Breaking News: New Bivalent Booster Vaccines for COVID Coming Soon

Today, the Federal Drug Administration granted Emergency Use Authorizations to the bivalent — or updated — COVID-19 booster vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna. An advisory group of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet on Sept. 1 to decide who will be eligible to receive the boosters and when. Manufacturers expect to begin shipments in mid-September. Updated boosters include mRNA components designed to offer broad protection against the original strain of COVID-19 and the omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. The new boosters will be made available to team members and patients as soon as possible. At this time, receipt of boosters will be an option, not a requirement, for team members.

Related News: UVA Health Prepares to Administer Flu, Monkeypox, and New COVID Booster Shots A busy vaccination season lies ahead for UVA Health. Planning is underway for the administration of flu, monkeypox, and the new COVID booster shots to team members, patients, and our community. Read about what is planned on Connect.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 2:21 p.m. Aug. 31)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Aug. 31)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources

Operations

Labor Day Holiday | Monday, Sept. 5

• Clinics Closed | All UVA Health clinics will be closed.
• Parking and Transportation Modifications | The University Transit Service bus and Health System Transit shuttle service will not operate on Sept. 5. The Medical Center Courtesy Shuttle will operate on the weekend schedule, running every 60 minutes from 7:20 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. UtoCar will operate normally. Please note, University Transit Bus and Health System Transit shuttle will operate normally on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Parking is available for team members in the South Garage on Crispell Drive and 11th Street Garage (level D and above only) on Sept. 5.
• UVA Health Update on Hiatus | The UVA Health Update will not be sent on Monday, Sept. 5. The Update will resume on Wednesday, Sept 7.

Medical Center CEO Blog: We’re Improving Child Care Options

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, shares how UVA Health is making changes to better assist team members with their child care needs, including increasing enrollment at the Malcolm Cole Child Care Center. Read more.

Construction Alert | Lane Road

Saturday, Sept. 10 | 7 a.m.-noon | Lane Road will be partially closed between the hospital’s loading dock and Crispell Drive and will impact M11 permit holders. Parallel parking in front of MR-4 will be closed during this time and access to the loading dock will be limited. Pedestrians should use the sidewalk on Lane Road in front of MR-4. ​​The remainder of M11 will remain available. 

Human Resources

UVA Health Returning to In-Person New Hire Orientation

UVA Health new-hire orientation will be returning to in-person sessions over the next few months. Please note that that the timeline for this change varies for different groups:

• Medical Center new hires will return to in-person orientation on Monday, Sept. 19.
• UVA Physicians Group new hires, School of Medicine new hires, UVA Health temps, and UVA Health RN and tech travelers are currently slated to return to in-person orientation beginning Jan. 9, 2023.

Details are subject to change based on room availability and other in-person logistics. More information is available in the UVA HR announcement, and additional details will be communicated by email in the coming weeks.

Open Enrollment Begins Oct. 3

Benefits-eligible team members will have access to open enrollment in Workday from Monday, Oct. 3, to Friday, Oct. 14, to review and plan benefits for 2023. Now is the time to carefully consider options and ask questions. For details, refer to the Aug. 31 email from HR or visit Connect. 

Join the 1% Challenge

Wednesday, Sept. 7, to Friday, Oct. 7 | Earn $50 in Hoos Well rewards by spending 14 minutes a day for 25 days mastering mindfulness skills scientifically proven to improve your health, happiness, and performance. Through the challenge, you'll have the support of experienced teachers and online resources. Learn more. 

Happenings

Physicians and APPs: Get a New Provider Directory Headshot (Note: Time Change for Next Wednesday)

Physicians and advanced practice providers who need a headshot (or updated one) for the provider directory are asked to stop by to get their photo taken. No appointment is needed. The shoot should take 10 minutes or less. Please bring a white coat if you have one; if not, one will be provided. Walk-in dates are as follows:

• McKim Hall | Ground Floor | Room G045
  • Wednesday, Sept. 7 | 2-4:30 p.m. (Note: time change)
  • Friday, Sept. 16 | 7:30-10:30 a.m.
  • Monday, Sept. 19 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Thursday, Sept. 29 | 9 a.m.-noon
• Fontaine 450 | Aurbach Medical Research Building | Room 1229
• Thursday, Sept. 15 | 3-6 p.m.

Now Open: 2022-23 Jefferson Trust Annual Grants

Deadline for Letter of Intent: Thursday, Sept. 15 | The Jefferson Trust funds ideas and fosters innovation. Its annual grants cycle is now open for the 2022-23 academic year and is open to all University of Virginia students, faculty, and staff. If you need funding for an innovative idea or want to radically expand an existing program or project, consider applying. Learn more.

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Practical Screening and Management Series

Two UVA School of Medicine faculty members — Eliza Holland, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, and Santina Zanelli, MD, Professor of Neonatology — will present this series, which is well-suited for physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and clinical staff, social workers, and care coordinators—anyone who may be involved with the care of infants. This program is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Health and is part of the Division of Outreach’s ECHO series in Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences. CME credit available. Register. Details:

• NAS Epidemiology and Parental Consideration | Wednesday, Sept. 14 | noon-1 p.m. 
• Eat, Sleep, Console Care Model | Wednesday, Sept. 28 | noon-1 p.m.

Webinar: Over-the-Counter Substances of Abuse

Wednesday, Sept. 7 | noon-1 p.m. | This virtual training featuring Christopher P. Holstege, MD, and Avery Michienzi, DO, educates providers and the healthcare team about the management, prevalence, and presentation of over-the-counter substances of abuse, particularly for psychoactive properties. This ECHO series is directed by the UVA Division of Outreach in the Department of Psychiatry of Neurobehavioral Sciences. CME credit available. Register.

Special Blood Drive for UVA Pediatric Sickle Cell Program

Thursday, Sept. 8 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Quayle Learning Center | Conference Room | 1204 West Main St. | Battle Building, First Floor | UVA Health will be holding a special blood drive to benefit our pediatric sickle cell program through the UVA Pediatric Sickle Cell Clinic. These patients need your help to live, so please sign up to donate. Check out this video from The American Red Cross and read why blood-donor diversity is important. Swag alert: Give Sept. 1-30 and receive a free haircut coupon from Sport Clips Haircuts. Terms apply. Appointments required. Sign up by emailing giveblood@virginia.edu or visit RedCrossBlood.org and using the sponsor code UVAPEDS. Learn more.

Appreciation

30 Days Dedicated to Celebrating Women in Medicine

Women in Medicine Month starts tomorrow, Sept. 1. The month is intended to showcase the accomplishments of women in medicine, advocate for women professionals, increase awareness of health issues impacting women patients, and advance gender equity. While women have traditionally served as the caregivers of the health of their families and communities, it wasn't until comparatively recent times that women were admitted to the ranks of formal medical practitioners. Since then, there have been many women pioneers at UVA Health who have broken through barriers and led the way for future generations of women in leadership roles, like Medical Center CEO, Dean of Medicine, Dean of Nursing, and more. Starting next week, there will be a series of events to celebrate women in all roles in healthcare. Stay tuned to the UVA Health Update for details, and in the meantime, read more about women pioneers at UVA Health.

PREVIOUS UPDATES

Monday, Aug. 29, 2022

Beware: New Scam Call Targets Providers

Please be aware of a phone-call scam where the caller pretends to be an officer from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and requests a physician’s National Provider Identifier (NPI) and medical license number before proceeding. These individuals are very convincing and many physicians across the country have been scammed into sending money to settle claims. Reminder: The DEA will NEVER call you on the phone and will only contact you via certified mail or in person. Read more about phishing and information security.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:21 p.m. Aug. 29)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Aug. 29)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources

Ambulatory Operations

Sign-Up Deadline Alert: Ambulatory Access Mentorship Program

Registration Closes Friday, Sept. 2 | Open to members of the Ambulatory Access Team, this six-month program is seeking both mentors and mentees. The program goal is for mentors to support mentees in attaining their professional goals. Those who register should plan to dedicate at least two hours a month to the program. For more information, contact Jennifer Garfield, Access Quality & Standards Coach, at JT6MU@uvahealth.org. Register.

Operations

Please Be Mindful of Hallway Clutter

A State Fire Marshal inspection identified issues with our equipment, supplies, and combustibles in hallways in inpatient units and on the G Level. A UVA Medical Center internal inspection will be completed this week and a follow-up State Fire Marshal inspection will be scheduled. Reminders:

• Inpatient Unit Equipment | Equipment and supplies cannot be in hallways unless they are for imminent patient-use, unit staff are assigned and trained to remove such authorized wheeled equipment as readily as they can close doors during a fire event, and a 5-foot-wide corridor clearance always remains. Additionally, noncombustible materials cannot overflow from the alcove into the corridor, and there can be no combustible materials in the corridor, either.
• Corridors | Hospital corridors cannot be used to store combustibles such as pallets, bins, receptacles, boxes, packaging, supplies, or racks.
• Loading/Unloading | Permitted only as an ongoing activity and while the 5-feet-width requirement remains.

Questions? Contact Jeff Smith at wcf2uy@virginia.edu or David Hartman at DJH9P@uvahealth.org. Additional information.

Tomorrow: NICU Bed Move

Tuesday, Aug. 30 | UVA Health has been evolving its bed-allocation plan to address changes in the current patient population. The final scheduled move: The four NICU beds on 7 North (Rooms 7125, 7126, 7127, and 7128) will move to 8 North (Rooms 8125, 8126, 8127, and 8128) to allow for accommodation of the growing needs of NICU and PICU capacity.

UVA to Test Emergency Notification System

Tuesday, Aug. 30 | 10:50-11 a.m. | The University will be testing all components of its emergency notification system. When the test is over, an all clear will be issued. UVA’s siren and public address system will be included in the test. For details, refer to the Aug. 25 email or read it on Connect.

Scheduled Downtime Notification: Remote Video Monitoring

Wednesday, Aug. 31 | 8 a.m.-noon | Remote video monitoring will be down for  infrastructure system maintenance. Please note that ALL patients admitted during downtime will be unmonitored. A notification to charge nurses will be sent via text message one hour prior to downtime, 30 minutes prior to downtime, and at downtime. Communication immediately following system restoration will be sent via text message to all charge nurses. Questions? Please contact Matthew Houston at #1831. 

