- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnswers to some commonly asked questions Updated on January 10, 2022 Many of us miss the days when a sore throat was just a sore throat. In the current environment, a sore throat or other symptoms can lead to several questions. Should you take a test, or call a provider? Barry Meisenberg, MD, chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief Academic Officer at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, answers several frequently asked questions below regarding symptoms, testing, and what to do if you feel sick. What are the symptoms of the new Omicron variant? Although symptoms vary by person, the most common are fever, fatigue, sore throat, cough, headache, and body aches. You may experience loss of smell or taste, but this does not occur as often, compared to previous variants of the virus. Should I go to the emergency room (ER) for a COVID test? No, the emergency room is not a testing site. Only go to the ER if you have severe pain, severe illness or life-threatening conditions. ERs are experiencing high volumes and delays can be expected. Better alternatives for urgent medical care (COVID-19-related or not), include your physician’s patient portal or urgent care sites for any condition that is not life-threatening or severe. Should I contact my doctor if I feel sick or test positive for COVID-19? You should contact your primary care provider if your symptoms become severe, you have difficulty breathing, you have other complicating medical conditions, you are experiencing high or low blood sugars as a diabetic, or you have a significantly or sustained high fever. Visit the Maryland Department of Health website for COVID-19 testing information. What should I do if I test positive for COVID-19? If you have mild to moderate symptoms, recover at home (with at least five days of quarantine and until you are symptom-free for 24 hours). Take acetaminophen (generic brand, Tylenol) for fever and aches, drink plenty of fluids, and get plenty of rest. If your symptoms are severe or you are considered high-risk due to other medical conditions, or you are immunocompromised, call your primary care provider for more personalized care guidance. What should I do if I have been exposed (without a mask for more than 15 minutes) to someone who has tested positive, but I feel fine and have no symptoms? If you can find a home test, take a test to confirm if you are positive or negative. Testing too early may give a false negative. Since tests are in short supply, wait at least three days if you are still symptom-free before taking a test. If you cannot find a home test and have no symptoms, wear a mask at all times outside of your home. Limit yourself to only essential contacts and interactions for five days. What should I do if I have been exposed (without a mask for more than 15 minutes) to someone who has tested positive, and I do have symptoms? Get tested at a county, retail or physician location. Isolate for at least five days and until you are symptom-free for at least 24 hours. Learn more about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations here. I have received COVID-19 antibodies either from monoclonal antibody treatment or previous COVID-19 infection – aren’t I already protected? No, you are not. Monoclonal antibody treatment is currently on pause because the antibodies are not effective in guarding against the Omicron variant. The Omicron variant is now the prevailing variant infecting our state. What about the new COVID-19 pills? Can I take those and where can I get them? Currently, two COVID-19 pills (Merck drug, Molnupiravir for patients 18 and older, and Pfizer drug, Paxlovid authorized for patients 12 and older) have received Emergency Use Authorization, although they are in very short supply. You can find them at some retail stores and healthcare locations. These treatments require a physician’s order, and they are only used for high-risk patients with complicating or underlying medical conditions. They must be taken within five days of a symptom onset. If you have questions regarding availability and use of COVID-19 oral antiviral medications, click here. If I have tested positive for COVID-19, do I need a re-test to return to work or other activities? The guidance on this has changed as more information has become available and test availability has decreased. The RT-PCR (RNA test) can stay positive in your nose for up to three months as a remnant. It does not indicate contagiousness or persistent infection. A follow up PCR therefore reveals nothing about your status, so do not re-test with PCR. The rapid antigen test has previously been recommended to determine “viral clearance,” but new science indicates that the quarantine period can be limited to five days from onset of symptoms (followed by five days of rigorous mask wearing) without the necessity for a repeat test for most people. If you are immunocompromised, you should consult with your primary care provider. What treatments are available for mild to moderate COVID-19? Monoclonal antibodies can make some patients feel better faster and prevent hospital admissions. Unfortunately, the Omicron variant is resistant to the most commonly used antibodies and as of now, they are not being used. One antibody remains in use but it is in very short supply, so referring physicians and infusion centers are being asked to reserve it for the highest-risk patients. Two new oral drugs requiring a prescription are now available, Molnupiravir and