Additional Visitation Permitted at UVA Medical Center Beginning March 3

Visitors must be ages 12 or older and cannot have COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19 or other contagious diseases. All visitors must be screened before entering the hospital and must always wear a mask inside UVA Medical Center facilities.

Visitation Policies for Adult Patients

• Inpatient units and UVA Transitional Care Hospital: Two visitors are permitted bedside between 8 a.m.-9 p.m. One visitor may stay at the bedside overnight.
• Emergency Department, outpatient clinics and procedural areas: Two visitors are permitted. Similar to UVA’s regular visitation policies, there may be times and locations (such as operating rooms) where visitation is not permitted. 

Visitation Policies for Pediatric Patients

• Inpatient units: Patients may have two adult visitors. Both visitors are permitted to be at the bedside between 8 a.m.-9 p.m. One visitor is permitted at the bedside overnight.
• Emergency Department, outpatient clinics, and procedural areas: Patients may have two adult visitors. Both visitors may accompany the patient to clinic visits and to other care areas. Similar to UVA’s regular visitation policies, there may be times and locations (such as operating rooms) where visitation is not permitted.

All public spaces – including the hospital lobby, cafeteria and waiting areas – will be open to members of the public. 

On March 3, along with a change in our visitation status, in-person conferences will once again be allowed. Food and drink will also be permitted for conferences. Masking is still required during meetings/conferences, except while eating and drinking.

Read more, including exceptions, on Connect and see the updated Visitor, Public Access, and Meeting Guidance Matrix on the COVID Resources page. 

Current Patient Census (as of 2:50 p.m. Feb. 25)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:15 p.m. Feb. 25)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

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

Operations

Hospital Gift Shop Remains Open for Business 

Need a snack or looking for a gift? The Gift Shop in the Main Hospital lobby is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Stop by, and check out the merchandise; it changes regularly.

Hot Water Outage

Tuesday, March 1 | 8 p.m.-midnight | Due to steam valve relocations, hot water will not be available for handwashing and showers during the outage. Affected areas include the East, West, and Central bed towers on floors three, four, five, and six. Please report unexpected issues to the Help Desk at 924.2267.

Happenings

National Women’s History Month | Upcoming Events

• Tuesday, March  1 | Introduction to Our Women’s History Theme “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” and Upcoming Events | noon-1 p.m. | Registration Required | Melody Pannell, Director of Diversity and Community Engagement
• Wednesday, March 2 | The 40 Day Soul Fast | noon-1 p.m. | Registration Required | Facilitated by Melody Pannell
• Thursday, March 3 | The Radical Self-Care Movement: Cultivating a Culture of Resistance, Resilience, and Rest | noon-1 p.m. | Registration Required
• Friday, March 4 | Black Women Speak: Understanding the Intersectionalities of Being a Medical Student at UVA Health | noon-1 p.m. | Registration Required | Hear from current students Kristian Welch, Jaina Lane, Frances Morales, and Nadine Michel
• Saturday, March 5 | Community Conversations: Swords Into Plowshares | 3-4 p.m. (hybrid) | Jefferson School African American Heritage Center & Zoom | Registration Required | Dr. Andrea Douglas and Dr. Jalane Schmidt | Swords Into Plowshares is an innovative project to melt down the statue of Robert E. Lee that formerly stood in one of Charlottesville's public parks and use the bronze to make a new work of public art. Learn more.

Read more on Connect.

It’s Time to Donate Blood

Wednesday, March 2 | 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. Appointments required. Swag alert: All donors will receive a $10 Fanatics e-gift card by email for donations March 1-31. Sign up by emailing giveblood@virginia.edu. Learn more.

Providers: Improve Efficiency With Epic

New Monthly Webinar Series Starts Wednesday, March 2 | 5 p.m. | Webinar | Register | Join host Dr. Mark Lepsch for a 20-minute Epic tour that will immediately simplify your life. Delivered with efficiency and good humor, this session will focus on optimizing your Epic work space — screens, tabs, buttons, and menus. Dr. Lepsch describes the new webinar series. Can’t attend in person? Register anyway to receive a recording link and watch at your convenience.

Help Redesign Our Patient Access Model: Join a Virtual Discussion With John Bennett

John Bennett, MPA, Chief Ambulatory Operations Officer, invites you to join him for informal discussions and listening sessions about the One Team | United on Access project during which attendees can provide feedback and offer ideas. This project began as the Bridge Plan Revenue Cycle Focus Area and has evolved into a stand-alone change initiative to redesign our entire patient access model. Discussion sessions are open to all team members. Limited capacity — sign up today.

• Thursday, Mar. 24 | 7 a.m.-8 a.m. | Virtual (link will be provided)
• Tuesday, Apr. 26 | noon-1 p.m. | McKim 3001
• Wednesday, May 25 | 7 a.m.-8 a.m. | Virtual (link will be provided)

Call for Proposals: President and Provost’s Fund

Deadline: Thursday, April 7 | Faculty are invited to submit new proposals for the President and Provost’s Fund for Institutionally Related Research. Over the years, this fund has supported faculty-led research projects related to the University’s strategic plan, with an emphasis on improving the experiences of students, faculty, and staff. Proposals for this round of awards should focus specifically on student success and student well-being. Learn more.

Appreciation

How the Heart Clinic Team Made Heart Month Extra Special This Year

Heart Month is a time to focus on cardiovascular health, and this February, the UVA Heart and Vascular Center team performed heartwarming deeds as well. Heart Center team nurses donated their time to visit with inpatients who are lonely, which in turn supported their inpatient bedside colleagues and gave them more time to complete critical tasks. This gesture freed up time for the bedside staff and helped lower the anxiety of the patients. What a great partnership! Thank you to the Heart and Vascular Clinic team for creating a positive experience for both patients and coworkers. Read more and see photos on Connect.

PREVIOUS UPDATES

Friday, Feb. 25, 2022

Town Hall: Survey, Replay Video, and Q&A Follow-Up

K. Craig Kent, MD, CEO of UVA Health, and other UVA Health leaders gathered on Feb. 9 to reflect on extraordinary patient stories, discuss the top priorities and latest developments for our organization, and answer questions from the team.

• Offer feedback | Your thoughts on this Town Hall and suggestions for future meetings are requested. Please complete a brief survey to provide feedback.
• Missed the meeting? | Watch a recorded version or check out the speed-watcher’s guide (with topics and time-code stamps) on Connect.
• Q&A follow-up | While many questions were answered during the event, leaders were unable to address them all due to time constraints. Answers to additional submitted questions have been posted to Connect.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 2:50 p.m. Feb. 25)

Workforce Impact (as of Feb. 25)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

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

PATIENT CARE

Hand Hygiene and Glove Use in Patient Rooms, Including Isolation

For the care of any patient on isolation, including COVID patients, new guidelines for hand hygiene and glove use will help prevent transmission of germs to patients or their medical devices and help ensure we reach our patient safety goals to decrease both central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). This also applies to the care of patients not in isolation. For details, see the Feb. 24 email from Reid Adams, MD, Chief Medical Officer, and Costi Sifri, MD, Hospital Epidemiology, or read it on Connect.

Device Recall: Mistral-Air Warming System

On Friday, Feb. 25, Clinical Engineering Services issued a Class 2 device recall for the Mistral-Air Warming System. The Mistral-Air Premium blankets may be capable of conducting electricity during a defibrillation or cardioversion therapy at higher energy levels (70 Joules or more) when the blanket is applied with the reflective side toward the patient (upside down). Do not cover a patient’s thorax with Mistral-Air Blankets during cardioversion or defibrillation therapy. See the clinical notification in your email for details. Issues with the device or the blankets should be reported to Clinical Engineering at 924.2391.

OPERATIONS

Hot Water Outage

Tuesday, March 1 | 8 p.m.-midnight | Due to steam valve relocations, hot water will not be available for handwashing and showers during the outage. Affected areas include the East, West, and Central bed towers on floors three, four, five, and six. Please report unexpected issues to the Help Desk at 924.2267.

