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1.6.2025

UVA Health Update | Jan. 6, 2025

Winter Weather Safety 

snowflake, winter, snow

Get the latest team member information from Emergency Management about the current snow event on Weather Awareness Updates. Because of the inclement weather, we are now in modified operations. Please do everything you can do to stay safe. Learn more about preparedness and other resources on Connect.        

UVA Cancer Center

UVA Cancer Center Honored Among Nation’s Best 

Becker’s Hospital Review has named UVA Cancer Center to its 2024 list of 100 hospitals and health systems with great oncology programs. 

“These institutions have garnered national acclaim for advancing cancer care via their cutting-edge clinical trials and life-changing research,” the national healthcare publication’s editors write in the list’s introduction. “The list features cancer centers with globally renowned experts, innovative clinical trials, and intensive safety protocols.” 

Becker’s describes UVA Cancer Center, which serves more than 3.2 million people across 87 counties in Virginia and West Virginia in addition to people throughout the region and nation, as “a leader in cancer care, research, and community outreach.” Read more on Connect

Ambulatory 

Shingrix Available in Select Ambulatory Clinics Starting Jan. 21; Requires Training for RNs, LPNs, and MAs 

The shingles vaccine Shingrix will be available in designated clinics for administering to non-Medicare patients starting Jan. 21. (Medicare patients must continue to receive Shingrix from a pharmacy for it to be covered by insurance). Specialties and subspecialties identified as areas where Shingrix may be stocked and administered are Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Digestive Health, Rheumatology, Oncology, Infectious Disease, and Employee Primary Care. Clinics in these specialties should take the following actions in preparation to receive and administer Shingrix:    

Questions? Email Monica Morgan (Shingrix vaccine and distribution) or Sarah Shreckhise(clinical education and training). 

Operations 

red book

Action Required for Managers and All Team Members: Red Book Updated for 2025  

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 unit’s Red Book is updated by looking at the date on each page, not just the cover page. All pages should say January 2025 in the footnote. Any unit-specific information should be transferred over to the new copy. You can access the updated Red Book 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. Academic buildings such as McKim Hall, Pinn Hall, McLeod Hall, MR buildings, and Health Sciences Library follow the academic Emergency Procedures Guide which can be found here

policytech button

Monthly Update: Clinical and Operational Documents 

Having a working knowledge of policies and other clinical and operational documents relevant to your role and responsibilities at University Medical Center supports quality patient care and regulatory compliance. Learn What’s New in Clinical and Operational Documents. This month’s highlights include:  

Questions? Email PolicyTechAdmin@uvahealth.org

Construction Alert: Lee Street Parking Garage Door Replacement 

Jan. 11-19, reopens Monday, Jan. 20 | Facilities Management will be replacing double doors connecting the Lee Street Garage to the Connecting Tower. This will occur on the third level (B) and will not allow access from the garage parking directly into the Connecting Tower on the third level. During this time, handicap spaces will be blocked off and rerouted to other floors. Please anticipate some delays in parking and patients getting to appointments. Questions? Contact Justin Marshall

Transitioning From WebEx to Microsoft Teams and Zoom 

Beginning Feb. 20, UVA Health will no longer support WebEx as an option for hosting meetings within the organization. In its place, we will formally transition to both Microsoft Teams and Zoom as our primary meeting platforms. This decision comes after much deliberation in determining how best we can streamline collaboration, as well as enhance functionality, security, and ease of use. To make this transition as simple as possible, we are informing all team members now so you can begin to adopt Teams or Zoom for future meetings. To learn more, visit Connect

Computer service and assistance concept with work tool icon on a laptop keyboard 3D illustration.