Labor Day | Parking and Transportation Modifications

Monday, Sept. 5 | The University Transit Service bus and Health System Transit shuttle service will not operate on Sept. 5. The Medical Center Courtesy Shuttle will operate on the weekend schedule, running every 60 minutes from 7:20 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. UtoCar will operate normally. Please note, University Transit Bus and Health System Transit shuttle will operate normally on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Parking is available for team members in the South Garage on Crispell Drive and 11th Street Garage (level D and above only) on Sept. 5.

Leadership

Breakfast With the CEO: Slots Are Still Available

McKim Hall, Room 3001 | Signups are open for breakfast and conversation with Dr. Craig Kent in the coming months. These small-group breakfasts are a great opportunity for our teams to share their experiences and offer ideas to help shape the future of our organization. Please sign up as your schedule allows.

Shining Moments

Celebrating Milestones and Accomplishments in Education

There are many reasons to be proud of the work done at UVA Health. As an academic medical center, our focus on patients extends beyond the beside and into the classroom and other learning areas. A new Connect article provides a small sampling of recent educational milestones and accomplishments. Despite the challenges we all have faced over the past year, Meg Keeley, MD, the School of Medicine’s Senior Associate Dean for Education, says that she is incredibly proud of all the members of the education team — faculty, staff, students, trainees, and administrators. “Their resilience, ingenuity, nimbleness, and dedication are inspirational.” Read more on Connect.

Human Resources

Now Hiring: Earn While You Learn Program

The Earn While You Learn Program is now hiring for the October Certified Nursing Aide, Certified Medical Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, and Phlebotomy programs. Links to the programs can be found on the Earn While You Learn webpage. Learn more on Connect.

Happenings

Webinar: Administrative Fellowship Program

Tuesday, Aug. 30 | 9-10 a.m. | Deadline to apply: Friday, Sept. 16 | Informational webinar for the 2023-25 fellowship program. Apply through Workday or use the QR codes on this flyer. Questions? Contact Libby Melzer at AdminFellow@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu or 434.982.3440. Read more on Connect.

Space Available: Donate Blood in August, and You Could Win Free Gas for a Year!

Wednesday, Aug. 31 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Quayle Learning Center, Battle Building, First Floor | The American Red Cross, UVA Health’s primary supplier of blood products, is facing a severe blood shortage. You can help by donating blood. Swag alert: The American Red Cross is thanking all who donate in August by giving them a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Additionally, donors will be automatically entered for a chance to win gas for a year (a $6,000 value)! There will be three lucky winners. Terms apply.  Appointments required. Sign up by emailing giveblood@virginia.edu. Learn more.

Appreciation

SafeHaven: Legislative Advocacy as a Humanism-in-Medicine Tool

Terri Babineau, MD, Associate Professor of Family Medicine, was recently featured in the Gold Humanism Honor Society’s newsletter for her work on the Medical Society of Virginia’s SafeHaven program.  SafeHaven is a confidential resource for clinicians seeking help for career fatigue and other mental health issues. Dr. Babineau serves as its volunteer Chief Medical Officer. With the crisis of physician burnout exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, access to mental healthcare is more important than ever. The SafeHaven program ensures that when clinicians seek mental healthcare, or even coaching help, this communication is considered privileged. There is no Board of Medicine notification or disclosure to the clinician's employer as long as the clinician is not a danger to themselves or patients. With legislative advocacy from the entire SafeHaven team and Dr. Babineau, a bill was signed into law by the Governor of Virginia in March 2020, just as the pandemic began. This bill made the protections mentioned above into law. Interprofessional collaboration with the Virginia Nurses Association and other groups allowed this bill to be extended to include nurses, pharmacists, and students in March 2021. The SafeHaven program is now being replicated all over the country. Thank you, Dr. Babineau and colleagues on the SafeHaven team, for helping care team members in Virginia and beyond!

PREVIOUS UPDATES

Friday, Aug. 26, 2022

More Details Released About Flu Shots

How to Order To-Go Kits | Deadline: Friday, Sept. 9 | To-go kits will be provided by request to inpatient units, ambulatory clinics, and other work units that designate a Flu Vaccine Champion who will administer shots and enter documentation in VaxTrax. Complete the to-go-kit request form, and send it to fluvax@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu. To-go kits can be picked up on Mondays from Sept. 26 through Oct. 31. Pick-up times: 

• 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Employee Health, 400 Brandon Ave. (Free parking at Monroe Lane)
• 2:30-4:30 p.m. | Dining Conference Rooms at UVA Health Medical Center

New information about flu shot walk-in clinics | Employee Health will be conducting walk-in clinics across UVA Health. You can find information about remote location walk-in clinics here. Information about walk-in clinics at UVA Health facilities can be found here. 

How to get a flu shot at Employee Health or UVA-WorkMed | Appointments are required at these locations and no walk-in vaccinations are available. You can schedule an appointment by calling Employee Health at 434.924.2013 or UVA-WorkMed at 434.243.0075.

How to submit documentation for flu shots received outside UVA Health | Deliver or send documentation (which must contain two patient identifiers: name and date of birth) to:

• Employee Health | 400 Brandon Ave., Suite 110, Charlottesville, VA 22903 
• UVA-WorkMed | 1910 Arlington Blvd., Charlottesville, VA 22903
• Email scanned documentation to fluvax@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:51 p.m. Aug. 26)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Aug. 26)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources

Operations

Decluttering Will Be a Step in Our Switch to PolicyTech, Our New Document Management System

UVA Health is adopting its first document management system, PolicyTech, which is welcome news for all team members who need to access and consult policies and clinical care documents in the course of doing their job. In addition to moving documents to the new system, a big part of the job will be to declutter existing online files, both before and after the first phase of the migration goes live in mid-October. In a recent interview, Denise Barth, Director of Accreditation and Regulatory Standards, explains the coming changes and the key benefits they offer. Read more.

Lane and Sidewalk Closure on Lee Street Tomorrow

Saturday, Aug. 27 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | A vehicle lane and sidewalk on the 1300 block of Lee Street (from Jefferson Park Avenue to the West Complex) will be temporarily closed to allow the unloading of construction materials. Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic.

UVA to Test Emergency Notification System

Tuesday, Aug. 30 | 10:50-11 a.m. | The University will be testing all components of its emergency notification system. When the test is over, an all clear will be issued. UVA’s siren and public address system will be included in the test. For details, refer to the Aug. 25 email or read it on Connect.

Team Member Notice: Email Migration Project

UVA Health Information and Technology (HIT) is migrating team member email software from Microsoft Outlook to Microsoft 365 (M365), which will enhance collaboration capabilities and provide a consistent email product for all UVA Health entities, including UVA Community Health. The following will be migrated to M365 in a phased approach by the end of the calendar year:

• Team member email accounts
• Shared group email accounts
• Meeting/Resource room calendars

When it is time for your email account to be migrated to M365, you will receive an email from HIT (email@uvahealth.org) that includes instructions and timelines one week before your scheduled migration date. An email reminder will be sent the weekday before the migration (i.e., if your migration is scheduled for a Monday, you will receive your email reminder the Friday before). Notification emails will contain a subject line starting with “Microsoft 365 Migration.” Please be on the lookout for your notification in the coming weeks and months.

Human Resources

Thousands of Team Members Still Need to Complete Required Annual Retraining 

Deadline: Friday, Sept. 30 | UVA Health team members who were hired on or before April 3, 2022, have been assigned and enrolled in the 2022 UVA Health Annual Retraining Learning Program in Workday Learning. The program includes three required digital courses:

• 2022 UVA Health Annual Retraining
• 2022 UVA Health Virginia State Employee Safety, Disaster, and Terrorism Awareness Retraining
• DEI and Cultural Competence Compliance

Targeted reminder emails to managers and team members will be sent during the month of September. Please note that the deadline for completion will not be extended for this retraining. Questions? Email AskHR@virginia.edu with the subject line, “Annual Retraining.” Learn more.

Happenings

FEAP: Train Your Mind, Change Your Life

3:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, and noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15 | Zoom | NIH-funded clinical health psychologist Dr. Ruth Q. Wolever will share how practicing skills from a scientifically validated framework of mindfulness skills can dramatically improve your health and performance and capacity to settle your mind, broaden your perspective, sharpen your focus, and enhance your quality of life. This webinar kicks off the Hoos Well reward-eligible 1% Challenge. 

Go Hoos! Special Offers From UVA Athletics

• Season Ticket Discounts for UVA Health Team Members | Full-time UVA Health team members are eligible to purchase up to four season tickets for each sport at a 20% discount in most seating areas. Football, women’s basketball, and men’s soccer are on sale at this time. Season tickets for baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s lacrosse will be available at a later date. Buy now.
• Get 2 Free Football Tickets | Saturday, Oct. 8 | Scott Stadium | UVA Health team members are eligible to receive two complimentary tickets to the Virginia Cavaliers home football game against Louisville. Tickets will be delivered electronically closer to game day. Additional tickets are $50 in sections 114-115 and $38 in sections 130-131. Reserve now.

Appreciation

145 Months of Amazing Care From Outstanding Team Members at TCH

The Transitional Care Hospital (TCH) accepted its first patients at 2965 Ivy Road in 2010. This week, 12 years and one month later, all TCH patients were moved to 3 North in the Medical Center as UVA Health evolves its bed-allocation plan to address changes in the current patient population. Over the past 12 years, TCH’s amazing care team has discharged 4,589 patients covering nearly 100,000 bed days; weaned 775 patients off of ventilators; consistently outperformed long-term acute care hospitals (LTACH) benchmarks related to mortality, CAUTI, CLABSI, and HAPI rates; and had a 30% greater improved mobility in comparison to similar patients at other LTACHs. For years, TCH also proved to be a model for UVA Health teams and team members, having received outstanding ratings in annual team-member engagement surveys.