UVA Imaging Moving X-Ray Services

Monday, Feb. 28 | UVA Imaging’s X-Ray services located at 545 Ray C. Hunt Drive in Fontaine Research Park will be moving on Feb. 28 to the new UVA Health Orthopedic Center Ivy Road location. This X-ray equipment will be dedicated to serving the orthopedic clinics in the new center. UVA Imaging asks that walk-in diagnostic X-ray patients visit 415 Ray C. Hunt Drive, Zion Crossroads, the Education Resource Center, or the main hospital. X-ray walk-in visits are not available at UVA Orthopedic Center Ivy Road. Advanced Imaging (MRI, ultrasound, fluoroscopy) remains available for scheduled appointments at 545 Ray C. Hunt Drive until those services are relocated to UVA Health Orthopedic Center Ivy Road in May.

HAPPENINGS

Roll Up a Sleeve and Donate Blood

Monday, Feb. 28 | 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. Appointments required. Sign up by emailing giveblood@virginia.edu. Learn more.

Black History Month | A Student Spotlight — UVA History: From a Black Perspective

Monday, Feb. 28 | Noon-1 p.m. | Registration Required | Nadine Michel, a Medical Scientist Training Program student, is helping ensure that the University of Virginia’s past is more completely known and serves to educate us and inform our decisions for a better future, by creating the interactive timeline, "UVA History: From a Black Perspective."

Medical Center Hour | Medical Education: Students Leading and Co-Creating Change

Wednesday, March 2 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom | Russell S. Phillips, MD, Director of the Center for Primary Care at Harvard Medical School, discusses the critical role of student engagement in the development of medical education and curriculum. Learn more.

Providers: Improve Efficiency With Epic

Monthly, Starting Wednesday, March 2 | 5 p.m. | Webinar | Register | Join host Dr. Mark Lepsch for a 20-minute Epic tour that will immediately simplify your life. Delivered with efficiency and good humor, this session will focus on optimizing your Epic work space — screens, tabs, buttons, and menus. Can’t attend in person? Register anyway to receive a recording to watch at your convenience.

APPRECIATION

Video: GME Appreciation Week

UVA Health is grateful for our Graduate Medical Education (GME) community’s incredible dedication. They are such a vital part of our team, bringing their best every day to care for our patients and learn from and support one another. Despite the ongoing demands of COVID-19, they have remained resilient and always put their patients first. Please enjoy this short video message from our leadership team.

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022

Required Masking Remains in Effect for UVA Health

The University of Virginia recently announced the lifting of mask mandates for many indoor settings, effective Monday, March 21. However, as noted in the announcement, masks will still be required in all UVA Health facilities and on University Transit buses, in accordance with current federal requirements. This difference in mask requirements between UVA Health and the rest of the University is based on the higher risk of poor COVID-related outcomes in our vulnerable patients and the potential for COVID to spread from workers to patients in the health system. UVA Health regularly reviews mask requirements to ensure they are in line with local conditions and national public health guidance and will continue to assess and make changes, as necessary.

As a reminder, in clinical areas, medical-grade masks or respirators (N95 or equivalent) are specifically required. In non-clinical areas, medical-grade masks or respirators are preferred over cloth masks. If you wish to wear a cloth mask in a non-clinical area, it is recommended that you wear a medical-grade mask under* it. Read more about safety requirements.

*This is an update from the emailed version of this newsletter.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:35 p.m. Feb. 23)

Workforce Impact (as of Feb. 23)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

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

Volunteers Needed: Community COVID Testing | All Roles, All Dates

UVA Health continues to provide COVID-19 tests each week to vulnerable community members in the Charlottesville area.

• Mondays | 6-7:30 p.m. | Church of the Incarnation
• Tuesdays | 5:30-7 p.m. | Mt. Zion Church
• Wednesdays | 6-7:30 p.m. | Mountain View Elementary School 

Volunteers are needed for the following volunteer roles: COVID testers (RNs, APPs, MDs), testing assistants, support (greeters/registration support/traffic control), and Spanish-speaking floating volunteers. Volunteers can email Cecelia Magargee (CWM2Z@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu),  Anna Blackburn (AB4VK@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu), or Donnie Burk (dlb3sb@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu) to obtain the sign-up link to volunteer or ask questions.

Patient Care

Helping Patients Get Home and Stay Home

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, discusses UVA Health’s Interactive Home Monitoring program, which allows patients to receive extended care after discharge and has shown improved patient outcomes. Read more.

Operations

Action Required: Update Your Red Book for 2022

Emergency Management recently updated the Red Book, which contains emergency contact information and basic response procedures for team members to use during emergency events. Managers or designees should make sure their area’s Red Book is updated by looking at the date on each page, not just the cover page. All pages should say January 2022 in the footnote. Any unit-specific information should also be transferred over to the new copy. The updated Red Book can be found on the intranet or on the Red Book desktop icon. All team members are required to be familiar with the Red Book for their area, including location, contents, layout, and when it is to be used.

Happenings

Nominate an RN for a Nursing Excellence Award

Deadline: Thursday, Feb. 24 | The Professional Nursing Staff Organization honors several nurses each year for demonstrating excellence in their roles. Please consider nominating one or more of your well-deserving RN colleagues for these honors. Learn more.

Roll Up a Sleeve and Donate Blood

Monday, Feb. 28 | 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. Appointments required. Sign up by emailing giveblood@virginia.edu. Read more. 

Two Events: Dr. Russ Phillips of Harvard Medical School to Visit UVA Virtually 

Russell S. Phillips, MD, Brodie Medical Education Scholar, will make a virtual visit to UVA next week. Dr. Phillips is the director of the Center for Primary Care at Harvard Medical School, which is ranked nationally for primary care education and has become an international leader in primary care research. You are invited to join two events:

• Medical Center Hour | Medical Education: Students Leading and Co-Creating Change | Wednesday, March 2 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom
• Medical Grand Rounds: Improving Health Through Primary Care Investment and Value Based Payment | Friday, March 4 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom | Meeting ID: 974 9914 5280 | Passcode: UVAMGR

​​Nominate a Colleague for Uteam Member of the Month

Deadline: 15th of Every Month | This program recognizes team members 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. Nominate now.

Appreciation

How a Resident Used the Spark Competition to Turn an Idea Into Real Change

While trying to balance residency and life as a new mom, Christie Schaeffer, MD, quickly found a way to make her life easier. She was trying to pump at work, and she found it was easier and less stressful when she had access to a computer while pumping. Dr. Schaffer partnered with the Spark Innovation Competition to bring computers to the South Tower lactation rooms. Do you have a great idea? Team members can submit their own ideas for the first round of the Spark Innovation Competition through Friday, Feb. 25. Read more about Dr. Schaeffer’s story on Connect, and submit your Spark idea now.

Monday, Feb. 21, 2022

Final Events for Black History Month

On the last full week of Black History Month, we reflect and are thankful for this opportunity to come together and empower Black health and wellness. At UVA Health, we’re fortunate to have strong and proud diversity advocates, historians, health equity professionals, and team members who help ensure an inclusive, respectful, and fair training, working, and care environment for all. A few events in the packed calendar still remain: 

• Free Screening: Black Men in White Coats | Through Wednesday, Feb. 23 | Limited availability | Registration Required
• Black Health and Wellness: The Virtual Radical Self-Care Wellness Experience | Black Men and Mental Health | Tuesday, Feb. 22 | 11 a.m.-noon | Registration Required
• Growing up in Charlottesville: A Community Conversation | Tuesday, Feb. 22 | 4-5 p.m. (virtual) | Registration Required
• A Student Spotlight: UVA History: From a Black Perspective | Monday, Feb. 28 | noon-1 p.m. | Registration Required 

Read more on Connect.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 12:50 p.m. Feb. 21)

Workforce Impact (as of Feb. 21)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

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

UVA Health Joins National Trial Testing Medications for Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19

The trial seeks participants ages 30 or older with COVID-19 symptoms and positive test results to test two repurposed medications already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of other diseases or conditions: Fluvoxamine and Ivermectin. Get more information on how to participate in the trial by visiting activ6study.org or calling 833.385.1880. Read more on Connect.

