Improve Your Well-Being and Earn Rewards Through Hoos Well

Hoos Well is excited to kick off a new year offering UVA Health team members access to evidenced-backed resources and programs that support their healthy lifestyles and help them meet their personal physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being goals. Team members and spouses on the UVA or UPG Health Plan can earn up to $500 in rewards by engaging in reward-eligible activity.

• Spark Appreciation Challenge | Starts Thursday, Feb. 2. | In this three-week well-being challenge, team members will be guided through building the skill of appreciation, learning to see the positive in yourself and others. Team members and spouses on the UVA or UPG Health Plan can earn $25 in Hoos Well rewards for completing the challenge and participating in the Healthy Minds Program app. Learn more or attend the launch-day webinar on Feb. 2 at noon.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 12:19 p.m. Jan. 30)

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

(Information source: UVA Health Data)

Ambulatory

In Case You Missed It: New Late Arrival, No Show, and Late Cancel Policy to Take Effect Feb. 1

A component of the UVA Health One Team | United on Access project is developing health system policies and procedures to support the project goals. The first of these policies developed under the auspices of the One Team project — a Late Arrival, No Show, and Late Cancellation Policy — will take effect Feb. 1. Read Five Things to Know About the New Late Arrival, No Show, and Late Cancel Policy on Connect.

January Progress Report: Champions of Change Honorees, Slot Utilization Tweaks, and More

Get the latest news and updates on the Ambulatory transformation in the January edition of the Ambulatory Operations Progress Report, including key developments for measuring slot utilization, Access policy changes, and more. The report also names the first individual Champions of Change honorees, recognizing those who have distinguished themselves by going above and beyond to support their departments and teams through the change process. Read the report.

Health Maintenance Plans for Colorectal Cancer Screening Now Start at Age 45

In an effort to increase colorectal cancer screening rates and align with updated U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and Medicare guidelines, health maintenance (care gap) plans in Epic for colorectal cancer screening have been revised to enroll patients starting at age 45 instead of age 50.

Operations

Sewer Line Repair: Outage in the East Tower

Through Tuesday, Feb. 21. | Mondays-Thursdays | midnight-4 a.m. | East Tower | The Medical Center is replacing the main sewer lines servicing the University Hospital’s East Tower. This work is being performed to avoid unplanned leaks that could potentially impact our ability to provide patient care across large sections of our units. To make these critical repairs, restrooms in impacted areas will be inaccessible while work is being conducted. Only the East Tower of University Hospital is being impacted by these planned outages. Read the FAQ on Connect . Questions? Contact your manager for details on how this affects hand sanitation, restroom usage, and patient care in your unit/area.

UVA to Test Emergency Notification System

Tuesday, Jan. 31 | 10:50-11 a.m. | The University will be testing all components of its emergency notification system on Jan. 31. UVA’s siren and public address system will be included in the test, as well as email, text messages, digital screens, websites, desktops, Twitter, Guardian Safe app, and Vocera badge and app. If you have questions about UVA's emergency notification system, contact UVA Office of Emergency Management at UVAEM@virginia.edu or 434.982.0565. If you have questions about the UVA Medical Center emergency notification system, contact UVA Medical Center Emergency Management at HealthSystemEM@virginia.edu or 434.982.3196.

Leadership

Refreshing Our Mission, Vision, and Values: One Year Later

It has been one year since UVA Health launched its refreshed Mission, Vision, and Values and since then a lot has taken place. Neeral Shah, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Gastroenterology, and Hepatology, and Jason Lineen, Chief Strategy Officer, discuss on Connect.

• Learn more | Visit the new and improved website, One Future Together | Health and Hope for All.

Let’s Have a Conversation | Living Our Values Every Day

We want to have a conversation about what our values mean to you. To participate, please answer the following question: How do you live by our values every day? Post your answer to one of our Mission, Vision, and Values boards or contribute to the conversation by sharing your answer on our interactive Kudoboard. For locations of the boards and other details, visit Connect.

• Save the Date | On Feb. 14, UVA Health will be organizing special events at our Mission, Vision, and Values boards (and other locations) to engage team members in the conversation. Stay tuned to the UVA Health Update for details.

