This public health emergency has challenged all our organizations—and us personally and professionally—in so many ways. Yet, your hospitals and systems are rising to the challenge.

Since the first cases emerged in Maryland, the stories of your inventiveness have been inspiring.

The University of Maryland Medical System reopened its former Laurel hospital to add 135 beds in hard-hit Prince George’s County. LifeBridge Health, Mercy Medical Center, Meritus Health, Atlantic General, and many others created or converted spaces to add to surge capacity.

To help people keep social distancing, you acted quickly to boost your telehealth capabilities, including at Garrett Regional Medical Center, MedStar Health, and at Luminis Health. This helps thousands more patients to get care virtually each day.

Your organizations are leading in testing, too. Johns Hopkins Health System created its own test and Frederick Health scrambled to launch in-house testing of coronavirus samples—drastically reducing wait times for results. UPMC Western Maryland also expanded the use of its system’s own diagnostic test.

Holy Cross Health and Adventist HealthCare, among the first to see high numbers of COVID-19 cases, were early testers of the state’s ability to backstop hospitals on ventilators, PPE, and supports for vulnerable populations.

As attention turns to inventing vaccines and cures for COVID-19, perhaps the solution will come from Maryland. Several of your organizations and affiliates are conducting promising research.

Likewise, Maryland, with its recent payload of testing kits from South Korea and a steady, reasoned approach to the complicated nature of COVID-19, stands out nationally. That would not be possible without the incredible work your hospitals do.

Your people are living proof that necessity is, indeed, the mother of invention. The whole MHA team is in awe of your dedication and ingenuity.

Bob Atlas
President & CEO