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DECEMBER 4, 2020
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By Elizabeth Bonin hen a covid-19 patient enters the hospital, the wheels start turning — medical assessments, plans for individual care, treatment protocols and staff assignments must be established and conducted.
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The public mostly understands area, where the determination is that, but what it does not realize is made whether the patient must be how many other wheels must turn admitted or can be treated at home. synchronously in the background in “During that process . . .a host of a complex covid response program administrative work that would inthat is as much clude creating an about information ‘All patients are taken care of regardless electronic health gathering as it is of ability to pay, but that information — record, insurabout patient care. ance verification, For patients re- there’s not a separate paper form that’s treatment ora part of our registration process.’ porting at Atlantic ders, physician General Hospital, orders, medicaMatt Morris the process starts tion orders … with a covid-19 screening for any per- Maybe the patient is eligible for the son entering the hospital. Patients new treatments that we have now,” must also start a registration. Morris said. Matt Morris, vice president of paAll treatment and care is docutient care, said that if the patient is mented into the patient’s electronic presenting covid-19 symptoms, he or health record. That record also goes she is taken to an isolation treatment See IN BACKGROUND Page 2
By Josh Kim Staff Writer (Dec. 4, 2020) Although Ocean City officials seem to be on board with extending the annual Ocean City BikeFest to a two-weekend affair, conflicting event dates and pop-up rally motorists will require more discussions with public safety departments before a deal can be struck. The motorcycle and music festival, produced by OC Jams, is slated for Sept. 15-19, 2021. On Tuesday, event promoter Chase Micheal asked for three things: first, the city would cover costs associated with leasing the inlet parking lot and the Ocean City convention center on 40th Street; second, a dollar-to-dollar match of up to $250,000 to be paid directly to the bands; and finally, a four-year commitment to those terms for an expanded event. “We understand what the ask is and it’s quite large, but as it is, it’s merely a fraction of what we spend just in booking the bands, let alone
the leasing of the venues, the production, the sound, the staging and everything that goes into that,” See BIKEFEST Page 4
Balance of CARES Act funds goes to Worcester fire depts. By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (Dec. 4, 2020) The last of Worcester County’s CARES Act money is about to head out the door and into the hands of the county’s fire companies, which were designated by the county commissioners Tuesday as the recipients of the $30,000-plus
balance left in a fund that began with $4.5 million. The county was allocated that amount under the federal act, and distributed it as a library grant and a Community Development Block Grant, as well as to municipalities, economic development, restaurants, See COUNTY Page 3
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Ocean City Today
DECEMBER 4, 2020
In background, covid all about data collection Continued from Page 1 over to the billing department to determine if the patient has insurance or if they’re eligible for Medicare or Medicaid. “All patients are taken care of regardless of ability to pay, but that information — there’s not a separate paper form that’s a part of our registration process,” Morris said. In addition to paperwork for the individual patients, the hospital must make frequent reports to the federal Department of Health and Human Services, the county and state departments of health and the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Systems. This summer, covid-19 reporting switched from the Center for Disease and Control to the Department of Health and Human Services. Bob Yocubik, director of quality, said this change of course resulted in an increase in the number of reports the hospital must supply. “There were significantly less data points we had to submit and we didn’t have to submit daily to the CDC,” Yocubik said. “The reporting requirements went up significantly.” Every day, Atlantic General will report the number of admitted patients with covid-19, patients under investigation awaiting a test result, the number of tests conducted and the number of positive tests. It also reports the number of ventilators it has, as well as ventilator supplies and medication. Another medication the hospital must report on is remdesivir — how much it has and how many doses are given each day. And that’s not all. Yocubik said the hospital reports on the number of emergency visits from the day before, and of those visits, how many presented covid-19 symptoms. “We also report out daily covid deaths,” Yocubik said. “And we report out covid admissions by age. We have to report them out by age range, starting with 18 running through the age of greater than 80.” The hospital also must communicate to these other agencies the number of patients in the intensive care unit and the medical surgical unit. For personal protective equipment, Yocubik said staff must account for and transmit data on its supply of N-95 masks, surgical masks, eye protection, exam gloves, single-use gowns, launderable gowns and powered air purifying respirators. “They also want to know how many days that covers, how many days on hand that number that we give them,” Yocubik. “That’s usually a range between one and 30 days, or greater than 30 days.” For lab equipment, the hospital supplies data on the number of nasal syringeal swabs, nasal swabs and