This week’s move was extraordinarily complex and collaborative. Thanks to those who made it possible, including project leaders Robert D’Eramo, PharmD, and Rebecca Lewis, RN, and teams in regulatory, clinical and operational readiness, Human Resources, and finance. Special thanks to TCH hospitalist physicians and medical director Robert Powers, MD; TCH nurses; TCH team members; TCH leaders Bev Tucker, Janet Were, Jeanne Bird, Tom Nichols, and Derrick Many; and JT Hall, RN, Leigh Gauriloff, RN, and countless Medical Center team members. UVA Health is excited to care for these patients at the Medical Center as plans for a new, innovative model for the future emerge.

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022

Preparations Underway for Team Member Flu Shots

All Tier 1 team members who do not have an approved exemption will be required to receive an influenza vaccination by Dec. 2. (Please refer to Health System Policy OCH-002 to find out if you are a Tier 1 team member.)

How to get your flu shot:

• Work area to-go Kits | Available to work areas that designate a Flu Vaccine Champion who will administer vaccinations and enter documentation in VaxTrax. Kits must be requested by Sept. 9 and can be picked up on Mondays, beginning Sept. 26. Send requests to FLUVAX@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.
• walk-in clinics | Details coming soon.
• By appointment at Employee Health and WorkMed | Details coming soon.
• External Source | UVA Pharmacies, CVS and other retail pharmacies, your Primary Care Physician, etc. Team members who receive their flu vaccine at an external location must provide proof of vaccination to Employee Health for compliance tracking by emailing FLUVAX@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu. Documentation must include two patient identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth).

Exemptions:

• Approved 2021 religious and medical exemptions will carry over.   
• New exemption requests may be submitted through VaxTrax.        
• Team members can check their exemption status in VaxTrax.

Questions?

• Send inquiries to FLUVAX@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu or contact Tonya Swarey at TJS2K@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 3:06 p.m. Aug. 24)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Aug. 24)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources

Patient Care       

Accessing and Sharing UVA Community Health Patient Health Records

As integration efforts continue to progress with UVA Community Health, our teams have been proactive in seeking clarity on how to access and/or share medical records with patients being transferred from our UVA Community Health facilities. Below is information about changes coming within the next year and guidance on how to currently access records.

At this time, please continue to request patient health records from UVA Community Health locations for continued care as follows:

Leadership

Medical Center CEO Blog: Your Engagement Survey Input Will Guide Us Forward

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, talks about the upcoming 2022 UVA Health Engagement Survey. She also explains how your feedback about working at UVA Health provides valuable ideas and insight into how we're caring for you as a team member and help guide our future together. Read more.

Lateef Appointed Health System Board Chair

Babur Lateef, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist and prominent physician in northern Virginia, has been appointed by Rector Whitt Clement as chair of the Health System Board of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors. Read more.

Operations

Transitional Care Hospital Patients Will Be Transferred to 3 North Tomorrow

• Thursday, Aug. 25 | After a review of patient census data, the decision has been made to address changes in critical care populations and to transition the care of long-term acute care patients from the UVA Transitional Care Hospital (TCH) to UVA Medical Center. This change is expected to better serve the needs of our patients and healthcare teams.
• Next move: Tuesday, Aug. 30 | The four NICU beds on 7 North (Rooms 7125, 7126, 7127, and 7128) will move to 8 North (Rooms 8125, 8126, 8127, and 8128) to allow for accommodation of the growing needs of NICU and PICU capacity

Construction: Lane and Sidewalk Closure on Lee Street

Saturday, Aug. 27 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | A vehicle lane and sidewalk on the 1300 block of Lee Street (from Jefferson Park Avenue to the West Complex) will be temporarily closed to allow the unloading of construction materials. Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic.

Human Resources

UVA Health Returning to In-Person New Hire Orientation

UVA Health new-hire orientation will be returning to in-person sessions over the next few months. Please note that that the timeline for this change varies for different groups:

• Medical Center new hires will return to in-person orientation on Monday, Sept. 19.
• UVA Physicians Group new hires, School of Medicine new hires, UVA Health temps, and UVA Health RN and tech travelers are currently slated to return to in-person orientation beginning Jan. 9, 2023.

Details are subject to change based on room availability and other in-person logistics. More information is available in the UVA HR announcement, and additional details will be communicated by email in the coming weeks.

Happenings

Space Available: Donate Blood in August, and You Could Win Free Gas for a Year!

Wednesday, Aug. 31 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Quayle Learning Center, Battle Building, First Floor | The American Red Cross, UVA Health’s primary supplier of blood products, is facing a severe blood shortage. You can help by donating blood. Swag alert: The American Red Cross is thanking all who donate in August by giving them a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Additionally, donors will be automatically entered for a chance to win gas for a year (a $6,000 value)! There will be three lucky winners. Terms apply. Appointments required. Sign up by emailing giveblood@virginia.edu. Learn more.

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Practical Screening and Management Series

Two UVA School of Medicine faculty members — Eliza Holland, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, and Santina Zanelli, MD, Professor of Neonatology — will present this series, which is well-suited for physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and clinical staff, social workers, care coordinators, and anyone who may be involved with the care of infants. This program is sponsored by the Virginia Department of Health and is part of the Division of Outreach’s ECHO series in Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences. CME credit available. Register. Details:

• NAS Epidemiology and Parental Consideration | Wednesday, Sept. 14 | noon-1 p.m. 
• Eat, Sleep, Console Care Model | Wednesday, Sept. 28 | noon-1 p.m.

Now Open: 2022-23 Jefferson Trust Annual Grants

Deadline for Letter of Intent: Thursday, Sept. 15 | The Jefferson Trust funds ideas and fosters innovation. Its annual grants cycle is now open for the 2022-23 academic year and is open to all University of Virginia students, faculty, and staff. If you need funding for an innovative idea or want to radically expand an existing program or project, consider applying. Learn more.

Save the Date: Annual Nursing and Healthcare Education Fair

Wednesday, Oct. 5 | 5-8 p.m. | Virtual and Medical Center Dining Conference Rooms 1 and 2 | Admissions Counselors will be available to discuss healthcare programs, including pharmacy tech, radiology, certified nursing assistant, and nursing programs of all levels. Open to any UVA team member interested in going to school for a different role within healthcare. Learn more.

Appreciation

Happy Health Unit Coordinator Week!

UVA Health is celebrating Health Unit Coordinator (HUC) Week (Aug. 23-29). HUCs are the first team members who greet our patients and their families upon entering a unit. They assist the unit by answering the patient-call bells, coordinating the discharge of patients, and ensuring our interdisciplinary teams have what they need to provide exceptional care. This week, we want everyone to spread the love and joy for UVA Health HUCs by sending an e-card to one or more of your favorite Health Unit Coordinators. Thank you, HUCs, for your dedication and exemplary service to both our patients and team members!

PREVIOUS UPDATES

Monday, Aug. 22, 2022

Sign Up Now: Breakfast With the CEO

McKim Hall, Room 3001 | Signups are open for breakfast and conversation with Dr. Craig Kent in the coming months. These small-group breakfasts are a great opportunity for our teams to share their experiences and offer ideas to help shape the future of our organization. Please sign up as your schedule allows.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:20 p.m. Aug. 22)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Aug. 22)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources

Operations

Phase II of Speedier Epic Onboarding Project Is Focused on New Ambulatory Nurses 

Today was launch day of Phase II of Project Nightingale, the Epic training team’s improvement initiative that is reducing the time newly hired nurses spend in Epic training. Phase II is focused on ambulatory nurses and is shifting some training from the classroom to computer-based learning modules. Changes include a test-out option for nurses with previous Epic experience. Read more on Connect.

This Week: MICU and the Transitional Care Hospital Move

UVA Health has been evolving its bed-allocation plan to address changes in the current patient population. The goals are to maximize UVA Health’s available beds while also serving the needs of our patients and healthcare teams. After completing a review of the census data, the decision has been made to address changes in critical care populations and to transition the care of long-term acute care patients from the UVA Transitional Care Hospital (TCH) to UVA Medical Center, which will create efficiencies and enhance UVA Health’s ability to optimize care for this patient population. Upcoming moves:

• Tuesday, Aug. 23 | 3 North MICU will move to 4 West ICU unit vacated by TCVPO
• Thursday, Aug. 25 | TCH patients will move to 3 North (readmitted to UVA Medical Center)
• Tuesday, Aug. 30 | The four NICU beds on 7 North (Rooms 7125, 7126, 7127, and 7128) will move to 8 North (Rooms 8125, 8126, 8127, and 8128) to allow for accommodation of the growing needs of NICU and PICU capacity

Construction: Lane and Sidewalk Closure on Lee Street

Saturday, Aug. 27 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | A vehicle lane and sidewalk on the 1300 block of Lee Street (from Jefferson Park Avenue to the West Complex) will be temporarily closed to allow the unloading of construction materials. Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic.

Human Resources

Now Hiring: Earn While You Learn Program

The Earn While You Learn Program is now hiring for the October Certified Nursing Aide, Certified Medical Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, and Phlebotomy programs. Links to the programs can be found on the Earn While You Learn webpage. Learn more on Connect.

Happenings

Physicians and APPs: Get a New Provider Directory Headshot

Physicians and advanced practice providers who need a headshot (or updated one) for the provider directory are asked to stop by to get their photo taken. No appointment is needed. The shoot should take 10 minutes or less. Please bring a white coat if you have one; if not, one will be provided. Walk-in dates are as follows:

• McKim Hall | Ground Floor | Room G045
  • Thursday, Aug. 25 | 2-5 p.m
  • Wednesday, Aug. 31 | 8:30-11:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 7 | 1:30-4:30 p.m.
  • Friday, Sept. 16 | 7:30-10:30 a.m.
  • Monday, Sept. 19 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Thursday, Sept. 29 | 9 a.m.-noon
• Fontaine 450 | Aurbach Medical Research Building | Room 1229
  • Thursday, Sept. 15 | 3-6 p.m.

Webinar: Administrative Fellowship Program

Deadline to apply: Friday, Sept. 16 | Informational webinars for the 2023-25 fellowship program are available this month:

• Wednesday, Aug. 24 | 5-6 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 30 | 9-10 a.m.

Apply through Workday or use the QR codes on this flyer. Questions? Contact Libby Melzer at AdminFellow@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu or 434.982.3440. Read more on Connect. 