Human Resources

Take the UVA Family Support Collab Childcare Survey

Deadline: Friday, Feb. 3 | UVA is conducting a study to identify the current and future childcare needs of all team members. Please take a moment to complete the survey, even if you are not currently a parent or caregiver. The anonymous survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Questions? Email AskHR@virginia.edu. Take the survey.

Happenings

Physicians and APPs: Get a New Provider Directory Headshot

McKim Hall | Ground Floor | Room G045 | Physicians and advanced practice providers can get a new or updated headshot taken for the provider directory on the dates listed below. 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.

• Tuesday, Jan. 31 | noon-3 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 7 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Thursday, Feb. 16 | 9 a.m.-noon
• Monday, Feb. 20 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 28 | noon-3 p.m.

Providers: Please make sure your online profile is accurate, up to date, and complete — including a provider profile video. Details and scheduling.

Common Book Read With School of Nursing

Discussions in McLeod Hall, Room 2010 | 4-5 p.m. | Join Dr. Melissa Gomes, Dr. Ivy Hinton, faculty, staff, and student colleagues throughout the month of February to collectively read “Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto,” by Tricia Hersey. A limited number of books are available now in the Claude Moore Nursing Education Building (CMNEB) 1004. Reading and discussion schedule:

• Thursday, Feb. 2 | Rest!
• Thursday, Feb. 9 | Dream!
• Thursday, Feb. 16 | Resist!
• Thursday, Feb. 23 | Imagine!

National Wear Red Day

Friday, Feb. 3 | The first Friday in February is National Wear Red Day, an annual campaign to raise awareness about heart disease in women. February is also American Heart Month, so everyone is encouraged to wear this stunning color to help focus on cardiovascular risks and diseases.

Schwartz Center Rounds | “But He Says This All the Time”

Friday, Feb. 3 | noon-1 p.m. | Pinn Hall Conference Center Auditorium | When a patient is involuntarily discharged from a clinic because of their behavior, how does it affect the care team? Panelists include Rasheed Balogun, MD; Kim Deaver, MSN, RN; Bruce Gehle, JD; Bizz Glover, M.Ed, SLP; and Yvonne Jarvis, MSN, RN. Continuing Education credits are available, and grab-and-go box lunches will be provided to the first 50 attendees. Send questions to Hannah Crosby at hrw5x@virginia.edu. Register.

Save the Date: UVA Health Maternal Critical Care Conference

Friday, April 14, and Saturday, April 15 | Virtual and in person | The Draftsman Hotel |The main sessions will present an overview of maternal morbidity and mortality, common and unique obstetric emergencies, and how to build bridges between labor and delivery and the critical care units. Designed for physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, ICU nurses, Labor and Delivery nurses, pharmacists, and all other healthcare providers with an interest in maternal critical care. CME credits available. Early-bird registration through Saturday, March 11. Details and registration.

Appreciation

3 Wishes Project: Individualizing End-of-Life Care

As a nurse practitioner in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), Brittany Harrison has thought a lot over the years about how to provide the best support and medical care to dying patients. While pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice, she came across the 3 Wishes Project, an end-of-life intervention designed in Canada by Dr. Deborah Cook that aims to improve the quality of the dying experience for patients and their families.

“Dr. Cook felt that end-of-life care lacked individualization and humanity,” explains Harrison. “Working in the MICU, which was also the ICU that took care of COVID patients, this really spoke to me. I was looking for a way to help patients, family members, and clinicians cope with death and dying.”

With the 3 Wishes Project, a patient at the end of their life is encouraged to choose three items from a predetermined list of “wishes'' that dignify their death and celebrate their life. The list is long, and includes things like a soft blanket, favorite music, a stuffed animal, or a “spa day.” Patients can also choose to have a call with family or friends, lie in bed with a loved one, or receive a visit from a hospital chaplain. Families might want to capture the patient’s heartbeat, collect a lock of their hair, or have their handprints memorialized. On the list is also “Cloth Hearts,” which is when two hearts are pinned on the dying patient’s gown. When the patient dies, one heart goes with them as a symbol of the family’s enduring love, and the other goes home with the family as a symbol of the patient’s enduring love.

Thank you to Brittany for such thoughtfulness on this project and for providing meaningful care to our patients. Read more about the 3 Wishes project on Connect.