UVA Health Leadership

Leadership Is Listening: Share Your Thoughts About the Town Hall | K. Craig Kent, MD, CEO of UVA Health, and other UVA Health leaders gathered on Feb. 9 to reflect on extraordinary patient stories, discuss the top priorities and latest developments for our organization, and answer questions from the team. Your thoughts on this Town Hall and suggestions for future meetings are requested. Please complete a brief survey to provide feedback.

• Missed the meeting? Watch a recorded version or check out the speed-watcher’s guide (with topics and time-code stamps) on Connect.

Patient Care

MyChart eUpdate to Be Renamed ‘Pre-Visit Update’

Starting Tuesday, Feb. 22, MyChart eUpdate will be called Pre-Visit Update. The change is to increase clarity for patients on the function’s purpose: Patients can e-sign documents, pay visit copays, and update allergies, insurance, and other health information before they arrive for their appointments. Pre-Visit Update is not a replacement for in-person or remote registration for in-person visits and does not allow patients to bypass registration hubs or check-in at clinics. However, Pre-Visit Update for virtual visits, now limited to four steps, does allow patients to complete registration and check-in all within MyChart.

Happenings

Medical Center Hour | Choose Your Medicine: Freedom of Therapeutic Choice in America

Wednesday, Feb. 23 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom | Lewis A Grossman, PhD, JD, BA, Professor of Law at the Washington College of Law, Washington D.C., discusses how persistent but evolving notions of a right to therapeutic choice have affected American health policy, law, and regulation from the Revolution through the Trump era. Read more on Connect.

Upcoming Webinar: What Does It Mean to Matter

Thursday, March 10, and Wednesday, March 23 | FEAP and Hoos Well invite you to a reward-eligible webinar presented by Julie Haizlip, clinical professor in the UVA School of Nursing and faculty member in the UVA School of Medicine, as she shares the value of "mattering" — knowing that you impact lives around you and have significance in the world — and how it impacts your well-being. Register. 

Earn Rewards and Boost Your Financial Well-Being

UVA and UPG Health Plan participants can earn $25 in rewards by participating in financial well-being webinars. Three webinars scheduled for March will focus on taxes, financial well-being for women, and investing in a 529 account for future higher education expenses. Learn more and register. 

Appreciation

GME Appreciation Week

This week, we are celebrating and thanking our over 800 physicians, dentists, chaplains, pharmacists, psychologists, clinical chemists, and physicists in training for their endless dedication to excellence in patient care, research, and education. The Housestaff Council Co-Presidents and Graduate Medical Education Office have organized an abundance of special treats, opportunities, and discounts from local businesses to show appreciation for our trainees. Make sure to say thank you to the residents and fellows in your area this week!

Friday, Feb. 18, 2022

Recall Alert: Powdered Baby Formula

The FDA has recalled specific lots of Similac, Elecare, and Alimentum due to contamination with Salmonella and Cronobacter bacteria. Formula from these brands that meet the following criteria should be immediately discarded: 

• The first two digits of the code are 22 through 37 (The code is printed on the product packaging near the expiration date);
• and the code on the container contains K8, SH, or Z2;
• and the expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later.

If an infant experiences a medical emergency related to this recall, medical attention should be sought immediately. 

Questions?

• If inpatient RNs or LIPs have clinical questions related to formula selection or mixing, they should contact the pediatric inpatient registered dietitian via Vocera at “Acute Care Pediatrics Dietitians.”
• For questions or supply issues, contact Supply Chain at 434.982.6712 or GStoreroomOrders@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

If team members receive questions about WIC-provided formula, please advise the individual to contact their local WIC office.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 12:50 p.m. Feb. 18)

Workforce Impact (as of Feb. 18)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

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

Volunteers Needed: Community COVID Testing

All Roles, All Dates | UVA Health continues to provide COVID-19 tests each week to vulnerable community members in the Charlottesville area:

• Mondays | 6-7:30 p.m. | Church of the Incarnation
• Tuesdays | 5:30-7 p.m. | Mt. Zion Church
• Wednesdays | 6-7:30 p.m. | Mountain View Elementary School 

Volunteers are needed for the following volunteer roles: COVID testers (RNs, APPs, MDs), testing assistants, support (greeters/registration support/traffic control), and Spanish-speaking floating volunteers. Testers and testing assistants (who are not LIPs/physicians) are paid positions (and must already be on UVA’s payroll). All other volunteer positions join on a volunteer basis. Anyone interested in volunteering can email Cecelia Magargee (CWM2Z@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu), Anna Blackburn (AB4VK@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu), or Donnie Burk (dlb3sb@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu) to obtain the sign-up link to volunter uor ask questions.

Patient Care

UVA Helps Launch 2 New Apps That Alert Bystanders to Nearby Cardiac Arrests

The new apps — PulsePoint Respond and PulsePoint AED — send an immediate alert to CPR-trained bystanders when a cardiac event happens in a public place within their vicinity. If bystanders provide lifesaving help before medical providers arrive on the scene, they can increase the victim’s chance of survival. Read more on Connect. 

Operations

Break Up With Your Space Heater

UVA Sustainability encourages you to break up with your energy-intensive space heater. Doing so complies with Medical Center Policy 0055 and supports UVA’s commitment to creating a more sustainable future. If you have a space heater in your UVA office, trade it in (no questions asked!) during February and receive a free energy-efficient warming alternative. Sign up here.

Happenings

Registration Closes Next Week: 2022 Virginia Patient Safety Summit

Thursday, Feb. 24 | 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Virtual | Registration deadline: Monday, Feb. 21, 5 p.m. | Free | Register | This event will focus on reviewing efforts in Virginia to address healthcare staff burnout and well-being as a continuation of the 2021 Virginia Patient Safety Summit’s exploration of the extraordinary stress placed on health systems and front-line staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions? Contact Danielle Childress at dchildress@vhha.com. Learn more.

Black History Month | Next Week’s Events

• The Black Experience at UVA Health: Resources at The Health Science Library | Monday, Feb. 21 | noon-1 p.m. (virtual) | Registration Required
• Free Screening: Black Men in White Coats | Monday, Feb. 21-Wednesday, Feb. 23 | Limited availability | Registration required
• Black Health and Wellness: The Virtual Radical Self-Care Wellness Experience | Black Men and Mental Health | Tuesday, Feb. 22 | 11 a.m.-noon | Registration Required
• Growing up in Charlottesville: A Community Conversation | Tuesday, Feb. 22 | 4-5 p.m. (virtual) | Registration Required

Read more on Connect.

Physicians, NPs, and PAs: Get an Updated Headshot

McKim Hall | Ground Floor | Room G045 (Note: This is a new location.) | Physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants needing an updated headshot for their pages on uvahealth.com are invited 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, Feb. 22 | 9 a.m.-noon
• Monday, Feb. 28 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Friday, March 11 | 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 15 |10 a.m-1 p.m. 
• Thursday, March 24 | 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 29 | 2-5 p.m.

Appreciation

Nominate an RN for a Nursing Excellence Award

Deadline: Thursday, Feb. 24 | The Professional Nursing Staff Organization honors several nurses each year for demonstrating excellence in their roles. Please consider nominating one or more of your well-deserving RN colleagues for these honors. Learn more.

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2022

UVA Health Celebrates Opening of One of the Nation’s Largest Outpatient Orthopedic Centers

On Feb. 16, leadership cut the ribbon to officially open the new, 200,000-square-foot facility on Ivy Road in Charlottesville, which houses UVA Health’s comprehensive orthopedic services under one roof. Located near the intersection of U.S. 29 and U.S. 250, the center provides a full range of services, including joint replacement ; sports medicine; orthopedic trauma; hand, wrist, elbow, spine, foot, and ankle care; and prosthetics and orthotics. The facility features 90 clinic exam rooms, four operating rooms, imaging (X-rays, MRI, CT), rehab space and therapy gym, a pharmacy, convenient parking, and winding walking paths that connect to the Rivanna Trail. Thank you and congratulations to all who had a part in making this new orthopedic center a reality!