Appreciation

UVA Health Partnership Expands Colorectal Cancer Screening to Underserved Residents of Southwest Virginia

To boost colorectal cancer screening rates in southwest Virginia, UVA Cancer Center is expanding its partnership with the Community Health Center of the New River Valley. On the heels of a successful pilot program, the effort to increase screening rates to 80% of eligible patients is backed by a three-year, $600,000 grant from the Jeffress Trust Grant Program. The two centers will hire a cancer screening navigator for the Community Health Center of the New River Valley’s three locations to help make it easier for patients to access these potentially lifesaving screenings and make other changes at the center to support access to screenings. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of death among men and women, and screenings can help save lives. Read more on Connect.

PREVIOUS UPDATES

Friday, Aug. 19, 2022

Integration Intel: Dr. Tracey Hoke Discusses New System-Level Approach to Provider Credentialing

As UVA Community Health integrates into the broader UVA Health enterprise, managing the onboarding of all new providers through one unified process is an important priority. As part of the integration effort, the existing processes and platforms of UVA Medical Center’s Credentialing Verification Organization are being expanded to provide system level support. In a new interview, Tracey Hoke, MD, Chief of Quality and Performance Improvement for UVA Health, explains the coming changes and the benefits they will provide. Read the full interview on Connect.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 12:51 p.m. Aug. 19)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Aug. 19)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources

Operations

Phase II of Speedier Epic Onboarding Project Will Focus on New Ambulatory Nurses

On Monday, Aug. 22, the Epic training team will launch the second phase of Project Nightingale, an improvement initiative designed to significantly reduce the time nurses spend in Epic training. Phase II will focus on newly hired ambulatory nurses and shift some onboarding training from the classroom to computer-based learning modules. Changes will also include a test-out option for nurses with previous Epic experience. Read more on Connect.

MICU and Transitional Care Hospital Moves Scheduled for Next Week

UVA Health has been evolving its bed-allocation plan to address changes in the current patient population. The goals are to maximize UVA Health’s available beds while also serving the needs of our patients and healthcare teams. After completing a review of the census data, the decision has been made to address changes in critical care populations and to transition the care of long-term acute care patients from the UVA Transitional Care Hospital (TCH) to UVA Medical Center, which will create efficiencies and enhance UVA Health’s ability to optimize care for this patient population. Upcoming moves are:

• Tuesday, Aug. 23 | 3 North MICU will move to 4 West ICU unit vacated by TCVPO
• Thursday, Aug. 25 | TCH patients will move to 3 North (readmitted to UVA Medical Center)
• Tuesday, Aug. 30 | The four NICU beds on 7 North (Rooms 7125, 7126, 7127, and 7128) will move to 8 North (Rooms 8125, 8126, 8127, and 8128) to allow for accommodation of the growing needs of NICU and PICU capacity

Construction: Lane and Sidewalk Closure

Saturday, Aug. 27 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | A vehicle lane and sidewalk on the 1300 block of Lee Street (from Jefferson Park Avenue to the West Complex) will be temporarily closed to allow the unloading of construction materials. Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic.

Human Resources

Complete Your Required Annual Retraining

Deadline: Friday, Sept. 30 | UVA Health team members who were hired on or before April 3, 2022, will be assigned and enrolled in the 2022 UVA Health Annual Retraining Learning Program in Workday Learning. The program includes three required digital courses:

• 2022 UVA Health Annual Retraining
• 2022 UVA Health Virginia State Employee Safety, Disaster, and Terrorism Awareness Retraining
• DEI and Cultural Competence Compliance

Please note that the deadline for completion will not be extended for this retraining. Questions? Email AskHR@virginia.edu with the subject line, “Annual Retraining.” Access the training in Workday. Learn more.

Happenings

Physicians and APPs: Get a New Provider Directory Headshot

McKim Hall | Ground Floor | Room G045 | Physicians and advanced practice providers who need a headshot (or updated one) for the provider directory are asked to stop by to get their photo taken. No appointment is needed. The shoot should take 10 minutes or less. Please bring a white coat if you have one; if not, one will be provided. Walk-in dates are as follows:

• Monday, Aug. 22 | 9 a.m.-noon
• Thursday, Aug. 25 | 2-5 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 31 | 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Mindfulness Classes

• Free Mindfulness for UVA Healthcare Employees Class | Wednesdays, Sept. 21-Nov. 9 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, Oct. 29 | 560 Ray C. Hunt Drive, Fontaine Research Park | Register.
• Mindful Eating Class | Fridays, Sept. 23-Nov. 18 | 10-noon p.m. | 560 Ray C. Hunt Drive, Fontaine Research Park | Register.
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Class | Mondays, Oct. 17-Dec. 12 | 4-6:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, Dec. 3 | Zoom | Register.

Go Hoos! Special Offers From UVA Athletics

• Season-Ticket Discounts for UVA Health Team Members | Full-time UVA Health team members are eligible to purchase up to four season tickets for each sport at a 20% discount in most seating areas. Football, women’s basketball, and men’s soccer are on sale at this time. Season tickets for baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s lacrosse will be available at a later date. Buy now.
• Get 2 Free Football Tickets | Saturday, Oct. 8 | Scott Stadium | UVA Health team members are eligible to receive two complimentary tickets to the Virginia Cavaliers home football game against Louisville. Tickets will be delivered electronically closer to game day. Additional tickets are $50 in sections 114-115 and $38 in sections 130-131. Reserve now.

Appreciation

School of Medicine’s SOAR Program Receives National Honor

This week, INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine announced that the University of Virginia School of Medicine's Summer Opportunities in Academic Research (SOAR) program has been named a recipient of the 2022 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award. Co-directed by Brynne Sullivan, MD, and Sana Syed, MD, in the Department of Pediatrics, SOAR encourages high-school students of color in the Charlottesville area to pursue careers in science by providing education and mentoring in biomedical research. Students are paired with a mentor for an eight-week course focused on providing a broad introduction to biomedical research and exposure to various science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. At the end of the program, participants give presentations summarizing their research experiences and discoveries. SOAR aims to increase student exposure to STEM fields they otherwise may not consider and provide direct mentorship to foster future academic success. Congratulations and thank you to all who make the SOAR program a reality — you continue to make a significant difference!

PREVIOUS UPDATE

Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022

UVA Health Begins Offering New COVID Vaccine, Novavax

Today, Wednesday, Aug. 17, UVA Health began offering Novavax vaccinations by appointment at the Outpatient Pharmacy at Education Resource Center and Employee Health. Novavax is the latest COVID-19 vaccine granted Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA. Here are key details about Novavax:

• It is a protein adjuvant vaccine and different from the mRNA vaccines (e.g. Moderna and Pfizer). Learn more about Novavax on the CDC website.
• Recipients must be at least 18-years-old and not previously vaccinated against COVID-19.
• Vaccination involves a two-dose series, with doses received three-to-eight weeks apart.
• No booster shot is approved at this time.

How to schedule an appointment:

• Employee Health | Appointments for Novavax and other COVID vaccines are available on Wednesdays 8-11:45 a.m. and 1-3:15 p.m. Team Members can schedule an appointment by calling 434.924.2013.
• ERC Outpatient Pharmacy | Patients can schedule appointments for Novavax and other COVID vaccines using MyChart or by calling 434.297.4829.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:51 p.m. Aug. 17)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Aug. 17)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources

Leadership

CEO Blog: Current UVA Team Members Can Apply for October’s Earn While You Learn Class 

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, gives an update on the Earn While You Learn program, which includes opportunities for current team members in the following programs: Certified Nurse Assistant, Certified Medical Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, and Phlebotomist.

Scott T. Hollenbeck to Lead Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery

Renowned clinician, researcher, and educator Scott T. Hollenbeck, MD, FACS, will lead the Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery starting Nov. 28. He succeeds Stephen Park, MD, FACS, who has served as the interim chair of the department since May 2020. Read more on Connect. 

Shining Moments

Celebrating Teamwork and Mutual Support in the Lab 

There are many reasons to be proud of the work done at UVA Health. As an academic medical center, our focus on patients extends beyond the beside and into research labs where new treatments are being discovered and investigated. A new Connect article provides a small sampling of recent research advances and accomplishments. According to one of the featured researchers, Biomedical Engineering Professor Richard Price, PhD, his biggest accomplishment was made possible by an invaluable resource: teamwork. “While I take pride in playing a role in getting the new Focused Ultrasound Cancer Immunotherapy Center up and running this year, I take far more pride in my graduate students and how they’ve handled the challenges they’ve faced due to COVID,” he says. “They’ve embraced a philosophy of mutual support. From my office, I overhear them raising each other up through new challenges on a daily basis. It's inspiring.”

Operations

Phase II of Speedier Epic Onboarding Project Will Focus on New Ambulatory Nurses 

On Monday, Aug. 22, the Epic training team will launch the second phase of Project Nightingale, an improvement initiative designed to significantly reduce the time newly hired ambulatory nurses spend in Epic training. The changes will shift some training from the classroom to computer-based learning modules. They will also include a test-out option for ambulatory nurses who have previous Epic experience. Read more on Connect.

Parking & Transportation Modifications During UVA Student Move-In

Thursday, Aug. 18, and Friday, Aug. 19 | There will be no University Transit Service (UTS) Redline Express & Redline bus service from the Scott Stadium lots on these days. Team members arriving between 5 and 8 a.m. must park at the John Paul Jones Garage and surface lot and those arriving after 8 a.m. must park in the Emmet/Ivy Garage. From both locations, team members should take the UTS Blue Line to the Medical Center. The Blueline bus will provide return service from the Medical Center to John Paul Jones and Emmet/Ivy Garage until 8 p.m. The Health System Shuttle will operate normally for any team members arriving before 5 a.m. and will also serve the John Paul Jones garage and lots after hours. Expect heavy traffic and congestion. Questions? Email parking@virginia.edu.

