UVA Health Now Accepting All Eligible Patients for New, Outpatient COVID-19 Therapies

The new oral antivirals, Paxlovid and Lagevrio (molnupiravir), are now available to all eligible UVA Health outpatients who have mild to moderate COVID-19 infection and are at high-risk of progression to severe disease, including patients at least 65 years of age with clinical risk factors. Prescriptions can be ordered in Epic and sent to the ERC Pharmacy for fulfillment. Prescribers are responsible for using these drugs as specified under the terms of their authorization, as detailed in the package inserts, and will need to attest to this to complete the order. Both treatments should be started as soon as possible after the diagnosis of COVID-19 using either PCR or antigen testing and within five days of symptom onset. Important considerations:

• Paxlovid | This ritonavir-boosted antiviral is authorized for treating patients 12 years and older and at least 40kg. There are a number of drug interactions to be aware of, and co-administration with certain drugs highly dependent on CYP3A for clearance may be contraindicated. A full drug history should be obtained prior to prescribing. DO NOT RELY ON THE EPIC DRUG INTERACTION CHECKER, WHICH MAY MISS INTERACTIONS. Refer to this drug-drug interaction guide or consult a pharmacist, if help is needed. Dosing is renally adjusted. Avoid use in severe liver impairment.
• Lagevrio (molnupiravir) | This antiviral is authorized for use in adults when no alternative COVID-19 specific treatment options that have been authorized or approved by the FDA are available due to lower expected efficacy. Avoid use in pregnant patients and children.

Find Availability of Outpatient COVID Therapeutics On-Demand

UVA Pharmacy has established a standing link that allows providers to quickly see the availability of outpatient COVID therapeutics at UVA. Since availability of these medications has been variable, it is recommended that providers bookmark this link for future reference. Information about supplies of these therapies will soon be available in the weekly drug shortages email as well. Refer to the Overview of Adult Outpatient Treatment of COVID-19 on the COVID-19 Resources Ambulatory page for details about the therapies. Refer to the Virginia Department of Health’s COVID-19 Treatment Locator - Monoclonal Antibodies for treatments outside of UVA.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 2:50 p.m. Jan. 31)

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

Operations

Three ORs Reopening on Tuesday, Feb. 1

Enough travel nurses have been hired to enable the reopening of three rooms in the Main OR that have been closed since December. Cases are now being scheduled in those rooms for Feb. 1 and later, including Tier 1 elective cases.

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

UVA to Test Emergency Notification System

Tuesday, Feb. 1 | 10:50-11:05 a.m. | The University will test its emergency notification system by sending an email alert to all students, faculty, staff, and UVA Health team members with a valid UVA email account. If you wish to receive text alerts, add your mobile number to your UVA Alerts account. Questions? Contact UVA’s Emergency Management at UVAEM@virginia.edu or 434.982.0565, or Medical Center Emergency Management at HealthSystemEM@virginia.edu or 434.982.3196.

Feb. 2 COVID Response Update Canceled

As shared in last week’s COVID Response Update, clinical and operational leaders expect the coming few weeks to look much like they have over the past week. With no significant operational updates to share, Medical Center leadership would like to be respectful of everyone’s valuable time and is canceling this week’s COVID Response Update. Leaders invite you to join the Feb. 9 UVA Health Town Hall (see details below). UVA Medical Center is continuing its daily response planning to ensure staffing and resources are available to provide the safest care for all. If you missed the Jan. 26 session, you can watch the replay here.

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.

Appreciation

Congratulations and Thank You for Your Research and Scholarship!

The University of Virginia on Friday honored faculty members across Grounds for their outstanding research and scholarship at the third annual Research Achievement Awards. Zhen Yan and Jayakrishna Ambati from the School of Medicine were honored with Distinguished Researcher Awards. In addition, 36 individuals from the School of Medicine and five individuals from the School of Nursing were honored for their contributions in 2021 and invited to attend Friday’s event. Read the full list of honorees on Connect.

PREVIOUS UPDATES

Friday, Jan. 28, 2022

Employee Health to Be New Location for Team Member Booster Shots

The vaccination clinic in the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center is closing on Tuesday, Feb. 1. Scheduling appointments through VaxTrax is recommended. Final ECCC clinic hours:

• Saturday, Jan. 29  | 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Monday, Jan. 31 | 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 1 | 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

After the ECCC clinic closes, Employee Health will begin providing booster shots two days a week. Appointments must be scheduled through VaxTrax. Employee Health vaccination hours:

• Tuesdays | 7:30 a.m.-noon 
• Wednesdays | 12:30-5 p.m.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:35 p.m. Jan. 28)

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

Weekend COVID Testing for Symptomatic Team Members

The COVID Clinic in the West Complex will be closed on Saturday, Jan. 29. Team members who are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 (headache, sore throat, runny nose, mild non-productive cough, fatigue, muscle aches) should go to the Preanesthesia Evaluation and Testing Center (PETC), located on the first floor of University Hospital. This walk-in service will be available during the following times:

• Saturday | 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Sunday | 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

The COVID Clinic will operate on its normal schedule Monday-Friday. Find 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.

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. to 5 p.m. Come by and check out the merchandise — it changes regularly.

Bring Your Ideas to Life: Enter the ​Spark Innovation Competition

Deadline: Friday, Feb. 25 |Spark is a new, twice-yearly competition will help bring your great ideas to life. Share those thoughts and ideas through the Spark website. This first competition has a focus on our clinical environment. UVA Health wants to hear ideas from every part of the organization. Disrupt the norm, create positive change, and submit your ideas for a chance to win $1,000. Learn more.

HAPPENINGS

UVA to Test Emergency Notification System

Tuesday, Feb. 1 | 10:50-11:05 a.m. | The University will test its emergency notification system by sending an email alert to all students, faculty, staff, and UVA Health team members with a valid UVA email account. If you wish to receive text alerts, add your mobile number to your UVA Alerts account. Questions? Contact UVA’s Emergency Management at UVAEM@virginia.edu or 434.982.0565, or Medical Center Emergency Management at HealthSystemEM@virginia.edu or 434.982.3196.

COVID Response Update

Tuesday, Feb. 1 | 12:30-1 p.m. | Livestream (link forthcoming) | Members of the Medical Center leadership team will gather for a briefing session for team members to provide updates about COVID operations. If you missed the Jan. 26 session, you can watch the replay here.

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.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Class

Mondays, Feb. 14-April 11 | 4-6:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, April 2 | Zoom | Register.

Enhance Your Well-Being and Earn Up to $500 with Hoos Well

The Hoos Well portal is now open with opportunities to participate in reward-eligible activities. Team members and spouses enrolled in the UVA Health Plan or UPG Anthem Health Plan can earn up to $500 in rewards. See the Hoos Well email from HR for more details or register now. If you are new to the Hoos Well portal, you can earn $10 in rewards just by creating an account.

APPRECIATION

Congratulations, Advanced COPD Program!

This week, The Joint Commission notified UVA Health of recertification of our Advanced COPD program. The recertification process, which occurs every two years, includes submission of outcomes data to Joint Commission, demonstration of evidence-based practice, a review of medical records, and evidence of staff education. Congratulations to the teams for all your ongoing and exceptional clinical work!

Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022

COVID-19 Public Education Campaign Launches

UVA Health and Augusta Health are coming together to launch a public education effort to ask for support of our hospital team members given the current surge and the impact it’s having on hospitals across all of Virginia, including in our own backyard of Central Virginia. Key messages of this campaign are to get vaccinated, get boosted, wear a mask and when to use our EDs. This campaign kicked off with a joint-CEO media briefing with Wendy Horton, CEO, UVA Medical Center and Mary Mannix, CEO, Augusta Health, yesterday afternoon (Jan. 25), and the ad campaign is launching soon. Learn more on Connect.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 12:50 p.m. Jan. 26)

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

Watch a Replay of the COVID Response Update

Members of the Medical Center leadership team conducted a virtual briefing session for team members today and provided updates about COVID operations, including staffing levels, caregiving support, reinstatement of Public Health Emergency Leave, and Wisdom & Well-Being resources. Watch the replay.

• Make sure to join next week’s COVID Response Update at the same time and place | Tuesday, Feb. 1 | 12:30-1 p.m. | livestream (link forthcoming)

Location for Team Member COVID Shots Will Change After Feb. 1

To support team members in getting their booster shots, the vaccination clinic in the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center will remain open through Tuesday, Feb. 1. Previous announcements had noted that the clinic would remain open until Jan. 29. Vaccinations will be provided on a walk-in basis or by appointment booked through VaxTrax. Final clinic hours:

• Thursday, Jan. 27 | 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 28  | 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 29  | 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Monday, Jan. 31 | 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 1 | 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

​After Feb. 1, Employee Health will be providing COVID-19 vaccine and boosters shots by appointment to team members. Appointments must be scheduled through VaxTrax.

Operations

Building Supply Chain Resiliency Protects Our Caregivers

In her new post on Vision and Voice, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, UVA Health, discusses the innovative work of the UVA Health teams to keep essential supplies stocked and ready for care teams. As an example, she pointed to the work that led to using an isolation gown provider in Tennessee instead of sourcing those supplies overseas. Read more.

Caregiving Support During Omicron Surge

The spread of the omicron variant in our region has brought additional challenges to team members and their families, especially when dependent care facilities unexpectedly close or restrict services to support quarantine and isolation protocols. Such changes can have a big impact on team members who are juggling work and the care needs of children and loved ones. Resources are available to help navigate these challenges:

• Dependent care resources:
  • Temporary back-up care and crisis-care benefits | Jan. 26-Feb. 28 | Team members may be reimbursed up to $100/day for care sourced on their own, limit up to 15 days.
  • Sittercity.com membership reimbursement | To help team members find additional care options

• Paid time off and Public Health Emergency Leave | In addition to PTO, Public Health Emergency Leave (PHEL) has been reinstated. Team members can use up to 40 hours to attend to personal medical needs or the medical needs of an immediate family member. 
• Attendance | Since closure of childcare facilities will be unpredictable in the coming weeks, leaders are being flexible wherever possible. To ensure reasonable, empathetic, and consistent response to balancing the needs of team members and operations, attendance-related disciplinary actions are now being processed through Employee Relations and approved at the chief level. 

Newly Redesigned Epic Learning Library Debuts a New & Improved Look, Functionality

Thanks to your feedback, the Epic Learning Library (ELL) has been redesigned and now offers access to all Epic training and support options. Looking for a tip sheet? Find it quick with improved role-based and search options. And, make sure you always have the most up-to-date information by subscribing to tip sheets you use most often for instant update notifications. Looking for training support? The ELL now offers a comprehensive training portal so you can join an upcoming live class led by our Epic Training Team, browse a catalog of on-demand CBLs, or even request at-elbow role-based support programs. Rediscover the Epic Learning Library today.

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.

FEAP: Reboot Your Health and Well-Being

Thursdays, Feb. 24-March 31 | 3-4:15 p.m. | Turn your resolutions into reality in 2022 and get your good habits back on track with six weeks of personalized coaching and group learning. Learn the best strategies from professionals; identify and meet your personal goals; and reduce fatigue, depression, and anxiety. To register, contact Beth Frackleton at edw2z@virginia.edu or 434.243.8199. Space is limited.

Appreciation

Hundreds of Team Members Kept Safe and Warm

Thank you to Vickie Marsh, Manager, Patient Relations, Hospitality, & Language Services; the Welcome Team; and Amy Schmidt-Morris, Senior Advisor for Special Projects, who helped secure accommodations for team members during January’s two snowstorms. Thanks to their efforts, over 300 hotel rooms and Medical Center accommodations were used, keeping team members and their support persons safe and comfortable and preventing disruptions in care. Read more winter weather shoutouts on Connect.

Monday, Jan. 24, 2022

UVA Health Receives First Shipments of Outpatient COVID-19 Therapies

New Oral Antivirals Available at UVA Pharmacy on Tuesday, Jan. 25 — Supply Is Limited

UVA has received its first supply of the new oral antivirals, Paxlovid and Lagevrio (molnupiravir), for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 infection in outpatients at high-risk of progression to severe disease. Treatment is currently being prioritized to patients within the tier 1 and 2 risk groups of the NIH Patient Prioritization for Outpatient Therapies. Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 25, prescriptions will be available in Epic and can be sent to the ERC Pharmacy, but initial supply is limited. For other locations, use COVID-19 Treatment Locator.  Prescribers are responsible for using these drugs as specified under the terms of their authorization, as detailed in the package inserts, and will need to attest to this to complete the order. Both treatments should be started as soon as possible after the diagnosis of COVID-19 using either PCR or antigen testing and within five days of symptom onset. Important considerations:

• Paxlovid | This ritonavir-boosted antiviral is authorized for treating patients ≥ 12 years and 40kg. There are a number of drug interactions to be aware of and co-administration with certain drugs highly dependent on CYP3A for clearance may be contraindicated. A full drug history should be obtained prior to prescribing. DO NOT RELY ON THE EPIC DRUG INTERACTION CHECKER, WHICH MAY MISS INTERACTIONS. Refer to this drug-drug interaction guide or consult a pharmacist if help is needed. Dosing is renally adjusted. Avoid use in severe liver impairment.
• Lagevrio (molnupiravir) | This antiviral is authorized for use in adults when no alternative COVID-19 specific treatment options that have been authorized or approved by the FDA are available due to lower expected efficacy. Avoid use in pregnant patients and children.

Evusheld Referrals Are Now Being Accepted

The FDA has issued emergency use authorization for tixagevimab-cilgavimab (Evusheld) intramuscular injections for use in pre-exposure prophylaxis in adults and children 12 years and older and at least 40 kg who are moderately to severely immunocompromised and may not mount an adequate immune response to the COVID-19 vaccination. Due to limited supplies, patients will be prioritized by biomedical risk factors until supply catches up with demand. Referrals are now being accepted for patients within category 1 and category 2 of the NIH Patient Prioritization for Outpatient Therapies. Learn more: UVA Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for COVID-19 (Evusheld): FAQ​.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 3:05 p.m. Jan. 24)

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

Updated: Vaccine Availability/Offerings at UVA Health Pharmacies and Clinics

• Patients Age 12 and Up | Appointments are now available at all UVA Outpatient Pharmacy locations for any of the currently approved COVID-19 vaccine doses. Book appointments by calling 434.297.4829 (4VAX) or via MyChart.
• Patients Age 5-11 | COVID-19 vaccination appointments are available at the Outpatient Pharmacy at the Education Resource Center on Lee Street using the same contact information noted above. In addition, several UVA Pediatric Clinics are offering vaccine doses for 5-11 year-olds who are current patients. Please schedule appointments by contacting clinics directly.

