Connect

The winter storm that rolled through our area on Jan. 2 and 3 caused power outages across town and disrupted normal operations in all of our mission areas. However, we managed the crisis like we always do: as a team.

Your colleagues across UVA Health stepped up in many ways. Here's what team members shared with us.

(If you want to share a shoutout, it's not too late! Email the Connect team. Details at the bottom of this article.)

Katie Fellows, Director, Patient Friendly Access: "The Contact Center team spends the night when we have inclement weather. I know the IP teams do this as part of their everyday jobs but this not part of the normal expectations for the Contact Center team. Normally, they have 3 shifts for the team members to include overnight at McKim Hall, but yesterday we had several team members that could not get to work. Patty Frye, Shirley Cromer, and Dana Bishop brought in air mattresses and spent the night to ensure that the phones got answered. To me, this is such an awesome example of extraordinary, above and beyond performance."

Tina Knicely, RN, Ambulatory Manager 2, Northridge Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital RN Care Coordinators, UVA Children’s Hospital Clinics: "The Northridge Building holds many clinics (one being General Pediatrics) and was out of power from Monday until Friday afternoon. Rather than canceling pediatric appointments, the Children’s Hospital leadership team suggested the patients come to the Battle Building (thinking it would only last one day). The 6th floor already has a general pediatric clinic in addition to multiple specialty care clinics, so it made sense to have them on the 6th floor. Space for providers and patients is very limited in the Battle Building and adding an additional team and patients took a lot of creative planning which had to happen quickly to allow for time to notify patients.  However, the 6th floor healthcare team rallied together each day that Northridge was without power (Tuesday through Friday) to accommodate the extra team members and patients. It’s like putting a 20-pound sausage into a 10 pound bag. The 6th floor Battle Building team welcomed and accommodated the Northridge Peds team and patients with a “can-do attitude!” The patients were appreciative to be able to keep their appointments and a bond was formed between the two teams. Very proud of the teams of the UVA Children’s Hospital!"

Maggie Liptrap, Office Manager, UVA Dermatology, Waynesboro: "I would like to give a shout out to Harry Devore with UPG Facilities Management. Harry is always attending to all our clinic’s needs, with regards to maintenance, wanting things hung on the wall, fixing things, etc. — but during the past week of inclement weather Harry went out in the middle of the night to check the weather-related situations at all our clinics, arranged for the parking lots and sidewalks to be employee- and patient-safe by the time we opened, with plowing and salting, and was still in good spirits at our 6:15 a.m. check-in calls. While this is part of Harry’s job, it is a hard job and I feel he should be recognized for the great job he did and his role in excellent patient care!"

Jon Howard, RN Administrative Coordinator: "I want to recognize all the Facilities people who were out here starting early Monday morning clearing sidewalks and roadways for the rest of us to be able to come in. I was in at 7:30 on Monday morning, and the sidewalks were already being plowed and salt was already being applied. Trees had been damaged already, too, and the Facilities groups were already starting to clear them, too. Thank you!"

Dora Irvin, LPN: "I work in Breast Care Center Pantops and want to recognize Joann Philips, RN, as she was one of the two nurses who made it into work, and (while the clinic closed after her arrival) she aided in calling patients to inform of the clinic closure, as well as other needs, like phone calls, etc."

Janice Guinn, RN, Breast Care Center: "I would like to send a shout-out to Dora Irvin, LPN, and Joann Phillips, RN coordinator. They both came into the clinic Monday during the snow storm. It took Dora over an hour to arrive through all the heavy snow, but she was dedicated to showing up for our patients. They stayed when the clinic closed due a power outage and ensured all patients were updated on our operating status via phone calls! We are very thankful for them both."

Holly Roach, Director, and Pam Robertson, Nurse Manager: "Marissa Thompson, RN, Cardiac Transition Unit (CTU) worked at the Louisa Warming Shelter on 1/6 as a volunteer RN for people without power in addition to her scheduled hours in her unit for the week. We would like to see her recognized for her commitment to her community in a time of need."