Happenings

Physicians and APPs: Get a New Provider Directory Headshot

McKim Hall | Ground Floor | Room G045 | Physicians and advanced practice providers who need a headshot (or updated one) for the provider directory are asked to stop by to get their photo taken. No appointment is needed. The shoot should take 10 minutes or less. Please bring a white coat if you have one; if not, one will be provided. Walk-in dates are as follows:

• Thursday, Aug. 18 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Monday, Aug. 22 | 9 a.m.-noon
• Thursday, Aug. 25 | 2-5 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 31 | 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Webinar: Administrative Fellowship Program

Deadline to apply: Friday, Sept. 16 | Informational webinars for the 2023-25 fellowship program are available this month.

• Thursday, Aug. 18 | noon-1 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 24 | 5-6 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 30 | 9-10 a.m.

Apply through Workday or use the QR codes on this flyer. Questions? Contact Libby Melzer at AdminFellow@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu or 434.982.3440. Read more on Connect. 

Now Open: 2022-23 Jefferson Trust Annual Grants

Deadline for Letter of Intent: Thursday, Sept. 15 | The Jefferson Trust funds ideas and fosters innovation. Its annual grants cycle is now open for the 2022-23 academic year and is open to all University of Virginia students, faculty, and staff. If you need funding for an innovative idea or want to radically expand an existing program or project, consider applying. Learn more.

Complete Your Required Annual Retraining 

Deadline: Friday, Sept. 30 | UVA Health team members who were hired on or before April 3, 2022, will be assigned and enrolled in the 2022 UVA Health Annual Retraining Learning Program in Workday Learning. The program includes three required digital courses:

• 2022 UVA Health Annual Retraining
• 2022 UVA Health Virginia State Employee Safety, Disaster, and Terrorism Awareness Retraining
• DEI and Cultural Competence Compliance

Please note that the deadline for completion will not be extended for this retraining. Questions? Email AskHR@virginia.edu with the subject line, “Annual Retraining.” Access the training in Workday. Learn more.

Appreciation

In Memoriam: Pioneering Cardiologists Carlos Ayers and Lawrence Burwell

The University of Virginia lost two trailblazing cardiologists in recent weeks: Carlos R. Ayers, MD (pictured right), who was an early proponent of preventive measures to avoid heart disease, died July 26; and Lawrence R. Burwell, MD (pictured left), who pioneered the use of coronary balloon angioplasty at the UVA Medical Center, died July 28. They contributed greatly to enhancing and expanding cardiology at UVA to become as impactful as it is today with 50 cardiologists and surgeons in a range of subspecialties. Thank you to Ayers and Burwell for your contributions to heart care at UVA Health and for laying the groundwork for today’s quality patient care. Read more on Connect.

Monday, Aug. 15, 2022

White Coat Ceremony Marks Continuation of a Long Tradition at UVA Health

The 151 members of the School of Medicine’s Class of 2026 received a warm welcome on Friday, Aug. 12, at the annual White Coat Ceremony and Convocation. Endowed by the Class of 1965 and held in Old Cabell Hall, this hallowed event is presented by the UVA Medical Alumni Association (MAA) and Medical School Foundation (MSF).

Welcoming a new class of medical students serves as an important reminder that our work in academic medicine is helping to build the future of American healthcare. At UVA Health, we are part of an enterprise that not only trains physicians and other providers of tomorrow but also pushes the frontiers of biomedical research and offers new, life-saving treatments to patients who are often among the sickest of the sick and most complex. The White Coat Ceremony is an important tradition that impacts far more than our new medical students and School of Medicine faculty and staff. It symbolizes the sense of purpose and pride that is shared throughout UVA Health. Please join us in welcoming the newest Hoos to the University of Virginia! See photos and read more on Connect.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:06 p.m. Aug. 15)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Aug. 15)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources

Operations

Software Update Will Impact Hillrom Nurse Call System

Tuesday, Aug. 16 | 7:30-9:30 a.m. | Clinical Engineering and Hillrom experts will implement a series of software patches to the patient call system. This event will involve some interruptions to functionality and only impact areas served by the new Hillrom Nurse Call system. Schedule:

• 7:30-9 a.m. | Status boards, ADT, Location Services/Duress, and staff assignments will be down. There may be various beeps at the nurse station that cannot be silenced.
• 9-9:30 a.m. | Voice communication between the nurse station and patient rooms will be unavailable.

Parking & Transportation Modifications for UVA Student Move-In

Thursday, Aug. 18, and Friday, Aug. 19 | There will be no University Transit Service (UTS) Redline Express & Redline bus service from the Scott Stadium lots on these days. Team members arriving between 5 and 8 a.m. must park at the John Paul Jones Garage and Surface Lot and those arriving after 8 a.m. must park in the Emmet/Ivy Garage. From both locations, team members should take the UTS Blue Line to the Medical Center. The Blueline bus will provide return service from the Medical Center to John Paul Jones and Emmet/Ivy Garage until 8 p.m. The Health System Shuttle will operate normally for any team members arriving before 5 a.m. and will also serve the John Paul Jones garage and lots after hours. Expect heavy traffic and congestion. Questions? Email parking@virginia.edu.

Leadership

Sign Up Now: Breakfast With the CEO

Signups are open for breakfast and conversation with Dr. Craig Kent in the coming months. These small-group breakfasts are a great opportunity for our teams to share their experiences and offer ideas to help shape the future of our organization. Please sign up as your schedule allows.

Human Resources

Now Hiring: Earn While You Learn Program

The Earn While You Learn Program is now hiring for the October Certified Nursing Aide, Certified Medical Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, and Phlebotomy programs. Links to the programs can be found on the Earn While You Learn webpage. Learn more on Connect.

UVA Health Returning to In-Person New Hire Orientation

UVA Health new hire orientation will be returning to in-person sessions over the next few months. Please note that that the timeline for this change varies for different groups:

• Medical Center new hires will return to in-person orientation on Monday, Sept. 19.
• UVA Physicians Group new hires, School of Medicine new hires, UVA Health temps, and UVA Health RN and tech travelers are currently slated to return to in-person orientation beginning Jan. 9, 2023.

Details are subject to change based on room availability and other in-person logistics. More information is available in the UVA HR announcement, and additional details will be communicated by email in the coming weeks.

Happenings

Physicians and APPs: Get a New Headshot in McKim Studio

McKim Hall | Ground Floor | Room G045 | Physicians and advanced practice providers who need a headshot (or updated one) for their pages on uvahealth.com are asked to stop by to get their photo taken. No appointment is needed. The shoot should take 10 minutes or less. Please bring a white coat if you have one; if not, one will be provided. Walk-in dates are as follows:

• Tuesday, Aug. 16 | 7:30-10:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 17 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 18 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Monday, Aug. 22 | 9 a.m.-noon
• Thursday, Aug. 25 | 2-5 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 31 | 8:30-11:30 a.m.

ROSE Program: Drop-Off or Pick Up Reusable Office Supplies

Tuesday, Aug. 16 | 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Medical Center Dining Conference
Rooms 1 and 2 | The Reusable Office Supply Exchange (ROSE) Program is a free service that collects new or gently used office supplies. The ROSE Supply Closet is available monthly for dropping off office supplies or taking what you need. The inventory includes a variety of supplies, like envelopes, staplers, and desk lamps. Read more on Connect.

Go Hoos! Special Offers From UVA Athletics

• Season Ticket Discounts for UVA Health Team Members | Full-time UVA Health team members are eligible to purchase up to four season tickets for each sport at a 20% discount in most seating areas. Football, women’s basketball, and men's and women's soccer are on sale at this time. Season tickets for baseball, softball, and men's and women's lacrosse will be available at a later date. Buy now.
• Get 2 Free Football Tickets | Saturday, Oct. 8 | Scott Stadium | UVA Health team members are eligible to receive two complimentary tickets to the Virginia Cavaliers home football game against Louisville. Tickets will be delivered electronically closer to game day. Additional tickets are $50 in sections 114-115 and $38 in sections 130-131. Reserve now.

UVA Health Engagement Survey Seeks Team Members’ Feedback and Ideas

To give team members an opportunity to share their feedback and ideas, UVA Health will conduct a systemwide engagement survey this fall.

• Team members who work for UVA Medical Center, UVA Physicians Group, UVA School of Medicine, UVA School of Nursing, and Claude Moore Health Sciences Library will be invited to participate in this survey between Oct. 4 and Nov. 11.
• UVA Community Health team members will participate in the engagement survey between Nov. 28 and Dec. 19.
• All team members, with the exception of School of Medicine faculty, will participate in a survey administered by Press Ganey.
• UVA School of Medicine faculty will participate in the Association of American Medical Colleges’ engagement survey.

Appreciation

A Remarkable Display of Teamwork for the MICU's Homecoming

After four big moves around the hospital to accommodate COVID patients, the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) carried out their fifth successful move on July 19 — from 4 South back to their original space on the third floor. This latest move marked the end of a long and emotional journey and the start of a new chapter of healing. “The move was symbolic,” says Sarah Kaplan, BSN, RN, CCRN, Interim Assistant Nurse Manager. “It genuinely felt like we were going back home.” With under three weeks to plan, the move from one side of the hospital to the other went as smoothly as anyone could have hoped. The 28 ICU-level patients arrived safely in their new rooms, and their families are already reporting they are happy in the cozy unit. Thank you to all for great teamwork and positivity in making these moves successful. Read how your colleagues accomplished these moves on Connect.

Friday, Aug. 12, 2022

In Remembrance: Five-Year Marker of the Aug. 11 and 12 Events

On Thursday, Aug. 11, bells tolled and a moment of silence was held at University Chapel. Nearby, UVA President Jim Ryan, other UVA leaders, and team members stood on the steps of Madison Hall to remember those who were lost and in honor of those who suffered during the events of Aug. 11 and 12, 2017. In a message sent to the University of Virginia community, President Ryan wrote, “We cannot, and should not, forget those dark days five years ago. My hope is that the memory of those events, including the heroic and compassionate responses of community members, continues to inspire us to work to make the world a better and more welcoming place.”