viral transport media. “Last, we report on staff shortages, and those staff shortages are in the area of nursing, respiratory therapy, physicians, pharmacists and environmental service workers,” Yocubik said. Reporting to the Department of Health and Human Services alone involves more than 32 data points, he said. As for reporting to the health department, Morris said of the two main documents the hospital must provide, one inBob Yocubik volves disease, conditions, outbreaks and unusual manifestations and the other is the morbidity report. He said the first document is for the health department to track communicable Matt Morris diseases, as required by state regulations. The document entails information on the patient’s condition and laboratory evidence, and it must be sent immediately after diagnostic results are completed or within one working day. The morbidity report, which is sent to the local health department, records the patient’s condition is (covid-19, in this case) and where it was acquired, if known. “It’s got patient information on there, including things like are they a healthcare worker, are they a daycare worker, food service worker, where are they are employed, what’s the ethnicity, sex, gender and that type of demographic information,” Morris said. It also records if the patient was hospitalized, if the patient was pregnant, and if the patient dies, when. Finally, Atlantic General makes a similar report to the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Systems, Morris said. “We report some similar things, ventilators available, ventilators that are in use, covid positive patients, covid deaths in the last 24 hours, similar reporting and overlap ... that’s on the state level,” Morris said. The biggest difference between reporting to MIEMSS and DHHS is that the former is focused on local capacity and the latter is focused on national resources, he said. The hospital also used to forward information on the convalescent plasma trials to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, according to Yocubik, but that program has since been stopped. “We would have to report out four hours after the plasma, about a week afterwards, at discharge, and then a follow-up after 30 days if the patient were to survive, because the patients
that usually receive the plasma are usually the sickest of the sick,” Yocubik said. At the beginning of the pandemic, much of the reporting was focused on ventilator and bed capacity, Morris said, but that has since evolved into making sure hospitals have all the resources they need. “A lot of it has really been about trying to coordinate resources at various levels — pharmaceuticals, supply chain, bed availability, ventilator availability, and really the state trying to be responsive and could they support us with ventilators [and] would they reach out to the national strategic stockpile for ventilators or for PPE,” Morris said. “I think most of it was around being prepared for what may come next.” This flow of information helps to ensure that hospitals receive medicine such as remdesivir, and that they can coordinate resources across the state and region, particularly during surges. “There were areas in the country that did need supplies — we shipped supplies to New York and New Jersey and so, by the same sentiment, if we had a big surge here, we would reach out to the region and look and see if we could pull ventilators and PPE for our use,” Morris said. Hospitals can also reach out for supplies through the national stockpile, although Morris said, Atlantic
General has had sufficient supplies throughout the pandemic. “We’ve used our normal medical suppliers. We’ve looked at other medical suppliers and then there have been some additional suppliers in the market who have been bringing items to market that are overpriced, could potentially be described as price gouging,” Morris said. “We try to avoid those suppliers.” Morris and Yocubik also dispelled the persistent rumor, inspired by covid deniers and conspiracy theorists, that Atlantic General, or any hospital, receives money if a patient with covid-19 dies. It just isn’t so. “I’ve seen conspiracy theories — there’s no special process to make us suggest that people die from covid that don’t die from covid,” Morris said. “I think people shouldn’t believe everything they read on the internet. We are funded exactly the same way we’ve always been funded — through the Health Services Cost Review commission.” He praised Atlantic General staff for making all these wheels turn as they should during one of the most difficult times the hospital and the medical community overall has ever experienced. “I know why our people show up every day and it’s not for the money we make off a patient; it’s how we can affect their lives and how we can improve their health,” Morris said.
PHOTO COURTESY CONNOR WERNER
SUN DAZE
Connor Werner of West Ocean City captures the sun rising near the pier in downtown Ocean City on Nov. 29.
DECEMBER 4, 2020
Ocean City Today
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County gives CARES cash to fire companies Continued from Page 1 the county health department and county recovery. The municipal-level recipients — Ocean City, Berlin, Pocomoke, Ocean Pines Association and Snow Hill – were awarded a total of $1,140,220. When asked, Tom Perlozzo, director of recreation and parks, Tom Perlozzo economic development and tourism said that in the past two weeks, his department has designated about $900,000 toward restaurants out of the total $1.4 million, leaving about $500,000 to Harold Higgins distribute. “We have kept the applications open, so we anticipate the full amount being distributed prior to the end of the year,” Perlozzo said.
