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June 23, 2021

The Talbot Spy

The nonprofit e-newspaper for the Talbot County Community

Health Health Notes

UM SRH and Community Partners Schedule Free Mobile Vaccine Clinics

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The University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, in partnership with three area churches, will offer free COVID-19 walk-up vaccine clinics in the coming weeks.

  • Greater New Hope Church and Ministries, 4514 Preston Road, Preston, Md., 21655 will host a vaccine clinic from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23.
  • New Beginnings United Methodist Church, 12020 N. Central Avenue, Ridgely, Md., 21660 has scheduled a vaccine clinic over two days – from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 24, and from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, June 25.
  • Vision of Faith and Empowerment Ministry, 107 S. Main Street, Hurlock, Md., 21643 has arranged for a vaccine clinic from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29.

Vaccinations at all locations are open to anyone age 12 or older (if a person is younger than 18, a parent is required to be present to give consent) and are available while supplies last. All locations will be administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Second doses of the vaccine will be scheduled at each location and will take place three weeks after the first doses have been administered.

The clinics are free and open to walk-ups; however, people are encouraged to register by emailing their name(s) and phone number(s) to Lisa Eisemann at leisemann@umm.edu, or calling 410-822-1000, ext. 1227.

Since early spring, and because of 20 clinics scheduled through the Mobile Vaccination Program conducted by University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, in collaboration with community partners in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties, more than 2,000 individuals have received COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccines at these locations are administered by UM SRH transitional nurse navigators, registered nurses and pharmacy team members, and also by nurse and physician volunteers from the community.

The UM Shore Regional Health initiative mirrors a comprehensive mobile vaccine project undertaken by the University of Maryland Medical System, which was awarded a state grant of nearly $3 million to expand its work on COVID-19 mobile vaccination outreach for vulnerable populations across the System’s footprint. The grant funds are being used to deploy vaccination teams to communities served by the System’s acute-care hospitals. So far, the UMMS mobile vaccination teams have provided more than 11,400 vaccinations at more than 100 clinics, including businesses, churches, schools and senior housing communities.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 13 hospitals and 9 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care.  Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

Scheele Named Director of Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services

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Erin Scheele

Erin Scheele has been named Director of Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services for University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, following the recent retirement of former director Teresa Blem.

A resident of Church Creek, Md., Scheele has been a UM Shore Regional Health team member since 2009 and has served Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services in several capacities. Her most recent positions Manager of Inpatient Rehabilitation Services for the Requard Center for Acute Rehabilitation and UM Shore Medical Centers at Easton, Dorchester and Chestertown (2019-2021), and Rehabilitation Services Navigation Specialist for Outpatient Rehabilitation Services (2017-2021). Previously she served as Clinical Specialist for Acute Care Rehabilitation Services at both the Dorchester and Easton hospitals (2010-2015) and as speech pathologist for the hospitals, Requard Center for Acute Rehabilitation and Shore Home Care.

During her tenure with UM SRH, Scheele has been an active participant in a variety of leadership committees, including Safe Lifting and Moving, Joint Commission Preparedness, Quality Improvement and Strategic Planning. She also serves on the board of Maintaining Active Citizens, Inc. (MAC Center).

Scheele earned a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Disorders, and a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology, both from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, and is presently pursuing a Master of Health Administration degree from Capella University.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 13 hospitals and 9 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care. Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

UM Shore Regional Health Announces New Board Officers

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David Milligan and Kathy Deoudes

David Milligan and Kathy Deoudes have been elected chair and vice chair, respectively, of the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) Board of Directors.

A resident of Easton, Milligan is a business systems analyst for the integrity and quality solutions organization, Qlarant. He has been a UM SRH board member since 2013 and has served as chair of the board’s Quality, Safety & Experience Committee since 2015. He also serves on the University of Maryland Medical System’s Quality & Safety Committee. He previously served on the Dorchester General Hospital Board of Directors.

