Connect

UVA COVID-19 INPATIENT SNAPSHOT, 1:44 p.m.

Current Census
Under investigation for COVID-19:  8
Confirmed with COVID-19:  18

• Acute SPU (5S):   6
• ICU SPU (4S):     11
• STICU:                   1

Confirmed with COVID-19 on ventilator:  9

Discharged Since March 10
Under investigation for COVID-19:  76
Confirmed with COVID-19:  380

PPE INVENTORY UPDATE, 6:25 a.m.

JOINT COMMISSION SURVEY READINESS

Reminder: ID Badges Required | The Medical Center’s triennial Joint Commission survey can happen anytime between now and early March 2021. As part of our preparations, please wear your UVA Health identification badge whenever you enter and work in our facilities. Badges are required to be worn above the waist and should not have stickers (except flu vaccine sticker) or pins through the badge.

Wearing your badge properly and at all times while at work helps maintain compliance with regulatory standards and Health System Policy. It also helps meet the patient rights standard that patients have a right to know who is participating in their care.   

Test Your Readiness Level | Answer this SURVEY READINESS QUIZ  to be randomly selected to win a prize.

OPERATIONS

Epic Upgrade Set for Oct. 18 | Training Now Available | It’s time to get ready for the next Epic upgrade, so dust off your area’s downtime procedures, and check out the new Training Guides.

• Upgrade Schedule:
  • Downtime – Saturday, Oct. 17 at 11 p.m. (estimated 3-hour duration)
  • Go-Live – Sunday, Oct. 18 at 2 a.m.
• Managers: Use information here to begin preparing your team for the upgrade.  
• Resources: Support and training are available on the Epic Learning Library Upgrade Central. Expanded Help Desk support will be available during and after go-live, and can be accessed by calling 434.924.5334, emailing the Help Desk, or clicking “To Epic” to submit a ticket in Epic. 

Rescheduled: Lee Street Closure | Sunday, Sept. 27, and Monday, Sept. 28 | 8 p.m.-5 a.m. |  Lee Street will be closed in front of University Hospital for repaving. On these evenings, the shuttle for UVA Health team members will pick up and drop off passengers in front of the University Hospital main entrance and lobby. More information.

PATIENT CARE

Planning Underway for Flu Testing | Planning is underway to ensure testing is available for both COVID-19 and flu for patients who are symptomatic. Although we do not have an early indication of the severity of this year’s flu season, the UVA Lab is working hard to assess and increase testing availability for influenza in the context of the pandemic well before flu activity traditionally begins to peak. Additional testing guidance and availability information will be available in late October. 

Even with the availability of testing, the best strategy for navigating this flu season is to ensure you and your loved ones receive vaccinations.

Save the Date: Additional Patient Information Releases to MyChart Begin Oct. 18 | Our next step in complying with the 21st Century Cures Act (also known as Information Blocking) is set for Sunday, Oct. 18:

• Signed Discharge Summaries will become viewable in MyChart at the time of discharge. If the Discharge Summary is not signed at discharge, it will release when it is signed.
• Ambulatory e-Consult notes will become viewable in MyChart when the encounter is closed.

Stay tuned – a comprehensive review is underway to identify any additional electronic patient information that will need to be released on the Oct. 18 go-live date. This review will help ensure we are in compliance when the new law goes into effect on Nov. 2. We will provide updates soon.

TEAM MEMBER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

FEAP Tip: Simple Ways To Support National Suicide Prevention | Mental Health awareness is particularly important in our current environment, as 41% of U.S. adults reported at least one symptom of a mental health condition since the pandemic started. Read easy ways you as a colleague, leader, or manager can take steps to create a culture of support around mental health in our personal and professional lives.

Team members and their adult family members can access FEAP services, which are free and confidential and include assessment, short-term counseling, consultation, support groups, and education. Explore FEAP offerings or schedule a 1:1 appointment.

NEWS FROM GROUNDS

UVA Weekly | Updates, Quarantine Procedures and One Team’s Pandemic Project (Video) | This week’s update covers wastewater testing, plans for saliva testing to detect COVID-19, and the details of UVA’s quarantine and isolation procedures for students.

Return to Grounds | Sept. 24 Update | This week’s update opens with a message from Provost Liz Magill about the new normal. Other topics include UVA’s response to COVID-19 in the areas of public health, operations, returning to work, and student life.

UVA HEALTH IN THE NEWS

How, and When, Will We Know That a COVID-19 Vaccine Is Safe and Effective? (Read on Connect or The Conversation) | UVA Health scientist and infectious diseases specialist William Petri, MD, predicts that “Based on the status of the Phase 3 trials currently underway, it is unlikely that the results of these trials will be available before November. But, it is likely that not just one but several of the competing COVID-19 vaccines will be shown to be safe and effective by the end of 2020.”

HAPPENING NEXT WEEK

Medical Center Hour (Virtual Event) | Doing Bioethics: The Difference Culture and Circumstance Make | Wednesday, Sept. 30 | Noon-1 p.m. | Presented by Farhat Moazam MD, PhD, Professor and Chair, Center of Biomedical Ethics and Culture, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), Karachi, Pakistan. Zoom link. Passcode: 439854. 

APPRECIATION

And the Winner Is … | We are proud to announce that the 3W West Hematology Oncology Clinic Team has won a 2020 Press Ganey Pinnacle of Excellence Award for Patient Experience. The award recognizes clients who have maintained consistently high levels of excellence over three years. 

We applaud this extraordinary achievement by a team that is truly dedicated to serving our patients. Thank you and congratulations, staff and providers of the 3 West Hematology Oncology Clinic! 

VISIT OUR COVID-19 INFORMATION RESOURCE

Outpatient call 434.982.6843
Hospital Epidemiologist page 9204
COVID19Questions@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020

UVA COVID-19 INPATIENT SNAPSHOT, 2:43 p.m.

Under investigation for COVID-19:  7
Confirmed with COVID-19:  16

• Acute SPU (5S):  3
• ICU SPU (4S):  12
• PICU (7N):  1

Confirmed with COVID-19 on ventilator: 10 

Discharged Since March 10
Under investigation for COVID-19: 11
Confirmed with COVID-19: 369

PPE INVENTORY UPDATE, 6:37 a.m.

MAGNET SITE VISIT

The Magnet Site Visit Is Complete, and Yes, There’s Good News to Share | Magnet appraisers met with 36 different practice settings, five of which were off-site, held 17 group sessions, and hosted 10 sessions with a random selection of nurses. The appraisers applauded the work of our team for mentorship, lean methodology, teamwork, visual management, shared governance, ambulatory clinics, COVID-preparedness, and more. 

Bottom line: Appraisers found no deficiencies and validated all scores in our previously-submitted written documentation. Our redesignation decision is expected in about eight weeks. Read more on Connect.

TEAM MEMBER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

Roll-out of UVA Health 2020-2021 Seasonal Flu Plan Starts Today | Flu vaccines are available at UVA Health stating today (Sept. 21) through Nov. 13. Due to COVID-19 precautions, this year’s flu plan will focus on vaccinating team members in their work areas. We ask that you do not go to Employee Health, UVA-WorkMed, or UVA Pharmacy locations for your flu shot; they are not being administered at these locations.

There are plans in place for academic, contract, clinical, office, and telework team members beginning Sept. 21. Options include:

• To-Go Kits: Kits will be provided to work areas with clinicians qualified to administer flu vaccines (inpatient units, ambulatory clinics, and others). Managers will provide details.

• Home Department Vaccinations by Clinical Volunteers: Non-clinical teams and departments (e.g., HIT, Finance, Marketing) will be connected with clinical volunteers who will schedule specific times to offer vaccinations in home department locations.
• Off-Site Providers: Team members can also obtain flu shots from their PCP (including UVA PCP’s) or any outside provider or pharmacy. To receive a sticker to place on your ID badge, you must provide documentation at UVA Employee Health or UVA-WorkMed. Documentation must include two patient identifiers (ex: name and date of birth).  

If you have concerns that are not answered in the 2020-2021 UVA Health Seasonal Flu Plan FAQs, please contact your manager. If your manager is unable to assist you, please email Employee Health.

OPERATIONS

New Transfer Center Referral Process Launches Today | When an outside hospital requests to transfer a patient to UVA, our Transfer Center and on-call provider determine if specialized ambulatory care would better serve the patient’s needs. To help patients for whom ambulatory care is most appropriate, we have developed a new referral scheduling process. The process, which is initiated by the Transfer Center on behalf of the patient, delivers Urgent Referrals for scheduling by our Access Team. The goal is to ensure safer, faster, more efficient care coordination. Details.

Reminder: Thursday, Sept. 24 is Surplus Amnesty Day | 8 a.m-2 p.m. | University Hospital (Main Hospital Only) | Surplus Amnesty Day provides free pick up and disposal of the items noted below. 

• Items included: Surplus/unused or broken furniture and equipment
• Items not included: Asset-tagged medical equipment or computer/electronic surplus.
• How to participate: Tag all items to be picked up as “surplus,” and place them in an easily accessible location near your unit or department entrance. Please do not block hallways, doors, entryways, or exits. 
• When to put items out for pick up:  From the end of day on Wednesday, Sept. 23, until 8 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24. Note: Items set out after 8 a.m. on Thursday may not be picked up.
• For more information: Email or call Tracy Shifflett at tes6j@virginia.edu or 434.243.9244. If you are unable to participate, read the instructions for regular surplus disposal.