Read President Ryan’s complete message on Connect.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:35 p.m. Aug. 12)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Aug. 12)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources

Drug Used to Treat Eczema Reduces Risk of Death From Severe COVID-19, UVA Study Finds

A clinical trial conducted at UVA Health suggests monoclonal antibody used to treat asthma and eczema can improve survival for patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. The small trial, designed and led by Jennifer Sasson, MD, found that dupilumab improved patient survival at 60 days and reduced the number of patients who needed intensive care. Almost 90% of patients who received dupilumab in the randomized trial were alive at 60 days, compared with 76.2% of patients who received a placebo (a harmless sham treatment). Read more. 

Operations

Software Update Will Impact Hillrom Nurse Call System 

Tuesday, Aug. 16 | 7:30-9:30 a.m. | Clinical Engineering and Hillrom experts will implement a series of software patches to the patient call system. This event will involve some interruptions to functionality and only impact areas served by the new Hillrom Nurse Call system. Schedule:

• 7:30-9 a.m. | Status boards, ADT, Location Services/Duress, and staff assignments will be down. There may be various beeps at the nurse station that cannot be silenced.
• 9-9:30 a.m. | Voice communication between the nurse station and patient rooms will be unavailable.

Downtown Traffic Alert: Heather Heyer Way Closed 

Until 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 14 | Team members planning to drive through downtown Charlottesville this weekend may be impacted by the temporary closure of Heather Heyer Way (4th Street Southeast), from East Market Street to East Water Street.

Parking & Transportation Modifications for UVA Student Move-In

Thursday, Aug. 18, and Friday, Aug. 19 | There will be no University Transit Service (UTS) Redline Express & Redline bus service from the Scott Stadium lots on these days. Team members arriving between 5 and 8 a.m. must park at the John Paul Jones Garage and Surface Lot and those arriving after 8 a.m. must park in the Emmet/Ivy Garage. From both locations, team members should take the UTS Blueline to the Medical Center. The Blueline bus will provide return service from the Medical Center to John Paul Jones and Emmet/Ivy Garage until 8 p.m. The Health System Shuttle will operate normally for any team members arriving before 5 a.m. and will also serve the John Paul Jones garage and lots after hours. Expect heavy traffic and congestion. Questions? Email parking@virginia.edu.

Leadership

Breakfast With the CEO

Signups are open for breakfast and conversation with Dr. Craig Kent in the coming months. These small-group breakfasts are a great opportunity for our teams to share their experiences and offer ideas to help shape the future of our organization. Please sign up as your schedule allows.

Happenings

Aug. 11 and 12 Remembrance Events

• Art installation: “The Story of Us: Reclaiming the Narrative of #Charlottesville Through Portraits of Community Resilience” | Downtown Mall | Hung amongst the trees, 36 10-foot by 8-foot images are accompanied by a QR code that connects to an audio clip with individuals talking about moments captured in the photographs. Join a guided walking tour of the photos at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 14. Meet at the water fountain near the 2nd Street Northeast. Read more. 
• Racial Truth and Reconciliation Week 2022 | Monday, Aug. 22, to Friday, Aug. 26 | Virtual | Free workshops to educate, heal, and unify the community. Learn more and register. 

ROSE Program: Drop-Off or Pick Up Reusable Office Supplies

Tuesday, Aug. 16 | 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Medical Center Dining Conference Rooms 1 and 2 | The Reusable Office Supply Exchange (ROSE) Program is a free service that collects new or gently used office supplies. The ROSE Supply Closet is available monthly for dropping off office supplies or taking what you need. The inventory includes a variety of supplies, like envelopes, staplers, and desk lamps. Read more on Connect. 

Appreciation

Congratulations, 2022 Nursing Assistant Awardees!

Out of 56 nominations, this year’s four Nursing Assistant Awardees were recently celebrated in a live ceremony:

• Patient Care Technician of the Year: Erica Cooper, Acute Cardiology
• Certified Medical Assistant of the Year: Christina Orebaugh, Midlife Health Northridge
• Certified Nursing Assistant of the Year: Neve Gallagher, Mother/Baby
• Specialty Technician of the Year: Amber Longenberger, Cardiovascular Technologist 2, Cardiac Catheterization Lab

The nominations describe these team members' endless dedication to care of patients and colleagues, their accountability to doing things right, and their caring and kind natures. Read their nominations and watch a video replay of the awards ceremony on Connect. Congratulations Erica, Christina, Neve, Amber, and all the nominees!

Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022

Coming Soon: UVA Health Engagement Survey

UVA Health has a bold new vision to be the nation’s leading public academic health system and best place to work — while transforming patient care, research, education, and engagement within the diverse communities we serve. Team members’ voices are essential to helping us achieve this vision for our organization, patients, and each other. To provide a means for team members to share their feedback and ideas, UVA Health will conduct a systemwide engagement survey this fall.

• Team members with UVA Medical Center, UVA Physicians Group, UVA School of Medicine, UVA School of Nursing, and Claude Moore Health Sciences Library will be invited to participate in this survey between Oct. 4 and Nov. 11.
• UVA Community Health team members will participate in the engagement survey between Nov. 28 and Dec. 19.
• All team members, with the exception of School of Medicine faculty, will participate in a survey administered by Press Ganey.
• UVA School of Medicine faculty will participate in the Association of American Medical Colleges’ (AAMC) engagement survey.

While we are using two different vendors (Press Ganey and AAMC) for benchmarking purposes, the two surveys are closely aligned and will:

• Measure organizational and department/unit level engagement
• Assess the current condition of our work environment
• Provide a comparison to peer organizations
• Help identify and develop strategies to improve engagement.

​​​​​​​Leadership is listening and ready to respond to your feedback. More details will be shared in the coming weeks.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:06 p.m. Aug. 10)

Workforce Impact (as of 1:49 a.m. Aug. 10)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

Operations

Reminder: Email Migration Project Is Rolling Out in Phases Until End of 2022

UVA Health Information and Technology (HIT) is migrating team member email software from Microsoft Outlook to Microsoft 365 (M365). The following will be migrated to M365 in a phased approach by the end of the calendar year:

• Team member email accounts
• Shared group email accounts
• Meeting/Resource room calendars

One week before your email account is to be migrated to M365, you will receive an email from HIT (EMAIL@UVAHealth.org) with instructions and timelines. An email reminder will be sent the weekday before the migration (i.e., if your migration is scheduled for a Monday, you will receive your email reminder the Friday before). These emails will contain a subject line starting with “Microsoft 365 Migration.” Please be on the lookout for your notification in the coming weeks and months.

Medical Lab Team Conducting Weekly Training Sessions for New Team Members

To meet increasing training demands during a time of staffing shortages, the Clinical Lab team is now offering training for point-of-care testing with equipment and test kits two days per week. (Note: This does not replace new-orientation training during new-orientation week, these are additional sessions.) Details:

• Training dates | 1-3 p.m. Mondays and 7-9 a.m. Wednesdays
• Class location | Laboratory Medicine Conference Room in West Complex, Room 4893
• Registration | Email “CL MedLab Point of Care Testing” with trainee name, computing ID, required tests, and location(s)/department(s) where they will be working.

For more information, please contact Jen DeArment at JLD2M@uvahealth.org or 434.243.5742.

Human Resources

UVA Medical Center Pay Practices Update

Providing a comprehensive and competitive total rewards package is central to our ongoing commitment to our teams. Medical Center leadership has approved new changes to pay practices across the Medical Center. These changes were driven by data from our annual market review and serve to ensure we are positioned as a leader in the industry. Adjustments are effective Aug. 7 and will be reflected in Aug. 26 paychecks for impacted team members. To review the new pay practice adjustments, please refer to the Tuesday, Aug. 9, email from Wendy Horton, Chief Executive Officer, UVA Medical Center, or read it on Connect.

Leadership

Video Check-In: What Are Our Highest Priorities Right Now?

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, shares some updates as we look ahead to our new strategic plan and a bright future at UVA Health. Her list includes the employee engagement survey planned for October and the work being done in the areas of quality, patient progression and access, and pay practices.

Happenings

Nominate a Colleague for a Uteam Member of the Month Award

Deadline: 15th of every month | This program recognizes team members each month for their outstanding service to UVA Health and commitment to our ASPIRE values. Any team member, patient, or visitor may nominate an eligible team member, including individuals from UVA Medical Center, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and UVA Physicians Group. Nominations should be at least one paragraph in length and include at least two examples of how the nominee demonstrates ASPIRE values. Nominate a colleague now.

Got an Innovative Idea? Apply for a 2022-23 Jefferson Trust Annual Grant

Deadline for Letter of Intent: Thursday, Sept. 15 | The Jefferson Trust funds ideas and fosters innovation. Its annual grant cycle is now open for the 2022-23 academic year and is open to all University of Virginia students, faculty, and staff. If you need funding for an innovative idea or want to radically expand an existing program or project, consider applying. Learn more.

Save the Date: Annual Nursing and Healthcare Education Fair

Wednesday, Oct. 5 | 5-8 p.m. | Virtual and Medical Center Dining Conference Rooms 1 and 2 | Admissions Counselors will be available to discuss healthcare programs, including pharmacy tech, radiology, certified nursing assistant, and nursing programs of all levels. Open to any UVA team member interested in going to school for a different role within healthcare. Print a flier and learn more.

Appreciation

Supporting an Inclusive Playground, Overcoming Communication Challenges

Emily Hillaker, DO, a chief resident of physical medicine & rehabilitation at UVA, was selected as the first recipient of the Rob Gotlin Community Leadership Grant from the American Osteopathic College of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The $1,500 grant supports innovative projects that reduce physical or environmental barriers for individuals with disabilities. Hillaker’s grant will fund a communication board that uses a mix of pictures, symbols, and words to help people who are unable to talk express themselves. “As a resident physiatrist with plans to complete a pediatric rehabilitation medicine fellowship, I knew I wanted to support and advocate for children with disabilities,” Hillaker said. “I discovered Bennett's Village, which is an organization that plans to completely renovate Pen Park to make it completely accessible. I knew then that this organization was most deserving of the grant, and so I applied for it on their behalf.” Thank you, Dr. Hillaker, for your efforts to make play accessible to everyone! Read more on Connect.