PREVIOUS UPDATES

Friday, Jan. 27, 2023

Living Our Values Every Day

As we recognize the one-year anniversary of refreshing UVA Health’s Mission, Vision, and Values, we want to have a conversation about what our values mean to you. To participate, please answer the following question: How do you live by our values every day? Post your answer to one of our Mission, Vision, and Values boards or contribute to the conversation by sharing your answer on our interactive Kudoboard. For locations of the boards and other details, visit Connect.

• Save the Date | On Feb. 14, UVA Health will be organizing special events at our Mission, Vision, and Values boards (and other locations) to engage team members in the conversation. Stay tuned to the UVA Health Update for details.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 12:19 p.m. Jan. 27)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Jan. 27)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data)

Provider Update: Evusheld Not Currently Authorized for Use by the FDA Until Further Notice

On Thursday, Jan. 26, the FDA revised Emergency Use Authorization of tixagevimab/cilgavimab (Evusheld) to limit use to when the combined frequency of non-susceptible SARS-CoV-2 variants nationally is ≤ 90%. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that these variants are currently responsible for > 90% of current infections in the U.S. This means that Evusheld is not expected to provide protection against COVID-19 if exposed to these prevailing variants.

Providers can encourage patients to continue to use other mitigation strategies such as vaccination, avoidance of ill contacts, masks, and hand hygiene to provide protection against COVID. Patients who develop COVID-19 should be treated with one of the recommended antiviral therapies such as nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid) or remdesivir (Veklury)  if at increased risk of progression to severe disease. For more information, see Nonhospitalized Adults: Therapeutic Management | COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines.

Operations

Sewer Line Repair: Outage in the East Tower

Monday, Jan. 30, to Tuesday, Feb. 21. | Mondays-Thursdays | midnight-4 a.m. | East Tower | The Medical Center will be replacing the main sewer lines servicing the University Hospital’s East Tower. This work is being performed to avoid unplanned leaks that could potentially impact our ability to provide patient care across large sections of our units. To make these critical repairs, restrooms in impacted areas will be inaccessible while work is being conducted. Only the East Tower of University Hospital will be impacted by these planned outages. Read the FAQ on Connect. Questions? Contact your manager for details on how this will affect hand sanitation, restroom usage, and patient care in your unit/area.

UVA to Test Emergency Notification System

Tuesday, Jan. 31 | 10:50-11 a.m. | The University will be testing all components of its emergency notification system on Jan. 31. UVA’s siren and public address system will be included in the test, as well as email, text messages, digital screens, websites, desktops, Twitter, Guardian Safe app, and Vocera badge and app. If you have questions about UVA's emergency notification system, contact UVA Office of Emergency Management at UVAEM@virginia.edu or 434.982.0565. If you have questions about the UVA Medical Center emergency notification system, contact UVA Medical Center Emergency Management at HealthSystemEM@virginia.edu or 434.982.3196.

Leadership

Refreshing Our Mission, Vision, and Values: One Year Later

It has been one year since UVA Health launched its refreshed Mission, Vision, and Values and since then a lot has taken place. Neeral Shah, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Gastroenterology, and Hepatology, and Jason Lineen, Chief Strategy Officer, discuss on Connect.

• Learn more about the strategic plan on the new and improved website, One Future Together | Health and Hope for All.

Strategic Plan Virtual Coffee Talk With Jason Lineen, Chief Strategy Officer

Grab your coffee and learn more about UVA Health’s first enterprisewide strategic plan, One Future Together | Hope and Health for All, by joining a virtual coffee talk session with Jason Lineen, Chief Strategy Officer. Jason will share plan details and discuss how we will work together to implement the plan to achieve our mission of transforming health and inspiring hope for all Virginians and beyond. Don’t miss this great opportunity to join in the conversation about UVA Health’s bright future. All UVA Health team members are invited to attend. Space is limited. Please email Peggy Pasternak at PSP3P@uvahealth.org to RSVP.

• Thursday, Feb. 9 | noon-1 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 24 | noon-1 p.m.
• Monday, Feb. 27 | 7-8 a.m.

Human Resources

Take the UVA Family Support Collab Childcare Survey

Deadline: Friday, Feb. 3 | UVA is conducting a study to identify the current and future childcare needs of all team members. Please take a moment to complete the survey, even if you are not currently a parent or caregiver. The anonymous survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Questions? Email AskHR@virginia.edu. Take the survey.