IN THE NEWS

Q&A: How UVA’s Residence Hall Wastewater Virus Testing Works (UVA Today) |UVA Today caught up with Amy Mathers, MD, associate professor of medicine and pathology, to find answers to a few questions about UVA’s wastewater testing program, which is a joint effort of the University and the UVA Medical Center.

What’s New With UVA’s COVID Dashboard 2.0? (UVA Today) | UVA has implemented new features to the UVA COVID Tracker to make the tool more informative and to provide a fuller picture of the prevalence of the virus in the University community. Here is what’s new with UVA’s COVID Dashboard 2.0:

• New cases average: For both total UVA cases and students specifically, the tracker will now show the daily average of new cases for the current week and for the past three weeks.
• Active cases: While the tracker will continue to show the number of new cases from the previous day and days prior, as well as the total number of cases historically, it will now also show active cases for both the UVA community and students specifically. Active cases are new cases over the last 10 days requiring isolation.

APPRECIATION

Shout Out for Interprofessional Collaboration | “I couldn’t be prouder of our team, I couldn’t be prouder of our professional practice, and I couldn’t be prouder of the interprofessional collaboration that takes place every single day in this organization,”  Mary Dixon, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, observed during last Friday’s Magnet site visit debrief. “I have said many times that Magnet is nursing-centric, but it takes the entire organization to be committed to this level of clinical excellence.”

VISIT OUR COVID-19 INFORMATION RESOURCE

Outpatient call 434.982.6843
Hospital Epidemiologist page 9204
COVID19Questions@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu

Friday, Sept. 18, 2020

UVA COVID-19 INPATIENT SNAPSHOT, 1:41 p.m.

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 3
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 12
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU: 10
• Confirmed with COVID-19 on ventilator: 8

Discharged Since March 10

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 68
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 360

PPE INVENTORY UPDATE, 6:39 a.m.

MAGNET SITE VISIT 

Day 1 Summary | Mary Dixon, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, reports that the first day of the Magnet site visit was a “great day!” See highlights below. Stay up to date on the Magnet visit and related team member feedback by reading the PNSO blog.

• Incredible support: The Telemed and technology teams, Magnet command center/logistics support and hosts were amazing!
• Positive energy: Appraisers perceived high energy from everyone they met. Nurses reported feeling heard and supported by leaders, and specifically the CNO, since pandemic stressors began.
• Collaboration and teamwork: Nurses spoke honestly and professionally about staffing challenges and described how teams are coming together to identify creative strategies. They expressed optimism and see improvements coming as new hires arrive and recruiting continues. Team members spoke to amazing teamwork in nursing and with interprofessional partners.
• Visual Management Boards: Appraisers were impressed not only with our Visual Management Boards but, more importantly, with our nurses’ ability to speak to the data on them.

PPE UPDATE

N95 Masks Processing Status Report | During the past week, we have disinfected 89% of the N95 masks submitted for processing. Thank you team members for supporting efforts to conserve our PPE supplies and ensuring that enough N95 masks are available when needed by front-line care providers. 

OPERATIONS

Reminder: Please Escort Visitors in Newly Opened North-to-South Tower Corridor | Because this corridor leads to a location with access to a Redline area, it is imperative to escort visitors to reduce confusion. The recommendation is to maintain the original paths for our visitors and patients within the South Tower. Patient transport to the EP Labs is not recommended through this corridor because doors are not automated. If you have concerns or questions, please contact Rebecca Lewis, Administrator, Clinical Liaison Facilities Planning. 

Hospital Cafeteria Launches Customer Survey | The UVA Health Main Cafeteria is asking customers to participate in a brief, online survey and offering a discount coupon to respondents who provide their email address. The survey goal is to better understand customers’ perceptions of the cafeteria menu, environment and services. The survey ends Friday, Sept. 25.

Surplus Amnesty Day | Thursday, Sept. 24 | 8 a.m-2 p.m. | University Hospital (Main Hospital Only) | Surplus Amnesty Day provides free pick up and disposal of the items noted below. 

• Items included:  Surplus/unused or broken furniture and equipment
• Items not included:  Asset-tagged medical equipment or computer/electronic surplus.
• How to participate:  Tag all items to be picked up as “surplus” and place them in an easily accessible location near your unit or department entrance. Please do not block hallways, doors, entryways or exits. 
• When to put items out for pickup:  From the end of day on Wednesday, Sept. 23, until 8 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24. Note: Items set out after 8 a.m. on Thursday may not be picked up.
• For more information:  Email or call Tracy Shifflett at tes6j@virginia.edu or 434.243.9244. If you are unable to participate, read the instructions for regular surplus disposal.

UVA HEALTH IN THE NEWS

Research

Q&A: Dr. Steven Zeichner on How Soon We Should Expect COVID-19 Vaccines (Read on UVA Today or Connect) | As the COVID-19 pandemic continues its hold on the world, researchers are racing at “warp speed” to develop safe and effective vaccines. UVA infectious diseases researcher Steven Zeichner, MD, PhD, who is working on a COVID-19 vaccine, discusses the challenges of rapid vaccine development and what to possibly expect once approved vaccines become available.   

UVA Discovers Key Process in Cancer Tumor Formation (Read on UVA Health Newsroom or Connect) | A new discovery from the School of Medicine may open the door to a new approach to treating cancer: by disrupting a vital condensation process inside cancer cells.           

Philanthropy

Gift Honors Rebecca W. Rimel, Creates Dean’s Chair in the School of Nursing (Read on Envision or Connect) | The UVA School of Nursing has received a $5 million gift from The Pew Charitable Trusts to create the Rebecca W. Rimel Dean’s Chair. The position honors Rimel, a 1973 graduate of the school, who recently stepped down as Pew’s president and CEO. The gift is among the largest ever to the School of Nursing and will combine with matching funds from the University to create an endowed deanship.

Facilities

UVA Hospital Expansion Emphasizes Humanity in Healing (Medical Construction & Design) | UVA Health’s new Emergency Department and inpatient bed tower offers an enhanced and more dignified experience for patients and staff. Designed by Perkins and Will and built by Skanska, the expansion of the hospital prioritizes well-being while maximizing the number of patients who can receive care.

University of Virginia Health System to Open $7M Breast Care Center (Becker’s Hospital Review) | Charlottesville-based UVA Health is opening a $7 million comprehensive breast care center Oct. 12. The 18,500-square-foot center includes 32 patient rooms and will offer surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, genetics, plastic surgery, and radiology services. 

HUMAN RESOURCES

Workday Learning Launch Update: Workday Training Now Available | As UVA HR prepares to launch Workday Learning for UVA Health, you can begin your Workday Learning journey with online Workday training for team members (learners) and managers on the project’s training page. At this stage, only Workday courses are available.

Here you will find:

• Job aids
• Real-time training
• Workday eLearning (Go to Workday > Select the Learning app > Click Browse Learning > In the second search bar, type in “Workday”)

For more information on the Workday Learning project and the stages to launch, visit the project website.

TEAM MEMBER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

Lessons in Resilience and Well-being | SON Dean Pam Cipriano | Wednesday, Sept. 23 | 2-3 p.m. | The UVA Club of Charlottesville and the School of Nursing are hosting a conference call during which Dr. Cipriano will share her thoughts and insights into how we can learn from the techniques health professionals utilize for resilience and well-being in our own lives. Register. 

Important Note: A call-in number and passcode will be emailed to registered participants upon registration. You must have these details to access this private phone call.

APPRECIATION

“UVA Sports Medicine ROCKS IT! Every time!” | A grateful patient recently wrote, “This was my first interaction with any healthcare provider/system since COVID shutdown. I was very impressed w/screening questions @ time of appointment making, availability of hand hygiene products @ entryway, VERY KIND personnel @ doorway reception performing temperature screening as well as structures and processes in place to provide for distancing.” After thanking members of the care team for their attention and care, the patient concluded by stating, “UVA Sports Medicine ROCKS IT! Every time!”

VISIT OUR COVID-19 INFORMATION RESOURCE

Outpatient call 434.982.6843
Hospital Epidemiologist page 9204
COVID19Questions@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu

Monday, Sept. 14, 2020

UVA COVID-19 INPATIENT SNAPSHOT, 12:37 p.m.

Under investigation for COVID-19: 4
Confirmed with COVID-19: 16
Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU: 8
Confirmed with COVID-19 on ventilator: 8

Discharged Since March 10
Under investigation for COVID-19: 65
Confirmed with COVID-19: 351

PPE INVENTORY UPDATE, 6:32 a.m.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

To the team members at UVA Health who are working tirelessly to care for our patients, community and each other, we thank you. We will never forget your contributions and sacrifices. On this day in particular, may we also remember and reflect on those lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001. May their sacrifices 19 years ago today remind us that heroic acts, unwavering bravery, and the human spirit can lead us through even the most challenging times.

PATIENT CARE

SAS and PACU Will Open in Temporary Locations on Monday, Sept. 14 | Starting tonight (Friday, Sept. 11), the SAS and PACU will begin moving to temporary locations in Temp East (old CTU) and Temp West (old locker room/classroom). The move will be completed in time for the units to accommodate Monday cases. The units are expected to occupy their temporary locations for nine months.