Upcoming Migration: Department Intranet Sites 

Migration go-live: February 2025 | To enhance our digital infrastructure and exceed security and usability benchmarks, the HIT Application Development team will be migrating all published department intranet sites from Plone to the Mura platform. This migration will deliver a more modern, user-friendly interface, support iterative theme updates to maintain user-interface standards, and offer streamlined content management for your intranet needs. What you need to know:    

Human Resources 

UVA HR logo

Benefits Wednesday: Meet a Counselor 

Thursday, Jan. 9 | 7 a.m.-3 p.m. | University Medical Center Dining Conference Room 3 | Ask questions and discuss your benefits with a Human Resources counselor. Walk-ins welcome. Note: Because of scheduling conflicts with the room, the January and February dates are not on Wednesdays. See monthly dates

New Benefit: Discount on UVA Health LASIK Procedures 

The team at UVA Health LASIK Northridge is pleased to share that all UVA Health and UVA academic team members and all UVA students are eligible for a 10% discount on LASIK procedures. LASIK is not covered by most insurance plans (including the UVA Health Plan). The out-of-pocket cost is $2,500 per eye, so UVA employees and students can save $250 per eye. To receive the discount, simply inform the scheduling team that you are a UVA employee or student when you schedule your initial evaluation with the clinic. To make an appointment, call 434.982.2010. 

Happenings 

yoga - meditation

Micro Health Breaks Series 

Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 7 | Take a 10-minute break with Beth Frackleton, Occupational Health, to refresh your mind and body with this new series of micro health breaks. Whether you're looking to boost your focus with chair yoga, ease stress with meditation, strengthen your body through low-intensity cardio, or explore the transformative power of mindset shifts and self-care, there's something for everyone. These quick, engaging virtual sessions offer benefits like improved flexibility, reduced anxiety, enhanced energy, and a stronger mind-body connection — perfect for fitting wellness into your busy day. Attend one or all sessions. See the schedule and download it to your Outlook calendar

Physicians and APPs: Get a New Provider Directory Headshot 

McKim Hall | Ground Floor, Room G045 | No appointment necessary. Bring a white coat if you have one; if not, one will be provided. Photos taken in 10 minutes or less on:               

celebration

2025 Health System New Year Celebration Events 

Previously, UVA Health hosted a system-wide celebration in December, during which we organized seasonal meals and other fun activities. This year, we will be shifting our timeline to January, so that we can ring in 2025 together — sharing reflections and resolutions along the way! 

Information Sessions: RN to BSN 

Earn a BSN on your terms! UVA’s top-ranked RN to BSN program offers a part-time, hybrid, two-year pathway for RNs interested in the personal, professional, and financial benefits a BSN brings. In-person classes take place once a month across three sites: Charlottesville, Richmond, and Fairfax. Virtual info sessions offer prospective RN to BSN students a chance to chat with friendly students, faculty, and admissions staffers to learn about a degree that opens doors. Join to learn more.     

MLK

Martin Luther King Jr. Week Events and Resources 

This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on Jan. 20 — and the UVA Health Office of Diversity and Community Engagement (ODCE) has declared "A Call for Health Equity Is a Call for Humanity" as our theme for that week. The office has provided a list of self-reflection resources on Connect for the day and year-round, and is promoting the following events planned the rest of that week to help commemorate the legacy of the civil rights icon: 

Heart Failure Symposium: Trends, Issues, and Emerging Therapies 

Saturday, Feb. 22 | 8:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m. | Newcomb Hall and Zoom | Register | This symposium will enhance learners' competencies by addressing current trends, issues, and emerging therapies in heart failure care. Healthcare professionals will broaden their knowledge, aiming to improve care delivery and outcomes across specialized and continuum care settings. Presented by UVA School of Nursing Continuing Education. Registration deadline is Feb. 16. 

Appreciation 

UVA Health Children's Pediatric ED team

‘The Best Pediatric Care You Can Find!’ 

In July 2024, UVA Health created a new Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Led by Chief of the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Medical Director Elisabeth A. Rogers, MD — the dedicated Pediatrics Emergency Department (ED) reports up through UVA Health Children’s structure and welcomes anyone under age 21. 

“We have the equipment, the knowledge, the training, and the resources to take care of all of it,” says Nurse Manager Alex Kasmere, BSN, RN, CPEN, TCRN, EMTP. “We have 12 beds and are averaging 55 patients a day." 