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 2:05 p.m. Feb. 16)

Workforce Impact (as of Feb. 16)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

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

Volunteers Needed: Community COVID Testing | All Roles, All Dates

UVA Health continues to provide COVID-19 tests each week to vulnerable community members in the Charlottesville area.

• Mondays | 6-7:30 p.m. | Church of the Incarnation
• Tuesdays | 5:30-7 p.m. | Mt. Zion Church
• Wednesdays | 5:30-7 p.m. | Mt. View Elementary School

Volunteers are needed for the following volunteer roles: COVID testers (RNs, APPs, MDs), testing assistants, support (greeters/registration support/traffic control), and Spanish-speaking floating volunteers. These are paid shifts (except for physicians and LIPs) as long as you receive an active paycheck from UVA, UVA Health, or UPG. (All payments are managed by a team member’s timekeeper in Workday.) Volunteers can email Cecelia Magargee, Anna Blackburn, or Donnie Burk to obtain the sign-up link to volunteer or ask questions.

UVA HEALTH LEADERSHIP

Leadership Is Listening: Share Your Thoughts About Last Week’s Town Hall

K. Craig Kent, MD, CEO of UVA Health, and other UVA Health leaders gathered on Feb. 9 to reflect on extraordinary patient stories, discuss the top priorities and latest developments for our organization, and answer questions from the team. Your thoughts on this Town Hall and suggestions for future meetings are requested. Please complete a brief survey to provide feedback.

• Missed the meeting? Watch a recorded version or check out the speed-watcher’s guide (with topics and time-code stamps) on Connect.

Why Love Matters in Healthcare

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, discusses why love matters in healthcare. It might seem odd to talk about love at work, but it exists in what we do every day as healthcare professionals. Read more.

PATIENT CARE

More Diligence Needed: Hand Hygiene & Glove Use

In a presentation at today’s Medical Center Management Huddle, Hospital Epidemiologist Costi Sifri, MD, noted that hand hygiene and glove use help prevent cross-contamination or “silent contamination” of central venous catheters. Here’s a quick recap:
Wash hands prior to doing the following:

• Donning gloves
• Touching an invasive device, such as a central line or other venous access or performing Foley catheter maintenance
• Using personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Performing a task involving a septic/sterile technique, such as insertion of a central venous catheter

After performing a task that leads to contamination of gloves, do the following:

• Remove gloves
• Clean hands
• Re-glove if appropriate
• Proceed with next task

OPERATIONS

Update: Proxy Changes May Take Several Days During Teen MyChart Roll-Out

The process for transitioning MyChart access for adolescents and their proxies has started and is expected to be completed by the weekend. Since parents and legal guardians may still have full access to a teen’s MyChart information until the transition is completed, clinical staff should use caution during this time to avoid inadvertent release of potentially sensitive information. For more information, please visit the project page: Access to Adolescent Health Information.

Got Questions About Teen MyChart Accounts? These Resources Are For You

Effective Feb. 15, UVA Health has begun allowing 13-17 year-old minors to create and control access to their own MyChart accounts. Teens can also restrict or give access to their medical records related to four protected categories of care (sexually transmitted diseases, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health care, and birth control). This policy revision is generating calls and questions from parents and legal guardians. The following tools are available to help clinicians respond to these inquiries:

• Virtual information session on Thursday, Feb. 17 | 7-8 a.m. | Link
• Project page: Access to Adolescent Health Information
• Consumer FAQs

HR Launches “Planning for Becoming a Parent” Webpage

Team members who are expecting an addition to their family have a new resource on the HR website, the Planning for Becoming a Parent webpage (under the main navigation tab “Life Changes”). This site aggregates information about UVA’s family-friendly benefits in one place.

From HR: Important Manager News and Updates

Human Resources would like to remind managers of ongoing action items, laws, or policies that may impact staff. HR has consolidated news and updates on the 2022 Compliance Updates and Reminders for Managers webpage. They also encourage managers to bookmark the HR Compliance webpage as part of professional development.

HAPPENINGS

Free Screening: Black Men in White Coats

Monday, Feb. 21-Wednesday, Feb. 23 | Limited availability | Registration required | The UVA Health Office of Diversity & Community Engagement, the School of Medicine Office of Diversity & Inclusion, and the integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia (iTHRIV) have partnered with Dr. Dale Okorodudu of DiverseMedicine.com and Indiescreening.com to present the documentary, Black Men in White Coats. Upon registering, you will receive a viewing code, which can be used only once. The film will be available at the following times:

• Monday, Feb. 21 | starting at 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 22 | all day
• Wednesday, Feb. 23 | ending at 6 p.m.

A roundtable Q&A session for the film will be held 6-7 p.m. on Feb. 23. Register for the Q&A session.

Webinar: Learn to Set and Keep Healthy Habits

Wednesday, Feb. 23 | 1-2 p.m. | Register | Hoos Well invites you to learn more about habit formation from a Healthy Minds @Work specialist. Understand how awareness impacts habit formation, why motivation alone is not enough to sustain a new habit, and hear strategies to develop new habits for a healthier mind. Learn more.

Nominations Open: John T. Casteen III Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Leadership Award

Deadline: Friday, March 18 | This award honors University community members who best demonstrate exemplary leadership in the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Virginia or in the local community. Learn more.

APPRECIATION

Brand-Building Campaign Launches — Check Out the New Ads

This week, UVA Health launched a two-pronged brand and marketing campaign throughout Virginia. Campaign goals are to grow patient volume for priority programs and conditions and to increase consumer awareness and institutional reputation. During this initiative, UVA Health will share advertisements and stories across several media platforms and will use social media and search engines to acquire patients looking for care. Thank you to all who helped create this campaign and to everyone at UVA Health. It’s your amazing work that we’re highlighting throughout the Commonwealth! See the ads and read more on Connect.

Monday, Feb. 14, 2022

Provide Feedback on Last Week’s Town Hall

K. Craig Kent, MD, CEO of UVA Health, and other UVA Health leaders gathered on Feb. 9 to reflect on extraordinary patient stories, discuss the top priorities and latest developments for our organization, and answer questions from the team. Your thoughts on this Town Hall and suggestions for future meetings are requested. Please complete a brief survey to provide feedback.

• Missed the meeting? Watch a recorded version or check out the speed-watcher’s guide (with topics and time-code stamps) on Connect.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:05 p.m. Feb. 14)

Workforce Impact (as of Feb. 14)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

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

Patient Care

Feb. 15 Is Go-Live Date for Teen MyChart Accounts | Here is a List of Resources for Clinicians

In compliance with Virginia Code §54.1-2969, UVA Health is updating its policies to allow 13-17 year-old minors to create and control access to their own MyChart accounts. Teens can also restrict or give access to their medical records related to four protected categories of care (sexually transmitted diseases, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health care, and birth control). Under this change, without a teen’s consent, parents and legal guardians cannot do the following:

• View MyChart records beyond billing and messaging
• Access printed official medical records related to care for the four protected categories of care (STDs, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health care, and birth control).

Resources for clinicians:

• Project page: Access to Adolescent Health Information
• Consumer FAQs
• Virtual information sessions: 
  • Tuesday, Feb. 15 | 5-6 p.m. | Link
  • Wednesday, Feb. 16 | noon-1 p.m. | Link
  • Thursday, Feb. 17 | 7-8 a.m. | Link

Operations

Limited Visitation Permitted at UVA Medical Center

Begins Tuesday, Feb. 15 | With COVID-19 case counts declining, UVA Health is moving to the newly created “Highly Restricted” status, which will permit limited visitation in inpatient units, the Emergency Department, outpatient clinics, and outpatient procedural areas. Visitors cannot have COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19 or other contagious diseases. All visitors must be screened before entering the hospital and must always wear a mask inside UVA Medical Center facilities. Here are the updated visitation policies:

• Inpatient units and UVA Transitional Care Hospital | One adult designated visitor is permitted between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Overnight stays are not permitted.
• Emergency Department, outpatient clinics, and procedural areas | One adult designated visitor is permitted.