Muzet Felgar, PFA Supervisor: "All ECCCC PFA- Check-in, Check-Out, Initial visit, and follow-up schedulers, and Infusion team! It was an unprecedented week with winter weather and thousands of power outages. The entire team at ECCCC came together for the patients; especially the PFA team who made 100’s of calls and reschedules and answered a few thousand incoming calls, as well. The Cancer Center services a special group of patients and it is very important that their care is timely. Many of on our team made it into work even though they were dealing with serious personal adversities, such as loss of electricity, downed trees, home damage and much more. They came in and handled an overwhelming workload on top of their own personal hardships. ECCCC Oncology PFA made it possible for patients to be cared for appropriately and efficiently according to each patient’s needs (along with the entire clinical and provider teams guidance — THANK YOU!) It was especially touching to see how, when one team member was not able to get in or had to deal with some adversity, another one took up that work so that the standard of care we provide did not go adrift. It took the entirety of the whole building’s staff (leaders, providers, clinical, and access associates) to accomplish the work necessary last week, but I am especially thankful for this team of PFA Access Associates and the way they handled the entire week. They went above and beyond for the patients and for each other."

Richard Hooper, Director, Inpatient Imaging, Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging: "I want to express my appreciation for Derek Wilson, Facilities Management. Over the years, I’ve found Derek to be exceptionally responsive to facility issues; especially those that negatively impact our ability to image patients.

• On one occasion I contacted Derek very early in the morning regarding a lack of chilled water supplying one of our MRI scanners. Derek responded to my page right away, diagnosed the problem, and identified that the service engineer failed to follow protocol. This allowed us to get things back up and running and correct the issue with the vendor. 
• Recently, we had another chilled water issue in the hospital for which I texted Derek late in the evening due to a lack of resources. Again, he quickly responded to my call and secured the proper resources to fix the problem. 
• Just today, there was an unanticipated water outage that could have been detrimental to CT operations. Derrick identified an issue related to a general contractor straying a bit off course as it relates to the defined work. I appreciated his transparency and his quick action to get the situation under control.   

On each and every occasion, Derek was prompt in his response, courteous, thoughtful, and positive.  In my view, his work ethic and commitment to the organization never waivers and I am thankful to have him serving the needs of our department and our organization.  THANK YOU, DEREK!"

Siobhan Townsend, LPN: "Dora Irvin, LPN, JoAnn Phillips, RN, Joan Devault, LPN, Breast Care Center. These fine ladies here braved the weather at the beginning of week to come into our clinic! The clinic ended up being closed both days but they spent time helping out their Fellow PFA coworkers in calling patients to let them know our clinic would be closed and Dora went to Emily Couric on Tuesday to help them out. I want to make sure their time and effort has been recognized!"

Ann Hague: "A special shout out and thank you to a couple (he works in Pharmacy, and she works in the MICU) that picked me up on Avon when I couldn’t get my car out of my neighborhood. It was 630 in the morning, I was walking along Avon — multiple other cars passed me, but this couple stopped and asked how they could help. They were headed to work at UVA too — and readily offered me a ride. I lost their names, but want them to know how much their good-Samaritan help meant to me." 

Donna Cooper, Administrative Specialist: "We appreciate Latonie Stinnie. Tonya just joined our team Nov. 1 here in the ID Badge Office. In this office there are quite a few different databases that you have to learn to use. Our office is always busy with new employees, lost badges, transfers with long lines many times — not to mention door- and badge-reader issues. During the Winter Storm, my other coworker and I could not make it in but Latonie did. Latonie, being new to the office and only had two months of training with a lot of new databases along with badge policies, did a marvelous job. Without Tonya being here and her being such a quick learner, I am not sure how the Badge Office would have handled the Winter Weather Storm. Kudos Latonie! We in the ID Badge Office really appreciate you and welcome to our team!"

Thank you to all who submitted shoutouts for their colleagues. If you know someone (or a group) who went above and beyond the storm, it's not too late to recognize them. Email the Connect team a few brief items, including:

• Your name and title.
• The name(s), title(s), and area/unit of those whom you wish to recognize.
• The reason for the shoutout. (A few sentences describing what your coworker(s) did and how they did it? Why was this special and who or how did it help?)

It's been a tough couple of weeks. Thank you to all helped us get through it!