University of Maryland Medical System

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The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is a private, not-for-profit corporation founded in 1984 and based in Baltimore, Maryland. It owns and operates 11 hospitals (as of 2023) in Maryland, 4 free-standing emergency rooms and over 150 care locations, including a network of urgent care centers.[1] The System has more than 2,400 licensed beds, 100,000 annual admissions and gross patient revenues of $4.86 billion annually.[2] University of Maryland Medical System medical staff work with University of Maryland School of Medicine specialists to provide primary and specialty care across the state.

History[edit]

In 1823, the University of Maryland Medical System originated as the Baltimore Infirmary formed by the faculty of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The Infirmary became the University of Maryland Hospital in 1897. Formerly a State institution, University Hospital, in 1984 affiliated with the newly created University of Maryland Medical System. The System was established by the General Assembly in 1984 as a private, nonprofit corporation (Chapter 288, Acts of 1984). It reformed as the University of Maryland Medical System Corporation in 1996.[3]

Major components of the University of Maryland Medical System include:

UMMS Hospitals[edit]

R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center[edit]

The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center (also known as Shock Trauma) is the world's first center dedicated to saving lives of people with severe, life-threatening injuries sustained in motor vehicle collisions, violent crimes and other traumatic incidents.[4]

Shock Trauma has more than 100 inpatient beds dedicated to emergency surgery, resuscitation, intensive care, and acute surgical care. The trauma staff treat more than 7,500 critically injured patients each year who arrive by helicopter or ambulance.[5]

It is named after its founder, R Adams Cowley, M.D., who came up with the concept of the "golden hour" — that lives can be saved when trauma patients receive appropriate care within one hour of their injury. Shock Trauma trains physicians and medical personnel from locations overseas and throughout the United States.[5]

Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center[edit]

The University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC) is designated by the National Cancer Institute as one of the top cancer centers in the country[6] UMGCCC is known for providing coordinated care from teams of specialists—medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, pathologists, nurses and other team members who have expertise in particular types of cancer—who consult on each patient's case and develop a joint treatment plan.[7]

UMGCCC also is known as a center with expertise in laboratory and clinical research. UMGCCC researchers actively participate in new drug development, and the center offers more than 100 clinical trials.

University of Maryland Children's Hospital[edit]

With 16 locations across Maryland, the University of Maryland Children's Hospital (UMCH) provides care for serious and complex health problems in infants, children, teens, and young adults aged 0–21[8][9] and sometimes up until 25[10] throughout Maryland. UMCH has its own pediatric pharmacy and emergency room, and is also very active in children's health care research.[11]


Successful cases[edit]

In January 2022, researchers and clinicians at the University of Maryland Medical System's flagship hospital successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig heart into a 57-year-old man, David Bennett Sr., for the first time in history.[12][13]

Healthy Holly Controversy[edit]

University of Maryland Medical Center in Downtown Baltimore

In 2019, Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh became the center of a controversy related to a payment of $500,000 from the University of Maryland Medical System for the purchase of her Healthy Holly self-published books. This no-bid payment was controversial because the years of payments coincided with her tenure as head of a health committee in the Maryland State Senate and as mayor of Baltimore. Mayor Pugh also served on the Board of Directors of the University of Maryland Medical System. She did not disclose the payments or recuse herself from votes and decisions involving the medical system and the wider Healy Holly Controversy led to her resignation and eventual criminal conviction.

Maryland legislative leaders and the Medical System pledged to reform the practice of giving large contracts to board of directors due to the conflict it poses to their decision-making. [14]. By January 2020, the University of Maryland Medical System had replaced almost all members of its Board of Directors and its senior executives, appointing Dr. Mohan Suntha as its new President and Chief Executive officer. [15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "University of Maryland Medical System Web site".
  2. ^ "University of Maryland Medical System Fact Sheet" (PDF).
  3. ^ {{Cite web|url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/25ind/priv/html/medf.html |title=Maryland Manual On-line}
  4. ^ Dance, Scott. "Inside the action at Shock Trauma". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  5. ^ a b "History of the Shock Trauma Center". www.umms.org. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  6. ^ "National Cancer Institute's Cancer Center's List". Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  7. ^ "About UMGCCC". www.umms.org. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  8. ^ "Behavior and Developmental Pediatrics - University of Maryland Hospital for Children". www.umms.org. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  9. ^ "University of Maryland Pediatrics | Baltimore". www.umms.org. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  10. ^ "Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine - University of Maryland Hospital for Children". www.umms.org. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  11. ^ "UMMS 2016 Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Man gets genetically-modified pig heart in world-first transplant". BBC News. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  13. ^ Rabin, Roni Caryn (10 January 2022). "In a First, Man Receives a Heart From a Genetically Altered Pig". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  14. ^ Richman, Doug Donovan, Talia. "Baltimore Mayor Pugh amends financial disclosure filings amid scrutiny over book sales to UMMS hospital system". The Baltimore Sun.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "University of Maryland Medical System taps new CEO following tumultuous year". {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)

External links[edit]