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December 9, 2023

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

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UM Shore Regional Health Offers COVID-19 Vaccines at Chesapeake College

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Through a partnership between University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) and Chesapeake College, COVID-19 vaccinations will be offered by appointment on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in the College’s Eastern Shore Higher Education Center on the Wye Mills campus, beginning Wednesday, April 7.

The vaccines are provided by UM SRH and administered by hospital personnel and volunteers, including nurses, former nurses and pharmacists. At this time, vaccine eligibility for Maryland residents has been expanded to include those in the 2B tier; for details, visit “Vaccine Phases” on this link: https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/vaccine.

“This really opens the gates to a much broader range of people who can now get vaccinated and help protect themselves, their family members, co-workers and friends from COVID-19,” Kevin Chapple, UM SRH’s regional director of pharmacy services. “We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to get vaccinated quickly, safely and efficiently, close to home.”

To register for a vaccine appointment at Chesapeake College, visit www.umms.org/coronavirus/covid-vaccine/get-vaccine and follow the instructions to complete the registration form. Vaccine appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first served basis. No walk-ins will be allowed.

“We’re pleased that our partnership with University of Maryland Shore Regional Health is expanding to further care for our community,” said Chesapeake College President Clifford Coppersmith. “In addition to serving as a Covid-19 testing site, our centrally located Wye Mills campus will also be a convenient site for Shore residents to receive Covid-19 vaccinations. Providing a location and support for this vaccination site is another way Chesapeake College is helping the region recover from the pandemic.”

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Frontline Health Care Workers Get First Round of COVID-19 Vaccines

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Fifteen University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) frontline health care workers from throughout the hospital system’s five-county region were vaccinated today with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Those vaccinated included employees from emergency departments throughout the Shore, COVID units and infectious disease departments, as well as respiratory therapists, nursing staff, environmental services team members and security personnel.

University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) began vaccinating its frontline health care workers on Monday. The vaccine is being administered in a tiered system that prioritizes frontline team members involved in patient care.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the first vaccine granted emergency authorization in the United States on December 11, nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 300,000 Americans.

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health were the first in the U.S. to test the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, studying its safety, efficacy and dosing, and hosted clinical trials. Vaccine experts from around the world have determined that the new vaccine is safe and effective.

UMMS received an initial shipment of 975 vaccine doses and has fairly allocated doses across its 13-hospital System, with additional vaccine delivery expected later this week. UM SRH intends to administer of its allocations of the COVID-19 vaccine to team members this week.

Vaccines are being distributed according to the Framework for Equitable Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccine — developed by the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) — as well as ACIP’s Ethical Principles for Allocating Initial Supplies of COVID-19 Vaccine. These guidelines ensure the vaccine is allocated ethically across our populations of health care professionals, including students, faculty and other essential workers, while still in limited supply.

“For many months, we have been looking forward to the day when vaccines would be available to protect our health care workers and very soon for the community at large,” said Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, president and CEO of the University of Maryland Medical System. “As we begin vaccinations, and finally begin the process of ending this pandemic, I’m thankful to our UMMS and UM School of Medicine colleagues who have been working tirelessly to care for our community and lead in the development of innovative treatments and vaccines.”

Ken Kozel, president and CEO, UM SRH, said he is proud of the way the UM SRH team has tackled the continually evolving challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“During these past nine months, and well before that, the dedication, perseverance and skill of our Shore Regional Health family has always been incredible to witness,” Kozel said. “This vaccine is the hope we have all been waiting for — not just for our frontline health care workers, but also our communities. The recent authorization of this safe and effective vaccine paves the way for our System to begin vaccinating our frontline staff. We are proud to be among the first in the country to receive this life-saving vaccine so we can continue to care for the communities we love and who trust us to provide exceptional care.”

William Huffner, MD, chief medical officer and COVID-19 incident commander for UM SRH, said he is proud of the UM SRH team effort in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and looks forward to turning the page on this moment in our nation’s history as more people are able to be vaccinated in the coming days and months ahead.

“This vaccine is a critical part of our ability to successfully combat this highly infectious disease,” Dr. Huffner said. “We have been looking forward to this day for months. Protecting our communities is what we do. Now, with the vaccine, we can ensure we are further protecting our frontline teams’ ability to do just that.”

The first UM SRH team member to receive the vaccine was Rosa Mateo, MD, an infectious disease specialist with UM SRH. Dr. Mateo oversees the COVID care units at UM Shore Medical Centers at Chestertown, Dorchester and Easton. Dr. Mateo believes in the science behind the vaccine.