Kasmere began his career as a paramedic and later moved into nursing, focusing on pediatric emergency medicine. He's been named by the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) as a 2025 Emerging Professional Liaison — a position on ENA’s board where he will provide professional perspectives and key insights during board meetings and other in-person events for a one-year term. Read more on Connect

Previous Updates

Friday, Jan. 3

UVA Health Orthopedics Earns National Honor for Quality Care, Research 

UVA Health ortho

UVA Health Orthopedics has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2024 list of 100 hospitals and health systems with great orthopedic programs. 

“These programs and institutes are devoted to delivering comprehensive, compassionate care for patients experiencing musculoskeletal conditions and injuries,” the national healthcare publication’s editors wrote in their introduction to the list. “Treating thousands of patients annually, the expert providers staffing these programs also run cutting edge clinical trials and employ the latest innovations in orthopedic technology.” 

Becker’s described UVA Health Orthopedics as “a leader in both clinical care and musculoskeletal research, recognized for its surgical innovations and research contributions.” Read more on Connect

Ambulatory

Shingrix Available in Select Ambulatory Clinics Starting Jan. 21; Requires Training for RNs, LPNs, and MAs   

The shingles vaccine Shingrix will be available in designated clinics for administering to non-Medicare patients starting Jan. 21. (Medicare patients must continue to receive Shingrix from a pharmacy for it to be covered by insurance). Specialties and subspecialties identified as areas where Shingrix may be stocked and administered are Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Digestive Health, Rheumatology, Oncology, Infectious Disease, and Employee Primary Care. Clinics in these specialties should take the following actions in preparation to receive and administer Shingrix:   

Questions? Email Monica Morgan (Shingrix vaccine and distribution) or Sarah Shreckhise (clinical education and training). 

Operations

policytech button

Monthly Update: Clinical and Operational Documents 

Having a working knowledge of policies and other clinical and operational documents relevant to your role and responsibilities at University Medical Center supports quality patient care and regulatory compliance. Learn What’s New in Clinical and Operational Documents. This month’s highlights include: 

Questions? Email PolicyTechAdmin@uvahealth.org

Action Required for Managers and All Team Members: Red Book Updated for 2025 

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 unit’s Red Book is updated by looking at the date on each page, not just the cover page. All pages should say January 2025 in the footnote. Any unit-specific information should be transferred over to the new copy. You can access the updated Red Book 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. Academic buildings such as McKim Hall, Pinn Hall, McLeod Hall, MR buildings, and Health Sciences Library follow the academic Emergency Procedures Guide which can be found here

Central Clinical Orientation   

Monday, Jan. 6 | 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Virtual AM and Sandridge Auditorium PM | Central Clinical Orientation Grid | Because of the potential for inclement weather, orientation will be virtual for the AM session. More information to follow. Please visit the new Nursing Center for Excellence orientation tab for the most up-to-date orientation information, including what to do in case of inclement weather. NPDS has moved! Classes that are normally at Grove Street will transition to the Northridge facility unless otherwise indicated. Questions? Email Deanna Pototschnik, Nursing Professional Development Specialist. 

construction trio

Construction Alert: Lee Street Parking Garage Door Replacement 

Jan. 11-19, reopens Monday, Jan. 20 | Facilities Management will be replacing double doors connecting the Lee Street Garage to the Connecting Tower. This will occur on the third level (B) and will not allow access from the garage parking directly into the Connecting Tower on the third level. During this time, handicap spaces will be blocked off and rerouted to other floors. Please anticipate some delays in parking and patients getting to appointments. Questions? Contact Justin Marshall

Computer service and assistance concept with work tool icon on a laptop keyboard 3D illustration.