Milligan is a Phillips Exeter Academy graduate and attended the University of Pennsylvania’s Moore School of Engineering and Applied Science. He received his Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management from Salisbury University’s Perdue School of Business and his master’s degree in Health Administration Informatics from the University of Maryland University College. In addition to his membership on the UM SRH board, he has served on the boards of the YMCA Chesapeake and is a past president of the board of the Dorchester County Public Library. He has also served as a Talbot Mentors youth mentor.

A resident of Queenstown, Deoudes has been a member of the UM SRH board since 2014 and serves on Strategic Planning and Governance committees. Retired since 2010 from her position as legislative aide to Maryland State Senator E.J. Pipkin, she is a past chair of the Board of Directors for Compass Hospice and presently serves as Board Chair for The Women and Girls Fund, and as a Board member of the MidShore Community Foundation.

Deoudes also has served as member of the Queen Anne’s County Department of Emergency Services Advisory Council and the Queen Anne’s Emergency Center Community Association as well as the Mid Shore Advisory Council for Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay, which honored her as a Girl Scouts Woman of Distinction in 2013. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Trinity University in Washington, D.C.

“Mr. Milligan and Mrs. Deoudes have been outstanding board members for Shore Regional Health and I look forward to working closely with them as our new board officers,” said Ken Kozel, UM SRH President and Chief Executive Officer. “Mr. Milligan’s intense focus on quality and safety has been instrumental to our success and Mrs. Deoudes’ strategic expertise has helped us advance our mission.

“On behalf of our senior team we also offer our sincerest thanks to Keith McMahan for his steadfast leadership as our board chair these past two years,” Kozel continued. “Keith’s servant leadership and intuitive nature have been instrumental in leading us through one of our most transformative periods in our history. We appreciate his continued service to our board as the Shore Regional Health representative on the UMMS board for the next five years and greatly value his ongoing contributions to our system.”

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health
As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together. For more information, visit www.umms.org/shore.

About the University of Maryland Medical System
The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 13 hospitals and 9 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care. Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

UM SMC at Easton Cafeteria Plans Renovation and Updates to Menu, Service Options

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The cafeteria at University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton will close at 2 p.m. Friday, June 11, following lunch service, as UM Shore Regional Health cafeteria and facilities team members facilitate a week-long renovation project that will include new paint, new menu options and a new grab-and-go destination.

“This project is an important element of a focus on improving the visitor experience at UM Shore Regional Health,” said Dee Murphy, vice president, Support Services, UM SRH. “We look forward to these new options for both our team members and our visitors.”

Temporary food service will be available in the cafeteria seating area beginning at 6 a.m., Monday, June 14, through Friday, June 18. There will be hot and cold grab-and-go options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There will be no food service on Saturday, June 12; Sunday, June 13; Saturday, June 19; Sunday, June 20; and Monday, June 21, due to the painting schedule.

The reopening of the refreshed cafeteria space at UM SMC at Easton will be on Tuesday, June 22. These renovations will not affect food services available to the hospital’s inpatient population.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 13 hospitals and 9 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care.  Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

UM SRH and Chesapeake College Offering COVID-19 Testing Until June 23

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University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, in partnership with Chesapeake College, will continue offering free COVID-19 testing but the testing day will move from Mondays to Wednesdays, ending on June 23. Testing takes place at the Eastern Shore Higher Education Center building, located at 1000 College Circle in Wye Mills.

COVID-19 testing is available by appointment only from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on June 2, 9, 16 and 23. To schedule an appointment for a free COVID-19 test, individuals should visit www.umms.org/shore/coronavirus/testing-locations and follow the link to “Schedule a free COVID test online. People do not need to have symptoms or a doctor’s order to schedule a COVID test, but must bring a photo ID to their appointment. Turnaround time for results is typically 48 to 72 hours. Patients can access to their results via My Portfolio, UM SRH’s online health portal, but a nurse also will call all patients who test positive as well as those who test negative and have not accessed their results through the online portal.

