobody is celebrating yet. “I think we’re getting back to our sort of standard footing, which everybody is happy about that, but under that, is an undercurrent of worry because we’ve been through this four or five times,” Dr. Esti Schabelman with Sinai Hospital said. Hospital workers are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel as the number of COVID-19 patients slowly comes down from its all-time high in January. “That doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods by any means, we still have over a thousand COVID patients on top of all the other patients who need hospital care,” President and CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association Bob Atlas said. Atlas said 15 hospitals across the state went into crisis status during the surge and are now down to contingency mode. With some starting to transition back to normal operating procedures. “We’re shifting to make up some of the procedures that were sort of postponed during the previous surge so the (operating rooms) are fully back up and running and we’re trying to get some of those elective procedures done,” Schabelman said. Schabelman said they learned how to deal with severe staffing shortages when they had high numbers of workers out with COVID-19 themselves. Atlas said another lesson learned is to always prepare for what might be next. “They’re glad to have relief but everybody is girding for the next possible surge, don’t know if it’s a month away, a few months away, or even just all the way till next winter,” Atlas said. It has been a long two years for hospital workers on the front lines of the pandemic. The governor declared this week “Healthcare Heroes Appreciation week” and there’s one big way you can show your appreciation. “If you really want to help us out, please get vaccinated, wear your mask, social distance. Let’s get this pandemic under control so we can just live with it in the future and not have to deal with these surges,” Schabelman said. The Hospital Association said some damage remains from the recent surge in this pandemic and they are still having a hard time finding health care workers to fill vacant jobs.
Maryland has seen some encouraging developments as COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state are down to levels not seen since mid-December. While that’s good news, hospital workers are getting ready for whatever comes next.
Just over 1,100 COVID-19 patients in the hospital Monday, less than half the amount at the height of the surge but nobody is celebrating yet.
“I think we’re getting back to our sort of standard footing, which everybody is happy about that, but under that, is an undercurrent of worry because we’ve been through this four or five times,” Dr. Esti Schabelman with Sinai Hospital said.
Hospital workers are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel as the number of COVID-19 patients slowly comes down from its all-time high in January.
“That doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods by any means, we still have over a thousand COVID patients on top of all the other patients who need hospital care,” President and CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association Bob Atlas said.
Atlas said 15 hospitals across the state went into crisis status during the surge and are now down to contingency mode. With some starting to transition back to normal operating procedures.
“We’re shifting to make up some of the procedures that were sort of postponed during the previous surge so the (operating rooms) are fully back up and running and we’re trying to get some of those elective procedures done,” Schabelman said.
Schabelman said they learned how to deal with severe staffing shortages when they had high numbers of workers out with COVID-19 themselves. Atlas said another lesson learned is to always prepare for what might be next.
“They’re glad to have relief but everybody is girding for the next possible surge, don’t know if it’s a month away, a few months away, or even just all the way till next winter,” Atlas said.
It has been a long two years for hospital workers on the front lines of the pandemic. The governor declared this week “Healthcare Heroes Appreciation week” and there’s one big way you can show your appreciation.
“If you really want to help us out, please get vaccinated, wear your mask, social distance. Let’s get this pandemic under control so we can just live with it in the future and not have to deal with these surges,” Schabelman said.
The Hospital Association said some damage remains from the recent surge in this pandemic and they are still having a hard time finding health care workers to fill vacant jobs.