Paxlovid. They are available through a narrow network of retail pharmacies, and more information on availability can be found here. Because they are in short supply, physicians are being asked to reserve prescription for those at highest risk of a hospitalization. The National Institute of Health has a guideline on high- risk status here. What else do I need to know? Get vaccinated and boosted. It remains the BEST option for preventing and/or reducing the severity of COVID-19 variants. Where can I find the latest information from Luminis Health? Please visit the Luminis Health Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages for the most up-to-date information. Authors Barry Meisenberg, MD, is the chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief Academic Officer at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center.0
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center is partnering with the Maryland Department of Health, the Maryland National Guard, and the Washington Education Zone to provide a free COVID-19 testing site at 6511 Princess Garden Parkway in Lanham, Md. The site opened Monday, Jan. 10, at 9 am. “As the rate of COVID-19 continues to escalate, our community is in need of more access to testing,” said Deneen Richmond, president of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. “We are proud to be partnering to offer this location to our community.” The testing site will run seven days per week, from 9 am until 1 pm, until further notice. Due to high demand, lines at testing sites may be closed early to allow everyone waiting to be tested by the scheduled closing time. Please be prepared for the possibility of extended wait times. The no-cost testing site is located at on the grounds of the Washington Education Zone in Lanham, Md. The site will be drive-up only, with no scheduling, appointments or physician order required. The site will use PCR lab tests. Community members seeking COVID-19 testing at this location should enter the site off Princess Garden Parkway. “Having this testing site nearby will help people who have mistakenly sought tests from our emergency room, which does not provide general COVID-19 testing,” said Dr. Sunil Madan, chief medical officer at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. “While we are always here for serious illness and injuries, we are asking the community to avoid the Emergency Room for non-life-threatening issues as we are operating at crisis level.”0
- News & Press Releases, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogDue to a significant increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, Luminis Health is taking the unprecedented step of declaring a crisis at both its hospitals – Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center and Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. Since November 1, the healthcare system has seen a 320 percent increase in admitted patients with COVID-19, with more than 205 COVID-19 patients in its hospitals as of this date. This rise in hospitalizations, combined with ongoing staffing shortages, has made it necessary for the health system to implement crisis standards of care in order to continue providing safe and effective care to its patients. “The decision to declare crisis standards of care was made following careful consideration and discussion,” said Tori Bayless, CEO Luminis Health. “We are following our emergency operations plans. Decisions will be guided by a focus on maximizing our resources to care for our patients. These crisis protocols allow us to quickly pivot to help meet the overwhelming demand for hospital services. We are all in this together and never more have we needed the support of our communities as we fight through this most challenging time.” The health care crisis in Maryland is impacting many other Maryland hospitals, who have already implemented crisis standards of care protocols. At the same time we are escalating to crisis status, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has declared Maryland is in a catastrophic healthcare emergency. Crisis standards of care are used only in times of emergency, when the demand for healthcare exceeds the ability of the health system to provide it through normal means. The modified protocols allow healthcare leaders to change staffing, adjust or delay surgeries, and when necessary, deploy non-clinical staff to assist with patient care. Though rarely used, these protocols have been prepared and approved in advance for just this type of situation and are based on best practices and guided by ethical principles. “More than 70% of our hospitalized patients are not vaccinated,” said Dr. Stephen Selinger, chief medical officer for Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. “With Omicron spreading rapidly, it is critical our community get the vaccine and the booster as soon as possible and continue masking in public to help minimize COVID-19 symptoms and severity. This has an important impact on reducing hospitalizations and emergency room overcrowding.” The crisis caused by the increase in COVID-19 infections is also leading to increased wait times in the health system’s emergency departments. Adding to the crowding are people inappropriately seeking tests for COVID-19 at the emergency department, rather than going to one of the many test sites around the region, including one led by the Maryland Department of Health at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. “While we are always here for serious illness and