“I have been fighting COVID-19 for more than nine months now and I’ve been waiting for this day since the pandemic started,” Dr. Mateo said. “We finally have the tool we’ve been waiting for to finish the fight against COVID-19. I’m excited to be the first team member to receive the vaccine. I did this not only for myself, but for my family, my co-workers and all the patients that may need to visit us from our communities. This vaccine will help us get back to our normal lives, before the pandemic started.” 

UM SRH looks forward to being able to vaccinate employees across its five-county region in the days and weeks ahead, as more vaccine supply becomes available. For the latest information and updates on UM SRH COVID-19 response efforts, visit umshoreregional.org/coronavirus.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

UM Shore Medical Campus at Cambridge Now Under Construction

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The University of Maryland Shore Medical Campus at Cambridge is under construction with anticipated completion by fall 2021. Located in the new Cambridge Marketplace on Route 50/Ocean Gateway, the project was designed by the Baltimore-based architectural firm Marshall Craft Associates and is being built by Chesapeake Contracting Group of Annapolis.

The campus will include a two-story freestanding medical facility (FMF) with a full 24/7 Emergency Department, a second-story medical services pavilion, a helipad and ample parking.

“The Cambridge Marketplace site is perfect—it offers convenient access to public transportation and emergency vehicles and efficient access to the helipad,” says Ken Kozel, president and CEO of UM Shore Regional Health. “We are excited that our medical campus will be conveniently located among other services at the Marketplace that benefit local residents.”

The first floor of the new building will house the state-of-the-art, 39,000-square-foot Emergency Department including 18 private treatment rooms, six private observation rooms and a separate, three-bed unit for the assessment and treatment of patients needing emergency care for behavioral health issues. As is now the case, the new Dorchester ED will have telemedicine capabilities that enable physicians and other care providers to consult with specialists at Shore Regional Health’s other facilities, at University of Maryland Medical Center and around the globe.

“Like our Shore Emergency Center in Queenstown, nearly 20,000 people come to the Emergency Department in Dorchester each year. We are looking forward to having a top-notch facility where our outstanding emergency care teams can continue to provide the best care possible,” says William Huffner, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer, UM SRH.

Other services located on the first floor will include Shore Behavioral Health’s Bridge Clinic and Intensive Outpatient Program, Cardiac Rehabilitation, the Infusion Center, and laboratory and radiology services. An MRI facility will be located adjacent to the building.

The second floor will serve as a medical pavilion offering a wide array of services, including an outpatient surgery center, diagnostic imaging and laboratory services, rehabilitation services (including the Balance Center), chronic disease management services and a community education room.

The Cambridge offices of UM Shore Medical Group pediatric, women’s health and surgery practices will also be located on the second floor, along with a multispecialty suite where patients can see providers from various specialties including diabetes, cardiology, primary care and urology.

Aerial view of the construction site at Cambridge Marketplace.

Plans for UM Shore Medical Campus at Cambridge have been in the works since 2015. An important part of the process was a series of community listening sessions, conducted in 2016, in East New Market, Cambridge, Vienna and Madison.

Hosted by officials representing University of Maryland Medical System and UM Shore Regional Health, these sessions attracted hundreds of Dorchester residents as well as local physicians, business and civic leaders, elected officials, state and county health care officials, and representatives from the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS).

Those in attendance gained an overview of the changing landscape of health care delivery and the forces driving that change, as well as plans for the new medical campus.

In July 2018, UM SRH held a public information session at Cambridge South Dorchester High School as part of the process of seeking legislative approval for the FMF model to be implemented in Cambridge. Senate Bill 707 passed in the Maryland General Assembly’s 2019 session and was signed by Governor Larry Hogan.

In late April 2019, the Maryland Health Care Commission unanimously approved three Certificates of Exemption, which included plans for UM Shore Medical Center at Dorchester to be replaced by UM Shore Medical Campus at Cambridge once the new campus is completed and fully operational.

“From the outset, our goal has been to ensure that quality, accessible and affordable health care is available to all residents of Dorchester County,” says Kozel. “We sought a convenient, visible location that would meet the key health care needs in the region, and also serve as a modern place of employment, a focal point for public transportation, and an attractive draw to physicians and advanced practice providers needed to provide care in the region. It’s exciting and gratifying to see this vision now becoming reality.”

For more information about Shore Medical Campus at Cambridge, visit umshoreregional.org/cambridgecampus.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

COVID-19: In the Vortex with Shore Regional Health’s Ken Kozel

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While there has been some debate about the limitations of having only one primary health provider for the Mid-Shore, there is a strong argument these days that it’s a unique asset during a major pandemic.