All public spaces, including the hospital lobby, cafeteria and waiting areas, remain closed to members of the public.

Visitation Policy Exceptions:

• Pediatric patients | May designate two adult designated visitors. One of those designated visitors may be with them 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout an inpatient admission and for an Emergency Department visit or an outpatient visit or procedure.
• Patients with disabilities | May have one adult designated visitor with them 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout an inpatient admission, Emergency Department visit, or outpatient visit or procedure.
• Patients in labor | May have one adult designated visitor at all times while in active labor. 
• Patients at the end of life | May have two adult designated visitors with them 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Find more information in the Visitor, Public Access, and Meeting Guidance Matrix, the updated Visitor Restriction Policy, and the Visitor Restriction Policy: Team Member Guidance document. To understand the Visitor Guidance Workgroup’s decision-making process, please read “Visitor Guidance Risk: Understanding the Process” on Connect.

Happenings

Black History Month | This Week’s Events

• The History of Race at The UVA Medical Center, 1901-2000 | Thursday, Feb. 17 | Virtual Tour: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Registration Required
• UVA Health Historical Tour: Cultivating a Trauma Informed Response | Friday, Feb. 18 | Virtual | noon-1 p.m. | Registration Required

Read more on Connect.

Medical Center Hour | Medical Misinformation

Wednesday, Feb. 16 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom | Drs. Irène Mathieu and Seema Yasmin will explore how medical miscommunication fosters distrust and what communications scholarship can teach us about evidence-based approaches to effectively debunking myths and building resilience against pseudoscience. Read more on Connect.

Access Discussions With John Bennett Start Next Week

John Bennett, MPA, Chief Ambulatory Operations Officer, invites you to join him for informal discussions and listening sessions about the One Team | United on Access project during which attendees can provide feedback and offer ideas. This project began as the Bridge Plan Revenue Cycle Focus Area and has evolved into a stand-alone change initiative to redesign our entire patient access model. Discussion sessions are open to all team members. Limited capacity — sign up today.

• Tuesday, Feb. 22 | noon-1 p.m. | McKim 3001
• Thursday, Mar. 24 | 7 a.m.-8 a.m. | Virtual (link will be provided)
• Tuesday, Apr. 26 | noon-1 p.m. | McKim 3001
• Wednesday, May 25 | 7 a.m.-8 a.m. | Virtual (link will be provided)

One Week Left to Register: 2022 Virginia Patient Safety Summit

Thursday, Feb. 24 | 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Virtual | Registration deadline: Monday, Feb. 21, 5 p.m. | Free | Register | This event will focus on reviewing efforts in Virginia to address healthcare staff burnout and well-being as a continuation of the 2021 Virginia Patient Safety Summit’s exploration of the extraordinary stress placed on health systems and front-line staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions? Contact Danielle Childress at dchildress@vhha.com. Learn more.

Nominate an RN for a Nursing Excellence Award

Deadline: Thursday, Feb. 24 | The Professional Nursing Staff Organization honors several nurses each year for demonstrating excellence in their roles. Please consider nominating one or more of your well-deserving RN colleagues for these honors. Learn more.

Appreciation

Show Some Love to Cardiovascular Professionals and Phlebotomists  

We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than to extend appreciation to cardiovascular professionals and phlebotomists who care for our hearts and the blood pumping through them. This is Cardiovascular Professionals Week and National Phlebotomists' Recognition Week, and we give a huge shout out to these healthcare workers for caring for patients in such a critical way. Thank you!

Friday, Feb. 11, 2022

Visitor Guidance Changing to Highly Restricted Status

Visitor Guidance Changing to Highly Restricted Status on Feb. 15 | As UVA Health experiences a decrease in COVID risk factors, the Visitor Restrictions Workgroup recently met to review data and made the decision to ease visitor guidance. As of Feb. 15, UVA Health will be moving to the newly created “Highly Restricted” status, which has been updated in the Visitor, Public Access, and Meeting Guidance Matrix. In summary, all patients will be permitted to have one designated visitor with them in most care settings — inpatient, ED, procedures, clinics, and at TCH. View the updated Visitor Restriction Policy and the Visitor Restriction Policy: Team Member Guidance document. To understand the Visitor Guidance Workgroup’s decision-making process, please read “Visitor Guidance Risk: Understanding the Process” on Connect.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 2:20 p.m. Feb. 11)

Workforce Impact (as of Feb. 11)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

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

PATIENT CARE

Teens Can Set Up Their Own MyChart Account and Control Access to Some Medical Records

Effective Tuesday, Feb. 15 | In compliance with Virginia Code §54.1-2969, UVA Health is updating its policies to allow 13-to-17year-old minors to:

• Create their own MyChart accounts
• Control who can see their MyChart account
• Restrict or give access to their medical records related to four protected categories of care (sexually transmitted diseases, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health care, and birth control)

Under this change, without a teen’s consent, parents and legal guardians cannot:

• View MyChart records beyond billing and messaging
• Access printed official medical records related to care for the four protected categories of care (STDs, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health care, and birth control).

Resources for clinicians:

• Project page: Access to Adolescent Health Information
• Virtual information sessions:
  • Tuesday, Feb. 15 | 5-6 p.m. | Link
  • Wednesday, Feb. 16 | noon-1 p.m. | Link
  • Thursday, Feb. 17 | 7-8 a.m. | Link

OPERATIONS

Access Discussion With John Bennett

John Bennett, MPA, Chief Ambulatory Operations Officer, invites you to join him for informal discussions and listening sessions about the One Team | United on Access project, during which attendees can provide feedback and offer ideas. Open to all team members. Limited capacity — sign up today.

• Tuesday, Feb. 22 | noon-1 p.m. | McKim 3001
• Thursday, Mar. 24 | 7 a.m.-8 a.m. | Virtual (link will be provided)
• Tuesday, Apr. 26 | noon-1 p.m. | McKim 3001
• Wednesday, May 25 | 7 a.m.-8 a.m. | Virtual (link will be provided)

Have You Read the First Update About the Integration of Three Community Hospitals into UVA Health?

Thanks to last year’s acquisition of three community hospitals — Culpeper Medical Center, Haymarket Medical Center, and Prince William Medical Center — UVA Health is poised to grow in unprecedented ways. Much excitement surrounds the possibilities associated with this acquisition, and work is underway to integrate the three hospitals into the organizational fabric of UVA Health. Learn more about what is happening now, on Connect.

Hospital Drive Water Line Project

Through Sunday, Feb. 13 | Pedestrian and vehicular traffic are being detoured around the water-line excavation site on Hospital Drive near the M19 parking lot. Flaggers will be on site to direct pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Vehicles may experience delays.

UVA HEALTH LEADERSHIP

Replay: UVA Health Town Hall

K. Craig Kent, MD, CEO of UVA Health, and other UVA Health leaders recently gathered to reflect on extraordinary patient stories, discuss the top priorities and latest developments for our organization, and answer questions from the team.

• Missed the meeting? Watch a recorded version or check out the speed-watcher’s guide (with topics and time-code stamps) on Connect.
• Want to offer feedback? As a follow-up to the Town Hall, please provide your thoughts and suggest future meeting topics by completing a brief survey.

Gehrig to Chair UVA Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Paola Gehrig, MD, has been appointed Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Dr. Gehrig comes to UVA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, where she serves as Professor and Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She also is the Medical Director of UNC Hospital’s Gynecologic Oncology inpatient and outpatient units as well as Executive Medical Director of the Women’s Hospital. Gehrig will assume her new role June 27. Read the full announcement on Connect.