Volunteers Needed: Community COVID Testing

All Roles, All Dates | UVA Health has been providing COVID-19 tests each week to vulnerable community members in the Charlottesville area. Events are held each Monday and Tuesday evening (6-7:30 p.m. Mondays at Church of the Incarnation and 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays at Mt. Zion Church). 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 at CWM2Z@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu or Anna Blackburn at AB4VK@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu to obtain the sign-up link or ask questions.

OPERATIONS

Changes to Data Portal Site Access

Recent changes to access to the UVA Health Data Portal have been made to help protect patient health information. As a result, some team members who previously could access the portal may not be able to. If you need access restored, please submit a request through the Access Management Platform.  Support for submitting the request can be found here.

Three ORs Reopening on Tuesday, Feb. 1

Enough travel nurses have been hired to enable the reopening of three rooms in the Main OR that have been closed since December. Cases are now being scheduled in those rooms for Feb. 1 and later, including Tier 1 elective cases.

HAPPENINGS

COVID Response Update

Wednesday, Jan. 26 | 12:30-1 p.m. | Livestream | Please join Wendy Horton, CEO, UVA Medical Center, and members of the Medical Center leadership team for a virtual update on current COVID operations. The update will help team members stay informed as we continue to respond to changes in the COVID-19 pandemic. An Outlook meeting planner will be sent soon. If you missed last week’s update, watch the replay here.

Reminder: Learn More About New Ambulatory Operations Scorecard

Information sessions are being held now through the end of February to introduce our new Ambulatory Operations Scorecard, which is now live on the UVA Health Data Portal. Drop-in information sessions are available with the Ambulatory Scorecard Team to answer questions and demonstrate how the Scorecard drill-down features work. Drop in anytime (click to join):

• Tuesdays | 1:30-2 p.m.
• Thursdays | 8:30-9 a.m.

Trauma Knowledge and Coping

On-Demand Video | Learn more about the definition of trauma, sources of stress injury, our reactions to stress, how trauma can impact you, and how you can work to overcome these effects. Watch.

Special Panel Discussion: Are You an Expert? A Case-Based Assessment of Medicolegal Expertise

Wednesday, Jan. 26 | 8-9 p.m. | Zoom | This keynote lecture series is presented by UVA Radiology & Medical Imaging. Panelists include Robert L. Vogelzang, MD; Mary Lee Jensen, MD; and Thomas A. Sos, MD. Moderated by Ziv Haskal, MD.

Webinar: How to Sustain Motivation and Achieve Lasting Change

Monday, Jan. 31 | 3:30-4:30 p.m. | Implementing change can be rewarding, empowering, and exciting. This webinar is designed to assist you in curating approach-oriented goals, identifying the need for change, investigating personal barriers to change, and learning new ways to implement lasting change. Learn more.

APPRECIATION

Research and Discovery

These days our lives are consumed by the pandemic. Boosters, vaccines, masks, social distancing, hand hygiene, and headlines. We should, however, take a moment to look at the non-COVID research performed at UVA Health. Recent research includes whether alcohol should have warning labels for cancer risk (Kara Wiseman, PhD, MPH); a newly developed gene therapy to treat Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy (Manoj Patel, PhD; Eric Wengert, PhD); using advanced computer modeling to better understand potentially deadly C. difficile infections that often plague hospitalized patients (Jason Papin, PhD; Matthew Jenior, PhD; Bill Petri Jr., MD, PhD); the effects of the long-term use of blood pressure drugs (Maria Luisa Sequeira-Lopez, MD; Ariel Gomez, MD); a discovery linking lupus and macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness (Jayakrishna Ambati, MD); how UVA’s driving simulator can help more people with autism (Daniel J. Cox, PhD); and developing precise brain surgery without a scalpel (Kevin Lee, PhD). This is a minute sampling of what research occurs here daily. We’re grateful to these investigators and to all who expand our knowledge of medical science. Thank you, researchers!

Friday, Jan. 21, 2022

Location Change: Weekend COVID Testing for Symptomatic Team Members

The COVID Clinic in the West Complex will be closed on Saturday, Jan. 22, and Saturday, Jan. 29. On those dates, team members who are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 (headache, sore throat, runny nose, mild non-productive cough, fatigue, muscle aches) should go to the Preanesthesia Evaluation and Testing Center (PETC), located on the first floor of University Hospital. This walk-in service will be available during the following times:

• Saturday | 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Sunday  | 6 a.m.-noon

The COVID Clinic will operate on its normal schedule Monday-Friday. Find details about team member reporting, contract tracing, and post-exposure asymptomatic walk-in testing on Connect. If you have any questions, please contact Employee Health at 434.924.2013.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:05 p.m. Jan. 21)

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

COVID Vaccination Clinic Open Through Saturday, Jan. 29

To support team members in getting their booster shots, the vaccination clinic in the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center is offering appointments through Jan. 29. Appointments must be made through VaxTrax. Clinic hours:

• Monday | 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Tuesday | 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Wednesday | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Thursday | 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Friday | 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Saturday | 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Operations

Three ORs Reopening on Feb. 1

Enough travel nurses have been hired to enable the reopening of three rooms in the Main OR that have been closed since December. Cases are now being scheduled in those rooms for Feb. 1 and later, including Tier 1 elective cases. 

Ambulatory

Video: Outpatient Treatment of COVID-19

The outpatient treatment of COVID-19 is a rapidly changing landscape. In this video presentation, Dr. Patrick Jackson of infectious disease outlines the currently available outpatient treatment options for COVID-19​ and considerations for prescribing them. (Viewing time is approximately one hour.)

Happenings

Save the Date for the Next COVID Response Update

Wednesday, Jan. 26 | 12:30-1 p.m. | Livestream (link forthcoming) | Please join Wendy Horton, CEO, UVA Medical Center, and members of the Medical Center leadership team for a virtual update on current COVID operations. The update will help team members stay informed as we continue to respond to changes in the COVID-19 pandemic. An Outlook meeting planner will be sent early next week. If you missed this week’s update, watch the replay here.

Physicians, NPs, and PAs: Get an Updated Headshot

McKim Hall | Ground Floor | Room G047 | 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:

• Monday, Jan. 24 | 8-11 a.m.
• Friday, Feb. 4 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• 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.

Special Panel Discussion: Are You an Expert? A Case-Based Assessment of Medicolegal Expertise

Wednesday, Jan. 26 | 8-9 p.m. | Zoom | This keynote lecture series is presented by UVA Radiology & Medical Imaging. Panelists include Robert L. Vogelzang, MD; Mary Lee Jensen, MD; and Thomas A. Sos, MD. Moderated by Ziv Haskal, MD.