UM SRH and Chesapeake College first partnered in August 2020 to offer community-based COVID-19 testing, and during the height of the pandemic, conducted more than 500 tests weekly, with approximately 10,000 COVID-19 tests administered since that time.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 13 hospitals and 9 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care.  Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

UMMS Donates $4.6 Million Worth of Lifesaving COVID-19 Equipment and Supplies to Southeast Asia

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The University of Maryland Medical System is donating more than 200 pallets of lifesaving COVID-19 equipment and supplies valued at more than $4.6 million to countries in Southeast Asia, including India and Sri Lanka, where the current pandemic conditions are much worse than in the United States. The items being donated, all of which was purchased by UMMS during the 13-hospital System’s COVID response, includes ventilators, masks, gloves, gowns, sanitizer, CPAP machines, oxygen concentrators and stethoscopes.

“Every day, we look at how we can provide medical care and address the needs of communities beyond the four walls of our hospitals,” said Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, President and CEO of UMMS.  “In this case, we are going way beyond our communities, to nations who are in desperate need of equipment and supplies to help save lives and control the pandemic. Team members from our hospital and campus communities encouraged us to consider a donation, which shows the character of our staff and their dedication to caring for those in need.”

During the first few months of the pandemic, the supply chain for products related to the COVID-19 pandemic was severely impacted, which created worldwide shortages of many items such as PPE, ventilators, COVID tests, and other supplies. UMMS made a strong commitment to its patients and workforce not to be in the position many other health systems were experiencing, and the System engaged in a worldwide sourcing effort to acquire necessary products.

“These items were purchased at a time when the supply markets were very unstable, and we were focused on securing as much equipment and PPE as possible to ensure we were ready,” said Patrick Vizzard, Vice President of Supply Chain Management for UMMS. “Now, 16 months into the pandemic, supply lines have become more open in the United States healthcare market. While the pandemic still continues across the planet, various countries are struggling to achieve necessary levels of care to combat COVID, and we’ve decided to donate excess supplies to help with the needs of less fortunate countries.”

UMMS is working with Project C.U.R.E. (https://projectcure.org/), the world’s largest distributor of donated medical equipment and supplies to resource-limited communities across the globe, and with the International Medical Health Organization (https://theimho.org/), a grassroots global health nonprofit organization that seeks to improve and develop healthcare services and infrastructure in under-served regions worldwide, on the logistics to transport the items from Maryland.

“Project C.U.R.E. is extremely grateful to UMMS for their generous support of our work to provide critically needed supplies,” said Douglas Jackson, PhD, JD, President and CEO. “These are unprecedented times, and the demand for medical relief has never been greater. Certainly, Project C.U.R.E. could not accomplish our work without the partnership of compassionate, determined organizations like UMMS.”

“We are most thankful to the University of Maryland Medical System for their very generous donation of much needed life support equipment to be used in the hospitals of Sri Lanka for COVID patient care,” said Kanaga N. Sena, MD, Vice President of the International Medical Health Organization.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 13 hospitals and 9 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care.  Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Marks Completion of The Orthopedic Center’s Renovation and Expansion

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L-R: Dr. Jason Jancosko, Dr. Myron Szczukowski, Ken Kozel, Dr, Kevin McCoy and Dr, Richard Mason

Ken Kozel, President and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, recently joined Drs. Jason Jancosko, Myron Szczukowski, Kevin McCoy and Richard Mason (physicians at The Orthopedic Center) to cut the ribbon celebrating the newly expanded and renovated Orthopedic Center, located at 510 Idlewild Avenue. The expansion enables all Shore Rehabilitation services to be offered in one building.

“We are proud that Shore Regional Health has partnered with The Orthopedic Center since July 2016 to provide exceptional orthopedic care and outpatient rehabilitation services to our community, and are pleased to celebrate the expansion today,” said Kozel.