• SAS North, which opened last month, will remain operational. 
• OR Satellite Pharmacy will temporarily relocate while renovations are completed in its permanent location. It will occupy the vacated/old perfusion space in the corner by the main entrance to the Main OR. The pharmacy’s walk-up window will be in the public hallway on the left as you walk in the direction of the HEP back elevators. 

COVID Test Results Release to MyChart | As a reminder, there is an automatic hold period for finalized COVID test results before they become viewable in MyChart:

• Positive COVID test results – 4-day hold period
• Negative COVID test results – 1-day hold period

The extended hold period for positive COVID results was put in place in response to provider requests and allows additional time to communicate results and care plans to patients, if needed. Please note: no test results are released to MyChart on weekends. The full result release schedule for all result types is here.

NEWS FROM GROUNDS

Sept. 10 Return to Grounds Update | This week’s update includes information about parking and transportation adjustments, the HOOS Health Check and COVIDWISE apps, asymptomatic testing for UVA employees and contracted workers, compliance with Public Health Measures, and more. 

HUMAN RESOURCES

New Process for UVA Health Orientation | The Orientation and Onboarding Team is excited to announce a new online orientation program for new hires of the Medical Center, School of Medicine, and University Physicians Group beginning Sept. 21. Learn more. 

Reminder: Get Ready for Open Enrollment | Oct. 5-16 | The Open Enrollment website is live and full of tools that help explain changes, costs, options, and action steps. In addition to benefit-specific pages that are accessible via the sidebar, you’ll see a new Medical Scenarios webpage that compares costs for common medical procedures across the three health plan options. You’ll also find details on all pages about how to enroll or make changes in Workday. Take the new resources out for a spin, and check back often because more resources will be added to the site as Open Enrollment gets underway.

TEAM MEMBER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

Sign Up Now: Mindfulness for UVA Health Team Members Classes | The Mindfulness Center just finished the fifth Mindfulness for UVA Health Team Members class conducted in conjunction with the Be Wise program. These eight-week classes are now offered virtually and are free for all UVA Health team members. Over 160 team members have enrolled from across UVA Health, including those employed by the Medical Center, UPG, and the Schools of Medicine and Nursing. The initial evaluation of the program demonstrated significant improvements in burnout, stress, and self-compassion scores among the participants. On average, individuals who completed the classes rated them as excellent overall (4.5 out of 5), and noted strong positive personal change (4.5 out of 5). The next class begins Sept. 30. Learn more and register.

6 Workouts for Stress Relief (Healthy Balance Blog) | Even if you still can’t go to a gym – or you don’t feel comfortable going – it’s important to find ways to be more active. Looking for some inspiration? These six workouts offer fun ways to get some heart-healthy exercise, reduce stress, and get back in your groove.

APPRECIATION

Taking A Pause In Observance of 9/11 | Thanks to its creator, UVA palliative care nurse Jonathan Bartels, RN, “The Pause” has become a very sacred and special practice not only here at UVA Health but also among healthcare providers worldwide. As many of you know, “The Pause” is a way of honoring the death of a patient by having the care team take a moment for silent reflection. Today, we encourage everyone in the UVA Health community to take a pause in honor of all who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. May our collective silence serve as a very special tribute to those who died and to their families, loved ones and colleagues who struggled, but persevered, to carry on without them.

VISIT OUR COVID-19 INFORMATION RESOURCE

Outpatient call 434.982.6843
Hospital Epidemiologist page 9204
COVID19Questions@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020

UVA COVID-19 INPATIENT SNAPSHOT, 12:34 p.m.

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 2
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 18
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU: 11
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU on ventilator: 10

Discharged Since March 10

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 60
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 338

PPE INVENTORY UPDATE, 6:42 a.m.

OPERATIONS

Monday, Sept. 7: Labor Day Reminders

• Clinics Closed: All clinics will be closed, including the COVID-19 Clinic. View the up-to-date clinic holiday schedule. 
• Parking & Transportation Offers Holiday Options:
  • Parking: Gates will be open for 24 hours starting at midnight in the South Garage (Crispell Drive) and in the 11th Street Garage (park in level D and above).
  • Transit:
    • No Service: University Transit Service buses and the Health System Transit Shuttle  
    • Operating: UtoCar will operate normally. The Medical Center Shuttle will run on its weekend schedule, every 60 minutes 7:20 a.m.-7:45 p.m.
• No UVA Health Update: The Update won’t publish on Monday, Sept. 7, in observance of Labor Day. We’ll be back on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

Tuesday, Sept. 8: Bus Route Changes Go Into Effect | To accommodate increased commuter parking demand, University Transit Service commuter bus routes will change as noted below. More information. 

• Parking Lot/Bus Route Choices for UVA Health Commuters
  • If arriving between 5 and 8:30 a.m., park in the Red Lots at Scott Stadium, and ride the Redline or the Redline Express to/from the Medical Center.
  • If arriving after 8:30 a.m., park in the Emmet/Ivy Garage, and ride the Blueline to/from the Medical Center.

• Redline Express and Redline (Scott Stadium)
  • Express Hours: 5-6 a.m., M-F
  • Morning Hours: 6-8:30 a.m., M-F
  • Daytime Out of Service Hours: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
  • Afternoon/Evening Hours: 2:30-8 p.m., M-F
  • Off-Hours Alternative: UTS Orange Line

• Blueline (Emmett/Ivy Garage) 

• • Service Hours: 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m., M-F
  • Not Serving: Blue permit lots near John Paul Jones Arena  

Wednesday, Sept. 9: Planned Sprinkler Outage | University Hospital | 7 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. | As part of the University Hospital Expansion, sprinklers will be turned off building wide. To ensure safety during the outage, several fire trucks will be parked outside the building, and personnel wearing UVA “Fire Watch” badges will walk through units to monitor conditions. No interruptions to team member activities or patient care are anticipated during the outage.

PATIENT CARE

Tuesday, Sept. 8: Notes Will Be Automatically Shared with Patients Through MyChart | Ambulatory clinical notes will become viewable in MyChart when an encounter is closed in Epic. This change will impact all Ambulatory LIPs, Nurses, and Therapy Services roles in clinical areas who write any of the following note types: Progress, Procedures, H&P, H&P (View-Only), Interval H&P, Addendum, Result QuickNote, Pre-procedure H&P, and End of Life. 

Documentation on the project website addresses common concerns such as how to prevent release of sensitive notes, the Resident note release process, and best practices for clinical documentation. The website also includes a brief, self-paced CBL for all roles.

MAGNET REDESIGNATION

Changes to Expect During Our Sept. 15-18 Site Visit | Like many other activities, our Magnet site visit has been impacted by COVID-19 precautions and restrictions. For the first time, Magnet appraisers will conduct their visit virtually, and team members can expect a number of changes, including the following:

• Appraisers on Wheels – Team members serving as site visit guides will travel to various units with an iPad mounted on a rolling cart to enable appraisers to conduct their assessments and interviews.
• Virtual Drop-in Sessions – Appraisers will hold 1:1 “drop-in” style virtual meetings with team members from 8:50 to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Interested team members can come to the second floor of Pinn Hall outside Rooms 2 ABC during this time, and they will be directed to the next open room to speak with an appraiser.

To learn more about the upcoming Magnet site visit, read Visiting Virtually: Magnet Site Visit to Be First Ever of Its Kind at UVA on Connect. 

UVA HEALTH IN THE NEWS

CDC Tells States How to Prepare for COVID-19 Vaccine by Early November (The New York Times) | “It’s good to have a plan out for hospitals and health care systems to prepare” for a potential rollout, said Dr. Taison Bell, a UVA pulmonary and critical care physician. But Bell said that he was concerned that the timeline outlined in the documents “is incredibly ambitious and makes me worry that the administration will prioritize this arbitrary deadline rather than maintaining diligence with following the science.”

TEAM MEMBER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

Caregiving and Family Support | UVA understands that the rapidly evolving state of COVID-19 has delivered plenty of challenges to our team members, including managing childcare, child education, and eldercare needs. To support our team members who are facing these challenges, UVA HR is offering a variety of options to help meet these needs through caregiving solutions and discounted rates. We will continue to update you on solutions and options as new offerings become available.  

Testing and Notification Procedures for Symptomatic Faculty and Staff | UVA Human Resources has developed a testing and notification process for when an Academic Division employee (including those in the Schools of Medicine and Nursing) is either suspected of having COVID-19 or self-reports having it. Learn more.

UVA Contemplative Science Center Announces Free Online Fall Classes | Explore CSC’s schedule of free virtual classes open to UVA students and to the public. Night Owl and Ashtanga classes have begun. The remaining classes begin Tuesday, Sept. 8. Below is a list of all CSC drop-in classes. Learn more.

• Yoga for a Healthy Back 
• Yin Yoga 
• Qi Gong for Resilience 
• Mindfulness Meditation  
• HoosTakingCare 
• Yoga for Emotional Wellness  
• T’ai Chi 
• HoosMeditating 
• Gentle Flow Yoga  
• Mysore Ashtanga Yoga  
• Beginner Mysore Ashtanga 
• Led Primary Series Ashtanga Yoga  
• Night Owl Yoga (Yoga for Anxiety, Flow yoga and Ashtanga yoga) 

APPRECIATION

Telemedicine and IT Teams Helped Make Upcoming Magnet Site Visit Possible | Our Magnet site visit is scheduled for Sept. 15-18 and will be the first we’ve ever conducted virtually. We offer a very special shout out to the Telemedicine and IT teams for their amazing partnership in planning the logistics for this visit and for extensively testing the virtual format we will use. 