Happenings

Data Privacy Week: Protect Your Data — Adjust Privacy Settings to Your Comfort Level

Data Privacy Week (Jan. 22-28) is an international effort to empower individuals and organizations to respect privacy, safeguard data, and enable trust. Visit the UVA Health Data Privacy Week webpage and learn more in the interview with Phil Napier, Director, Health System Information Security, on Connect.

Common Book Read With School of Nursing

Discussions in McLeod Hall, Room 2010 | 4-5 p.m. | Join Dr. Melissa Gomes, Dr. Ivy Hinton, faculty, staff, and student colleagues throughout the month of February to collectively read “Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto,” by Tricia Hersey. A limited number of books are available now in the Claude Moore Nursing Education Building (CMNEB) 1004. Reading and discussion schedule:

• Thursday, Feb. 2 | Rest!
• Thursday, Feb. 9 | Dream!
• Thursday, Feb. 16 | Resist!
• Thursday, Feb. 23 | Imagine!

Spark Appreciation to Fire Up Your Well-Being

Thursday, Feb. 2 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom | Join FEAP and Hoos Well in learning how practicing appreciation can improve work relationships, help team members feel valued, improve morale, and lead to a more positive work culture. Stephanie Wagner, Healthy Minds lead trainer and board-certified health coach, will kick off the Spark Appreciation Challenge offered through Hoos Well. Register.

Schwartz Center Rounds | “But He Says This All the Time”

Friday, Feb. 3 | noon-1 p.m. | Pinn Hall Conference Center Auditorium | When a patient is involuntarily discharged from a clinic because of their behavior, how does it affect the care team? Panelists include Rasheed Balogun, MD; Kim Deaver, MSN, RN; Bruce Gehle, JD; Bizz Glover, M.Ed, SLP; and Yvonne Jarvis, MSN, RN. Continuing Education credits are available, and grab-and-go box lunches will be provided to the first 50 attendees. Send questions to Hannah Crosby at hrw5x@virginia.edu. Register.

2023 Virginia Patient Safety Summit

Thursday, Feb. 23 | 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | The 2023 Virginia Patient Safety Summit is an opportunity for the Virginia hospital and healthcare community to have a conversation about “Moving Forward Together” to continue to provide safe, high-quality patient care, and foster joy in work among the healthcare workforce. Drs. Tejal Gandhi, MD, Chief Safety and Transformation Officer at Press Ganey, and Peter J. Pronovost, MD, PhD, FCCM, Chief Quality & Clinical Transformation Officer, University Hospitals, Cleveland, will deliver the keynote speeches. Registration is free for all Virginia hospital staff, providers, and students. Replays of the summit will also be made available. Details and registration information is available at www.vhha.com (select “Programs and Events”).

Nominate an RN for a Nursing Excellence Award

Deadline: Thursday, Feb. 23 | The Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO) honors several nurses each year for demonstrating excellence in their roles. Award recipients are selected based on peer-reviewed nominations received by the NPGO Awards and Recognition Committee. Please consider nominating one or more of your well-deserving RN colleagues for these honors. Learn more. Questions? Email npgo@uvahealth.org.

Appreciation

Kind Words for Our Emergency Department Colleagues

In order to provide the best possible service and care for our community, UVA Health regularly surveys our patients on their recent healthcare experience. Every week, the health system receives feedback from these patient experience surveys. Below are just a few of our favorite comments about the Emergency Department this week.

• “Nurses in this visit were amazing! Kept us informed and cared for our needs well.”
• “The physicians on this visit were very professional and kind!”
• “Arrival procedures and staff are efficient and caring!”
• “Possibly the best visit yet!”
• “First time at UVA. The whole staff, doctors, and nurses were great. I would highly recommend this hospital to family and friends.”
• “The attention of the hospital personnel toward my family was very hospitable. Thank you.”
• “​​ER had a very big load of patients at the time I was there. Staff was working very hard to take care of everyone's needs.”
• “My ED-Tech Mattie is an awesome individual. We need more Mattie's in the world. My nurse and doctors took their time and made sure I was not having a stroke. They did a great job of treating me. They were worth the wait. Thank you, thank you, thank you from a satisfied patient.”
• “Very impressive cleanliness.”
• “Very courteous and professional service. I appreciate the security, as well. Great idea.”
• “I was alone, so they were good about making sure I understood everything.”

