A COVID Year — Looking Back with Md. Hospital Association CEO Bob Atlas

One year ago, Maryland got its first known case of COVID-19. There have been 7,740 confirmed deaths in Maryland since. As infection rates spiked last spring, the state’s 46 acute-care hospitals had to expand their capacity, increase staffing, hunt down equipment and supplies, and manage unprecedented testing programs — all while trying to keep staff from becoming ill or burned-out. Reporter Bruce DePuyt spoke with Bob Atlas, president and CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association this week. The conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity.