The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) recently launched the UMB COVID-19 Hotline to connect on-campus UMB and UMMC employees, staff, and students with COVID-19 concerns to information and resources.
The hotline can be reached at 800-701-9863.
It is staffed by trained operators and registered nurses who welcome calls from:
- UMB essential on-campus employees: Employees, faculty, staff, or students working in University or affiliated organization buildings on campus, or clinical practices off campus
- UMMC employees, physicians, and staff
- Faculty Physicians, Inc., faculty and staff
- Students living in UMB Housing
Marianne Cloeren, MD, MPH, associate professor, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, says the idea for a hotline began materializing in January as different segments of the campus community recognized the need for a centralized COVID-19 response.
“Employees are worried,” she says. “They don't know where to go, what to do, whether they can get testing, whether they should come to work. This hotline will provide the resources they need.”
Callers should reach out to the hotline if they are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or if they have been exposed. Other reasons to call include:
- You receive a diagnosis of COVID-19
- A doctor recommends you quarantine
- A COVID-19 test is taken
- You have concerns about recent travel related to COVID-19
- You have questions about COVID-19
By calling, your situation will be documented so an infection prevention case manager can ensure the right employee health and infection team can start assisting with decisions about symptom monitoring, quarantine duration, contact tracing, and, when the time comes, returning to work.
Anne Williams, DNP, RN, director, Community Health Improvement, University of Maryland Medical System, hopes the hotline helps callers “get their questions answered and hopefully get some reassurance” during an uncertain time.
Employees and students not living or working on campus with coronavirus concerns should contact their primary care physician. Students also can call the UMB Student Health Center at 667-214-1899 for medical advice. Employees working remotely also should contact UMB Human Resource Services at 410-706-2606 to receive support.