HAPPENINGS

Black History Month | Upcoming Events

• Community Engagement and Partnership Event | Saturday, Feb. 12 | 2-4 p.m. (virtual) | Registration Required
• The History of Race at the UVA Medical Center, 1901-2000 | Thursday, Feb. 17 | Virtual Tour: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Registration Required
• UVA Health Historical Tour: Cultivating a Trauma Informed Response | Friday, Feb. 18 | Virtual | noon-1 p.m. | Registration Required

Read more on Connect.

Medical Center Hour | Medical Misinformation

Wednesday, Feb. 16 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom | Drs. Irène Mathieu and Seema Yasmin will explore how medical miscommunication fosters distrust and what communications scholarship can teach us about evidence-based approaches to effectively debunking myths and building resilience against pseudoscience. Read more on Connect.

Save the Date: Black Men in White Coats Screening

Monday, Feb. 21-Wednesday, Feb. 23 | The School of Medicine Office of Diversity & Inclusion, School of Nursing, and UVA Health has partnered with Dr. Dale Okorodudu of DiverseMedicine.com and Indiescreening.com to present the documentary, Black Men in White Coats, followed by a question and answer session directly after the last showing. Limited availability. Details on viewing times and how to sign up will be available soon.

Registration Open: 2022 Virginia Patient Safety Summit

Thursday, Feb. 24 | 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Virtual | Registration deadline: Monday, Feb. 21, 5 p.m. | Free | Register | This event will focus on reviewing efforts in Virginia to address healthcare staff burnout and well-being as a continuation of the 2021 Virginia Patient Safety Summit’s exploration of the extraordinary stress placed on health systems and front-line staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions? Contact Danielle Childress at dchildress@vhha.com. Learn more.

APPRECIATION

Ambulatory Care Nursing Week

This has been a week of celebrating nursing’s various roles. We started the week by giving a shout out to our perianesthesia nurses, and we’re ending it by recognizing our ambulatory care nurses. To celebrate and support this amazing group of nurses, the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN) launched Ambulatory Care Nursing Week (Feb. 7-13). Ambulatory care nurses are critical thinkers, leaders, communicators, listeners, courageous, caregivers, and so much more. It is a complex, multifaceted specialty that encompasses independent and collaborative practice. Thank you to UVA Health’s ambulatory care nurses for the wonderful job they do every day in taking care of our patients, their families, our community, and each other! Take a moment today to thank these nurses for an outstanding job.

Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022

Replay: UVA Health Town Hall

K. Craig Kent, MD, CEO of UVA Health, and other UVA Health leaders gathered to reflect on extraordinary patient stories, discuss the top priorities and latest developments for our organization, and answer questions from the team. Thanks to all team members who took the time to submit questions. Anyone who missed the meeting can watch a recorded version here.

• Feedback welcome | As a follow-up to the Town Hall, please provide your thoughts and feedback and suggest future meeting topics by completing a brief survey. 
• Speed-watcher’s guide | For your convenience, a speed-watcher’s guide with topics and time-code stamps is posted on Connect. 
• Mission, vision, and values refresh | During the Town Hall, UVA Health’s new foundational mission, vision, values, and guiding principles were unveiled. See them here.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 2:20 p.m. Feb. 9)

Workforce Impact (as of Feb. 9)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

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

Volunteers Needed: Community COVID Testing | All Roles, All Dates

UVA Health continues to provide COVID-19 tests each week to vulnerable community members in the Charlottesville area.

• Mondays | 6-7:30 p.m. | Church of the Incarnation
• Tuesdays | 5:30-7 p.m. | Mt. Zion Church
• Wednesdays | 6-7:30 p.m. | Mountain View Elementary School 

Volunteers are needed for the following volunteer roles: COVID testers (RNs, APPs, MDs), testing assistants, support (greeters/registration support/traffic control), and Spanish-speaking floating volunteers. Please email Cecelia Magargee (CWM2Z@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu), Anna Blackburn (AB4VK@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu), or Donnie Burk (dlb3sb@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu) to obtain the volunteer sign-up link or ask questions.

Patient Care

Patient Test Results Are Now Being Released to MyChart Four Times Per Weekday

In response to provider feedback, test results are now being released to MyChart four times instead of just once on weekdays. Effective Feb. 8, result batches that have completed their designated hold period are being released at 8 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. COVID-19 test results are still being released to MyChart as soon as they are finalized. Please visit the updated Results Release project page to review the new results release schedule and learn more about this important change.

Starting Feb. 15, Teens 13-17 Can Set Up MyChart Accounts and Control Proxy Access | Last Chance Information Session: Friday, Feb. 11 at Noon

In compliance with Virginia Code §54.1-2969, UVA Health is adopting new access guidelines for adolescent patients’ health records related to four services: sexually transmitted diseases, family planning, behavioral health, and substance abuse. Under this law, adolescent patients (ages 13-17) will be deemed an adult for the purpose of accessing or authorizing the disclosure of medical records related to these four services.

The new guidelines will impact parent/guardian access to adolescent information in MyChart and enable minors who are 13 and older to establish their own MyChart accounts and control proxy access. Clinicians will also be able to set a new Adolescent Privacy flag on medical records related to these encounters. The flag will prohibit anyone from accessing the records without the patient's authorization.

Questions?

• Learn more on the Access to Adolescent Health Information project page, which includes planned patient messaging
• Plan to attend Friday’s Information Session, which will include a brief project overview and open Q&A (click to join: Friday, Feb. 11 | noon-1 p.m.) or view the recording on the project page.

Operations

UVA Medical Center Compensation Program and Market Review Updates Announced Today

Phase Two of the Medical Center market pay adjustments is currently underway. The investment of an additional $26 million for this phase of market adjustments increases the total fiscal year investment in compensation programs to more than $56 million. With this additional investment, 98% of our team members will receive a market pay adjustment this fiscal year. UVA HR is currently working with each chief to review the new market data and finalize decisions about market pay adjustments for Phase Two by the end of March. Read more on Connect. 

New Program: Earn While You Learn

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, discussed a new program called Earn While You Learn, which provides on-the-job training for numerous roles, from pharmacy technicians to EMTs, many with no experience necessary or degree required to get started. Read more.

Hospital Drive Water Line Project

Through Sunday, Feb. 13 | Those using hospital drive will be detoured around the water-line excavation site on Hospital Drive near the M19 parking lot. Pedestrian and vehicular traffic will be maintained at all times. Flaggers will be on site. Vehicles may experience delays.

Survey: Health Sciences Library

Through Friday, Feb. 18 | The Claude Moore Health Sciences Library is conducting a survey to understand how team members use the library and how they perceive the quality of services. Participation in this anonymous survey will help the library better provide the best possible service to you and your colleagues. Completing the survey will also offer you an opportunity to enter into a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card. Take the survey.

Happenings

FEAP: Adopting a Movement Mindset

Thursday, Feb. 10, and Tuesday, Feb. 22 | A positive psychology practitioner, a health and fitness professional, and an RN/certified health coach will share current research and effective strategies to improve your mental and physical well-being using a movement mindset.

Panel: Systemic Racism and Health Outcomes

Monday, Feb. 21 | 12:10-1 p.m. | Claude Moore Medical Education Building Auditorium, 3rd floor | RSVP | The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the stark inequities facing people of color. Panelists will discuss the impact of racism on health and healthcare with a focus on efforts by UVA and the health system to partner with local communities to address historical injustices and eliminate health disparities. Submit discussion topics here. Learn more.

Appreciation

UVA Cancer Center Joins Elite National Group

On Feb. 1, UVA Cancer Center officially became a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center — one of just 52 in the nation and the only one in Virginia. It’s more than a fancy new title. The NCI sets the standard for what it means to be a leader in cancer prevention, diagnosis, research, and treatment. Comprehensive status is the highest designation NCI offers. Read what it took to reach this achievement on Connect.