Ensuring connectivity for four appraisers as they move virtually throughout our facilities during a four-day period is no small task, and we thank everyone who is helping to make this possible.

VISIT OUR COVID-19 INFORMATION RESOURCE

Outpatient call 434.982.6843
Hospital Epidemiologist page 9204
COVID19Questions@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu

Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020

UVA COVID-19 INPATIENT SNAPSHOT, 1:49 p.m.

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 0
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 19
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU: 14
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU on ventilator: 8

Discharged Since March 10

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 57
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 321

PPE INVENTORY UPDATE, 6:17 a.m.

OPERATIONS

Parking & Transportation Modifications for Labor Day Holiday | Team members reporting to work on Grounds on Monday, Sept. 7, should take note of the following changes:

• Labor Day Parking: Parking will be available in the South Garage on Crispell Drive and in the 11th Street Garage (level D and above). Garage gates will be open for a 24-hour period beginning at midnight on Sept. 7.
• Labor Day Transit: 
  • No Service: University Transit Service buses and the Health System Transit Shuttle service will be suspended on Sept. 7. 
  • Operating: UtoCar will operate normally. The Medical Center Shuttle will run on its weekend schedule, every 60 minutes from 7:20 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. 

HUMAN RESOURCES

Get Ready for Open Enrollment | Oct. 5-16, 2020 | For the 2021 plan year, there will be no changes to premiums, coinsurance, copays, or deductibles for the Basic, Value, and Choice Health options for full-time employees. However, there are action items you may need to take. Even though you may not want to make any changes to your health, dental, or vision plans, you will need to reelect the FSA and HSA programs in Workday if you want to keep them in 2021. FSA and HSA elections for 2020 will NOT automatically carry over to 2021. Visit the Open Enrollment website for additional details.

UVA HEALTH IN THE NEWS

Q&A: UVA Medical Lab Addresses Capacity to Meet Virus-Testing Demand (UVA Today) | In addition to preparing for increased demand for coronavirus testing in the University and the greater Charlottesville communities, UVA Health’s Medical Laboratory has taken steps to mitigate the impact of supply chain disruptions for some materials used to process test samples. 

Early Follow-Up Shows UVA Patients Recovering Well From COVID-19 (UVA Today) | Pulmonary and critical care physician Dr. Alexandra Kadl and Dr. Chintan Ramani, a senior fellow, have set up a post-COVID-19 clinic to track the health and progress of patients who have been discharged from the hospital and are recovering from particularly bad cases of the disease. Their goal is to provide insights about COVID-19’s effects on  the human body over the longer term, after apparent recovery.    

TEAM MEMBER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

Reminder: There’s Still Time to Earn and Redeem Hoos Well Rewards | Employees and spouses enrolled in the UVA Health Plan can each earn up to $500 in gift card rewards for participating in the Hoos Well Program. Rewards can be Instantly redeemed for gift cards at retailers such as Best Buy, Amazon, Target, and many more. All earned gift card rewards must be redeemed by Nov. 30, 2020.After December 1, 2020, any unredeemed rewards will be forfeited.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Don’t Miss the Deadline: 2020 Governor’s Honor Award Nominations Due Sept. 4 | Time is running out to submit nominations for the 2020 Governor’s Honor Awards. The awards recognize the accomplishments and important contributions made by the state workforce and reflect the highest levels of outstanding work at state agencies. Groups that are eligible for nomination include University and classified staff and Medical Center team members. Please note that faculty, UPG, Foundation, and contingent workers are ineligible. Nominations are due by close of business, Friday Sept. 4. Learn more and submit nominations. 

APPRECIATION

Saluting 2020 Caring for Community Award Honoree Taison Bell, MD | One of the highlights of today’s kick off breakfast for the 2020 United Way Day of Caring was the presentation of the inaugural Caring for Community Awards. This year’s awards recognized exceptional community service provided by individuals and organizations during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. 

Dr. Bell was honored as the “Above and Beyond Care Provider.” As noted during the award presentation, “Every Monday since the pandemic started, Dr. Bell has held a Facebook Live update where anyone in the community can ask questions and get real answers. As head of the COVID unit at UVA, he has cared for patients and led research on treatment. Hundreds of us tune in every week to hear unbiased, true science from the front lines.” 

Congratulations, Dr. Bell, and thank you for the outstanding contribution you are making to our patients and our community.

VISIT OUR COVID-19 INFORMATION RESOURCE

Outpatient call 434.982.6843
Hospital Epidemiologist page 9204
COVID19Questions@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu

Monday, Aug. 31, 2020

UVA COVID-19 INPATIENT SNAPSHOT, 12:40 p.m.

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 0
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 24
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU: 16
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU on ventilator: 11

Discharged Since March 10

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 55
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 316

PPE INVENTORY UPDATE, 6:39 a.m.

IMPORTANT UPDATE

Are You Using the Virginia COVIDWISE App? Here’s What You Need to Know About a Potential Exposure Notification | Team members who receive a notification from the COVIDWISE app about potential exposures are safe to return to work. If further information is necessary, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) may contact you. Although there may be no further action to take following an exposure notification, we encourage everyone to remain mindful of wearing masks and other PPE as needed and of monitoring yourself for COVID-19 symptoms. For further information about COVID-19 exposures, read FAQs for team members.

• About COVIDWISE – COVIDWISE is the VDH’s COVID-19 exposure notification app that facilitates contact tracing. When people who have downloaded the app are near each other for a period of time that VDH determines to represent a risk (a period which is updated based on the latest research), their phones exchange anonymous keys. Each phone saves the anonymous key of the other phone. The app sends notifications based on distance from and length of time with other people. It does not account for barriers such as walls or mask use. VDH uses information from the app as a data point to determine if contact tracing is necessary.  

OPERATIONS

Help Recycle Empty Hand Sanitizer Containers | We continue to recycle empty hand sanitizer containers for refill and reuse. Please place empty containers in a designated bin or box and place them in the Soiled Utility Room for pick up by Environmental Services.

Updated: Directory for COVID-19 Testing and Evaluations | This document continues to be updated as clinical practices evolve. Find the latest version.

Oct. 17-18: Epic Update Planned | Preparations for the next update to our Epic system are now underway. Information about software changes will be coming soon, but it is important to note that:

• We heard you – The upgrade will begin on Saturday rather than Friday, which is expected to be less disruptive to UVA Health operations.
• Training will be available Sept. 24 – System users will receive email notifications and can access training modules via the Epic Learning Library.

RESEARCH NEWS

UVA-Developed Artificial Pancreas Effective for Children Ages 6-13, Study Finds (UVA Health Newsroom) | An artificial pancreas, originally developed at the University of Virginia Center for Diabetes Technology, safely and effectively manages blood sugar levels in children ages 6 to 13 with type 1 diabetes, a national clinical trial has found. Data from this and other studies has prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve the device for use by children ages 6 and older. Marc D. Breton, PhD, a UVA School of Medicine researcher, served as the trial’s principal investigator.

RETURN TO GROUNDS

We’re All in This Together (Video) |As the first week of class got underway, School of Nursing Dean Pam Cipriano offered a message of welcome, anticipation, and thanks. She also reminds us of the new rules governing in-person learning. “I have great confidence in you,” adds Cipriano. “Thank you for your part in making this a success. We’re all in this together.”

TEAM MEMBER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

Asymptomatic Testing for UVA Employees and Contracted Workers | UVA is offering free asymptomatic testing on a limited basis to eligible employees in the Academic Division, Medical Center, and University Physicians Group (UPG), as well as contracted workers who are employed by the nine major contractors that have workers on Grounds on a daily and long-term basis. Full-time benefited faculty and staff in the Academic Division, including in the Schools of Nursing and Medicine, who are working on Grounds (not working remotely) and completing the required daily HOOS Health Check are eligible to request a self-test kit. UVA Health will conduct voluntary testing for eligible asymptomatic Medical Center and UPG team members as well as School of Medicine faculty with clinical privileges, residents, and fellows. Details will be provided in UVA Today on Monday, Aug. 31. Contracted workers employed by Aramark, BMS, Bright Horizons, Crothall, Exela, KinderCare, Morrison/Compass, RMC, and Towne Park will receive information from their employer about how to request a self-test kit.

Symptomatic employees should stay home and call Employee Health at 434.924.2013 to be evaluated. Employees with no symptoms who have had significant exposure to someone who tested positive should stay home and contact Employee Health if they have not been contacted by the Virginia Department of Health within 48 hours of exposure.

Sign Up for FEAP’s Connect for Support Zoom Sessions | With so much stress and uncertainty resulting from the continual change and turbulence surrounding us at this time, FEAP invites team members to participate in any or all of their upcoming 30-minute drop-in sessions. Presented over Zoom throughout September, the sessions will offer peer-to-peer support and information about coping strategies. 

• Sessions for team members – Learn more and register for a session
• Sessions for managers – Learn more and register for a session

Reminder: Register for the Fall Physical Activity Challenge | Registration for the Go for Gold Fall Physical Activity Challenge is open! Track 30 minutes or more of daily activity and earn $1 a day in rewards for up to 50 days. Learn more and register. 