Monday, Aug. 8, 2022

A New and Improved Provider Directory Is Coming! Physician and APP Headshot Schedule Expanded 

McKim Hall | Ground Floor | Room G045 | A best-in-class online provider directory will be in place by October. The website will be optimized for search, including an effort to develop more robust content as part of provider profiles. Key to patient decision-making and new patient appointment conversion are provider photos — one of the top five profile assets to influence patient decisions! According to a recent article, “in healthcare, a great headshot shows patients that the person they’re putting their trust in is more than just a medical doctor but also a real person they can feel comfortable reaching out to. On the flip side, not having a photo [or having an outdated one] could be associated with a lower quality of care, leading people to skip right over the credentials of someone who might actually be the perfect healthcare provider for them.”

Physicians and advanced practice providers who need a headshot (or updated one) for their pages on uvahealth.com are urged to stop by to get their photo taken. Walk-in dates are as follows:

• Tuesday, Aug. 9 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 10 | 3-6 p.m.
• Friday, Aug. 12 | noon-3 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 16 | 7:30-10:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 17 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 18 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Monday, Aug. 22 | 9 a.m.-noon
• Thursday, Aug. 25 | 2-5 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 31 | 8:30-11:30 a.m.

No appointment is needed. The shoot should take 10 minutes or less. Please bring a white coat if you have one; if not, one will be provided.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 3:21 p.m. Aug. 8)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Aug. 8)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources

Operations

Monthly Epic Update: Changes Go Live Tuesday, Aug. 9

This month’s Epic updates will impact ambulatory and inpatient LIPs, nurses, and therapy services. Details about the latest changes can be found in the Epic Update Bundle. Questions? Contact the Help Desk at 434.924.5334.

Next Bed Allocation/Unit Move Scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 9

UVA Health is evolving its bed-allocation plan to address changes in the current patient population. The goals are to maximize UVA Health’s available beds while also serving the needs of our patients and healthcare teams. After completing a review of the census data, the decision has been made to address changes in critical care populations and to transition the care of long-term acute care patients from the UVA Transitional Care Hospital (TCH) to UVA Medical Center, which will create efficiencies and enhance UVA Health’s ability to optimize care for this patient population. Following is the timeline for the next planned moves:

• Tuesday, Aug. 9 | 4 West TCVPO and 4 North TCVPO will move to 4 South
• Tuesday, Aug. 23 | 3 North MICU will move to 4 West ICU unit vacated by TCVPO
• Thursday, Aug. 25 | TCH patients will move to 3 North (readmitted to UVA Medical Center)
• Tuesday, Aug. 30 | The four NICU beds on 7 North (Rooms 7125, 7126, 7127, and 7128) will move to 8 North (Rooms 8125, 8126, 8127, and 8128) to allow for accommodation of the growing needs of NICU and PICU capacity

Updates will be provided as plans are known. Please speak with your manager if you have questions about a specific move.

Team Member Notice: Email Migration Project

UVA Health Information and Technology (HIT) is migrating team member email software from Microsoft Outlook to Microsoft 365 (M365), which will enhance collaboration capabilities and provide a consistent email product for all UVA Health entities, including UVA Community Health. The following will be migrated to M365 in a phased approach by the end of the calendar year:

• Team member email accounts
• Shared group email accounts
• Meeting/Resource room calendars

When it is time for your email account to be migrated to M365, you will receive an email from HIT (email@uvahealth.org) that includes instructions and timelines one week before your scheduled migration date. An email reminder will be sent the weekday before the migration (i.e., if your migration is scheduled for a Monday, you will receive your email reminder the Friday before). Notification emails will contain a subject line starting with “Microsoft 365 Migration.” Please be on the lookout for your notification in the coming weeks and months.

Happenings

Understanding and Fostering College-Age Students’ Mental Well-Being: Strategies for Faculty, Staff, and Parents

Join this Hoos Well reward-eligible webinar to find out what you can do to support college students.

• Tuesday, Aug. 9 | 3:30-4:30 p.m. | Zoom | Register
• Monday, Aug. 22 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom | Register

Connect for Support Sessions Available for: Employees and Managers

Third Tuesdays | Join a 30-minute drop-in session to check in with colleagues, share strategies for challenges you are facing, and discover resources available to help. Register. 

Appreciation

Congratulations to the Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Team!

The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) recently named the UVA Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Clinic as a Comprehensive Center with Adolescent Center. MBSAQIP is a joint quality program between the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). Working together, the ACS and the ASMBS have developed accreditation standards for metabolic and bariatric surgery to assist patients with obesity in identifying centers that provide optimal patient care. The MBSAQIP Standards, Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, ensure that metabolic and bariatric patients receive multidisciplinary medical care that improves patient outcomes and long-term success. MBSAQIP-accredited centers offer preoperative and postoperative care designed specifically for patients with obesity. After applying for MBSAQIP accreditation, centers undergo an extensive site visit by an experienced bariatric surgeon who reviews the center's structure, processes, and clinical outcomes data. UVA Health met the essential criteria for staffing, training, facility infrastructure, and patient care pathways. Congratulations to the team for the continuous high quality of patient care and helping patients like Angela (pictured) and so many more!

Friday, Aug. 5, 2022

2022 Annual Retraining Is Underway

Deadline: Friday, Sept. 30 | UVA Health team members who were hired on or before April 3, 2022, were assigned and enrolled in the 2022 UVA Health Annual Retraining Learning Program in Workday Learning. (Refer to the Wednesday, Aug. 3, email for details and directions.) The program includes three required digital courses:

• 2022 UVA Health Annual Retraining
• 2022 UVA Health Virginia State Employee Safety, Disaster, and Terrorism Awareness Retraining
• DEI and Cultural Competence Compliance

Please note that the deadline for completion will not be extended for this retraining. Questions? Email AskHR@virginia.edu with the subject line, “Annual Retraining.” Learn more.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:07 p.m. Aug. 5)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Aug. 5)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources

Patient Care

Perioperative Medicine Team Launches a New Triage and Scheduling Process to Improve Patient Experience

On Monday, Aug. 1, the Perioperative Medicine team launched its new triage and scheduling process for patients needing a Pre-Anesthesia Evaluation (aka PETC) visit. These scheduled visits will allow time for a comprehensive pre-surgery evaluation and are intended to improve the overall patient experience. To ensure the success of this new process, the Periop team will continue to partner with surgical teams. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Martha Coleman at MH4NB@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

Process details:

• Surgical teams no longer need to select the PETC visit type | There is a standardized process to triage all surgical case requests.
• PETC nurse will triage all cases | All surgical cases will be triaged by an experienced PETC nurse to an appropriate visit type based upon case type and comorbidities.
• Process identifies five visit types | Visit types: No PETC, Telephone, Telemed (not implemented as of yet), In-person RN visits, and In-person provider visits.
• Clinic schedulers will book PETC appointments | Once the visit type is determined, the clinic scheduler will call the patients to arrange a convenient visit date and time — typically within 1 to 2 weeks prior to their procedure.
• PETC will still offer labs and EKG services | While the ideal state will be for our patients to have their preoperative testing complete before their PETC visit, PETC will still offer laboratory and EKG services.

Leadership

Nauman Appointed Administrator, Ambulatory Nursing

Rachel Nauman, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, has been appointed to the new position of Administrator, Ambulatory Nursing. In this role, Rachel will partner with clinical leaders to oversee ambulatory patient care programs and drive continuous improvement for patient care delivery within Ambulatory Services for UVA Health. Read more on Connect.

Parkin Discusses Transition to One Epic System Throughout UVA Health

In a new video, UVA Health Chief Information and Technology Officer Robin Parkin discusses the beneficial impact that using one Epic system will have on patients, providers, and the UVA Health enterprise. This video is a companion piece to a more detailed interview with Parkin that is posted on Connect.

Operations

Monthly Epic Update: Changes Go Live Tuesday, Aug. 9

This month’s Epic updates will impact ambulatory and inpatient LIPs, nurses, and therapy services. Details about the latest changes can be found in the Epic Update Bundle. Questions? Contact the Help Desk at 434.924.5334.

Happenings

Space Available: Donate Blood in August, and You Could Win Free Gas for a Year!

Monday, Aug. 8, and Wednesday, Aug. 31 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Quayle Learning Center, Battle Building, First Floor | The American Red Cross, UVA Health’s primary supplier of blood products, is facing a severe blood shortage. You can help by donating blood. Swag alert: The American Red Cross is thanking all who donate in August by giving them a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Additionally, donors will be automatically entered for a chance to win gas for a year (a $6,000 value)! There will be three lucky winners. Terms apply. Appointments required. Sign up by emailing giveblood@virginia.edu. Learn more.

Apply for a Nursing Degree Scholarship

Deadline: Monday, Aug. 8 | Medical Center team members pursuing a nursing degree — including but not limited to ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, and more — can apply for funds to pay for tuition and other education-related expenses in 2022 and 2023. You do not have to be an RN to apply. Scholarship recipients will be announced in September. Help spread the word by printing this flier to hang in your area, and learn more on the PNSO website.

Understanding and Fostering College-Age Students’ Mental Well-Being: Strategies for Faculty, Staff, and Parents

Join this Hoos Well reward-eligible webinar to find out what you can do to support college students.

• Tuesday, Aug. 9 | 3:30-4:30 p.m. | Zoom | Register
• Monday, Aug. 22 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom | Register

Mindfulness Classes

• Free Mindfulness for UVA Healthcare Employees Class | Wednesdays, Sept. 21-Nov. 9 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, Oct. 29 | 560 Ray C. Hunt Dr., Fontaine Research Park | Register
• Mindful Eating Class | Fridays, Sept. 23-Nov. 18 | 10 a.m.-noon | 560 Ray C. Hunt Dr., Fontaine Research Park | Register
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Class | Mondays, Oct. 17-Dec. 12 | 4-6:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, Dec. 3 | Zoom | Register

Appreciation

Shoutout to BIMS Student Nadia Holness!

