American Cancer Society Baltimore Hope Lodge offers respite for UMMC health care workers amid COVID-19 surge

At a time when many health systems are turning to community partners for support, the American Cancer Society has stepped in to offer free housing at its Hope Lodges across the U.S. for health care staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. ACS is adapting to keep pace with the escalating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and now has room to provide temporary respite for health care workers during the crisis.

In March, the American Cancer Society (ACS) made the heartbreaking decision to suspend the program that offers housing to cancer patients at more than 30 Hope Lodge facilities across the country, including Baltimore Hope Lodge. After consultation with medical experts and CDC guidelines, ACS recognized it was no longer able to ensure patient safety as the coronavirus continued to rapidly spread across the country. As rooms sat empty, ACS recognized a need that could be filled by offering its Hope Lodges for free to health care workers during the crisis.

In Baltimore, ACS is partnering with the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) to provide rooms for its health care workers to stay overnight or rest in between shifts when it is impractical to go home. Baltimore Hope Lodge features 26 guest rooms, a great room, full kitchen and laundry facilities and is located at 636 West Lexington Street, next to the UMMC downtown campus.

“Our staff has been working tirelessly to care for patients fighting the COVID-19 virus while still caring for many patients with other medical conditions,” said Alison G. Brown, MPH, Interim President of the University of Maryland Medical Center Downtown Campus and President of the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus. “We are extremely grateful to the American Cancer Society for making Hope Lodge available as temporary housing for our clinical staff who might not be able to go home to their families after completing their shifts. The ACS has been a longtime partner of our Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, and we are most thankful to have their continued partnership during these very challenging times.”

In 2019, Hope Lodges across the U.S. provided more than 500,000 nights of free lodging to more than 29,000 guests, saving them a total of more than $50 million. Many patients of the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Maryland Proton Treatment Center have stayed at Hope Lodge while they are receiving treatment.

“The American Cancer Society had to make the heartbreaking decision to temporarily suspend our Hope Lodge services to cancer patients because a community living situation, as we have at the lodge, was too great a risk to cancer patients who are vulnerable and immuno-compromised,” said Tswana Sewell, executive director of the American Cancer Society, Maryland and Washington, DC. “The American Cancer Society’s mission has always been about saving lives and supporting our local communities, including the hospitals with which we partner, in any way we can. We are very grateful that by opening the doors of Baltimore Hope Lodge to University of Maryland Medical Center health care workers, we can do our part to meet an important need and help fight COVID-19. Conveniently, Baltimore Hope Lodge is located next door to the University of Maryland’s downtown campus.”

Cancer hasn’t stopped, and neither has the American Cancer Society

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, the American Cancer Society continues to be available, 24/7 as an invaluable resource for providing most accurate, up-to-date COVID-19 information at a time when cancer patients are more vulnerable than ever. “Nearly 80% of our incoming calls and live chats to our National Cancer Information Center during March were related to COVID-19,” states Sewell. “We have also moved many of our programs to a virtual platform, including Reach To Recovery, Cancer Survivors Network, Springboard Beyond Cancer, Personal Health Manager, “tlc” – Tender Loving Care®, Caregiver Video Series and Patient Navigation.

Those looking for cancer resources can reach the American Cancer Society’s National Cancer Information Center 24/7 at 800.227.2345 or find information, including how to give, at www.cancer.org. To donate specifically to the #HopeLodge program, go to www.cancer.org/hopelodgefund.