APPRECIATION

Shout Out to Nurse Preceptors at UVA Health | We join School of Nursing leaders in expressing our gratitude to the nurse preceptors who went above and beyond this spring and summer to ensure that our advanced practice nursing students – a group of 95 enrolled in either the Master of Nursing Science or the Doctor of Nursing Practice programs — not only amassed enough clinical hours to be eligible to sit for certification exams but also were able to graduate on time. Preceptors helped 90 (95%) of those students complete the clinical hours needed to take their certification exams and begin working as advanced practice nurses at a time when the world needs them most acutely. Thank you, preceptors. Thank you, too, all advance practice nurses who help us provide exceptional patient care during this most challenging time! Read more on Connect.

VISIT OUR COVID-19 INFORMATION RESOURCE

Outpatient call 434.982.6843
Hospital Epidemiologist page 9204
COVID19Questions@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020

UVA COVID-19 INPATIENT SNAPSHOT, 8:55 a.m.

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 0
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 25
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU: 13
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU on ventilator: 10

Discharged Since March 10

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 55
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 307

PPE INVENTORY UPDATE, 6:37 a.m.

PPE UPDATE

N95 Mask Disinfection Rates Remain High | Thanks to efforts by PPE users, we are now disinfecting and reusing more than 84% of our N95 masks. These conservation efforts not only demonstrate our team’s dedication to good stewardship of supplies, but also give us greater control over our inventory of N95 masks. 

OPERATIONS

Planned Outage: Medical Center Pneumatic Tube System 

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
• Time: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Courier services have been coordinated for the duration of the outage.
• Signs will be posted at each station to notify users about the planned outage.

Reminder: Please Lock Shared Workstations Properly Before Leaving | To ensure the protection of patient records and other sensitive information, users who have logged onto a shared computer using the new Imprivata Single Sign On (SSO) authentication system must lock the workstation before leaving. Using the Log Off button within the Epic Session is not sufficient to lock the computer.

To log off and fully secure the terminal: 

• Tap your badge on the card reader 
• Click the LOGOFF button on the desktop, or press <CTRL>F1 on the keyboard 

For more detailed information and access to Imprivata training modules, please visit the SSO website.

PATIENT CARE

IPC Determining When Inpatients Can Be Cleared From COVID-19 Isolation Precautions | Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is continually reviewing patients with COVID-19 and identifying those who have met the CDC’s criteria for symptom- or time-based clearance from isolation precautions. After being cleared from isolation precautions, patients can safely be cared for on any inpatient unit and will be triaged based on medical need and optimal staffing.

• Transferring Cleared Patients to Skilled Nursing or Rehab Facilities – Currently, cleared patients who are being transferred to a skilled nursing or rehab facility may need to be re-tested for COVID-19 before discharge. This helps determine if a patient meets criteria for admission to the receiving facility. A positive test under these circumstances is possible, but does not represent active infection or require isolation precautions. (Explanation: The CDC does not recommend re-testing within 90 days of an initial positive test for potential identification of active infection. Rather, this would represent persistent shedding of viral RNA in the absence of active infection.)
• Isolation Indicator – Team members should rely on the Long-Term COVID-19 Isolation indicator, managed by IPC, in the EPIC storyboard to determine a patient’s need for isolation.

UVA HEALTH IN THE NEWS

UVA-Designed COVID-19 Swab to Support High-Priority Testing Across Virginia (UVA Health Newsroom) | The Commonwealth of Virginia will receive 60,000 nasopharyngeal swabs weekly to support high-priority COVID-19 testing across the state, thanks to a collaboration led by University of Virginia faculty to design this key testing supply.

Q&A: HOOS Health Check Helps ‘Put a Box Around COVID,’ Developer Says (UVA Today) | Mitch Rosner, MD, the Henry B. Mulholland Professor of Medicine and chair of UVA’s Department of Medicine, played a leading role in making sure that HOOS Health Check is easy to use and as specific as can be to the symptoms of COVID-19. In this article, he discusses the app, and each individual’s responsibilities to the community during this pandemic.

TEAM MEMBER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

Do Good, Feel Good: The Positive Impact of Helping Others | Wednesday, Sept. 9 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom Webinar | Altruism and kindness can combat loneliness and help strengthen our community; in the words of UVA President Jim Ryan: “We should strive not only to be great, but also to be good … by being of service to others and by being a good neighbor to the Charlottesville region.” This webinar is being presented by Hoos Well and FEAP as part of their emotional wellbeing series. UVA Health Plan members attending this event can earn $25 in Hoos Well gift card rewards. Register here to receive the webinar link.

Note: As a follow up to this seminar, small group discussions will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 3:30 p.m.

APPRECIATION

Know Someone Who Has Made a Difference? | Nominate Them for a 2020 Governor’s Honor Award | Governor Ralph Northam has opened nominations for the 2020 Governor’s Honor Awards to recognize the accomplishments and important contributions made by the state workforce and reflect the highest levels of outstanding work at state agencies. A maximum of 11 nominations will be submitted by UVA.

We encourage members of the UVA community to nominate colleagues who demonstrate dedication, talent, and contributions that make a difference in Virginia. Groups that are eligible for nomination include University and classified staff and Medical Center team members. Please note that faculty, UPG, Foundation and contingent workers are ineligible. Nominations are due by close of business, Friday Sept. 4. Learn more and submit nominations. 

VISIT OUR COVID-19 INFORMATION RESOURCE

Outpatient call 434.982.6843
Hospital Epidemiologist page 9204
COVID19Questions@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu

Monday, Aug. 24, 2020

UVA COVID-19 INPATIENT SNAPSHOT, 2:37 p.m.

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 2
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 27
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU: 13
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU on ventilator: 9

Discharged Since March 10

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 54
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 301

PPE INVENTORY UPDATE, 6:41 a.m.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Reminder: Aug. 31 is Deadline for:

• Submitting FY20 Self-Review and FY21 Performance Goals | The deadline is quickly approaching for all team members to enter and submit their self-evaluation for fiscal year 2020 and goals for fiscal year 2021 in Workday. Managers will have until Oct. 15 to approve goals, hold 1:1 performance review meetings with team members, and input their summaries in the ‘Self-Review’ task in Workday. Find information about the goal-setting and appraisal process. 
• Completing Mandatory Competencies (Medical Center) | All Medical Center team members hired on or before Jan. 1, 2020, must complete their 2020 Annual Retraining course in NetLearning. To access and complete the NetLearning module:

1. Login to NetLearning by clicking on your desktop icon. If you do not have a desktop icon, login to NetLearning. 
2. Once you’ve accessed the system, navigate to the “To Do List” section and click on the course title to begin.
3. If you have any questions, please contact LMS@virginia.edu.

UVA HEALTH IN THE NEWS

9 Reasons You Can Be Optimistic That a Vaccine for COVID-19 Will Be Available in 2021 (The Conversation) | William Petri, MD, Professor of Medicine, explains where current research stands, where he thinks we will be in five months, and why readers can be optimistic about the delivery of a COVID-19 vaccine. 

I’m a Lung Doctor Testing the Blood from COVID-19 Survivors as a Treatment for the Sick – a Century Old Idea that Could be a Fast Track to Treatment (The Conversation) | Jeffrey Sturek, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, describes the clinical trial that is testing the effect of convalescent plasma in COVID-19 patients. The trial is exploring whether convalescent plasma can prevent the progression of COVID-19 to critical illness and death. Patient enrollment in the trial is complete, and data analysis is underway.

Virginia Panera Bread Cafes Donates $178,000 to UVA Children’s Hospital Transplant Program (CBS19 News) | On Friday, Aug. 21, Panera Bread Cafes of Virginia presented a check for $178,000 to UVA Children’s. The money was collected through the Change for Children campaign, a fundraiser at 16 Panera Bread Cafes in Virginia and will support UVA’s pediatric transplant program.

TEAM MEMBER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

Registration Opens Today: The Hoos Well “Go for Gold” Physical Activity Challenge | Sept. 7-Nov. 16 | Open to all employees and spouses enrolled in the UVA Health Plan, this friendly team competition promotes activity and healthy lifestyles within the UVA community. With daily activity tracking, you can earn up to $1 a day for up to 50 days of the challenge for a maximum of $50 in gift card rewards toward your annual reward maximum of $500. “Physical activity” can include walking, yard work, lifting weights, and many other options. Register before Nov. 16 in the Hoos Well portal.

APPRECIATION

Team-to-Team Appreciation | Last week, the COVID clinic team sent a care package to another team whose work they deeply appreciate: the clinical testing lab managed by Amy Mathers, MD. The lab team was thrilled with this special acknowledgement, and we offer our gratitude to them, too. We also encourage more groups to find thoughtful ways to acknowledge their peers – within and across teams – that have been especially supportive during the days of COVID-19.

VISIT OUR COVID-19 INFORMATION RESOURCE

Outpatient call 434.982.6843
Hospital Epidemiologist page 9204
COVID19Questions@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu

Friday, Aug. 21, 2020

UVA COVID-19 INPATIENT SNAPSHOT, 1:33 p.m.

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 2
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 27
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU: 13
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU on ventilator: 11

Discharged Since March 10

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 52
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 303

PPE INVENTORY UPDATE, 6:35 a.m.

IMPORTANT REMINDER

Social Distancing Required in Hospital Cafeterias and Break Rooms | There have been numerous reports of team members sitting closely together in groups in the cafeteria and not observing social distancing requirements. To support the safety of everyone in our environment, leaders and managers are encouraged to approach these groups and ask that no more than two people sit at each table. 

