Statement From UMMS Leadership on System Compliance with COVID Vaccine Requirements

As of October 1 2021, 98% of full and part-time clinical staff and over 96% of all team members at the University of Maryland Medical System are in full compliance with our mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirement, making UMMS the first large health system in the State to reach this important milestone. This represents significant progress and we are grateful for all the UMMS team members who have made the decision to get vaccinated.

In health care, keeping our patients and colleagues as safe as possible is our first and highest responsibility, and the overwhelming body of scientific evidence tells us that vaccines are one of the most effective tools we have to prevent infection, hospitalization and death from COVID-19.  Over the next 30 days, we will work with those unvaccinated team members who are now on administrative leave to get them vaccinated and back to work as soon as possible. 

High rates of vaccination have reduced and prevented absences related to illness and quarantine in our workforce and have proven to be a very important stabilizing force in helping to keep team members at work, in our hospitals, caring for our patients. At this time, only 2% of our non-compliant team members are full- or part-time employees in clinical roles, and due to our careful planning and diligent work, we do not anticipate any significant disruption to the services provided in our hospitals. 

By far, the biggest challenge facing UMMS and all hospitals are the large numbers of unvaccinated COVID-19 patients we are caring for across our state. This is why we urge Marylanders to become fully vaccinated as soon as possible. Doing so is an act of compassion and selflessness that will allow our incredible nurses, doctors and other care providers to stay focused on safely providing the best possible care to every patient in our System.

• The statement above is from Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Maryland Medical System.

The Board of Directors for the University of Maryland Medical System expresses its sincere appreciation and admiration for the selflessness that our workforce has shown throughout this pandemic and stands in support and recognition of all frontline health care workers everywhere.  Reaching near 100% compliance is a testament to our workforce’s dedication to our mission of caring for Marylanders. We are grateful to our System and local leaders that worked diligently to share the science behind these vaccines and the importance of vaccinations in keeping our patients safe.

• The statement above is from James “Chip” DiPaula, Jr, Board Chair, University of Maryland Medical System