Connect

This monthly community newsletter from Dr. Mitchell Rosner, Acting Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, highlights how UVA Health serves our patients and the community. To stay up to date on operations, clinical services, and research efforts featured in UVA Health Community Update, subscribe here.

This month’s newsletter highlights both our progress and some of the pressures we are addressing at UVA Health. You’ll find an important update on how we’re working to improve access to care — an issue that has affected many patients and their families. I’ve also included insights from two of our mental health experts on supporting children and teens who may be struggling, along with news about the planned expansion of our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at UVA Health Children’s. Thank you for staying connected with us!

News Feature

We Hear You: Patient Access Is a Challenge, and We’re Committed to Doing Better

As one of the largest academic health systems in the region, UVA Health serves a broad geographic area. Many patients travel from across Virginia and neighboring states to receive care — primarily at UVA Health University Medical Center, but increasingly at our clinics and hospitals across the Commonwealth. Our clinical and specialty services are in high demand, and we know that delays in access have become a growing source of frustration. We want to acknowledge this clearly: it’s not the experience we want for our patients, and we are committed to improving.

Some of the challenges we face are structural. We’re based in a mid-sized community with constrained space for care. Like many health systems nationwide, hiring for key roles can be difficult.

Even so, we are taking meaningful steps. We have added an average of 150 new physicians within the School of Medicine each year for the past three years, and we have hired more Advance Practice Providers across the entire health system. We’re working to better use the clinical space we have and exploring new ambulatory sites to increase our access capacity overall, but also to bring care closer to home. We’re expanding telehealth, streamlining referrals, and offering more direct online scheduling options for patients. We’re also adopting digital tools to support more efficient care and rethinking how we work — ensuring every team member, from physicians to administrative staff, operates at the top of their training.

There is no quick fix for meaningful change, but there is a path forward. We are listening, and we are acting with urgency and purpose to improve the care experience for every patient and community we serve.

Other News

Supporting Children’s Mental Health: Expert Advice for Parents and Caregivers

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of the importance of mental health care. At UVA Health, we see this growing need — particularly among our young patients, who are increasingly navigating anxiety, depression, attention-related challenges, and other conditions. I asked Caitlin Anderson, PhD, a psychologist who works in UVA Health Children’s Birdsong Pediatric Primary Care Clinic, and Melanie Morse, PhD, a psychologist who specializes in working with children with chronic illness and their families, to lend their expertise in the following Q&A. Their responses educated me, and I hope you will also feel better equipped to tackle these issues. 

Q: What are early warning signs of mental health challenges in children? 
A: Changes in mood, sleep, appetite, social withdrawal (spending too much time alone in their room), or a drop in school performance can all be signs that a child is struggling.

Q: Why does it seem so many kids and teens are struggling with anxiety and depression these days? 
A: Kids today face a mix of academic pressure, social media influence, family stress, less outdoor play, and post-pandemic changes — all of which can contribute to increased emotional distress. We have made a lot of progress reducing the stigma associated with mental health, so many kids and families feel more comfortable talking about these issues and reaching out for support. 

Q: How can I talk to my child about mental health? 
A: Start early by having simple, honest conversations with your kids. Create a safe, open environment where discussions about feelings are welcomed and not judged. Books can be a fun and neutral way to introduce and talk about different emotions. Be sure to use age-appropriate language and normalize different emotions by showing that it’s OK to talk about feelings and ask for help. One of the most helpful things you can do is model healthy expression of your emotions. Our kids learn so much by watching what we do. Encourage your kids to ask questions when they are curious or unsure.

Q: When should parents consider interventions for their child? 
A: If your child’s behavior or emotional state is consistently affecting their daily functioning or relationships, it’s a good idea to talk with their pediatrician or a mental health professional. Additionally, if parents or caregivers are having a hard time managing behaviors at home, it can be good to talk with a professional to get ideas and support. 

UVA Health Children’s Expands NICU to Meet Growing Demand for Specialized Newborn Care

As the No. 1 children’s hospital in Virginia, UVA Health Children’s has become a trusted destination for families across Virginia and beyond — and we are proud to provide the region’s most advanced neonatal intensive care. This spring, we announced an exciting and much-needed expansion of our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to meet growing demand and ensure that more newborns with complex and life-threatening conditions can access the care they need. Our current 60-bed NICU is routinely at capacity, and we are often unable to accept transfers from hospitals across our large service area. By adding 40 new beds — bringing our total to 100 — we will significantly increase our ability to care for more patients.

This expansion, scheduled to open in 2028, will strengthen our nationally recognized NICU and ensure more infants benefit from our expert team, 24/7 coverage, and advanced technology. It also sets the stage for future expansion of our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), which also regularly operates at full capacity. We are honored to care for your children, and we appreciate your support and trust.

National Recognition Highlights Nursing Excellence at University Medical Center

I’m proud to share that UVA Health University Medical Center has once again earned Magnet® re-designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center — the highest national honor for nursing excellence. Fewer than 10% of hospitals nationwide achieve this recognition. This re-designation is the result of an extensive review process, including a rigorous application and a four-day site visit with 115 interviews and more than 1,200 participants. The lead appraiser shared that the excellence they observed here was unmatched in more than a decade of Magnet reviews. That’s an incredible reflection of the skill, compassion, and professionalism that define our nursing team — and our entire care team — every day. Our team was recognized for high-impact outcomes in outpatient care, exceptional inpatient experiences, and a nursing workforce with strong professional degree and certification attainment. 

If you or a loved one has ever been cared for at University Medical Center, you’ve likely experienced firsthand the dedication of our nurses — or you may know someone who serves on this exceptional team. This recognition isn’t just a badge of honor for us; it’s a promise to the community that we are committed to meeting the highest national standards and delivering safe, compassionate, and expert care.

In Closing

Thank you for reading this month’s update. At UVA Health, we remain focused on listening, improving, and delivering the care our patients and communities deserve. I look forward to sharing more progress with you in the months ahead.

With best wishes, 

Mitch

Mitchell H. Rosner, MD, MACP, FRCP
Acting Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, University of Virginia
Henry B. Mulholland Professor of Medicine