Not surprisingly, Ken Kozel, C.E.O. of UM – Shore Regional Health thinks that way. It is an honest bias for someone who has had a long tenure running the Mid-Shore’s primary health provider. But that perspective also comes with serving on four Incident Command System structures during the coronavirus crisis.

Starting with Shore Regional’s command center for 2,500 employees, Ken also is a participant at the county, state, and UMM equivalent structures. He is a daily witness to how helpful it is to represent all five counties as the lead health system during a crisis like this.

The Spy talked to Ken on Friday afternoon to see how these systems of coordination and access to resources work on the Eastern Shore.

This video is approximately ten minutes in length. For more information about Shore Regional Health please go here.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

COVID-19 Preparations in Full Swing at UM Shore Regional Health

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University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) is intensely engaged in planning to care for our community in the event of an influx of patients needing hospital care as result of the possible impact of COVID-19.

Fortunately, as of this moment, in all UM Shore Regional Health locations, the overall number of hospital admissions and emergency department visits are down, largely due to messages from the community and media that have helped to direct concerned people to the appropriate community provider settings and reduce unnecessary hospital volumes.

Planning for a potential surge of patients at the hospitals began more than a month ago and continues to evolve on a daily basis.

“As part of University of Maryland Medical System, Shore Regional Health is actively preparing for the presence of COVID-19 in our communities,” said Ken Kozel, UM SRH president and CEO. “Every day, our medical and nursing staffs and team members in every aspect of our health care system, are working together to plan for various contingencies in the event of a surge of patients who need hospitalization.”

Key developments to date are as follows:

• Enacted system-wide (UMMS) and regional (UM SRH) incident command structures in mid-February staffed by appropriate personnel to coordinate resources and direct actions for the entire organization in relation to COVID.

Duties include:

  • monitoring the rapidly changing state, national and global, COVID situation
  • real time monitoring of staff availability, supplies and bed capacity in all three hospitals
  • preparing to maximize surge capacity in all three hospitals
  • participating in planning efforts undertaken by local government and health officials in all five counties
  • keeping in daily contact with those officials

• Postponed all elective, non-emergent surgeries and procedures, beginning March 18 to managing a potential increase in patient volume. This action was designed to provide additional capacity for UM SRH hospitals to treat those patients in greatest need.

• Revised visitor policy, effective March 19, prohibiting all visitors into the hospitals unless they have a special exception.
In partnership with UMMS, created a fully staffed 24/7 Nurse Hotline to answer COVID-19-related concerns. That number is 1-888-713-0711.

Penny Pink, executive director, UM Shore Medical Center at Dorchester ,and team members debrief after the tent drill held Friday morning, March 27, outside the hospital’s Emergency Department.

• Erected tents adjacent to the three hospital emergency departments and the Emergency Center at Queenstown. (While not in use today, these tents could serve a variety of purposes should the need arise; in particular, they may be used to expand Emergency Department triage capacity in the evaluation and treatment of patients for fever and upper respiratory symptoms.)

• Consolidated laboratory and imaging services at certain locations to maximize efficient use of resources and deployment of staff.

• Ceased all elective/non-urgent imaging at all facilities, effective March 25. Only critical imaging is being performed. (Critical imaging services include; trauma, oncology, infection, ischemia, acute bleeding, and acute neurologic changes. Other requests are reviewed on a case by case basis by our radiologists.) Affected patients are being contacted directly regarding cancelled appointments and rescheduling options.

• Shore Regional Health has identified its surge expansion plans at all inpatient and emergency facilities. As of March 25, the system has the ability to double inpatient capacity and quadruple ICU capacity across the system if needed.

• On Friday, March 27, conducted a drill at UM Shore Regional Health’s four emergency departments to test and evaluate the functionality of the triage tents in the event of a surge in patients requiring hospitalization.

“Today Shore Regional Health conducted a drill to test and evaluate the operational effectiveness of the triage tents located at our four emergency departments,” said William H. Huffner, MD, senior vice president, Medical Affairs and chief medical officer. “As a routine aspect of our operation as a health care system, emergency drills enable us to identify the strengths and weaknesses of emergency plans, and this one was very useful in that regard. Our medical and nursing care providers and a wide range of support personnel worked together to put our strategy for the tents in use and ensure that in the event of a patient surge, our plans can be operationalized seamlessly.

“We also are in close and continuous contact with our state and county health departments, emergency management officials and a host of community organizations that are all working in concert to help minimize the spread of the virus and to assist vulnerable populations in need of food, shelter and transportation during this time,” said Kozel. “I am infinitely grateful to have the support of highly capable, dedicated and focused teams at UMMS and here at Shore Regional Health, and going forward, I am confident that our preparations will help us face the demands of COVID-19.”

The public can help reduce the severity of this pandemic by:

  • Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
  • Avoiding close contact with people who are sick and practice social distancing
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw it away immediately.
  • Avoid touching your face.

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

UM Shore Regional Health Announces Changes to Laboratory and Imaging Services Effective March 23

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To meet evolving health care needs in response to COVID-19, University of Maryland Shore Regional Health has announced changes in the delivery of outpatient laboratory testing and imaging services around the region.

These changes go into effect as of Monday, March 23, 2020.

In all locations where services continue to be provided, waiting area seating may be limited or adjusted to support social distancing.

The following imaging procedures are postponed at all outpatient locations: screening mammography, cardiac scoring CT scans, screening lung CT scans and ultrasound AAA screenings. Patients with scheduled appointments for these procedures are being notified by phone and new appointments will not be rescheduled until further notice.

All other imaging procedures with a medical necessity are being scheduled as needed; these procedures may be scheduled by calling 410-822-1000, ext. 2600. All imaging locations are open with regular operating hours.

Changes to outpatient laboratory services, either walk-in or by appointment, are as follows:

In Cambridge, the lab at Sunburst Plaza is closed. Regular and therapeutic blood draws are conducted at UM Shore Medical Center at Dorchester.

In Centreville, the lab at 2450 Centerville Road is closed; patients needing lab services are directed to the lab at UM Shore Medical Pavilion at Queenstown.

In Chestertown, the Roundtop lab is closed. Regular and therapeutic blood draws are conducted at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown.

In Denton, the lab at Shore Medical Pavilion at Denton remains open.

In Easton, lab services offered at the Diagnostic and Imaging Center are unchanged; however, the lab on Teal Drive is closed.

The lab in UM Shore Medical Center at Easton remains open for therapeutic blood draw only; patients are directed to the Diagnostic and Imaging Center.

In Queenstown, the lab at Shore Medical Pavilion at Queenstown remains open.

For more information about University of Maryland Medical System responses to COVID-19, visit https://www.umms.org/coronavirus

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Shore Regional Health Nurses Support the Neighborhood Service Center

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Members of the Shore Regional Health nursing team are shown their many donations to benefit Talbot County’s Neighborhood Service Center. The donations were delivered to the Center on March 10.

Nurses at UM Shore Regional Health recently wrapped up a collection drive to benefit the Neighborhood Service Center Inc. (NSC, Inc.). Located on Port Street in Easton, NSC is a community action agency whose mission is to provide services and assistance to low-income families and elderly residents in Talbot County.

“We received a wonderful turnout for donations to the Neighborhood Service Center,” said Laura Jackson, Global Council chairman. “From the council, we were able to donate kitchen supplies, paper goods, canned goods, blankets, children’s toys and other household items. I am so proud to be a part of an organization that gives back to the community we serve.”

“We so appreciate the generosity of the nursing team at Shore Regional Health in collecting and donating so many useful items for the families and individuals served by the Neighborhood Service Center,” said Marilyn Neal, executive director of the Neighborhood Service Center. “These donations will all be put to good use.”

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

(COVID-19): A Frank Chat with Shore Regional Health’s Dr. William Huffner

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To be clear, there is no official coronavirus czar for the Eastern Shore.  But if there were one, it would more than likely be William Huffner, MD, the chief medical officer for UM Shore Regional Health.

Tasked with the health management of Shore Health facilities in all of the Mid-Shore’s five counties, and with a long career in infection control performance management, social work, clinical documentation, and emergency medicine, it would be tough to find someone with similar skill sets during a major health crisis.

That health crisis as arrived and the Spy was eager to discuss the Dr. Huffner about the nature of COVID-19, the state of preparedness on the Mid-Shore, resources at his disposal and his thoughts of readiness as the Shore enters a dangerous phase in managing coronavirus, if, and when, it appears locally.

Over the next six weeks, the Spy will be interviewing Dr. Huffner periodically as more information is made available.

This video is approximately twelve minutes in length. For more information about Shore Regional Health and coronavirus please go here.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Letters: Shore Experts Planning for Coronavirus by Dr. William H. Huffner

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One word has gained worldwide attention in a relatively short period of time – Coronavirus. How concerned should you be about the novel Coronavirus, known to clinicians as COVID-19?