Congratulations to Nadia Holness (right), a School of Medicine biomedical sciences (BIMS) graduate student, on being selected for the highly competitive Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellowship. The Gilliam Program invests in graduate students from populations historically excluded or underrepresented in science who are positioned to become scientific leaders. Holness is one of 51 new fellows who are conducting outstanding research in their respective fields and, with their advisors, are committed to building a more inclusive scientific ecosystem. Holness is conducting research in the lab of Dr. Sarah Ewald, Associate Professor of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, and the Associate Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research. Holness’ project is designed to understand how a cell recognizes that it is infected. She hopes to learn why some microbes within the host cell are detected and destroyed while others in the same cell evade immune clearance. This is the first Gilliam Fellowship that has been awarded to a trainee at UVA. If you see Nadia or Dr. Ewald on Grounds, be sure to congratulate them on this outstanding achievement! Also: Thank you to our BIMS colleagues and the School of Medicine for supporting our students and faculty on endeavors such as this. Read more.

Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022

Karmen Fittes to Lead UVA Health Human Resources

An experienced healthcare human resources leader, Karmen Fittes comes to UVA from the University of California, Davis, where she has served since 2016 as executive director of talent and rewards for the university, including its health system. Fittes has more than 25 years of human resources experience, including more than 20 in healthcare. She will begin her role Sept. 1. Welcome, Karmen! Read more on Connect.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:20 p.m. Aug. 3)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Aug. 3)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources

Patient Care

Reminder: Don’t Wear Designated Surgical Attire Outside

In the interest of infection control and patient safety, team members who wear surgical scrubs are reminded not to wear them outside. As stated in UVA Health policy Surgical/Procedural Attire, surgical scrubs must be exchanged for street clothes when leaving a facility for any purpose. Movement within contiguous buildings is allowed without use of cover gowns or coats, however, going outside in designated surgical attire is not permitted.

Operations

Bed Allocation/Unit Moves Will Continue in August

UVA Health is evolving its bed-allocation plan to address changes in the current patient population. The goals are to maximize UVA Health’s available beds while also serving the needs of our patients and healthcare teams. After completing a review of the census data, the decision has been made to address changes in critical care populations and to transition the care of long-term acute care patients from the UVA Transitional Care Hospital (TCH) to UVA Medical Center, which will create efficiencies and enhance UVA Health’s ability to optimize care for this patient population. Following is the timeline for the next planned moves:

• Tuesday, Aug. 9 | 4 West TCVPO and 4 North TCVPO will move to 4 South
• Tuesday, Aug. 23 | 3 North MICU will move to 4 West ICU unit vacated by TCVPO
• Thursday, Aug. 25 | TCH patients will move to 3 North (readmitted to UVA Medical Center)

Updates will be provided as plans are known. Please speak with your manager if you have questions about a specific move.

Medical Lab Team Conducting Weekly Training Sessions for New Team Members

To meet increasing training demands during a time of staffing shortages, the Clinical Lab team is now offering training for point-of-care testing with equipment and test kits two days per week. Details:

• Training dates | 1-3 p.m. Mondays and 7-9 a.m. Wednesdays
• Class location | Laboratory Medicine Conference Room in West Complex, Room 4893
• Registration | Email “CL MedLab Point of Care Testing” with trainee name, computing ID, required tests, and location(s)/department(s) where they will be working.

For more information, please contact Jen DeArment at JLD2M@uvahealth.org or 434.243.5742.

Commuter Alert: Crispell Drive Lane Closure May Cause Delays

Thursday, Aug. 4 | 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | A temporary lane closure on Crispell Drive is planned during the relocation of an emergency generator to the side of the South Garage. Flaggers will be present to direct traffic.

Leadership

Celebrating a Group Who Has Provided Over 7,000 Years of Service to UVA Health

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, gives a big thank you to those celebrating milestone anniversaries with UVA Health. Read more and watch a video recap from the recent Service Awards Dinner.

Human Resources

UVA Health Returning to In-Person Orientation

UVA Health orientation will be returning to in-person sessions over the next few months. Please note that that the timeline for this change varies for different groups:

• Medical Center new hires will return to in-person orientation on Monday, Sept. 19. 
• UVA Physicians Group new hires, School of Medicine new hires, UVA Health temps, and UVA Health RN and tech travelers are currently slated to return to in-person orientation beginning Jan. 9, 2023.

Details are subject to change based on room availability and other in-person logistics. More information is available in the UVA HR announcement, and additional details will be communicated by email in the coming weeks.

Happenings

Physicians and APPs: Get a Headshot

McKim Hall | Ground Floor | Room G045 | Physicians and advanced practice providers who need a headshot (or updated one) for their pages on uvahealth.com are asked to stop by to get their photo taken. No appointment is needed. The shoot should take 10 minutes or less. Please bring a white coat if you have one; if not, one will be provided. Walk-in dates are as follows:

• Thursday, Aug. 4 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 9 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 10 | 3-6 p.m.
• Friday, Aug. 12 | noon-3 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 16 | 7:30-10:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 17 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 18 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Monday, Aug. 22 | 9 a.m.-noon
• Thursday, Aug. 25 | 2-5 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 31 | 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Nominate a Colleague for a Uteam Member of the Month Award

Deadline: 15th of every month | This program recognizes team members each month for their outstanding service to UVA Health and commitment to our ASPIRE values. Any team member, patient, or visitor may nominate an eligible team member, including individuals from UVA Medical Center, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and UVA Physicians Group. Nominations should be at least one paragraph and include at least two examples of how the nominee demonstrates the ASPIRE values. Nominate a colleague now.

Now Open: 2022-23 Jefferson Trust Annual Grants

Deadline for letter of intent: Thursday, Sept. 15 | The Jefferson Trust funds ideas and fosters innovation. Its annual grant cycle is now open for the 2022-23 academic year and is open to all University of Virginia students, faculty, and staff. If you need funding for an innovative idea or want to radically expand an existing program or project, consider applying. Learn more.

Appreciation

UVA Heart Failure Team Earns 3 National Awards

UVA Health’s Heart and Vascular Center recently earned three national awards for providing high-quality care for heart-failure patients based on the American Heart Association’s evidence-based standards:

• Gold Plus Level Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure
• Target: Heart Failure Honor Roll
• Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll

Thank you and congratulations to the award-winning care team at UVA Health’s Heart and Vascular Center: cardiologists, heart surgeons, nurse practitioners, nurses, therapists, exercise physiologists, pharmacists, and dietitians. Read more on Connect. 

Monday, Aug. 1, 2022

Welcome, Dean Baernholdt, New School of Nursing Dean

UVA Health welcomes UVA School of Nursing's seventh dean, Marianne Baernholdt,  the new Sadie Heath Cabaniss Professor of Nursing. Dean Baernholdt comes to us from UNC Chapel Hill School of Nursing, where she was associate dean of global initiatives, interim dean of research, and founding director of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization collaborating Center in Quality and Safety Education in Nursing and Midwifery. A celebrated nurse scientist, scholar, mentor, and teacher, we are thrilled to welcome Dean Baernholdt to UVA Health. Read the appointment announcement from April on Connect.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:06 p.m. Aug. 1)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Aug. 1)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources

Human Resources

Coming Soon: 2022 Annual Retraining

Launches Wednesday, Aug. 3 | Deadline: Friday, Sept. 30 | UVA Health team members who were hired on or before April 3, 2022, will be assigned and enrolled in the 2022 UVA Health Annual Retraining Learning Program in Workday Learning. The program includes three required digital courses:

• 2022 UVA Health Annual Retraining
• 2022 UVA Health Virginia State Employee Safety, Disaster, and Terrorism Awareness Retraining
• DEI and Cultural Competence Compliance

Please note that the deadline for completion will not be extended for this retraining. Questions? Email AskHR@virginia.edu with the subject line, “Annual Retraining.” Learn more.

Happenings

Apply for a Nursing Degree Scholarship

Deadline: Monday, Aug. 8 | Medical Center team members pursuing a nursing degree — including but not limited to ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, and more — can apply for funds to pay for tuition and other education-related expenses in 2022 and 2023. You do not have to be an RN to apply. Scholarship recipients will be announced in September. Help spread the word by printing this flier to hang in your area, and learn more on the PNSO website .

Understanding and Fostering College-Age Students’ Mental Well-Being: Strategies for Faculty, Staff, and Parents

Join this Hoos Well reward-eligible webinar to find out what you can do to support college students.

• Tuesday, Aug. 9 | 3:30-4:30 p.m. | Zoom | Register
• Monday, Aug. 22 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom | Register

Save the Date: Annual Nursing and Healthcare Education Fair

Wednesday, Oct. 5 | 5-8 p.m. | Virtual and Medical Center Dining Conference Rooms 1 and 2 | Admissions Counselors will be available to discuss healthcare programs, including pharmacy tech, radiology, certified nursing assistant, and nursing programs of all levels. Open to any UVA team member interested in going to school for a different role within healthcare. Learn more.

Appreciation

UVA Health Builds New Community Paramedicine Program

Launched last month, UVA Health will be going live with its new Community Paramedicine (CP) program later this fall. Based in the Population Health department, this program represents an expanded role for prehospital clinicians (commonly known as paramedics) to interact with clients and patients outside of the traditional healthcare system. The program will also expand our well-received Interactive Home Monitoring program to provide much-needed assistance to patients who have often used local emergency medical services and emergency department resources as their main provider of healthcare. Patrick Watson, NRP, and Taylor Tereskerz, AS, EMT-I, are prehospital clinicians with the CP program. They are both looking forward to the new opportunities this program will provide. “Community Paramedicine is a relatively new concept in healthcare,” says Patrick, “and I am excited to bring this to UVA and the Charlottesville/Albemarle area. I think we can make an impact and improve the health and relationships with healthcare providers in the community.” Thank you to all involved who helped stand up this new program and for their service to our community. We look forward to hearing more about the program's success! Read more on Connect.

Archive of previous UVA Health Updates

• March 30-July 31, 2020
• Aug. 3-Sept. 30, 2020
• Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 2020
• Jan. 1-March 31, 2021
• April 1-30, 2021
• May 1-31, 2021
• June 1-30, 2021
• July 1-31, 2021
• Aug. 1-31, 2021
• Sept. 1-30, 2021
• Oct. 1-29, 2021
• Nov. 1-30, 2021
• Dec. 1-31, 2021
• Jan. 1-31, 2022
• Feb. 1-28, 2022
• March 2-30, 2022
• April 1-29, 2022
• May 1-30, 2022
• June 1-30, 2022
• July 1-31, 2022