We understand that keeping socially distant can be difficult, especially at times when friends and colleagues traditionally gather together — meals and break times. If someone reminds you to move further apart, please remember that we are all in this together and that social distancing is one way to keep everyone in our work and home environments safe from the spread of COVID-19.

PPE UPDATE

Reminder: Do Not Wear Cloth Masks During Patient Interactions | When caring for and interacting with patients, team members must wear fluid resistant masks. Cloth masks are not fluid resistant, but all hospital-provided masks are. It is acceptable to wear a cloth mask under a hospital provided mask. Please remember to change masks if they become soiled, wet, or difficult to breathe through. For more information, refer to the Universal Masking and Eye Protection Guidelines.

OPERATIONS

University Transit Service Announces Changes | To support the needs of the UVA community, UTS has redesigned its routes to maximize efficiency and deliver service to those who are dependent on transit. With this redesign, buses will no longer use McCormick Road, making it a safer pedestrian environment. UTS is also encouraging anyone who does not need to ride the bus to walk, bike, or scoot to get to class/work.

• Downloadable Bus Route Information

• • New Fall 2020 routes 
  • Finding Your Route Guide for finding the right bus route
  • Download the TransLoc Rider app or use TransLoc online to find the nearest bus stop, track your bus in real time, see arrival-time estimates, and receive service-impact notifications.
• Bus Cleaning: All UTS service will end at 10 p.m. daily to allow for additional cleaning of the buses. There will be no service on Sundays to allow for comprehensive cleaning of the buses.
• After Hours Transportation:
  • Available via SafeRide
  • Additional information about after-hours transportation
• Hourly Parking:
  • Starting Sept. 1, faculty, staff, and students can purchase hourly parking via ParkMobile in many UTS lots. This is ideal for those who visit Grounds infrequently and do not wish to purchase a permit. 
  • View which lots are available hourly.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Workday Learning to Launch Sept. 15 | In preparation for the launch of Workday Learning, all team members, faculty, and staff of UVA Health (including Medical Center, SOM, SON, UPG, and Community Medicine) will be required to complete courses, training, and learning requirements. The phased launch will begin on Sept. 15 with the start of Stage A and will end with Stage D (All Epic Learning) in January 2021. Learn more by reading the introductory email and visiting the project website. Questions and concerns related to Workday Learning can be sent to AskHR@virginia.edu with the subject line noting: Workday Learning Launch.

UVA HEALTH NEWSMAKERS

Manning Fund Research Underway (UVA Envision) | Kenneth Brayman, MD, director of UVA Health’s kidney, pancreas, and islet transplant program, is leading a team of researchers who are investigating a new immunotherapy designed to suppress the body’s natural response to COVID-19, which for some populations — particularly those who are older, overweight, or diabetic — can lead to death.

TEAM MEMBER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

Online Night Owl Yoga Classes Begin Aug. 25 | Presented by the UVA Contemplative Sciences Center, Night Owl Yoga drop-in classes are offered every Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8-9 p.m. through Dec. 3. Classes are free and open to all UVA students, faculty, staff, and community members. All levels and experiences are welcome, including those who have no prior yoga experience. Each class explores a slightly different style of yoga practice.

Register via the Zoom links provided below:

• Night Owl for Anxiety | Tuesdays, 8-9 p.m. | Register
• Night Owl Flow Yoga | Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8-9 p.m.| Register for Wednesday class | Register for Thursday class 
• Ashtanga Night Owl Yoga | Sundays, 8-9 p.m. | Registration link pending

Learn more about Night Owl Yoga classes. See the full schedule of free contemplative classes offered by the Contemplative Sciences Center.

APPRECIATION

August is National Immunization Awareness Month | In the spirit of this month’s special observance, we offer our profound thanks to several groups within UVA Health:

• Researchers who are pushing the discovery process toward possible treatments and immunizations for not only COVID-19 but also many other illnesses facing society
• Providers who protect our community by offering immunizations to patients under their care
• Employee Health and UVA WorkMed for delivering immunizations that help our environment be a safe place for team members and patients alike

VISIT OUR COVID-19 INFORMATION RESOURCE

Outpatient call 434.982.6843
Hospital Epidemiologist page 9204
COVID19Questions@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu

Monday, Aug. 17, 2020

UVA COVID-19 INPATIENT SNAPSHOT, 2:05 p.m.
Under investigation for COVID-19: 1
Confirmed with COVID-19: 30
Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU: 13
Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU on ventilator: 9

Discharged Since March 10
Under investigation for COVID-19: 50
Confirmed with COVID-19: 289

PPE INVENTORY UPDATE, 6:26 a.m.

OPERATIONS

HOOS Health Check App: Technical Issue for Android Devices | If you are unable to log in to the HOOS Health Check App from an Android device, please use the Hoos Health Check website to complete your daily health check. An update to resolve this issue is in development.

Walk-In Sessions: Vocera Refresher & Cell Phone Optimization | Open to all cell phone users (with and without Vocera) and Vocera badge users.

• Dates: Tuesday, Aug. 18, and Wednesday, Aug. 19
• Time: 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Location: Emergency Department, Room 1236

Reminder: Communicator and Other Handmade Masks Available from Volunteer Services| Team members who interact with deaf or hearing-impaired patients are encouraged to use a communicator mask [mask with a clear plastic piece to show your mouth]. These masks and traditional, handmade masks are available from Volunteer Services. Please use this link to request either type of mask. If you need a communicator mask, please make a note in the “Number of Masks” field when placing your order. You must provide your messenger mail address for delivery. 

NEWS FROM GROUNDS

Limited Asymptomatic COVID-19 Testing Planned For UVA Employees and Contractors | In the Aug. 13 Return to Grounds Update, UVA administration announced plans to make COVID-19 tests available on a limited basis to asymptomatic full-time faculty and staff, along with employees of the nine major contractors who have workers on Grounds on a daily and long-term basis. More information will be shared in UVA Today early next week, and eligible contracted workers will be notified by their employers. Symptomatic employees should stay home and call Employee Health at 434.924.2013 to be assessed. Please do not contact Employee Health about asymptomatic tests.

TEAM MEMBER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

Building a Bridge to Enduring Healthy Relationships | Live Webinar | Wednesday, Aug. 19 | Noon-1 p.m. | Presented by FEAP Consultant Deb Early, this webinar will discuss powerful relationship tools that, when practiced, can help you uncover the true potential of your most sacred relationships. Webinar attendees are eligible for Hoos Well Rewards. Register.

Retold Virtual Event: Race and Parenting in Extraordinary Times | Thursday, Aug. 20 |Noon-1:00 p.m. | Presented by the UVA Alumni Association, this interactive panel discussion will explore race, parenting, and transforming conversations about race and racism with peers with diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives. As we engage children in dialogues around the racial turmoil in America and the dynamics of race in our own lives, how can we guide them in honest, empowering, developmentally appropriate ways? Event is free and open to all UVA alumni, parents, and friends. Details.

APPRECIATION

Shout Out to Periop | A grateful patient recently wrote: ”This was my first surgery other than having wisdom teeth removed, and I couldn’t have had a better experience. The nurses were exceptional, making me feel comfortable, answering my questions, explaining things to me, and caring for me as if I was a queen! My doctor and resident both did a phenomenal job explaining the procedures and easing my concerns. UVA is nothing but the best, and I will continue to drive the hour it takes me to get there knowing that I will receive exceptional care!” 

Thank you, Periop team, for providing exceptional care and positive patient experiences to those we serve!

VISIT OUR COVID-19 INFORMATION RESOURCE

Outpatient call 434.982.6843
Hospital Epidemiologist page 9204
COVID19Questions@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu

Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020

UVA COVID-19 INPATIENT SNAPSHOT, 1:41 p.m.

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 9
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 29
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU: 15
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU on ventilator: 9

Discharged Since March 10

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 46
• Confirmed with COVID-19:  274

PPE INVENTORY UPDATE, 6:23 a.m.

OPERATIONS

Updated: Patient Access Screening Questions | The Coronavirus Access Screening and the Scheduling Questionnaire for Patient Self-Reported Disabilities tips sheets have been updated to include the following changes that became effective today:

• Questions about previous COVID testing have been removed from the scheduling questionnaire and are now incorporated into travel screening.
• The travel screening question regarding symptoms has been updated to ask about “new or worsening symptoms.”
• For tracking purposes, two additional symptoms have been added to travel screening: fatigue and runny nose.
• The disabilities questions on the scheduling questionnaire will only be asked and updated once a year.

Lab for Patients with COVID-19 Moving to Battle Building | Effective Monday, August 17, the Medical Laboratories COVID Cohort Lab will operate from the COVID Clinic at Battle Building. Available by appointment only, the COVID Cohort Lab exclusively serves our patients who are confirmed positive for COVID-19 or who are under investigation for the virus. Appointments are available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m., and can be made by calling 434.982.0034. Instructions for ordering labs and making appointments can be found on the COVID Cohort Lab FAQ sheet. A directory of COVID-Related Referral Resources is also available. 

Update: Patient Test Results to Release Once a Day to MyChart | Based on provider feedback, the new schedule for releasing test results to MyChart has been standardized so that all result types release in an 8 a.m. batch each weekday. Previously, results were released to MyChart at either 8 a.m. or 8 p.m., depending on the test type. Please review the updated schedule, and learn more about this important change, by visiting the updated Results Release project page.