FEAP: Adopting a Movement Mindset

Thursday, Feb. 10, and Tuesday, Feb. 22 | Zoom | 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.

Appreciation

UVA Health Earns Another National Pancreas Foundation Center Designation

Congratulations to everyone who helped UVA Health earn recognition as an Academic Center of Excellence for Pancreatic Cancer by the National Pancreas Foundation (NPF). NPF Centers are awarded after a rigorous audit review to determine that an institution’s focus is on multidisciplinary treatment of pancreatic cancer, treating the “whole patient” with a focus on the best possible outcomes and an improved quality of life. UVA has also been designated a Pancreatitis Center since 2016. The NPF acts as a consortium to facilitate research in pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, including potential access to grants. “The academic designation, which is new and harder to achieve — really demonstrates that we have cutting-edge offerings for patients including the opportunity for clinical trials,” says Daniel Strand, MD, Medical Director of the UVA NPF Pancreatitis Center, Director of Pancreatobiliary Endoscopy, Associate Professor of Medicine. Read more on Connect.

Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022

Video | COVID Response Update

Members of the Medical Center leadership team conducted a virtual briefing session for team members today and provided updates about COVID operations, including weekend COVID testing, staffing levels, case numbers, pediatric patients, Public Health Emergency Leave, and more. Watch the replay.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 2:35 p.m. Jan. 19)

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal. A new Workforce Impact Dashboard is under construction. Data available soon.)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources Page

Isolation Guidelines for COVID Positive Team Members Who Want to Return to Work or Schedule Outpatient Visits

Team members who have tested positive for COVID are asking for clarification of the number of days they need to remain in isolation before returning to work or scheduling visits at our outpatient clinics. The time requirements for these two activities are as follows:

• Return to work in five days | Our current isolation guidelines require that team members who test positive for COVID-19 do not return to work for five days.
• Schedule outpatient appointments in 10 days | Regardless of their employment affiliation, all patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 must remain in isolation for at least 10 days before being seen in a UVA Health outpatient clinic.

Please direct your questions about return-to-work guidelines to Employee Health (434.924.2013). For questions related to scheduling outpatient visits, please contact the appropriate clinic directly.

Clarification: Who Is Required to Wear Three-Ply Masks at UVA Health?

We have been asked to clarify guidance regarding the use of medical grade, three-ply masks, and here is a quick synopsis:

• Required three-ply masking | All team members working in clinical areas who are not required to wear N95 respirators must wear medical grade, three-ply masks at all times no matter their job role or involvement in patient care.
• Recommended three-ply masking | Team members working in non-clinical areas are not required to wear medical grade, three-ply masks, but are strongly encouraged to do so. Non-clinical team members who opt to wear a cloth mask are also strongly encouraged to wear a medical grade, three-ply mask beneath it.

As a reminder, everyone is required to wear a mask at all times within UVA Health facilities, except when you are alone and in your own private spaces, such as an office. Masks should completely cover your mouth and nose and fit snugly on your face with no gaps. Please don’t remove or lower your masks to talk. If you feel your voice is muffled, speak louder. Additional masking guideline details can be found here.

PATIENT CARE

Vision and Voice: Two New Articles

On Vision and Voice, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, UVA Health, expresses appreciation for the teamwork, courage, and nimbleness of our team, especially during the rise in COVID cases, and also discusses how we must remember the past to make positive progress in the future.

HAPPENINGS

Learn More About New Ambulatory Operations Scorecard

Information sessions are being held through February to introduce our new Ambulatory Operations Scorecard, which is now live on the UVA Health Data Portal. Drop-In information sessions are available with the Ambulatory Scorecard Team and feature a live how-to followed by an open Q&A. Drop in anytime (click to join):

• Tuesdays | 1:30-2 p.m.
• Thursdays | 8:30-9 a.m.

Mindfulness for the New Year

• Mindful Eating Class | Thursdays, Jan. 20-March 10 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Zoom | Register.
• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Class | Mondays, Feb. 14-April 11 | 4-6:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, April 2 | Zoom | Register.

APPRECIATION

Creating a Just, Humane, Equitable, and Peaceful World

This week, UVA Health is celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a series of events. Thank you to all at UVA — on both sides of Hospital Drive — who have organized and participated in these educational and inspirational events. It is wonderful to see our community come together to honor and carry on Dr. King's work this week (and every week!) to combat inequity and injustice in healthcare and beyond. Check out the remaining MLK Recognition Week events at UVA Health. For questions about these events, please email Melody Pannell, Director of Diversity and Community Engagement, at melodympannell@virginia.edu. For more community events celebrating MLK, visit the University's calendar of events.

Friday, Jan. 14, 2022

COVID-19 Testing Available to Team Members on Duty This Weekend

On-site PCR testing (COVID-19 and influenza) will be available this weekend for team members who are scheduled to work and who are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 (headache, sore throat, runny nose, mild non-productive cough, fatigue, muscle aches). Testing will be performed in the Preanesthesia Evaluation and Testing Center (PETC), located on the first floor of University Hospital. This walk-in service will be available during the following times:

• Saturday, Jan. 15 | 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Sunday, Jan. 16 | 6 a.m.-noon.
• Monday, Jan. 17 | noon-6 p.m.

Find details about team member reporting, contract tracing, and post-exposure asymptomatic walk-in testing on Connect. If you have any questions, please contact Employee Health at 434.924.2013.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:50 p.m. Jan. 14)

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal. A new Workforce Impact Dashboard is under construction. Data available soon.)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources Page

Operations

Team Member Lodging Will Be Available During Predicted Winter Storm

Sunday, Jan. 16-Monday, Jan. 17 | Medical Center leaders and the Emergency Management team have begun the planning process to support operations during this anticipated weather event. Please see below for an update on current accommodations available. 

• Medical Center accommodations | Reservations are available to all UVA Health team members, including but not limited to faculty, EVS, Food & Nutrition, Valet, and ancillary team members. Limited private rooms will be offered starting at 7 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, and during the day Monday, Jan. 17. Team members should come to the University Hospital lobby front desk for more information at the end of their shift (no earlier than 7 a.m. for daytime accommodations and no earlier than 7 p.m. for overnight accommodations). Details on accommodations will also be available on the Medical Center Status Board beginning Sunday, Jan. 16.
  • Location: Report to University Hospital Lobby front desk for Battle Building sleeping accommodations
  • Provided: air mattress, pillow, linens, towel, and toiletries
  • Showers: Located on the first floor of the Battle Building in Rooms 1124 & 1126
• Hotel accommodations | Reservations are available to all team members and their families.

Fairfield by Marriott Charlottesville Downtown/University Area
401 Cherry Ave., Charlottesville, VA 22903 (0.7 miles from the Medical Center)
Room rate: $109.00 plus tax 
Reservations can be made online.