Thanks to all of our Emergency Department team members for providing outstanding, compassionate, and safe care!

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023

CNN Visits UVA Health

Last month, CNN correspondent and neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta and a news crew came to Charlottesville to discuss focused ultrasound technology and treatments. The segment features a patient with essential tremor who was treated in December at UVA Health by Dr. Jeff Elias; an interview with Dr. Neal Kassell, founder of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation; and more.

• Watch the video | “What brain surgery with no scalpel looks like”
• Read the article | “A sound you can’t hear but may one day change your life”

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 12:49 p.m. Jan. 25)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Jan. 25)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data)

Ambulatory

Health Maintenance Plans for Colorectal Cancer Screening Now Start at Age 45

In an effort to increase colorectal cancer screening rates and align with updated U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and Medicare guidelines, health maintenance (care gap) plans in Epic for colorectal cancer screening have been revised to enroll patients starting at age 45 instead of age 50.

New Late Arrival, No Show, and Late Cancel Policy to Take Effect Feb. 1

A component of the UVA Health One Team | United on Access project is developing health system policies and procedures to support the project goals. The first of these policies developed under the auspices of the One Team project — a Late Arrival, No Show, and Late Cancellation Policy — will take effect Feb. 1. Read “Five Things to Know About the New Late Arrival, No Show, and Late Cancel Policy” on Connect.

Operations

Construction Alert | Fontaine Research Park

Through Friday, March 3 | Well-drilling will occur at Fontaine Research Park. There will be minimal disruptions, however parking in the immediate area will be impacted.

Sewer Line Repair: Outage in the East Tower

Monday, Jan. 30, to Tuesday, Feb. 21. | Mondays-Thursdays | midnight-4 a.m. | East Tower | The Medical Center will be replacing the main sewer lines servicing the University Hospital’s East Tower. This work is being performed to avoid unplanned leaks that could potentially impact our ability to provide patient care across large sections of our units. To make these critical repairs, restrooms in impacted areas will be inaccessible while work is being conducted. Only the East Tower of University Hospital will be impacted by these planned outages. Read the FAQ on Connect.  Questions? Contact your manager for details on how this will affect hand sanitation, restroom usage, and patient care in your unit/area.

Leadership

New Dates Added: Breakfast With the CEO

McKim Hall, Room 3001 | New dates have been added for Dr. Craig Kent’s upcoming breakfast and conversation events. These small-group breakfasts are a great opportunity for team members to share their experiences and offer ideas to help shape the future of our organization. Sign up.

Medical Center CEO Blog: Inspiration Is All Around Us

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, discusses how across UVA Health, each of us has an incredible opportunity to inspire others. Read more.

Human Resources

Take the UVA Family Support Collab Childcare Survey

Deadline: Friday, Feb. 3 | UVA is conducting a study to identify the current and future childcare needs of all team members. Please take a moment to complete the survey, even if you are not currently a parent or caregiver. The anonymous survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Questions? Email AskHR@virginia.edu. Take the survey.

Submit Nominations | Uteam Member of the Month

Deadline: 15th of every month | This program recognizes team members each month for their outstanding service to UVA Health and commitment to our ASPIRE values. Any team member, patient, or visitor may nominate an eligible team member, including individuals from UVA Medical Center, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and UVA Physicians Group. Nominate a colleague.

Happenings

Data Privacy Week: Respect Privacy — It Is Critical to Inspiring Trust

Data Privacy Week (Jan. 22-28) is an international effort to empower individuals and organizations to respect privacy, safeguard data, and enable trust. Visit the UVA Health Data Privacy Week webpage and learn more in the interview with Phil Napier, Director, Health System Information Security, on Connect.

Cultivating Well-Being During Challenging Times

Thursday, Jan. 26 | 1-2 p.m. | Zoom | Hoos Well and FEAP invite you to join a webinar hosted by pioneering neuroscientist and psychologist Dr. Richard Davidson, a world-renowned speaker who leads conversations on well-being. He has shown through decades of ground-breaking research that well-being is a trainable skill and that we can actually change the structure and function of our brains through meditation. In this reward-eligible webinar, Dr. Davidson will share his insights and wisdom on how to build connection, well-being, and flourishing by learning and practicing a measurable set of skills for as little as 5 minutes a day. Space limited. Register.