injuries, we are asking the community to avoid the Emergency Department for non-life-threatening issues,” said Dr. Sunil Madan, chief medical officer at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. “For COVID-19 tests and less severe illnesses and injuries, patients should visit their primary care provider or go to an urgent care center.” There are a number of ways the community can help, including: In addition to getting vaccinated and boosted, practice the 3W’s to stop the spread. Wear your mask, watch your distance, and wash your hands. Use the emergency room for true medical emergencies, not for minor injuries or COVID testing. If you have COVID-19 and are experiencing minor symptoms, please stay at home and contact your primary care physician if you have questions. Frequently Asked Questions What does crisis standards of care mean? Crisis standards of care protocols are put into place when there is a need to extend the availability of key resources, while also minimizing the impact of shortages on clinical care. These protocols have been prepared and approved in advance so that we can quickly implement them in times of crisis. This is the first time in the history of Luminis Health that we have implemented these plans. What changes for patients? It’s important to note that patients with serious illness and injury should continue to access needed care at Luminis Health. Our focus will be on care for the sickest patients who truly require inpatient hospital treatment. Those with less serious conditions should avoid the emergency departments and seek care from their primary care provider or an urgent care center. Patients can expect longer wait times for all services and increased limitations on visitors and communication with loved ones. We plan to increase the use of telemedicine to triage the need for in-person clinic appointments. What does it mean for staff? During this period, staff may be redeployed or asked to change regular protocols in order to better care for the sickest patients. These changes may include the frequency of imaging studies, expedited transfer and discharge processing, streamlined documentation, and the use of telemedicine to triage patients before scheduling inpatient clinic appointments. Surgeries will be limited to urgent cases that cannot otherwise be managed with more conservative measures, and the emergency department will be reserved for those with life-threatening illnesses and injuries. Can someone still go to Luminis Health when they need care? We are always here for those with serious illnesses and injuries. During this time, we ask those with less serious needs to go to their primary care doctor or an urgent care center. Because we are caring for so many with COVID-19, we have fewer staff and fewer beds available for those with other needs, so surgeries may be postponed. We are working diligently to get back to normal care protocols as soon as possible. How long will the crisis protocols be in place? It is difficult to know when the need for crisis standards of care will abate. Gov. Hogan has stated that the next four to six weeks could be a very difficult time for the state of Maryland, and the pandemic models we are seeing form the CDC and other trusted sources support this. The Incident Command teams at Luminis Health are closely monitoring the evolving situation and making decisions accordingly. What can the community do to help? The most important things the community can do is to take care of themselves. Get vaccinated and boosted. Practice the 3Ws – wear a mask, watch your distance and wash your hands. During this crisis, we ask those with less serious needs to go to their primary care doctor or an urgent care center rather than the emergency departments. Patients within the emergency department should understand that our staff is working at peak capacity, and there may be longer wait times or differences in care experience. All Luminis Health care teams are focused on being able to provide the highest quality, safe care to those who need it the most.0
- News & Press Releases, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLuminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center is partnering with the Maryland Department of Health and the Maryland National Guard to provide a free COVID-19 testing site, opening Friday, December 31 at 9 a.m. “We know during this holiday season and into the New Year, our community is looking for COVID-19 testing,” said Sherry Perkins, president Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. “We are proud to be partnering with the Maryland Department of Health and the Maryland National Guard to offer this location to our community.” The testing site will run seven days per week, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., including New Year’s Day, until further notice. The no-cost testing site, located at the Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center South Pavilion, 2001 Medical Pkwy, in Annapolis, will be walk-ups only, no scheduling or appointments needed, no physician order required, and will consist of PCR lab tests, which take 24-48 hours for results. Community members seeking COVID-19 testing at this location should park on levels seven and eight of parking garage A. Be sure to enter the complex from Jennifer Road. “We would like to remind everyone that our emergency rooms are at crisis levels,” said Dr. Stephen Selinger, chief medical officer for Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. “Please avoid the ER for non-life threatening issues and for COVID testing. We are encouraging our community members to visit this new testing site at the South Pavilion. Patients should visit urgent care centers or seek care with their primary care provider for all non-life threatening illnesses and injuries.” Monday, January 3, 2022, Luminis Health will resume testing for its pre-surgical patients and employees at its Sajak testing site. You MUST have provider order at this testing site. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 am – 5 pm, and Sat. 9 am- 1 pm. “In order to continue to streamline the testing for our patients and our employees, we will continue to have our employees and pre-surgical patients only receive their PCR testing at our Sajak second floor of the garage site,” said Peter Odenwald, chief operating officer for Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Clinical Enterprise. “This site still requires a physician’s order for testing. This will ensure we are able to sustain our hospital operations and reduce the risk of needing to cancel any cases due to a lag in test results.”0
- News & Press Releases, Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogDue to a significant increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations, Luminis Health is declaring contingency protocol at both its hospitals – Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center and Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. Since December 1, the healthcare system has seen a 325% increase in treating admitted patients with COVID-19, with 128 COVID-19 patients in its hospitals. This rise in hospitalizations, combined with ongoing staffing shortage, has made it imperative for the health system to take these measures to protect the safety of its workforce and patients. “Under our Emergency Operations Plan, we made the decision to shift to Contingency Standards of Care after careful consideration and discussion,” said Tori Bayless, CEO of Luminis Health. “While we remain committed to providing the best care at our hospitals, it is becoming increasingly challenging. We continue to work with other health systems, government leaders, and community partners to review our standards of care and strategize next steps, which may include declaring crisis-level standards of care. We need the community’s support now more than ever – please get vaccinated and boosted, and we encourage people to continue masking when outside their homes.” Contingency Standards of Care protocols are used in times of emergency, when the demand for healthcare is reaching a critical point of exceeding the ability of the health system to provide it without instituting special measures. Today’s measures may include adapting documentation requirements, adjusting and prioritizing surgical schedules, delaying non-life-threatening surgeries, and altering care delivery models to ensure our ability to care for patients. These standards of care are based on best practices and guided by ethical principles. “This is a response to another critical surge in COVID-19 cases, combined with the national staffing shortage that impacts our healthcare workers, who have been battling this pandemic tirelessly for almost two years,” said Dr. Sherry Perkins, president for Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. “With Omicron spreading rapidly across the country and in our own communities, the vaccine and booster provide protection and will minimize COVID-19 symptoms, as well as the severity of the disease if infected. This minimizing of severity has an important impact on reducing hospitalizations and emergency room overcrowding.” The majority of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 remain unvaccinated, which is putting a significant strain on the health system. This includes increased wait times in emergency rooms. “Our emergency rooms are approaching critical levels,” said Deneen Richmond, president at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center. “Please avoid the ER for non-life threatening issues. For COVID testing and all non-life threatening illnesses and injuries, patients should visit urgent care centers or seek care with their primary care provider. With that said, do not avoid getting care for more serious illness or injuries at the ER.” To find and schedule an appointment with a Luminis Health primary care provider, visit our website http://lhprimarycare.com With regard to surgical operations, effective Monday, January 3rd, all non-urgent surgeries that require an inpatient overnight stay will be postponed to a later date. Urgent and emergent surgeries, as well as ambulatory surgery (outpatient/same day surgery) will continue without impact. There are a number of ways the community can help sustain the strength of our hospitals and end this pandemic, including: In addition to getting vaccinated and boosted, practice the 3W’s to stop the spread. Wear your mask, watch your distance, and wash your hands. Avoid the emergency room for non-life threatening issues and for COVID testing. If you have COVID-19 and are experiencing minor symptoms, please stay at home and contact your primary care physician if you have questions. Avoid crowds and large gatherings. If this is impossible, wear a mask and maintain your distance. Luminis Health has administered 117,000 COVID-19 vaccines. Whether through mobile clinics or walk-in options, we are continuing to provide COVID-19 vaccines and boosters to all who need them now and in the future.0
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