The first floor of the new addition has doubled the size of the space and facilities used by Shore Rehabilitation at Easton, allowing the Center to accommodate the full spectrum of rehabilitation services — physical, occupational, and speech and language therapy — under one roof. The expanded space also includes new, state of the art equipment, including the Guldmann lift, which assists therapists working with patients who use wheelchairs or other assistive devices for mobility. The second floor will be dedicated to orthopedic provider services, offering 14 exam rooms and an x-ray room. The renovation and expansion makes The Orthopedic Center the largest and most comprehensive orthopedic and rehabilitation center in the Mid-Shore region.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 13 hospitals and 9 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care. Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

Salon Owner Helps Women With Cancer Look and Feel Their Best

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Kim Hardesty, owner/proprietor of Salon Inspire

For several years, Kim Hardesty, owner of Salon Inspire, in Trappe, Maryland, was an American Cancer Society (ACS) “Look Good, Feel Better” program volunteer at the Cancer Center at UM Shore Regional Health. When ACS discontinued the program in 2019, Hardesty was determined to continue helping cancer patients going through changes in their appearance due to cancer treatment. In collaboration with the Cancer Center’s Oncology Social Work Coordinator, Patty Plaskon, Hardesty came up with a new program, “Improving Your LOL” (looks and outlook) program, which she provides free of charge in her private salon.

“If you can help other people by doing what you love to do, that’s my definition of true success,” said Hardesty. “I had to stop during the COVID period when salons were closed, so now that we are open again, I am very happy to be able to offer my services to patients fighting cancer – it’s something I really enjoy.”

Hardesty gives free makeup samples and tips to brighten up someone’s face and enhance their eyes and eyebrows when they lose their hair. “I also give free haircuts to women who are preparing to lose their long locks due to chemotherapy, including a ‘buzz cut’ for those who would prefer a smooth look right away, and even a first hair style when that ‘post-chemo’ hair finally comes back.”

Hats, scarves, jewelry, makeup and skincare products are often donated to Hardesty in support of her services to clients with cancer, and she also has started a new service – fixing a client’s hair, once cut, into a kind halo or fastening it as “bangs” into a hat. “The right products and accessories can make a very positive difference in how women look and feel while fighting cancer, and it’s a pleasure to help make that happen,” Hardesty said.

The Cancer Center staff recently thanked Hardesty for her volunteer efforts and dedication, presenting her with a citation at Salon Inspire. “Kim’s service for cancer patients supports their confidence as they go through their chemotherapy journey,” said Plaskon. “We are so fortunate to have her talent and caring as a resource for our patients.”

“This citation is such a nice honor for me to receive as I get ready to celebrate the 10th anniversary of opening SalonInspire,” said Hardesty. “Now that more people are vaccinated and getting out and about, I hope I will have more opportunities to help women with cancer feel and look their best during treatment.”

For more information about SalonInspire services for women affected by cancer treatment, contact Hardesty at 410-476-6125 or hardestykimberly7@gmail.coms.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the UM Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s 28,000 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations and at 13 hospitals. UMMS’ flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore is partnered with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care.  Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

UM SRH Mobile Vaccination Program Brings Opportunity for COVID-19 Protection to Workers

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Linda Hendrickson, UM SRH pharmacist, is shown vaccinating an employee at Amick Farms, LLC.

In the past several weeks, more than 1,000 individuals have received COVID-19 vaccines through the Mobile Vaccination Program conducted by University of Maryland Shore Regional Health in collaboration with community partners in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent and Queen Anne’s counties.

The UM SRH Mobile Vaccination Clinics have been conducted at Amick Farms, LLC, in Hurlock, DART Container Corporation in Federalsburg, REEB Millwork in Barclay and Shrewsbury Catholic Church in Kennedyville. Mobile clinic visits to administer second doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are now in progress at these locations. Vaccines at these locations are administered by UM SRH transitional nurse navigators, registered nurses and pharmacy team members, and also by nurse and physician volunteers from the community.

“Providing an easily accessible COVID vaccine outlet for our team members has been one of our primary goals during the pandemic,” said Brittni Miller, Communications Manager, Amick Farms, LLC. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with University of Maryland Shore Regional Health to provide an on-site vaccine clinic. UM Shore Regional Health has been an amazing group to work with. Their dedication to the health of our communities is evident – they saw the need and made the vaccine clinic happen for our team members.”