Community MLK Celebration Events

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. See the calendar of events for times, locations, and details.

• Through Tuesday, Jan. 31 | MLK Day Donation Drive
• Thursday, Jan. 26 | The Poetic Justice’s Thoughts on Dr. King’s Struggle for Justice
• Thursday, Jan. 26 | Keynote Event: Dr. Yaba Blay, "Celebrating the Dream, Continuing the Journey"
• Friday, Jan. 27 | Gallery Exhibition Opening Reception: "Black Joy Is"
• Saturday, Jan. 28 | Madam C.J. Walker, Genealogy and American History
• Tuesday, Jan. 31 | Tell Them We Are Rising
• Tuesday, Jan. 31 | Behind the Scenes: Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King's Commemorative Statue "The Embrace"

Catch Up With These MLK Recognition Week Event Replays

• Celebrating the Dream … Continuing the Journey: Transforming Health and Inspiring Hope! | Watch now (passcode: 4rXW7@$A).
• Diversity Dialogue With Dr. Tracy Downs | Watch now (passcode: .658gUNK).
• Legacies of Harm and Commitments to Healing | Watch now (passcode: rd^c76Kf).
• Cousins: Connected Through Slavery | Watch now (passcode: HNzp?6+p)

Postpartum Depression: Management & Outcomes

Dr. Jennifer Payne, Professor and Vice Chair Research, UVA Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, discusses postpartum depression, including risk factors, biological basis, outcomes, effects on children; management of psychiatric disorders during and after pregnancy; and neuroactive steroid treatments for postpartum depression. Sessions will be recorded and shared with those who register. CME credits available. Register.

• Management of Psychiatric Disorders During and After Pregnancy | Friday, Jan. 27 | noon-1 p.m.
• Neuroactive Steroid Treatments | Friday, Feb. 10 | noon-1 p.m.

Mindfulness Classes

• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction | Thursdays, Feb. 2 to March 23 I 4-6:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, March 11 | Register.
• Free Mindfulness for UVA Health Employees | Thursdays, Feb. 2 to March 23 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, March 11 | Zoom | Register.
• Mindfulness Renewal | Mondays, March 6-27 I 4-6 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, March 11 | Register.

Schwartz Center Rounds | “But He Says This All the Time”

Friday, Feb. 3 | noon-1 p.m. | Pinn Hall Conference Center Auditorium | When a patient is involuntarily discharged from a clinic because of their behavior, how does it affect the care team? Panelists include Rasheed Balogun, MD; Kim Deaver, MSN, RN; Bruce Gehle, JD; Bizz Glover, M.Ed, SLP; and Yvonne Jarvis, MSN, RN. Continuing Education credits are available, and grab-and-go box lunches will be provided to the first 50 attendees. Send questions to Hannah Crosby at hrw5x@virginia.edu. Register.

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

Deadline: Friday, Feb. 10 | The Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion invites nominations for the 14th annual John T. Casteen Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Leadership Award. The award honors one student, one staff, and one faculty member from the University of Virginia, UVA Health, and University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Details.

Appreciation

Zion Crossroads Bridge Clinic Team Helped Patients Stay Connected, Cared For

In the wake of the temporary closure of the primary care clinic in Zion Crossroads, a “bridge” clinic was established to ensure continuity of care for patients while new, full-time providers were recruited to the clinic. From September to mid-January, a team that included providers, nurses, access associates, managers, and directors came together to sustain operations in this small community that might otherwise not have access to basic primary care. 

Central to the bridge clinic’s success was an uncommon collaboration between Family Medicine and Internal Medicine that included providers David Callender, Brett Castrodale, Lien Dame, Gina Engel, Jeannine Engel, Beth Jaeger-Landis, Jeremy Kent, Mo Nadkarni, Preston Reynolds, Gregory Streeter, and Catherine Varney. Led by Clinic Manager George Luzaich, Access lead Teshema Anderson, and Director Renee Viette, a host of other team members supported the bridge clinic’s success and we are grateful to each of them.

Associate Chief Medical Officer for Primary Care Dr. Gina Engel said, “While it is cliché to say ‘it takes a village,’ it truly does. I am so proud to have worked with this impressive team of professionals to reopen Zion Crossroads Primary Care.”

