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COVID 19: Resources for Physicians and Patients

The following guidance is drawn primarily from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) resources for health care professionals on COVID-19. Additional information is provided based on resources from the American Medical Association, MedChi, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Maryland Health Care Commission, and the Baltimore County Department of Health and Human Services. We recommend always referring to both MDH and CDC guidance for the most recent information clinical information.  We have resources for your business from the Small Business Development Center and the Small Business Administration.  You will find a resource list below with reference links.

Resources for Physicians

MedChi coronavirus resource center has information for physicians on a multitude of clinical, business and regulatory concerns from Federal government relief, American Medical Association direction, Maryland Department of Health advice, HIPAA concerns, Human Resources, and novel coronavirus clinical advice and FAQs.

Road to Reopening Your Medical Office

With the Govenor Hogan’s announcement allowing the resumption of elective surgery on the morning of May 7, 2020, you will want to read the Maryland Secretary of Health’s amendment and order regarding various health matters and elective surgery resumption, including how a to certify that conditions for resumption of elective and non-urgent medical procedures have been met prior to resuming operations.

Template for self-certification for reopening your office.

For additional advice on full reopening of your practice, please refer to the AAD’s website for the six steps and checklist to reopening your practice during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Roadmap for Resuming Elective Surgery after COVID-19 Pandemic

Personal Protective Equipment Resources

Requesting Emergency Equipment and Supplies: The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) is working closely with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to organize emergency suppliers of equipment and services that will help respond to the COVID-19 crisis. The Baltimore County Department of Health has this list of vendors on their site.

The following are vendors who can provide PPE items:

Telehealth Resources

From MedChi

From the American Medical Association (AMA)

From the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

From Private Payors

From SimpleVisit

From DrFirst

Remote Patient Monitoring Vendors

  • This list summarizes the key functionality of the various remote patient monitoring products as reported by the vendors on their own websites. Please note, the BCMA has not vetted these companies; this information is provided as a reference document for physicians seeking to implement remote patient monitoring into their practice. The listing is divided into companies who provide multi-condition remote monitoring functionality and those focused on monitoring a specific condition (e.g. diabetes, cardiac output, pain management).

From the Maryland Department of Health (MDH)

From the Maryland Healthcare Commission (MHCC)

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Telemedicine Webinars – American Telemedicine Association
The ATA has a regular new webinar series on a variety of topics relating to telehealth, virtual care, and COVID-19.


Questions about telehealth
The use of Telehealth during the coronavirus outbreak is highly encouraged and any physician that needs assistance setting that up for their office can contact Colleen George with the MedChi Center for the Private Practice of Medicine cgeorge@medchi.org.

Important update from CMS about telehealth from home
3/26/20 Physicians can provide telehealth services from their home. The AMA has received clarification from CMS that physicians do not have to add their home to their Medicare enrollment file.  We expect CMS to update FAQ #11 (PDF) soon.

Other helpful telehealth information

Business Resources

COVID 19 Business Relief Resources – Both of these programs are closed due to depleted funds and the unprecedented submission of applications already received.

Read Updated Progam Information: What you need to know about the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Grant (EIDL) – Both of these programs are closed due to depleted funds and the unprecedented submission of applications already received.

The BCMA has created a page to discuss these two programs and give you directions and links where appropriate on how to apply. You can read that information here.

Additional Assistance for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Grants

Human Resources

Clinical Resources

Handouts for your patients

The CDC has created a handout for medical practices to make available for concerned patients. Visit the CDC’s web page of printable handouts and posters.


Patient Resources

As a Baltimore County resident, you are encouraged to protect yourself and your loved ones from respiratory viruses like the novel Coronavirus by practicing good hygiene. Everyday actions include:  washing your hands thoroughly, covering your cough, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, and staying home from work or school if you are not feeling well. If you have the symptoms below call your physician first.  Do not go to your physician’s office or travel to a hospital emergency room.

COVID-19 is thought to be able to spread like the cold or flu through:

  • Coughing and sneezing, which creates respiratory droplets
  • Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
  • Touching an object or surface with the virus on it

Symptoms of COVID-19 include:

  • Fever
  • Coughing
  • Shortness of breath
  • In more severe cases, pneumonia (infection in the lungs)

The vast majority of people recover from this infection. Most people will have mild or moderate symptoms. Older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions have a greater risk for more serious illness.

Other patient resources

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