UVA HEALTH NEWSMAKERS

Lorna’s Fear: When Stigma Compounds the Consequences (UVA Today) | Following the suicide of her physician sister, Jennifer Feist, along with her husband Corey Feist, CEO of UVA Physicians Group, and Pamela Cipriano, dean of the UVA School of Nursing, co-wrote a commentary that has been published in the current issue of Perspectives. The authors assert that healthcare must finally shake the stigma surrounding providers who experience mental illness and who often suffer in silence, particularly during times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Heart Condition Linked With COVID-19 Fuels Power 5 Concern About Season’s Viability (ESPN) | UVA pediatric cardiologist Peter Dean, MD, who treats athletes, was co-author of an analysis published last month by the American College of Cardiology about returning to play after a coronavirus infection. Although he hasn’t yet diagnosed myocarditis in any Virginia athletes who have had COVID-19, Dean has previously treated athletes with myocarditis caused by other factors. 

TEAM MEMBER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

Reminder: Accessing Your Daily Health Check | For convenience, many options are available for UVA Health team members to access the HOOS Health Check: 

• HOOS Health Check app
• HOOS Health Check website (not compatible with Internet Explorer) 
• Hardcopy (only for use in cases where electronic access is not available) 

If your smartphone did not receive an app auto-installation, you will have to initiate the app download from the Apple and Google Play stores. Please review these FAQs for further technical assistance.

CCI Live! Online Drop-Ins | The School of Nursing’s Compassionate Care Initiative (CCI) is offering the following online sessions through August 21. All sessions are beginner-friendly, free, and open to the public. To register, click on the session title. Zoom links will be sent upon registration. 

Mindful Pause with the UVA Mindfulness Center
Sometimes meditation, sometimes gentle movement, always a space to breathe. 
Daily (Monday-Friday), 4-4:15 p.m.

Guided Meditation with Betty Mooney
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1-1:45 p.m.

Mindfulness Meditation with Sam Green
Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

T’ai Chi with Hiromi Johnson
Wednesdays, 7:30-8:30 a.m.

APPRECIATION

Recent Social Media Posts Offer Thanks to UVA Health | Here’s a sampling of recent posts expressing gratitude for the work we do:

“Do what you do and stay safe please…..You’re the best!!”

“From a retired UVA RN and old time UVA MICU nurse, thank you all for your continued commitment to your patients and coworkers. You hold it all together for your team.”

“Hero’s all. Thank you for all you are doing. Continuing to pray for you and your families. Stay safe!”

VISIT OUR COVID-19 INFORMATION RESOURCE

Outpatient call 434.982.6843
Hospital Epidemiologist page 9204
COVID19Questions@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu

Monday, Aug. 10, 2020

UVA COVID-19 INPATIENT SNAPSHOT, 1:35 p.m.

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 6
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 28
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU: 12
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU on ventilator: 9

Discharged Since March 10

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 48
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 267

PPE INVENTORY UPDATE, 6:28 a.m.

OPERATIONS

Gemba Rounding Resumes | Cabinet leaders today resumed their gemba visits to inpatient units, clinics, and other Medical Center locations. Gemba is a Japanese word meaning “real place,” and visits provide opportunities for leaders to see and understand the work and issues confronting front-line team members. 

Each weekday, two of the following Cabinet members will conduct gemba visits: Wendy Horton, Chief Operating Officer; Reid Adams, MD, Chief Medical Officer; Mary Dixon, RN, Chief Nursing Officer; Jody Reyes, Chief of Service Lines; and Art Saavedra, MD, Chief of Ambulatory Strategy and Operations. They will be accompanied by Tracey Hoke, MD, Chief of Quality and Performance Improvement, who will provide background and coaching on the implementation of the Daily Management System. Cabinet members will be looking to understand how units are working towards quality and safety targets as well as the successes and challenges they are experiencing.

Launching Tomorrow: New Schedule for Releasing Patient Test Results to MyChart | Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 11, patient test results will be released to MyChart within one to four weekdays after they are finalized, depending on the test type. This is a faster turnaround than we currently offer and is a change that complies with the new 21st Century Cures Act (“Information Blocking” legislation), which aims to provide patients with faster, more convenient access to their health information. View the new test results release schedule, exceptions to this release schedule, and important FAQs about impacts to patients and workflows on the Results Release page.

Rollout Begins for New Single-Sign-on System | The two-week rollout of our new Single-Sign-on (SSO) authentication system begins Wednesday, Aug. 12. All SSO users are asked to review this FAQ document for essential information.

• Whenever possible, badge-in/badge-out of a PC to ensure data security
• All PC use must begin with either a tap-in or, with a locked PC, at the login screen.
• Clinician input has been a significant driver in determining how to implement the new system.
• The new system is being rolled out to all SSO-enabled computers throughout UVA Health.
• Eventually, this new SSO will be installed in all PCs with Epic access.
• Call the Helpdesk for any support issues or concerns: 924.5334
• For more detailed information, please visit the SSO Website.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation with this change.

NEWS FROM GROUNDS

Friday Town Hall Answers Questions from Students, Faculty, Staff (UVA Today) | In a virtual town hall on the morning of Friday, Aug. 7, UVA President Jim Ryan and his leadership team answered questions from students, faculty, and staff and covered a variety of topics related to the approaching fall semester.

President Ryan Outlines Recent Decisions, Hopes for the Fall | In a video released Aug. 9, UVA President Jim Ryan shared insights from his team’s decision-making process and outlined the criteria UVA leaders are using to plan for the fall semester.

TEAM MEMBER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

HOOS Health Check Goes Live Aug. 11 | Beginning at 12 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, all team members reporting to work at a UVA Health facility will be required to complete the new HOOS Health Check (wellness attestation). Listed below are options for completing daily health checks. More information can be found in these FAQs.

Access via Smartphone

• • Phone owned and issued by UVA Health – The HOOS Health Check App will install automatically on Aug. 10. No action is required.
  • User-owned phone with MobileIron installed – You will receive a notification on your phone on Aug. 10. Please choose “Install” to begin the installation process.
  • User-owned phone without MobileIron installed – Starting immediately, you can download the free HOOS Health Check app in the Apple and Google Play stores.

Access via a UVA Health-issued PC – Team members can access the HOOS Health Check website using a desktop icon that has been added to UVA Health PCs for your convenience. Note: Due to technical issues, please avoid using Internet Explorer to access this site.

Attest via Hardcopy – Team members who do not have electronic access should speak with their manager about completing daily attestations on a paper form and about having copies of the form printed for their use.

APPRECIATION

Thank You, Special Pathogens Unit Team | An article published by The Daily Progress on Aug. 8 shone a well-deserved spotlight on our SPU team and their care for patients with COVID-19. This group exemplifies the meaning of courage and selfless dedication — they have placed their own health and lives on the line to care for critically ill patients afflicted with an unfamiliar and often deadly disease. Having such a skilled and caring team within our midst is a blessing to us all. Thank you, SPU team, for being there for our patients, for each other, and for our community.

VISIT OUR COVID-19 INFORMATION RESOURCE

Outpatient call 434.982.6843
Hospital Epidemiologist page 9204
COVID19Questions@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu

Friday, Aug. 7, 2020

UVA COVID-19 INPATIENT SNAPSHOT, 2:17 p.m.

Under investigation for COVID-19: 1
Confirmed with COVID-19: 25
Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU: 13
Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU on ventilator: 10

Discharged Since March 10
Under investigation for COVID-19: 46
Confirmed with COVID-19: 261

PPE INVENTORY UPDATE, 6:19 a.m.

PPE UPDATE

Thursday, Aug. 6: Get FIT Tested for 1870+ Respirator Mask Replacement | All team members who have not yet been FIT tested for 1870+ replacement masks are encouraged to complete the process on Aug. 6. [NOTE: The correct date is Thursday, Aug. 6.]

• Location: Education Resource Center, Meeting Room A
• Times: 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m.
• No appointment needed. Approximately 120 testing slots are available and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Contact Employee Health  at 434.924.2013 for more information. 

Mask Advisory: Reminders for Inpatients, Visitors and Team Members 

• Inpatients should be instructed to put on their mask when care providers enter their room. Details.
• Visitors are expected to remain masked at all times. 
• Team members should wear masks while walking in hallways, entering and exiting buildings, and traveling between locations, not just while in patient care areas. Details.

OPERATIONS

Coming Aug. 11: Patient Test Results Will Release to MyChart on a New Schedule | Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 11, test results will be released to MyChart within one to four weekdays after they are finalized, depending on the test type. This is a faster turnaround than we currently offer and is a change that complies with the new 21st Century Cures Act (“Information Blocking” legislation), which aims to provide patients with faster, more convenient access to their health information. View the new test results release schedule and related information on the project website. Additional changes are planned, and details will be announced soon.

Please Use Communicator Masks When Interacting With Patients Who Are Deaf or Hearing Impaired | Volunteers Services has distributed over 7,000 handmade masks to our team members. These include traditional handmade masks and communicator masks [masks with a clear plastic piece to visualize your mouth]. We encourage team members who interact with deaf or hearing impaired patients to use a communicator mask. Request either type of masks from Volunteer Services. If you need a communicator mask, please make a note in the “Number of Mask” field when placing your order. You must provide your messenger mail address for delivery.