Upcoming Migration: Department Intranet Sites 

Migration go-live: February 2025 | To enhance our digital infrastructure and exceed security and usability benchmarks, the HIT Application Development team will be migrating all published department intranet sites from Plone to the Mura platform. This migration will deliver a more modern, user-friendly interface, support iterative theme updates to maintain user-interface standards, and offer streamlined content management for your intranet needs. What you need to know:   

UVA Health in the News

UVA Health in the News

Top Story

Patient Care

Research

Community

Education

Leadership

year in review

University Medical Center CEO Blog | A Year in Review: 2024 Edition 

In her latest Vision and Voice blog, Wendy Horton, PharmD, MBA, FACHE, shares some of the biggest University Medical Center moments and photos from 2024. Read more

Human Resources

UVA HR logo

Benefits Wednesday: Meet a Counselor  

Thursday, Jan. 9 | 7 a.m.-3 p.m. | University Medical Center Dining Conference Room 3 | Ask questions and discuss your benefits with a Human Resources counselor. Walk-ins welcome. Note: Due to scheduling conflicts with the room, the January and February dates are not on Wednesdays. See monthly dates.    

Happenings

Trish Crowe artwork

Stories: The Art of Trish Crowe 

Through Wednesday, Jan. 15 | University Hospital Lobby | UVA Health Arts Program is pleased to present “Stories: The Art of Trish Crowe.” Pictured: Watercolor, “Where to, Alice?” Stop by and check it out!   

Discounted Tickets: UVA Men’s Basketball: UVA vs. Louisville 

Saturday, Jan. 4 | 4 p.m. | To celebrate the immense impact you make on our community, UVA Athletics is offering a special, discounted ticket rate to all UVA Health team members, as well as their friends and families. Tickets are digital and will be sent immediately after purchase. Buy tickets

yoga - meditation

Micro Health Breaks Series 

Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 7 | Take a 10-minute break with Beth Frackleton, Occupational Health, to refresh your mind and body with this new series of micro health breaks. Whether you're looking to boost your focus with chair yoga, ease stress with meditation, strengthen your body through low-intensity cardio, or explore the transformative power of mindset shifts and self-care, there's something for everyone. These quick, engaging virtual sessions offer benefits like improved flexibility, reduced anxiety, enhanced energy, and a stronger mind-body connection — perfect for fitting wellness into your busy day. Attend one or all sessions. See the schedule and download it to your Outlook calendar

Drawing: Sign Up for Blue Ridge Poison Center Newsletter 

Deadline: Jan. 10 | Stay Informed with Blue Ridge Poison Center’s newsletters. The Antidote provides prevention tips and education resources for the general public. ToxTalks provides up-to-date information on substance misuse trends, management guidelines, and more for healthcare professionals. Sign up and you can win a prize! Blue Ridge Poison Center randomly will select five team members with UVA email addresses from the mailing list on Jan. 10 to receive a $20 Amazon gift card. Sign up

mindfulness

Mindfulness Classes 

Team Member Art Day 

Thursday, Jan. 23 | 1:30-3:30 p.m. | Dining Conference Rooms 1, 2, and 3 | Drop in for a creative break in your day. All art supplies will be provided. Hosted by The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA. Free for all UVA Health team members. 

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

Deadline: Friday, Feb. 14 | This award honors University community members who best demonstrate exemplary leadership in the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion at UVA or in the local community. This award honors one student, one staff, and one faculty member from UVA, UVA Health, and UVA Wise. Learn more and nominate

Custom Pocket Folders From UVA Print 

UVA Print can make your next project or presentation shine with professional, high quality pocket folders. Whether you need 500, 1,000, or larger quantities, they've got you covered with customizable options tailored to your needs. Pocket folders are perfect for: 

Ordering is simple. Contact UVA Print to get started or learn more about how they can support your projects. Visit UVA Print to place an order. 

Appreciation

Feel Good Friday logo

‘World-Class Awesome’ | Kudos for Our UVA Health Colleagues

To best serve our community, UVA Health regularly surveys our patients on their healthcare experience. Below is a selection of feedback praising our team members:    

Thank you to all team members for providing outstanding, compassionate, and safe care! 

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