Important Note on Bridge Teams
There have been reports of nursing facilities attempting to recruit and hire members of the State's Bridge teams.
Bridge teams and the members who make them up are not for hire at the facilities. As you know, Bridge teams cover any potential staffing shortage due to the mandated universal COVID-19 testing of nursing home residents and staff.
A Bridge team provides continuity of care for residents when staffing falls below required levels. Each Bridge team includes a registered nurse and five to seven aides per 12-hour shift who can care for up to 100 residents per shift for four days. The goal is to give the nursing home time to hire temporary staff to cover for COVID-19 positive staff during the 14-day isolation period.
The Bridge teams are deployed for four days where needed in the region they are assigned too. They get three days off between deployments. They are to either be deployed or ready to deploy.
This system was set up by the State to help supplement and support staffing in healthcare facilities across Maryland.
It will not work if facilities continue trying to recruit Bridge team members. We need these teams available to help centers in need during this crisis. Please do not attempt to recruit Bridge team members.
Thank you for all you and your teams are doing! For more information on Bridge teams,
click here. And for additional FAQs about nursing facility orders and support efforts,
click here.