First, you should know that as of now, there are no laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Maryland. However, healthcare providers at UM Shore Medical Centers at Chestertown, Dorchester and Easton are preparing around the clock— focused on ensuring our patients, families and staff are protected in anticipation of COVID-19 reaching Maryland. Our clinical experts, in collaboration with academic medicine colleagues from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, are actively, regularly and closely monitoring the situation locally and nationally in real-time, and are following guidelines and protocols issued by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

UM Shore Regional Health has implemented precautionary screening measures and our Hospital Incident Command System has been activated to facilitate preparedness, planning and response to COVID-19. For the most up-to-date information about COVID-19, including hospital preparations and important messages for the public, visit www.umms.org/coronavirus. 

As part of the University of Maryland Medical System, we are rapidly preparing for the reality of COVID-19 impacting our region. This will be a challenge but we have the resources and medical expertise of one of the top health care systems in the United States, which delivers approximately 25 percent of all hospital care in Maryland, to guide our providers and care teams both inside our hospital and in our outpatient services.

The first important piece of advice is do not panic, which perhaps is easier said than done. Coronaviruses are part of a family of viruses that can affect humans and are commonly found in many different species of animals. The coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China, and has now been detected in almost 70 locations internationally, including in the United States.

While the complete clinical picture for COVID-19 is not yet fully understood, reported illnesses have ranged from mild to severe, including some illness resulting in death. Fortunately, about 80 percent of patients who have the virus have no symptoms or only mild ones like a cold. While information so far suggests that most COVID-19 illness is mild, older individuals and people with certain underlying health conditions like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes appear to be at greater risk of serious illness. At this time, most people in the United States will have little immediate risk of exposure to COVID-19 and for most of the American public, the immediate health risk is considered low.   

Comparisons have been made between COVID-19 and the seasonal flu. Like seasonal flu, COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory illness, and while the symptoms are similar between the two illnesses, they are caused by different viruses.

On average, the seasonal flu has a mortality rate of about one half of one percent. COVID-19 is believed to have a mortality risk of around 2-3 percent, however this may be less, as mild cases are thought to be underreported or undiagnosed. As of early March, there have been approximately 90,000 known COVID-19 cases worldwide with just over 3,000 deaths. In comparison, the CDC estimates that since October 1, 2019 there have been at least 32 million flu illnesses, between 310,000 and 560,000 flu-related hospitalizations and between 189,000 and 46,000 deaths from the seasonal flu. In Maryland, as of early March, there have been 40 flu-related deaths, more than 200 influenza-related hospitalizations and the CDC is reporting flu activity this season in the state as “high.”

Whether it is flu or COVID-19, people experiencing respiratory symptoms along with high fever and shortness of breath should get medical attention. Treatment for severe cases is aimed at supporting recovery and prevention of additional bacterial infection.

The similarities mean that measures we can take to reduce the risk of becoming infected are also similar. Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent coronavirus, but the best way to prevent the spread of illnesses from respiratory viruses like COVID-19 are the same important precautions that should be taken to protect against seasonal flu. I cannot stress enough the importance of practicing non-pharmaceutical interventions like performing vigilant hand hygiene (including frequent hand-washing and use of alcohol-based hand cleaners), avoiding shaking hands, frequent cleaning of surfaces like doorknobs, handrails, and counters, maintaining social distances, staying at home if you develop mild symptoms, and seeking medical attention for more severe symptoms. In addition, the state can enact non-pharmaceutical interventions as necessary, such as school closures, cancelations of mass gatherings telework and tele-education. These strategies are all fundamental to protecting our workforce, patients and the community. 

None of these precautions are new to us. We hear them every flu season. We might ask, then, why we aren’t following them all the time already? The answer is that the flu, despite the above statistics, doesn’t frighten most of us that much. We think of it as a week or so of fever, coughing, congestion, and general misery followed by recovery and return to life as usual. Many people who could do so won’t even take the flu vaccine because they fear the vaccine more than the illness itself. 

Our attitude toward COVID-19 is different. It may have commonalities with influenza, but it is a new disease in humans, which worries us. International travel gives the disease access to global populations. While there have been few cases in the U.S. to date, public health experts predict that it will inevitably find its way into local communities and potentially spread among people who have no known prior exposure. 

This is not time to panic, but instead, prepare. Like an infection that triggers an overreaction by our immune system that causes us more harm than the microorganism itself, a public overreaction could potentially cause more collective harm than the disease. Become informed, understand what you can do to protect yourself and your family. See what your neighbor needs. Let’s pull together as a healthcare system, community, city and state. Together we will confront this threat, knowing that our public health and healthcare partners stand ready to assist when we need it. 

William Huffner, MD is Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, UM Shore Regional Health

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.