PATIENT CARE

Update: New Workflow for COVID-19 Screening and Testing of Admitted Patients Needing Surgery or Procedures | As of Aug. 4, the RN Admission process has been expanded to include screening patients for COVID-19. This step will better ensure that all patients are screened for COVID-19 and, if needed, assessed and tested before arriving in procedural areas.

• Current Risk: It is required that patients who live or work in a congregate setting (or screen positive due to symptoms) be tested for COVID prior to procedures. Inpatients inconsistently receive RN COVID screening upon admission. As a result, some inpatients are arriving to procedural areas for potentially aerosol-producing procedures despite living or working in a congregate setting.
• Solution: Add the RN COVID screening process to RN admission process. If a patient screens positive for symptoms, the patient’s LIP will assess whether or not a COVID test is ordered. 

If a patient screens positive for living/working in a congregate setting AND later in the patient’s stay a procedural order is placed, a BPA will fire triggering the ordering LIP to also order a COVID test prior to procedure. The patient will not be considered a PUI at this point. Once the test is ordered, an alert will appear in the patient’s chart for the RN to perform the COVID test.

• Practice Implication: All admissions will have an RN COVID screening completed.  For patients who live or work in a congregate setting AND will be undergoing a procedure, the procedural LIP will need to order a COVID test prior to procedure. It is recommended the LIP speak directly with RN to ensure testing is completed in a timely manner and not delay the procedure. Standard work on COVID testing when disease is NOT suspected can be found here.
• Resources: Workflow tip sheets are available for COVID screening and treating for admitted patients:
  • LIP Tip Sheet 
  • RN Tip Sheet 

Any questions? Please enter a 2EPIC ticket for Epic Inpatient or call the Epic Help Desk 434-924-5334.

NEWS FROM GROUNDS

UVA Delays In-Person Instruction, Move-In for Undergraduates | In response to an uptick in virus transmission in Virginia and nationwide, UVA will begin all undergraduate courses online and delay in-person instruction and move-in dates by two weeks.

TEAM MEMBER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

Launching Aug. 11: New Team Member Wellness Attestation Tool | HOOS Health Check | Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 11, HOOS Health Check will help members of the UVA community remain aware of their health and know the appropriate steps to take if they are experiencing any possible COVID-19 symptoms that could affect their well-being and put others at risk. As part of this University-led initiative, students, faculty, staff and UVA Health team members will complete a daily health check each day that they are coming to Grounds or reporting to work at any UVA Health facility through the free HOOS Health Check app or the HOOS Health Check website (Edge, Chrome and Safari compatible). This new tool replaces the daily team member wellness attestation that UVA Health team members, researchers and other groups on Grounds have used this summer.

UVA Health team members must complete the daily health check prior to your scheduled shift. If you are experiencing symptoms, ensure you complete the health check in accordance with your department/unit attendance policy for advance notice of an absence. If you are not able to attest to feeling well and free of symptoms, you are required to:

1. Stay home. Do not report to work.
2. Contact your manager/supervisor.
3. Call Employee Health at 434.924.2013 for further guidance and evaluation of symptoms.

This new tool will make it even easier for each team member to complete this required task, stay aware of their health and report any possible COVID-19 symptoms before reporting to work and putting others at risk. More details about HOOS Health Check, how to download the app and access this new tool are available in FAQs.

APPRECIATION

Saluting Our Team of Healthcare Heroes | The UVA Health leadership team is incredibly grateful for everyone’s ongoing efforts and commitment to the vital missions of our academic medical center – clinical care, research, education and community engagement (or service). To express our appreciation, we are ordering UVA Health Healthcare Heroes T-shirts for all 13,000 of our faculty and staff. View the shirt design and order your size. Only one shirt per person, please. T-shirts should only be shipped to your home if you are teleworking. The deadline to submit your size is Monday, Aug. 17.

VISIT OUR COVID-19 INFORMATION RESOURCE

Outpatient call 434.982.6843
Hospital Epidemiologist page 9204
COVID19Questions@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu

Monday, Aug. 3, 2020

UVA COVID-19 INPATIENT SNAPSHOT, 3:09 p.m.

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 2
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 28
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU: 13
• Confirmed with COVID-19 in ICU on ventilator: 9

Discharged Since March 10

• Under investigation for COVID-19: 43
• Confirmed with COVID-19: 251

PPE INVENTORY UPDATE, 6:58 a.m.

PPE UPDATE

Reminder: Get FIT Tested for 1870+ Respirator Mask Replacement | The discontinuance of 1870+ respirator masks requires that all team members who wore them get FIT tested for a replacement mask to ensure personal and patient safety. This week’s testing opportunities:

• Dates: Tuesday, August 4, and Thursday, August 6 
• Location: Meeting Room A, Education Resource Center:  
• Times: 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m.
• No appointment needed. Tests provided on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be approximately 120 slots per day.
• Contact Employee Health (434.924.2013) for more information. 

OPERATIONS

New Single Sign-On System Coming Soon | Our current Single Sign On (SSO) authentication system, Caradigm, which speeds access to key clinical applications, is being replaced to improve the desktop and user experience. The log-in screen will look different, but access will remain the same.

Clinician input has been a significant driver in determining how to implement the new system. Pilots with several groups have been completed and, starting this month, the new system will be rolled out to all SSO-enabled computers throughout UVA Health. It is anticipated that the new SSO will ultimately be installed in all PCs with access to Epic. Tip Sheet

Preparing for Hurricane Isaias | Emergency Management is monitoring the track of Hurricane Isaias and coordinating preparedness and mitigation efforts with hospital leadership. Team Members will receive updates, as needed. 

Steps you can take now: Prepare yourself and your family by using these resources:

• Develop an emergency Go-Kit that includes personal items such as prescription medications, personal sanitary items, several days’ worth of cash, and enough food and water for your family. 
• Develop a family care plan. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.
• Flash flood warnings are in effect for Isaias, so determine in advance if you reside in a flood zone through the Virginia Flood Risk Information System. 
• Monitor the forecast through the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center.
• Monitor road and traffic information from the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) 511-Virginia.
• If you have not already done so, sign up for emergency communications from UVA Alerts.

For more information, email Robert Truoccolo, Director of Emergency Management 

Wahoo West Cafe Has Reopened | Monday-Friday | 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Deli, grill, and salad station are open for made-to-order items. Hot grab-and-go entrees are available in a limited quantity and specials will change daily.

• Breakfast | 7-10 a.m.
• Grab-and-Go Items | 10-11 a.m.  
• Lunch | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 
• Close at 2:30 p.m.

TEAM MEMBER SAFETY AND WELL-BEING

Team Member COVID-19 Testing Scenarios (When to See Employee Health) | Following are a few scenarios to help provide clarity on the resources team members should use for COVID-19 testing:

• All team members who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (including but not limited to fever, cough, shortness of breath, new nausea/vomiting, new diarrhea, new loss of smell/taste) should contact Employee Health. Once screened and symptoms are assessed, the team member may be referred for testing at the COVID-19 Clinic.
• If a team member has had contact with a COVID-19 positive individual, they should contact Employee Health even if they have sought care and a testing referral from their care provider.
• Testing of asymptomatic individuals/team members following an exposure may only be referred by specific groups including the Health Department, Student Health, or Employee Health after appropriate evaluation.
• Team members who need COVID-19 testing for personal travel, work, or school seek a testing referral from their care provider. (Please be sure the date of entry/travel is provided to ensure testing and results will return in time.) At this time, COVID-19 Clinic is only able to perform asymptomatic testing for travel, work or school based on the availability of testing supplies.

RESEARCH AND CLINICAL CARE NEWS

Ivy Foundation Backs 14 COVID Translational Research Projects (UVA Today) | The Ivy Foundation has selected 14 promising biomedical research projects from UVA for funding from its COVID-19 Translational Research Fund, under the administration and guidance of the UVA Office of the Vice President for Research. The projects include development of biosensors, artificial intelligence for testing, vaccine development, novel treatment options and better data analytics to predict the spread of the virus.

150,000+ Virginians May Have Had COVID-19, According to UVA Health (WVIR-NBC29) | A study underway at UVA Health has so far collected blood from more than 4,000 individuals statewide and determined that the real number of Virginians infected with coronavirus could be at least twice as high as the number that have tested positive.

Infectious Disease Physician Discusses Pool Testing Option for Universities (WVIR- NBC29) | Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has suggested that pool testing for COVID-19 may be an appropriate approach to tracking the health of large, low-risk groups, such as UVA students who will soon return to grounds. Pool testing can save resources such as reagents, which are now in short supply. However, Dr. Amy Mathers, an infectious disease physician at UVA Health, says pool testing does have some shortcomings.

APPRECIATION

Shout Out to Our Clinical, Translational and Basic Science Researchers | As today’s news items (above) illustrate, the research being conducted at UVA Health during the COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies the unique role that academic medical centers play in our nation. Whether they work in a lab setting or directly with patients, our researchers continue to push the envelope of discovery not only to find an effective treatment for COVID-19, but also to better understand how to care for patients during and after their illness. Today, we offer our sincere appreciation for the scores of team members who serve our patients and society by combining scientific inquiry with a passion for improving the human condition.

VISIT OUR COVID-19 INFORMATION RESOURCE

Outpatient call 434.982.6843
Hospital Epidemiologist page 9204
COVID19Questions@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu

Previous UVA Health COVID-19 updates (March 30-July 31) can be found archived here.