VA Maryland Health Care System

Situation Update

As of Thursday, July 8, 2021 7:15 AM EDT

Mask Required in Health Care Facilities: At this time, masks are still required for both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated patients, employees, volunteers and visitors to all VA Maryland Health Care System facilities. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work together to provide the safest environment for our patients, employees, volunteers and visitors.

Philips Respironics announced a voluntary recall for certain CPAP, BiLevel PAP, and mechanical Ventilator Devices due to issues related to deterioration of the sound abatement foam used in these devices. 

For more information, go to: Philips CPAP Recall - VHA National Center for Patient Safety

COVID-19 Vaccine Options: Enrolled Veterans, their caregivers and spouses, and those authorized under the SAVE LIVES Act can get a COVID-19 vaccine from the VA Maryland Health Care System by visiting our website at www.maryland.va.gov for a listing of vaccine walk-in hours and locations, or by calling  410-605-7333 Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to schedule an appointment.

Have you received the vaccine outside of VA? Veterans who received the COVID vaccine outside of the VA Maryland Health Care System and want to have their vaccine reflected in their VA medical record need to provide evidence of vaccination, such as a completed CDC Vaccination Record card. Veterans can provide this information to their VA primary care team via secure messaging on My HealtheVet, during a virtual visit or in person if they already have a scheduled appointment.

Open for face-to-face appointments: All VA Maryland Health Care System sites are open for limited face-to-face scheduled clinic appointments.

Visitor Guidance: To protect our patients and staff from the spread of COVID-19, the following are new guidelines for limited visitation to acute care areas at the Baltimore VA Medical Center. Please note that the COVID-19 visitor restrictions remain in place for all Community Living Center (CLC) units, and family members should speak with their assigned Social Worker for the appropriate guidance.

• All visitors will be required to sign-in at the Information Desk and provide the name of the Veteran inpatient they will be visiting.
• All visitors will be required to wear a mask at all times while in a VA facility.

Visitor Guidance for Acute Care Units Only:

• One visitor per day
• Visitation must occur between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Visitors must restrict their movement to and from the patient’s room
• This visitation guidance is contingent upon the community positivity rate remaining less than 10 percent in Maryland. If the community positivity rate surges above 10 percent, this guidance will be subject to revision and a return to restricted access.
• All visitors will be required to wear a mask at all times while in a VA Maryland Health Care System facility.

Additional Visitor Guidance for Acute Care Units:

• Up to two visitors for end-of-life care and decision making
• One escort for patients being discharged from inpatient care
• One escort for medically compromised outpatients with a scheduled, onsite clinic appointment
• One visitor who has been asked by the inpatient care team to attend and be part of the treatment and discharge planning process
• Visitation to a patient with acute COVID-19 on a case-by-case basis after discussion with Infection Control
• All visitors be required to wear a mask at all times while in a VA Maryland Health Care System facility.

For updated information on COVID-19, please visit:

https://www.maryland.va.gov/COVID19.asp