GBMC To Test More Patients For Virus As Elective Procedures Begin

TOWSON, MD — Coronavirus patients are few at GBMC, the hospital's CEO reported this week. He delivered the news as the medical center prepares to begin offering elective medical procedures again.

"We've been doing urgent and emergency procedures all along — a dozen to 15 surgeries a day," GBMC President/CEO John B. Chessare reported Thursday. In March hospitals and state health officials began restricting their elective offerings to ensure people were not putting themselves at risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

Gov. Larry Hogan lifted restrictions May 7 that had prevented hospitals from performing elective or non-urgent medical procedures, with the stipulation that various protocols had to be in place to ensure there was enough personal protective gear available.

Everyone having an elective procedure will have to get a test for the coronavirus within 72 hours before the procedure at GBMC, Chessare said.

Several tents have been set up on the campus, one of which will be used starting Monday, May 18, to screen patients before elective medical procedures.

"We have to make sure that every patient that is coming for a procedure is not infected with COVID-19," Chessare said.

Currently, GBMC has nine patients who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, Chessare reported Thursday. Nine other patients are awaiting test results, he said.

Only one of the nine COVID-19 patients required mechanical ventilation, Chessare said.

At GBMC, several precautions are in place to prevent the spread of the virus:

• Temperature checks will be required to enter campus, and people will be asked whether they have symptoms of the virus.
• Face masks will be required in common areas on the campus. "Some people will have COVID-19 and not yet realize it," Chessare said. "They won't have any symptoms, and the facial coverings are to protect others."

He assured people the hospital was taking precautions.

"GBMC is safe. If you need care, please contact us, and we will provide it," he said.

"Obviously if we are seeing outbreaks ... or the risk of COVID-19 goes up significantly," he said the hospital would reevaluate elective procedures.

"Please do not stay at home with significant needs that are not being met," Chessare said. "There is work going on."