Dr. Michael Fisher, shown registering an employee for a COVID-19 vaccine at Amick Farms, LLC, is a volunteer with UM Shore Regional Health’s Mobile Vaccination Program.

The UM Shore Regional Health initiative mirrors a comprehensive mobile vaccine project undertaken by University of Maryland Medical System, which has been awarded a state grant of nearly $3 million to expand its work on COVID-19 mobile vaccination outreach for vulnerable populations across the System’s footprint. The grant funds will be used to continue deploying vaccination teams to communities served by the System’s acute-care hospitals. So far, the UMMS mobile vaccination teams have provided nearly 8,000 vaccinations at almost 80 clinics, including businesses, churches, schools and senior housing communities

“Vaccines are the path out of the pandemic, and for the most vulnerable, underserved and hard to reach individuals who can’t come to us, we are going to them,” said Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, President and CEO of UMMS.

The $2,954,595 COVID-19 Community Vaccination Funding Program grant awarded to UMMS from Maryland’s Health Services Cost Review Commission will allow the System to expand its program by approximately 53,000 additional vaccinations targeting 34 ZIP codes across Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Prince Georges and Queen Anne’s counties. The ZIP codes were identified by working with data from Maryland’s Vaccine Equity Task Force, the state’s CRISP health information exchange and community health partners such as local health departments, community non-profit organizations and faith-based organizations.

Michael Fisher, MD, and his wife Karen Fisher, a nurse practitioner, have served as volunteer vaccinators for the Shore Regional Health Mobile Vaccination Program. “Given our rural region, the mobile clinics are truly a gift to people whose work schedules, limited transportation options or cultural barriers often present real obstacles to getting this important vaccine,” said Dr. Fisher. “There’s no doubt that the convenience of getting the vaccine in the workplace – meeting people where they are — is helping prevent hundreds of our fellow citizens from contracting COVID-19 and suffering lost work time, severe illness or hospitalization.”

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health
As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System
The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools (Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry) in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s more than 29,500 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations, including 13 hospitals and 9 University of Maryland Urgent Care centers. The UMMS flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore, is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care. Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

Dr. Roberta Lilly Named Interim Director of UM SRH Clark Comprehensive Breast Center

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Dr. Roberta Lilly

Roberta Lilly, MD, FACS, has returned to the University of Maryland Shore Regional Health Clark Comprehensive Breast Center in Easton as Interim Medical Director. Dr. Lilly will be handling all surgical consults and surgeries related to breast cancer and other breast health issues while the search for a new director is in progress.

Dr. Lilly served as Medical Director of the center for more than eight years prior to her retirement in January 2020. As a dedicated breast surgeon, Dr. Lilly has expertise in the full array of benign and malignant breast diseases with a special interest in delivery of quality, patient-centered care. She also has authored and co-authored scores of original articles, book chapters on surgical topics as well as research studies on issues related to breast cancer.

A graduate of the University of Colorado Medical School, Dr. Lilly completed her general surgery residency at the University of Colorado Hospital and a transplant fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She completed her breast surgery fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital, making her the first breast surgeon with this degree of breast surgery specialization in the five-county region served by UM Shore Regional Health. Dr. Lilly also earned a master’s in public health from George Washington University. She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, the Association of Women Surgeons, the American Public Health Association and the American Medical Association.

About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UM Shore Regional Health’s team of more than 2,200 employees, medical staff, board members and volunteers works with various community partners to fulfill the organization’s mission of Creating Healthier Communities Together.

About the University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a university-based regional health care system focused on serving the health care needs of Maryland, bringing innovation, discovery and research to the care we provide and educating the state’s future physician and health care professionals through our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the UM Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work and Dentistry in Baltimore. As one of the largest private employers in the State, the health system’s 28,000 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians provide primary and specialty care in more than 150 locations and at 13 hospitals. UMMS’ flagship academic campus, the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore is partnered with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and is recognized regionally and nationally for excellence and innovation in specialized care. Our acute care and specialty rehabilitation hospitals serve urban, suburban and rural communities and are located in 13 counties across the State. For more information, visit www.umms.org.