Monday, Feb. 7, 2022

Submit Questions Today: UVA Health Town Hall

Wednesday, Feb. 9 | noon-1 p.m. | Livestream |Join K. Craig Kent, MD, CEO of UVA Health, and other UVA Health leaders to learn more about top priorities and latest developments for our organization. Submit questions to YourTownHall@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu now or during the event.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 3:05 p.m. Feb. 7)

Workforce Impact (as of Feb. 7)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

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

PATIENT CARE

Starting Feb. 15, Teens 13-17 Can Set Up MyChart Accounts and Control Proxy Access | Learn More at Provider Information Sessions

In compliance with Virginia Code §54.1-2969, UVA Health is adopting new access guidelines for adolescent patients’ health records related to four services: sexually transmitted diseases, family planning, behavioral health, and substance abuse. Under this law, adolescent patients (ages 13-17) will be deemed an adult for the purpose of accessing or authorizing the disclosure of medical records related to these four services.

The new guidelines will impact parent/guardian access to adolescent information in MyChart and enable minors who are 13 and older to establish their own MyChart accounts and control proxy access. Providers will also be able to set a new Adolescent Privacy flag on medical records related to these encounters. The flag will prohibit anyone from accessing the records without the patient's authorization. Questions? Learn more on the Access to Adolescent Health Information project page, or plan to attend one of the following information sessions, which will include a brief project overview and open Q&A (click to join):

• Wednesday, Feb. 9 | 7-8 a.m.
• Wednesday, Feb. 9 | 5-6 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 11 | noon-1 p.m.

OPERATIONS

Reminder: Eating/Drinking Restricted in UVA Health Facilities

Eating and drinking during in-person meetings are not allowed under the current UVA Health guidelines that are in effect. This is subject to change based on our current COVID conditions. As of today, we are in the “Closed” category. See the Visitor and Public Access Guidance Matrix for details.

New Mega Cart System Will Ensure Adequate Supplies of Caregiver PPE

Goes Live Wednesday, Feb. 9 | To ensure the safety of team members who are caring for patients with COVID-19 or under investigation for it, PPE mega carts will be set up in visitor lounges in six locations in the Medical Center. Made possible by the purchase of additional carts, this change is expected to increase operational efficiency and provide PPE supply flexibility as patient volumes fluctuate.
Role/Responsibilities:

• Supply Chain | Restock each mega cart once per day.
• Inpatient Unit Teams | Replenish individual PPE carts from mega carts; retrieve carts for new admissions.
• Performance Improvement Coaches | Continue to support once daily replenishment of individual PPE carts through Friday, Feb. 11.
• Leadership | Provide escalation pathways as needed for problem solving.

Mega Cart Locations (NOTE: These lounges will no longer be locked at night.)

• 3rd Floor: West Visitor Lounge
• 4th Floor: West Visitor Lounge
• 5th Floor: West Visitor Lounge
• 6th Floor: East Visitor Lounge
• 7th Floor: Panera Family Lounge
• 8th Floor: East Visitor Lounge

Repairs: 11th Street Garage Elevators Out of Service

8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, to 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9 | Both elevators in the 11th Street Garage will be out of service overnight for repairs. During this eight-hour outage, attendants will be available to provide assistance.

Hospital Drive Water Line Project

Through Sunday, Feb. 13 | Flaggers will be on site to direct pedestrians and vehicles around the water-line excavation site near the M19 parking lot on Hospital Drive. Traffic will be maintained at all times, but vehicles may experience delays.

How Will You Be Impacted by the Latest Changes in Epic?

This month’s Epic updates will go live on Tuesday, Feb. 8, and impact inpatient LIPs, ambulatory, and inpatient nurses, and therapy services. Of note is a new feature will allow patients to update information about their sexual orientation and gender identity in MyChart. This information will automatically be populated on their chart. Details about all the latest changes can be found in the Epic Update Bundle. Got questions? Please contact the Help Desk at 434.924.5334.

HAPPENINGS

Black History Month | This Week’s Events

• The Black Tax in Healthcare: How Racial Identity Impacts Healthcare Outcomes | Tuesday, Feb. 8 | 7-8 p.m. (virtual) | Registration Required
• A Three-Part Virtual Health Equity Series | Wednesday, Feb. 9 | YouTube
  • Part I: Health Equity Series: Racism is a Public Health Crisis
  • Part II: Health Equity Series: Health Equity and the Social Determinants of Health
  • Part III: Health Equity Series: Addressing Structural and Systemic Change to Advance Health Equity
• The Black History Month Concert | Friday, Feb. 11 | 6:30 p.m. | Hosted by University of Virginia Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | Registration Required
• Community Engagement and Partnership Event | Saturday, Feb. 12 | 2-4 p.m. (virtual) | Registration Required

Read more on Connect.

Free UVA Heart Failure Symposium

Saturday, Feb. 26 | 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | Virtual | Register | Registration closes Feb. 20 |This symposium highlights current trends, issues, and newly emerging therapies for the care of individuals diagnosed with heart failure. Learn more.

APPRECIATION

Perianesthesia Nurse Awareness Week

Feb. 7-13 is Perianesthesia Nurse Awareness Week, where we celebrate our nurses working in preanesthesia and postanesthesia care, ambulatory surgery, and pain management, all of whom are dedicated to caring for patients and their families. Sponsored by the American Society for Perianesthsia Nurses and the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, this annual observance recognizes and honors these outstanding care providers across the country. At UVA Health, we appreciate the professionalism and passionate care delivered by our perianesthesia nurses every day. They are truly amazing! If you know a perianesthesia nurse, please take a moment to personally thank them for their extraordinary work!

Friday, Feb. 4, 2022

$2.14 Million Grant Backs UVA Health Effort to Battle Burnout Among Healthcare Workers

UVA Health recently received a three-year, $2.14 million federal grant to expand the Wisdom & Well-Being Program, a nationally lauded well-being and peer support training program pioneered by Richard Westphal, PhD, RN, Woodard Clinical Professor of Nursing, and Peggy Plews-Ogan, MD, Brodie Professor of Medicine. In addition to training more than 10,000 clinicians and students, the Well-Being and Peer-Support Training Program will also establish a national Wisdom, Well-Being, and Peer Support Training collaborative with the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, a train-the-trainer model that will further expand this model to healthcare communities across the country and around the world. Read more on Connect.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 2:35 p.m. Feb. 4)

Workforce Impact (as of Feb. 4)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

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

What Are the Current Guidelines for COVID-Positive Team Members?

Team members who have tested positive for COVID are asking for clarification about the number of days they need to remain out of work or wait to schedule visits at our outpatient clinics. The time requirements for these two activities differ and are explained below. If you need additional information about return to work guidelines, please contact Employee Health (434.924.2013). For questions related to scheduling outpatient visits, please contact the appropriate clinic directly.

• Earliest return to work is five days | Current isolation guidelines require team members who test positive for COVID-19 to stay out of work for at least five days and return only after they become asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (no fever for 24 hours).

Rationale: Based on the latest information about COVID-19 and the omicron variant, the CDC has shortened the recommended isolation time for people with COVID-19 to a minimum of five days or until they are asymptomatic or have resolving symptoms (no fever for 24 hours). Per the CDC’s recommendations, isolation should be followed by five days of masking when around others to minimize the spread of infection. 

• Schedule outpatient appointments in 10 days | Regardless of their employment affiliation, all patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 must wait 10 days before being seen in a UVA Health outpatient clinic. This interval is consistent with current CDC recommendations and is required to minimize the spread of infection when patients recovering from COVID remove their masks for assessment, etc. 

Patient Care

Upcoming Information Sessions Address New Access Guidelines for Adolescent Health Information | Changes Are Effective Tuesday, Feb. 15

In compliance with Virginia Code §54.1-2969, UVA Health is adopting new access guidelines for adolescent patients’ health records related to four services: sexually transmitted diseases, family planning, behavioral health, and substance abuse. Under this law, adolescent patients (ages 13-17) will be deemed an adult for the purpose of accessing or authorizing the disclosure of medical records related to these four services.