​​Home2 Suites by Hilton Charlottesville Downtown
201 Monticello Ave., Charlottesville, VA 22903 (1.8 miles from the Medical Center)
Room rate: $99 plus tax 
Reservations can be made by calling 434.295.0003 and using code “UVA Snow Day”
Read the most up to date operations information on Connect. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

Monday, Jan. 17 | In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, there are a few changes to regular operations: 

• Clinics Closed | All UVA Health clinics will be closed.
• ORs Closed | Operating Rooms, including the Outpatient Surgery Center and main OR, will be closed except for urgent/emergent cases in the main OR.
• Parking and Transportation Modifications | The University Transit Service bus and Health System Transit shuttle service will not operate Jan. 17. At this time, team members may park in the South Garage on Crispell Drive and the 11th Street Garage (level D and above only). The Medical Center Courtesy Shuttle will operate on the weekend schedule, running every 60 minutes from 7:20 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. UtoCar will operate normally. Please note, University Transit Bus and Health System Transit shuttle will operate normally on Tuesday, Jan. 18.
• UVA Health Update on Hiatus | The UVA Health Update will not be sent on Monday, Jan. 17. The Update will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 19.

Human Resources

Public Health Emergency Leave Extended

The Commonwealth of Virginia has extended leave benefits for 2022 under the Virginia Public Health Emergency Leave (PHEL) policy related to COVID-19. Eligible team members may use up to 40 hours total (prorated for part-time team members) of paid leave to attend to their own medical needs and/or those of their immediate family members due to positive cases of COVID-19. Up to 8 hours of that leave time allows for COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters and any related side effects.

The Virginia PHEL benefit is available beginning the following pay periods based on your primary employer:

• Medical Center and UVA Physicians Group | Pay period beginning Jan. 9
• Academic Division (including School of Medicine, School of Nursing, Health System Library) | Pay period beginning Jan.17. Academic Division employees can continue to use the 2021 PHEL through Jan. 16, 2022.

For more information, please visit the Managing Leave During the Coronavirus webpage. If you have additional questions, email AskHR@virginia.edu.

Happenings

MLK Recognition Week

Jan. 17-21 | UVA Health is celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a week of events. See the full list of on Connect and read more about the MLK Recognition Week. Questions? Contact Melody Pannell, Director of Diversity and Community Engagement, at melodympannell@virginia.edu. For more community events celebrating MLK, visit the University's calendar of events.

Save the Date: COVID Operations Update

Wednesday, Jan. 19 | noon-12:30 p.m. | Livestreamed Event (link forthcoming) | Please join Wendy Horton, CEO, UVA Medical Center, and members of the Medical Center leadership team for a virtual update on current COVID operations to help us all stay informed as we continue to respond to changes in the COVID-19 pandemic. An Outlook meeting planner will be sent early next week.

Join Wendy for BeHeard Breakfast

Third Wednesdays | Wendy Horton, CEO, UVA Medical Center, invites all team members to join her for breakfast, coffee, and conversation. (If food cannot be provided, per the current meeting policy, coffee cards will be provided to attendees to redeem for a treat later.) BeHeard Breakfasts are a great opportunity to take a break and chat about anything you’d like. Breakfasts take place monthly — mostly in the mornings, but there is an afternoon edition in March. Participation is limited. Sign up here. Please reach out to Sam Hanny at SRH3FM@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu if you have any questions.

Appreciation

Winter Weather Shoutouts

The winter storm that rolled through our area on Jan. 2 and 3 caused power outages across town and disrupted normal operations in all of our mission areas. However, we managed the crisis like we always do: as a team. Many team members stepped up to the challenge, such as the Contact Center team who ensured around-the-clock coverage even when some teammates couldn’t get to work and the Facilities team who were clearing the sidewalks before the sun came up. Read more stories about how our awesome teams weathered the storm on Connect.

Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022

COVID Vaccination Clinic Announces January Schedule

To support team members in getting their mandatory booster shots by the required deadline, the vaccination clinic in the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center has extended its hours of operation. Appointments are available Monday through Saturday and must be made through VaxTrax. Clinic hours during January are:

• Monday | 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Tuesday | 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Wednesday | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Thursday | 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Friday | 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Saturday | 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Note: If you have already received your booster shot but did not use VaxTrax to schedule it, you must submit proof of vaccination to Employee Health. Send a scanned image or photo of your immunization records, such as a CDC card or official medical record, along with your UVA computing ID to covidvax@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

Winter Celebration Postponed

As we entered the winter holidays, UVA Health announced plans for a week of winter celebration activities to celebrate and recognize the many contributions of our team members. While we were looking forward to the possibility of safe, in-person celebrations, we were met with another shift in the COVID pandemic, which has called for a return to more intense safety protocols and an ongoing need to support our teams in the work you are called to do each day. Out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the safety of our patients and team members alike, we are postponing the Winter Celebration events originally planned for this week. UVA Health leadership will continue to assess the ability to plan for a systemwide celebration as the pandemic continues to evolve with an eye towards spring and celebrating as a team during UVA Health Week in May. With each passing day, we will continue to find appropriate alternatives to individually and collectively celebrate and recognize each of you — the people and teams who make us UVA Health.

COVID

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal. A new Workforce Impact Dashboard is under construction. Data available soon.)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources Page

Volunteers Needed: Community COVID Testing

All Roles, All Dates | UVA Health has been providing COVID-19 tests each week to vulnerable community members in the Charlottesville area. Events are held each Monday and Tuesday evening. Anyone interested in volunteering should email Cecelia Magargee at CWM2Z@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu or Anna Blackburn at AB4VK@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

OPERATIONS

Masking Guidelines Have Been Updated

Everyone is required to wear a mask within UVA Health facilities, except when you are alone and in your own private spaces, such as an office. As a reminder, masks should completely cover your mouth and nose and fit snugly on your face with no gaps. Please don’t remove or lower your masks to talk. If you feel your voice is muffled, speak louder. The type of mask that team members are required to wear varies by their job role and clinical care activities. Guidelines are summarized below, and details can be found here.

• N95 Respirators
  • Must be worn by clinical staff providing care to patients who have COVID-19 or respiratory illnesses that require airborne isolation, like tuberculosis, or who are undergoing aerosol generating procedures (AGPs).
  • May be used by team members at their discretion in other clinical areas of UVA Health, but the marginal benefit for reasons other than those indicated (airborne isolation, AGPs) is likely small.
  • Note: Team members who are required to wear an N95 will need to be fit tested, an annual requirement that has been paused during COVID and will soon be reinstated. More information will be provided soon.
• Medical Grade, Three-Ply Masks
  • Must be worn by all clinical staff who are not required to wear N95 respirators.
  • Strongly recommended for non-clinical staff.
• Cloth Masks
  • Allowable for non-clinical staff. If non-clinical team members choose to wear cloth masks, there is a strong preference that they be worn over medical grade, three-ply masks.

New Phone Number for 8 West

Please note that the new phone number for 8 West Acute Care is 297.7980. This number has been updated in the Clinical Operations Directory.