County Commissioner Chip Bertino asked if funds would be distributed to the fire companies if they can provide the correct documentation. “We put monies toward the volunteer fire companies for some additional machinery,” said Harold Higgins, chief administrative officer. “We’re also in the process of trying to gather information for the payroll reimbursement right now.” He said the payroll reimbursement is estimated at $50,000. Fire companies have been using paid personnel in lieu of volunteers, according to Higgins. Higgins confirmed that the county is preparing to meet with the fire chiefs to determine the financial need. He said he would like to see a presentation of payroll salaries from 2019 to 2020 from the fire chiefs. Bertino emphasized that applicants need to provide whatever documentation is necessary. “It’s incumbent on the fire compa-
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nies to forward information to us for evaluation and assessment as to whether or not it can be approved,” Bertino said. County Commissioner Jim
Bunting then suggested that the remaining $30,063.96 from the CARES Act be designated for the fire companies. The measure passed unanimously.
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Ocean City Today
DECEMBER 4, 2020
BikeFest needs decision, city needs answers Continued from Page 1 Micheal said. Micheal said OC Jams needed a decision as quickly as possible so it could secure high profile acts. The additional dates could take place either the weekend proceeding the event or the weekend following it. The timing of each has its own issues — the convention center was booked during the former, while the pop-up rally typically takes place during the latter. Additionally, Micheal said another motorcycle event would take place during the latter weekend, Bikes, Blue and BBQ in Fayetteville, Arkansas, which would mean vendors would have to choose between the two events. Regardless of the date, Micheal said success would be contingent on the popularity and public profile of the bands. Currently, Micheal said OC Jams had already booked 95 percent of its entertainment for 2021, with KIX and Great White on Wednesday, Foghat and George Thorogood and the Destroyers on Thursday, Brett Michaels and Tesla on Friday and Kid Rock on Saturday. In order to secure a similar or better level of entertainment, Micheal said OC Jams needed the greenlight
as soon as possible. Several councilmembers want to battle the pop-up rally head on by overpowering it with OC BikeFest participants — last year’s attendance was estimated to be more than 175,000. However, “My biggest concern … is our chief of police and his staff and the amount of manpower that would be required to have it two weekends in a row, knowing that there’s a high probability that this pop-up event will be here that Chase Micheal weekend of [Sept.] 26th,” Councilman Mark Paddack said. Paddack highlighted the 1,200 traffic stops, 1,500 citations, 128 arrests for exhibition driving, 300 total arrests and over 300 tows that police enacted during this year’s pop-up rally. “I really want to fall back on our top law enforcement professionals and our state’s attorney [on] how this is going to impact us,” Paddack said. “... It’s a manpower resource issue for me.” Councilman Lloyd Martin said strategies used to deter motorists during the pop-up rally could nega-
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tively affect participants of OC BikeFest. He also mentioned complications arising with the shutdown of bus services during the pop-up rally, as OC BikeFest participants heavily rely on it. “If we do stop the bus service at that time, I can’t imagine you having a concert downtown,” Martin said. “What do you do with all of those people? You have a lot of pissed-off people, and that’ll flow over the next week, the next year and whatever else.” Police Chief Ross Buzzuro, Fire Chief Richie Bowers, and State’s Attorney Kris Heiser all echoed Paddack’s sentiment. Buzzuro said the last pop-up rally required the largest deployment of law enforcement officers in the city’s history. “If you’re adding this event on top of the unsanctioned event then the amount of manpower would obviously have to increase,” Buzzuro said. “... We’re not predicting that one is going to wash out the other unless we have credible intelligence that supports that, and quite honestly we don’t right now and I don’t think we will.” Council President Matt James said the council had to be confident enough that the first year of mixing the two events would be the only year. “I don’t think we should move forward if we’re expecting that [mixing] for years to come,” James said. “For this to be successful, we really need to believe that BikeFest will soak up enough inventory that the pop-up event cannot continue how it has been. Nobody wants the two events to mix.” Councilman Peter Buas asked how OC Jams came up with the four-year commitment period, what changes would occur following that period to make the event self-sustaining and the extent to which the Arkansas event would affect OC BikeFest. “[It’s, the four-year term,] based on the growth pattern of the current event,” Micheal said. As for what would make it sustainable, “Basically [it’s] why you would buy gap insurance on your car. I don’t want to say we lost money, but it was a continuous investment on our part for three
years before we saw a return.” As for the Arkansas festival, Micheal seemed to waver on his confidence on whether the conflicting schedules would greatly affect OC BikeFest. On one hand, he said he did not believe vendors would be willing to travel so far immediately after OC BikeFest. Additionally, the Arkansas event is held at the University of Arkansas’ Baum-Walker Stadium, meaning it’s schedule was contingent on the university’s baseball schedule. However, 70 to 80 percent of OC BikeFest vendors participate in the Arkansas event, and they would be forced to choose between the two. “Looking at it from that aspect, the first weekend is better,” Micheal said. Mayor Rick Meehan asked what the total cost of the requests would be, and City Manager Doug Miller said it would be around $500,000, although he would need to get a more accurate number. “Was there any discussion of payback with regard to ticket sales once you reach a certain point since we’re matching what you’re putting in to bring the acts here?” Meehan asked. “Well, there has not been, but if you’re comparing to other events, those events used funding at a 100 percent buy for those bands,” Micheal replied. “Our current weekend budget is well north of $1.4, $1.5 million, and I think the $250,000 ask is in line with that.” As for the stretching BikeFest by starting it on the weekend preceding its usual date, Meehan said he did not enjoy the thought of consuming the whole month of September with motorcycle and vehicular events. “Coastal Highway was never meant to be the venue, the venue was supposed to be the beach and the Boardwalk,” Meehan said. While risks are high, so are the potential returns, Councilman John Gehrig pointed out, saying the city earns about $2.4 million in taxes because of OC BikeFest. The chiefs, Heiser, city officials and staff will meet in closed session to discuss the logistics of ensuring safety on the resort, and whether it would be plausible to do so with current strains on resources and personnel.