The new guidelines will impact parent/guardian access to adolescent information in MyChart and enable minors who are 13 and older to establish their own MyChart accounts and control proxy access. Providers will also be able to set a new Adolescent Privacy flag on medical records related to these encounters. The flag will prohibit anyone from accessing the records without the patient's authorization. Questions? Learn more on the Access to Adolescent Health Information project page, or plan to attend one of the following information sessions, which will include a brief project overview and open Q&A (click to join):

• Monday, Feb. 7 | 3-4 p.m. 
• Wednesday, Feb. 9 | 7-8 a.m. 
• Wednesday, Feb. 9 | 5-6 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 11 | noon-1 p.m.

Operations

Repairs: 11th Street Garage Elevators Out of Service

8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, to 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9 | Both elevators in the 11th Street Garage will be out of service overnight for repairs. During this eight-hour outage, attendants will be available to provide assistance.

Hospital Drive Water Line Project

Monday, Feb. 7, to Sunday, Feb. 13 | Those using Hospital Drive will be detoured around the water-line excavation site on Hospital Drive near the M19 parking lot. Pedestrian and vehicular traffic will be maintained at all times. Flaggers will be on site. Vehicles may experience delays.

Happenings

Black History Month | Next Week’s Events

• A Three-Part Virtual Health Equity Series | Wednesday, Feb. 9 | YouTube
  • Part I: Health Equity Series: Racism is a Public Health Crisis
  • Part II: Health Equity Series: Health Equity and the Social Determinants of Health
  • Part III: Health Equity Series: Addressing Structural and Systemic Change to Advance Health Equity
• The Black History Month Concert | Friday, Feb. 11 | 6:30 p.m. | Hosted by University of Virginia Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | Registration Required
• Community Engagement and Partnership Event | Saturday, Feb. 12 | 2 p.m.-4 p.m. (virtual) | Registration Required

Read more on Connect. 

Submit Questions Now: UVA Health Town Hall

Wednesday, Feb. 9 | noon-1 p.m. | Livestream (link forthcoming) | Join K. Craig Kent, MD, CEO of UVA Health, and other UVA Health leaders to learn more about top priorities and latest developments for our organization. Team members are invited to submit questions to YourTownHall@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu now or during the event.

Physicians, NPs, and PAs: Get an Updated Headshot

McKim Hall | Ground Floor | Room G045 (Note: This is a new location.) | Physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants needing an updated headshot for their pages on uvahealth.com are invited 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:

• Wednesday, Feb. 9 | 9 a.m.-noon
• Thursday, Feb. 17 | 8-11 a.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 22 | 9 a.m.-noon
• Monday, Feb. 28 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Appreciation

Congratulations, Family Medicine!

The National Committee for Quality Assurance recently recognized practices with the Department of Family Medicine as Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH) for the sixth consecutive time. Five practices were recognized, including UVA Primary and Specialty Care Pantops, which was recognized for the first time. PCMH standards emphasize the use of systematic, patient-centered, coordinated care that supports access, communication, and patient involvement. Thank you to Family Medicine for putting the patient at the center of all you do! Read more on Connect.

PREVIOUS UPDATES

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022

Black History Month | The Black Experience at UVA Health: Empowering Black Health and Wellness

“Sankofa” is an African word from the Akan tribe in Ghana, the literal translation of the word and symbol is “it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind.” UVA Health is committed to explore The Black Experience at UVA Health and “go back” to retrieve, restore, and reconcile what is at risk of being left behind. As we acknowledge, bring awareness, and celebrate Black History Month, we are dedicated to the empowerment of Black Health and Wellness as we embrace One Future Together.

UVA Health is celebrating Black History Month with a series of events, including a discussion of the history of race at UVA Medical Center, an historical tour of UVA Health, a health disparities conference, a concert, community engagement, and more. Learn more.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 4:20 p.m. Feb. 2)

Workforce Impact (as of Feb. 2)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

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

Change: On-Site Team Member COVID Testing Will Be Available on Weekdays Only

Due to declining testing demand and continued downward case trends, the Preanesthesia Evaluation and Testing Center (PETC) has closed its weekend team member testing operation, and the COVID Clinic in the West Complex will no longer be open on Saturdays.

On weekdays, team members who have been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 (headache, sore throat, runny nose, mild non-productive cough, fatigue, muscle aches) can get tested at the COVID Clinic. Its hours of operation are Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to noon, and from 1 to 4 p.m. Find additional details about team member reporting and post-exposure asymptomatic walk-in testing on Connect. If you have any questions, please contact Employee Health at 434.924.2013.

Volunteers Needed: Community COVID Testing | All Roles, All Dates

UVA Health continues to provide COVID-19 tests each week to vulnerable community members in the Charlottesville area.

• Mondays | 6-7:30 p.m. | Church of the Incarnation
• Tuesdays | 5:30-7 p.m. | Mt. Zion Church
• Wednesdays | 6-7:30 p.m. | Mountain View Elementary School

Volunteers are needed for the following volunteer roles: COVID testers (RNs, APPs, MDs), testing assistants, support (greeters/registration support/traffic control), and Spanish-speaking floating volunteers. Volunteers can email Anna Blackburn, Donnie Burk, or Cecelia Magargee to obtain the sign-up link or ask questions.

COVID Cart Process Redesign

In earlier stages of COVID response, a centrally managed, cart-based system for COVID-19 supplies was introduced to support COVID-19 care beyond the Special Pathogen Units. This pull-based system relied on a limited number of carts which were stocked and delivered 24/7 from a central location to all non-SPU inpatient units. In response to input from care teams, clinical and operational teams set a new goal to ensure all front-line team members have easy access to PPE and other supplies at the time of use when caring for COVID-19 positive/PUI patients.

• New Process | A mother cart of COVID-19 supplies will be placed on each inpatient floor to support restocking. PPE carts should no longer be sent down to G-Storeroom; rather, each unit should keep their designated carts.
  • Supply Chain staff will restock the mother carts found on each floor once per day.
  • Be Safe Coaches will continue to restock each unit’s PPE carts once per day, using supplies from the mother cart.
  • Unit staff will be responsible for restocking unit’s PPE carts as needed from supplies on the mother cart.
  • If items are unavailable on the mother cart, unit staff should contact G-Storeroom.

OPERATIONS

A Call to Action for Our Community

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, discusses how Virginia hospitals are at the breaking point, how our teams are exhausted but still giving their all, and how our community can help. Read more.

HAPPENINGS

Save the Date: UVA Health Town Hall

Wednesday, Feb. 9 | noon-1 p.m. | Livestream (link forthcoming) | Join K. Craig Kent, MD, CEO of UVA Health, and other UVA Health leaders to learn more about top priorities and latest developments for our organization. Submit questions to YourTownHall@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu now or during the event.

Registration Open: 2022 Virginia Patient Safety Summit

Thursday, Feb. 24 | 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Virtual | Registration deadline: Monday, Feb. 21, 5 p.m. | Free | Register | This event will focus on reviewing efforts in Virginia to address healthcare staff burnout and well-being as a continuation of the 2021 Virginia Patient Safety Summit’s exploration of the extraordinary stress placed on health systems and front-line staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions? Contact Danielle Childress at dchildress@vhha.com. Learn more.

APPRECIATION

UVA’s CVC Pledges Are Highest Among State Agencies

University of Virginia team members have once again demonstrated both their overwhelming generosity and willingness to help the local community. Starting in October, UVA faculty and staff donated to nonprofits through the annual Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC). UVA saw widespread participation, which increased 30% from 2020, and contributions confirmed the University’s commitment to supporting local area nonprofits and charities. Roughly 74% of gifts made by UVA employees went to local nonprofits, like the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA — a resident of which is photographed here. To date, UVA team members have pledged a total of $588,170! As in past years, UVA was the top statewide agency in terms of total pledges, contributing approximately 30% of all donations for the 2021 campaign. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! If you haven’t had the opportunity, there’s still time for team members to support local nonprofits through the CVC. Learn more.

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