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

Monday, Jan. 17 | In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, there are a few changes to regular operations:

• Clinics Closed | All UVA Health clinics will be closed.
• Parking and Transportation Modifications | The University Transit Service bus and Health System Transit shuttle service will not operate Jan. 17. At this time, team members may park in the South Garage on Crispell Drive and 11th Street Garage (level D and above only). The Medical Center Courtesy Shuttle will operate on the weekend schedule, running every 60 minutes from 7:20 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. UtoCar will operate normally. Please note, University Transit Bus and Health System Transit shuttle will operate normally on Tuesday, Jan. 18.
• UVA Health Update on Hiatus | The UVA Health Update will not be sent on Monday, Jan. 17. The Update will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 19.

HAPPENINGS

The Wisdom and Well-Being Speaker Series: Breaking the Silence

On-Demand Webinar | Dr. Christine Moutier, Chief Medical Officer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, discusses clinician suicide and strategies for helping those in distress. Available for on-demand learning and continuing education credit. Learn more.

Webinar: How to Sustain Motivation and Achieve Lasting Change

Thursday, Jan. 13, and Monday, Jan. 31 | Implementing change can be rewarding, empowering, and exciting. This webinar is designed to assist you in curating approach-oriented goals, identifying the need for change, investigating personal barriers to change, and learning new ways to implement lasting change. Learn more.

MLK Recognition Week

Jan. 17-21 | UVA Health is celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a week of events. See the full list of on Connect and read more about the MLK Recognition Week. Questions? Contact Melody Pannell, Director of Diversity and Community Engagement, at melodympannell@virginia.edu. For more community events celebrating MLK, visit the University's calendar of events.

APPRECIATION

Grateful for Your Innovation — It’s Time to Bring Your Ideas to Life!

Deadline: Friday, Feb. 25 | You and your colleagues are incredibly talented, creative, and resourceful. To harness this positive energy, UVA Health launched an innovation and ideas competition: Spark. This twice-yearly competition will help bring your great ideas to life. Share those thoughts and ideas through the Spark website. This first competition has a focus on our clinical environment. UVA Health wants to hear ideas from every part of the organization. Disrupt the norm, create positive change, and submit your ideas for a chance to win $1,000. Learn more.

Monday, Jan. 10, 2022

Which COVID Treatment Is Best for Your Patients? Check Out the New Outpatient Treatment Overview

As more outpatient treatment options become available for COVID-19, a new outpatient treatment overview is available on the COVID-19 Resources site (go to Ambulatory then COVID-19 Patient Care). The information is designed to help clinicians determine the best available treatment option for their patients. Read a detailed update about monoclonal antibodies and the new outpatient oral antivirals that have been approved for the treatment of COVID-19 on Connect.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 4:20 p.m. Jan. 10)

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal. A new Workforce Impact Dashboard is under construction. Data available soon.)
COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources Page

Pediatric Patients Eligible for Additional COVID-19 Shots

• COVID-19 vaccine boosters now available for patients ages 12+ | The FDA recently granted an expansion of the emergency use authorization for Pfizer COVID Vaccine Boosters to patients age 12+. These doses can be given five months after the primary series and must use the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The dosage is based on the child’s age at the time of the booster, not the time of the primary series. 
• Third dose available for immunocompromised patients ages 5-11 | Third doses for patients ages 5-11 who meet criteria for immunocompromised status are also approved to be administered as soon as 28 days after the second dose of the primary series and must also use the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. 
• Appointments now available | Thanks to the tremendous efforts of the vaccine and Epic teams, these doses are now available at the Pediatric Community Vaccination Center in the Battle Building. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 434.297.4829 or through MyChart. Clinics can proceed with booster and third-dose administration if they are resourced to do so. Please note: Updates to Health Maintenance activity in Epic are underway to reflect these changes.

Operations

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

This month’s Epic updates will go live on Tuesday, Jan. 11, and include a new Sensitive After Visit Summary available to print from the After Visit Summary activity. Changes will impact inpatient LIPs, ambulatory, and inpatient nurses, and therapy services. Details can be found in this month’s Epic Update Bundle. Anyone with questions should contact the Help Desk at 434.924.5334.

Happenings

Save the Date: MLK Recognition Week

Jan. 17-21 | UVA Health is celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a week of events:

• Monday, Jan. 17 | 11 a.m. | Virtual | Opening Session: Flourishing Together | Guest speaker: Rev. Derrick Parsons
• Tuesday, Jan. 18
  • 11 a.m. | Virtual | A Courageous Conversation: #HowWeHeal 2022 National Day of Racial Healing
  • 2 p.m. | Virtual | A Way Forward: Transforming Historical Harms panel discussion
  • 7:30 p.m. Virtual | Social-Activist Singer-Songwriter Crys Matthews in Concert
• Wednesday, Jan. 19 & Thursday, Jan. 20 | 10 a.m. | Virtual | Righting the Wrongs: Tackling Health Inequities Health Equity Summit
• Friday, Jan. 21
  • 9 a.m. (leadership), 1 p.m. (public) | In-person tour | The History of Race at the UVA Medical Center (1901-2000)
  • 10:15 a.m. (leadership), 2:15 p.m. (public) | Historical Collections Reading Room | Cultivating a Trauma-Informed Response

Read more about the MLK Recognition Week. For questions about these events, please email Melody Pannell, Director of Diversity and Community Engagement, at melodympannell@virginia.edu. 

Appreciation

Omicron Is Making Things ‘Complicated’

Becker’s Hospital Review recently featured thoughts from nine nurses across the county, one of which was from UVA Health, regarding the latest COVID-19 surge fueled by the omicron variant. Veronica Brill, RN, Associate Chief Nursing Officer, described the latest challenge in the pandemic as “complicated.” She provided the following sentiment: “Every minute, every day, the operational situation is shifting. The shifts are not gradual — rather larger and faster than before. Despite vaccines and boosters, team members are being directly impacted, whether it's infection for themselves or their loved ones, on top of taking care of the skyrocketing patient volumes. This latest emotional rollercoaster has taken us from celebrating the holidays with loved ones, to feeling overwhelmed with COVID-19 volumes and seeing our fellow team members quarantined — all at the same time. On the flip side, the team is putting all the learned lessons on nimbleness, collaboration and gratitude into practice. There is a stronger sense of recognition that we are all in this together, we have been in a similar place before and we know we will get to a better place, together.” Thank you for representing UVA Health, Veronica, and, to our dedicated team members who are giving their all through yet another challenge, you are appreciated. Read more.

Friday, Jan. 7, 2022

Important COVID-19 Testing Updates for UVA Health Team Members

Today, we are announcing a few updates that are important to our ongoing management of the COVID-19 virus, including the highly transmissible omicron variant. UVA Health plans to continue offering on-site, PCR testing (COVID-19 and influenza) for team members who are scheduled to work and who are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 (headache, sore throat, runny nose, mild non-productive cough, fatigue, muscle aches) each weekend during January and on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to help support staffing and scheduling during the current surge in COVID cases.

• The testing location will remain in PETC (Preanesthesia Evaluation and Testing Center, located on the first floor of University Hospital).
• This will be a walk-in service available from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Details about team member reporting, contract tracing, and post-exposure asymptomatic walk-in testing have been sent to you via email and published on Connect. If you have any questions, please contact Employee Health at 434.924.2013.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 12:50 p.m. Jan. 7)

(Information source: UVA Health Data Portal. A new Workforce Impact Dashboard is under construction. Data available soon.)

COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources Page

New Guidelines on Admission Testing and Cohorting COVID-19 Patients

Effective Friday, Jan. 7 | Due to the growing increase in inpatient cases and the rising number of patients who are testing positive for COVID-19 on admission, today we are announcing changes to our standard procedures for admissions and bed placement. As this most recent surge continues, these updates are important to our ongoing management of the pandemic. A summary of these guidelines has been sent to you via email and published on Connect.

Coming Soon: COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters for Adolescent Ages 12+

The FDA recently granted an expansion of the emergency use authorization for Pfizer COVID Vaccine Boosters to 12-15 year olds in addition to the existing authorization for 16-17 year olds. These doses can be given five months after the primary series and must use the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The dosage is based on the child’s age at the time of the booster, not the time of the primary series. UVA Health is working to incorporate this newest update into our vaccine offerings. More information will be coming soon. 

Got Your Booster Shot Already? Here’s How to Upload Your Documentation

If you have already received your booster shot but did not use VaxTrax to schedule it, you must submit proof of vaccination to Employee Health prior to the deadline noted below. Send a scanned image or photo of your immunization records, such as a CDC card or official medical record, along with your UVA computing ID to covidvax@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

Booster Deadlines: Pfizer or Moderna Vaccine Recipients

Booster Deadlines: Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Recipients

Questions? Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions on the UVA HR website, or email CovidVax@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

OPERATIONS

Traffic Impact | Chiller Replacement Project

Saturday, Jan. 8 | 7 a.m.-5 p.m. | The chiller replacement project will be closing one lane of Lee Street to stage tractor trailers delivering equipment using a crane parked in the steam-plant parking area. Those entering Lee Street near the West Complex may experience minor delays as flaggers will be managing traffic. Two-way traffic and pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

HAPPENINGS

Mindfulness for the New Year

• Free Mindfulness for UVA Health Team Members Class | Mondays, Jan. 10-Feb. 28 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, Feb. 12 | Zoom | Register.
• Mindful Eating Class | Thursdays, Jan. 20-March 10 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Zoom | Register.
• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Class | Mondays, Feb. 14-April 11 | 4-6:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, April 2 | Zoom | Register.

Save the Date: MLK Recognition Week

Jan. 17-21 | UVA Health is celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a week of events:

• Monday, Jan. 17 | 11 a.m. | Virtual | Opening Session: Flourishing Together — Guest speaker, Rev. Derrick Parsons
• Tuesday, Jan. 18
  • 11 a.m. | Virtual | A Courageous Conversation: 2022 National Day of Racial Healing
  • 2 p.m. | Virtual | A Way Forward: Transforming Historical Harms panel discussion
• Wednesday, Jan. 19 & Thursday, Jan. 20 | 10 a.m. | Virtual | Righting the Wrongs: Tackling Health Inequities Health Equity Summit
• Friday, Jan. 21
  • 9 a.m. (leadership), 1 p.m. (public) | In-person tour | The History of Race at the UVA Medical Center (1901-2000)
  • 10:15 a.m. (leadership), 2:15 p.m. (public) | Historical Collections Reading Room | Cultivating a Trauma-Informed Response

Details and links will follow. For more information on these events, please email Melody Pannell, Director of Diversity and Community Engagement, at melodympannell@virginia.edu.

APPRECIATION

Winter Weather Edition: Who Do You Appreciate?

This week’s winter storm caused power outages across town and disrupted normal operations in all of our mission areas. However, we managed the crisis like we always do: as a team. Your colleagues across UVA Health stepped up in many ways and we want to hear about them! Do you know someone (or a group) who went above and beyond this week? Maybe they “were just doing their job” but you want to recognize them anyway? What did they do to make things better in our clinical, educational, and lab spaces for our patients, students, colleagues, and community — and how did they do it? Please email the Connect team a few brief items, including:

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

Connect will publish a round-up of these shoutouts next week, and we’ll share it in the UVA Health Update as well. It’s been a tough week: Thank you to all who are helping us get through it!

Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022

Vaccination Clinic Offers Extended Hours to Provide Booster Shots to Team Members

To support team members in getting their mandatory booster shots by the required deadline, the vaccination clinic in the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center has extended its hours of operation. Appointments are available Monday through Saturday and must be made through VaxTrax, which is being updated daily as new time slots are added.

NOTE: If you have already received your booster shot but did not use VaxTrax to schedule it, you must submit proof of vaccination to Employee Health. Send a scanned image or photo of your immunization records, such as a CDC card or official medical record, along with your UVA computing ID to covidvax@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 11:20 a.m. Jan. 5)

Workforce Impact (as of Jan. 5)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

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

Booster Vaccinators Needed

Having enough vaccinators available is essential to providing a sufficient number of booster appointments to meet team member needs. The goal is to have six vaccinators available at all times and for each vaccinator to work a four-hour shift. Vaccinators can sign up in MedCom where they will attest that they meet eligibility requirements and have secured support from their supervisor/manager. Once the sign-up process is complete, vaccinators will receive email notification on how to activate their MedCom account, which will allow them to self-schedule vaccination shifts.

Operations

New Modifications to Visitor Guidance Announced

Limited visitation has now been reinstated for the following groups:

• Post-op patients | One designated visitor is allowed for up to four hours for post-op patients. The four-hour period will start either immediately after the patient is returned to their room or the following morning for patients whose procedure is performed late in the day.
• ED visitors granted exceptions | Designated visitors who are allowed to remain with patients in the Emergency Department can now stay with the patient post-admission for up to four hours.

An updated version of the UVA Health Visitor Restrictions Policy can be found here. 

Hotel Accommodations Available on Jan. 6 and 7 

Reservations are available at the following locations for faculty, team members, and their support individuals (spouse, drivers, etc.). Those who make reservations are responsible for the total cost of these rooms. Please direct questions to Amy Schmidt-Morris (asm3wk@virginia.edu, 443.834.8989). Details:

• Hilton Garden Inn Charlottesville
  1793 Richmond Road, Charlottesville, VA 22911
  Room rate: $129 plus tax 
  Please call 434.979.4442, option 0, indicate that you are booking under “UVA.”  

• Sonesta ES Suites Charlottesville
  1111 Millmont St., Charlottesville, VA 22903
  Room rate: $119 plus tax 
  Please call 434.923.0300, option 0, indicate that you are booking under “UVA Medical Center.” 

Four Sites Offering Hot Showers to Team Members

Team members who need access to showers due to power outages at home are welcome to use showers at the locations below. Team members should bring their own towels and toiletries (none will be provided).

• Battle Building | first floor, rooms 1124 and 1126 |
• University Hospital | G-level locker rooms (Men’s: G134, Women’s: G131)
• Northfork Call Center (4105 Lewis and Clark Drive) | 7 a.m.-5.30 p.m. | Enter building, go past elevator, enter wooden door with glass panel on left, showers are two wooden doors on the right. Question on Northfork showers only: call Patty Frye at 434.282.3904.
• North Grounds Recreation Center (510 Massie Road) | 5:30 a.m-9: p.m. starting Jan. 6 | To access the facility, please bring your UVA identification card to the front desk and indicate that you are experiencing a prolonged power outage and wish to use the shower facilities.