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OC Jams, producer of Ocean City BikeFest, is seeking to extend the annual motorcycle and music festival an additional weekend.
DECEMBER 4, 2020
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Ocean City Today
Eastern Shore receives covid-fighting drug Bamlanivimab approved by FDA, available at Maryland hospitals for eligible cases By Elizabeth Bonin Staff Writer (Dec. 4, 2020) A newly approved drug to fight covid-19 is available for the Eastern Shore. The Food and Drug Administration gave emergency approval to bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody, on Monday, Nov. 9. TidalHealth in Salisbury, previously Peninsula Regional Medical Center, announced that it had the drug available as of Tuesday. Toni Keiser, vice president of public relations, said that Atlantic General Hospital expected to have the drug by the end of this week. Not every covid-19 patient is eligible for bamlanivimab. “The drug isn’t for people who are already hospitalized – it is used for people who have been diagnosed with covid-19 and may be at risk for their case to become more severe because of other health factors such as age, diabetes or a compromised immune
system,” said John Jordan, senior director of pharmacy services at TidalHealth. The drug is also only available for those 12 and older. Bamlanivimab mimics immune system antibodies by blocking viral attachment and entry into human cells. The earlier the drug is administered, the more effective it is. Produced by Eli Lilly & Co., the drug was used to treat President Donald Trump when he was infected with covid-19. Maryland hospitals are also taking additional measures to brace themselves for the winter surge, as Gov. Larry Hogan announced during a press conference on Tuesday. “The current surge is not only increasing the burden on our health care system and filling available hospital beds, but it is also affecting our health care workers, who are already spread thin and operating under immense strain and stress,” Hogan said. To ensure that any Marylander who needs a hospital bed gets one, Hogan announced that all hospitals are required to submit a surge plan to the Maryland Department of Health
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by Tuesday, Dec. 8. If total state hospitalizations reach 8,000, hospitals are required to expand bed capacity by 10 percent within seven days. As of Monday, 6,816 Marylanders were in state hospitals, including patients without covid-19. Hogan also asked that hospitals redeploy or add staff and reduce noncritical elective procedures. To supplement hospital staff, MarylandMedNow was launched to recruit Marylanders with clinical backgrounds to work at nursing homes, state hospitals, testing sites and vaccination clinics. Those interested should go to marylandmednow.com. Hogan encouraged colleges and universities to offer an “early exit” to health care students in their final semester, if they have satisfied graduation requirements. These students will have expedited testing and licensing requirements. Local jurisdictions were encouraged to use nondeployed school nurses, health services staff and other county staff to assist with state testing and vaccination sites.
Hospitals may also start using unlicensed individuals for noncritical tasks to free up nursing staff. Hogan also updated Maryland coronavirus statistics. Though the state remains in better shape than most, cases are still increasing. As of Tuesday, Maryland has recorded 27 straight days of more than 1,000 new cases a day and has 34.4 cases per 100,000 people. As of Wednesday, the state was at a 7.52 percent positivity rate. Hogan said 1,583 patients are in the hospital with covid-19 - the highest level since May 10. “According to our modeling, we can expect to reach a new record-high for hospitalizations in the coming days,” Hogan said. He added that 21 hospitals have reached more than 90 percent capacity. In other covid-19 news, the Center for Disease and Control announced several ways those exposed to the virus can shorten their quarantine period, which is typically 14 days. A person exposed only needs to quarantine for seven days if they are See CORONAVIRUS Page 6
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