Happenings

Traffic Impact | Chiller Replacement Project

Saturday, Jan. 8 | 7 a.m.-5 p.m. | The chiller replacement project will be closing one lane of Lee Street to stage tractor trailers delivering equipment using a crane parked in the steam-plant parking area. Those entering Lee Street near the West Complex may see minor delays as flaggers will be managing traffic. Two-way traffic and pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

Join Wendy for BeHeard Breakfast

Every third Wednesday | Wendy Horton, CEO, UVA Medical Center, would like to invite all team members to join her for breakfast, coffee, and conversation. BeHeard Breakfasts are a great opportunity to take a break and chat about anything you’d like. Breakfasts take place monthly — mostly in the mornings, but there is an afternoon edition in March — and participation is limited. Sign up. Please reach out to Sam Hanny (SRH3FM@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu) if you have any questions.

Physicians, NPs, and PAs: Get an Updated Headshot

McKim Hall | Ground Floor | Room G047 | 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:

• Thursday, Jan. 6 | 9 a.m.-noon
• Wednesday, Jan. 12 | 8-11 a.m.
• Friday, Jan. 21 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Monday, Jan. 24 | 8-11 a.m.

Leadership

First 100 Days as Dean: Pride, Progress, and Pizza

Melina Kibbe, MD, Dean, UVA School of Medicine, James Carroll Flippin Professor of Medical Science, Chief Health Affairs Officer, UVA Health, celebrated her 100th day as dean on Christmas Eve. In a recent letter to the school, she discussed a shared vision of a united UVA Health, faculty retention and compensation, and the search for new departmental leadership. Read more on Connect.

In Praise of Teamwork: By-the-Numbers

In her new post on Vision and Voice, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, UVA Health, is reminded, especially amid the backdrop of wintery weather, that it truly takes a village to keep UVA Health operating smoothly and efficiently. Read more.

Appreciation

She Listens. And She Helps.

Anne Broccoli worked for the University of Virginia and the health system since the 1980s. After “retirement,” she accepted the Billing and Collection Ombuds position in May 2021. The Billing and Collection Ombuds is a neutral party that assists patients with billing matters that have not been resolved through the normal Patient Friendly Billing processes. Anne connects them with financial aid from UVA Health and other community resources; provides information and services that help patients through the billing, financial aid, and payment processes; reports problems with patient care to patient relations representatives; and shares concerns about processes to UVA Health leadership. She also recently worked to embed ombuds and billing information on the UVA Health LGBTQ patient website. With a 94% patient-satisfaction rating, we’re grateful that Anne is here to help resolve any concerns. Read more about Anne and her role on Connect. If your patients have questions about their medical bills and charges or they want help reviewing their bill, the UVA Health Ombuds is here to help. Patients can email or call Anne Broccoli directly (abd4f@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu, 434.243.4249).

Monday, Jan. 3, 2022

Winter Weather Operations Update

A heavy snow early Monday morning brought adjustments to our regular schedules. Operational updates are being reviewed throughout the day and can be found on the Medical Center Status Board at www.uvahealth.com/weather.

As announced by Health System Emergency Management this afternoon:

Operations Schedule for Tuesday, Jan. 4

• Unless otherwise instructed by your supervisor, UVA Medical Center Ambulatory Clinics will see patients via telehealth until noon Tuesday, with in-person clinic visits scheduled to resume Tuesday afternoon. Ambulatory clinic doors will be unlocked at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
• Team members in diagnostic and procedural areas should check with their supervisor for additional schedule information.
• The COVID Clinic, Infusion Center, and dialysis centers will remain open on their regular schedules.
• The main operating rooms and Outpatient Surgery Center will remain open on their regular schedules.
• University Hospital remains on its normal schedule.
• Any questions regarding operations or reporting instructions should be directed to your supervisor.

For more information on team-member reporting, accommodations, parking and transportation, and safety, please refer to your email or read the story on Connect.

As conditions change, you will receive additional information via email. For more information and updates, please check the Medical Center Status Board at www.uvahealth.com/weather.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 3:35 p.m. Jan. 3)

Workforce Impact (as of Jan. 3)
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 Vaccine Booster Requirement

As announced on Dec. 22, 2021, UVA Health will require all team members to receive a booster shot by the deadlines noted in the tables below, to extend the immunity provided by the first series of COVID-19 vaccines.

Booster Deadlines: Pfizer or Moderna Vaccine Recipients

Booster Deadlines: Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Recipients

Please note: If you have already received your booster shot but did not use VaxTrax to schedule it, you must submit proof of vaccination to Employee Health prior to the deadline noted below. Send a scanned image or photo of your immunization records, such as a CDC card or official medical record, along with your UVA computing ID to covidvax@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

Questions? Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions on the UVA HR website, or email covidvax@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

PATIENT CARE

UVA Health Increases Visitation Restrictions

With COVID-19 cases surging, visitors will not be permitted at the UVA Medical Center inpatient units and the Transitional Care Hospital (effective Dec. 30, 2021 at 9 p.m.) Additionally, as of this morning (Jan. 3) at 7 a.m., visitors have been restricted from the Emergency Department, outpatient clinics, and outpatient procedural areas. In addition, all public spaces — including the hospital lobby, cafeteria, and waiting areas — are closed to the public. The visitation policy changes are part of UVA Health’s efforts to protect the health of our patients and team members. Read more.

OPERATIONS

Traffic Impact | Chiller Replacement Project

Saturday, Jan. 8 | 7 a.m.-5 p.m. | The chiller replacement project will be closing one lane of Lee Street to stage tractor trailers delivering equipment using a crane parked in the steam-plant parking area. Those entering Lee Street near the West Complex may see minor delays as flaggers will be managing traffic. Two-way traffic and pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

HAPPENINGS

Let the Wahoo West Café Know About Your Experience in a Brief Survey

Deadline: Friday, Jan. 7 | Morrison Healthcare, UVA Health’s dining vendor, is seeking feedback on your experience at the West Café. Fill out a survey to let them know how they did and how they can make it better for you next time. Click here to take the survey now.

Mindfulness for the New Year

• Free Mindfulness for UVA Health Team Members Class | Mondays, Jan. 10-Feb. 28 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, Feb. 12 | Zoom | Register.
• Mindful Eating Class | Thursdays, Jan. 20-March 10 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Zoom | Register
• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Class | Mondays, Feb. 14-April 11 | 4-6:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, April 2 | Zoom | Register.

APPRECIATION

Congratulations, Outstanding Contributors!

UVA recently announced the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Awardees, five of whom hail from UVA Health. The Outstanding Contributor Awards are the highest honor bestowed upon team members for their dedication and service and are decided based on nominations from team members, patients, students, or visitors. The 2021 awardees are recognized for being beacons of light, even through the pandemic, showcasing feats like mask recycling and leading an education task force. Congratulations to Patricia Jenkins, Evie Nicholson, Leigh Ann Nordt, Deb Owens, and Taralyn Wear on your honor! Read more on Connect.

Archive of previous UVA Health Updates

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