Kudos and many thanks to all involved for living our mission to transform health and inspire hope to all Virginians and beyond!

Monday, Jan. 23, 2023

Sewer Line Repair: Outage in East Tower

Monday, Jan. 30, to Tuesday, Feb. 21. | Mondays-Thursdays | midnight-4 a.m. | East Tower | The Medical Center will be replacing the main sewer lines servicing the University Hospital’s East Tower. This work is being performed to avoid unplanned leaks that could potentially impact our ability to provide patient care across large sections of our units. To make these critical repairs, restrooms in impacted areas will be inaccessible while work is being conducted. Only the East Tower of University Hospital will be impacted by these planned outages. Questions? Contact your manager for details on how this will affect hand sanitation, restroom usage, and patient care in your unit/area.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 12:34 p.m. Jan. 23)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Jan. 23)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data)

Ambulatory

Health Maintenance Plans for Colorectal Cancer Screening to Start at Age 45

In an effort to increase colorectal cancer screening rates and align with updated U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and Medicare guidelines, health maintenance (care gap) plans in Epic for colorectal cancer screening will be revised starting Jan. 24 to enroll patients starting at age 45 instead of age 50.

Human Resources

Take the UVA Family Support Collab Childcare Survey

Deadline: Friday, Feb. 3 | UVA is conducting a study to identify the current and future childcare needs of all team members. Please take a moment to complete the survey, even if you are not currently a parent or caregiver. The anonymous survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Questions? Email AskHR@virginia.edu. Take the survey.

Happenings

Data Privacy Week: Know the Tradeoff Between Privacy and Convenience

Data Privacy Week (Jan. 22-28) is an international effort to empower individuals and organizations to respect privacy, safeguard data, and enable trust. Visit the UVA Health Data Privacy Week webpage to learn more and get involved.

Upcoming Community MLK Celebration Events

• Cousins: Connected Through Slavery | Tuesday, Jan. 24 | 4-5 p.m. | Virtual | Featuring guest authors Betty Kilby Baldwin and Phoebe Kilby. Registration required.
• Medical Center Hour: Addressing Environmental Health Inequity | Wednesday, Jan. 25 | noon-1 p.m. | Pinn Hall Auditorium and Zoom | Learn about the connections between equity, health, and environmental risks like pollution and climate change. Speakers will be Dr. Ebony Hilton (UVA anesthesiologist), Dr. Irène Mathieu (UVA pediatrician), Tracy Kelly (UVA pediatric nurse practitioner), and Lena Bichell (UVA medical student). Details.
• More Community MLK Celebration Events | All events listed here are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. See the calendar of events for times, locations, and details.
• Missed the MLK Recognition Week Events? Catch Up With These Replays
  • Celebrating the Dream … Continuing the Journey: Transforming Health and Inspiring Hope! | Watch now (passcode: 4rXW7@$A).
  • Diversity Dialogue With Dr. Tracy Downs | Watch now (passcode: .658gUNK).
  • Legacies of Harm and Commitments to Healing | Watch now (passcode: rd^c76Kf).

Cultivating Well-Being During Challenging Times

Thursday, Jan. 26 | 1-2 p.m. | Zoom | Hoos Well and FEAP invite you to join a webinar hosted by pioneering neuroscientist and psychologist Dr. Richard Davidson, a world-renowned speaker who leads conversations on well-being. He has shown through decades of ground-breaking research that well-being is a trainable skill and that we can actually change the structure and function of our brains through meditation. In this reward-eligible webinar, Dr. Davidson will share his insights and wisdom on how to build connection, well-being, and flourishing by learning and practicing a measurable set of skills for as little as 5 minutes a day. Space limited. Register.

Postpartum Depression: Management & Outcomes

Dr. Jennifer Payne, Professor and Vice Chair Research, UVA Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, discusses postpartum depression, including risk factors, biological basis, outcomes, effects on children; management of psychiatric disorders during and after pregnancy; and neuroactive steroid treatments for postpartum depression. Sessions will be recorded and shared with those who register. CME credits available. Register.

• Management of Psychiatric Disorders During and After Pregnancy | Friday, Jan. 27 | noon-1 p.m.
• Neuroactive Steroid Treatments | Friday, Feb. 10 | noon-1 p.m.

Appreciation

Meet Westhaven’s New Clinic Nurse

In elementary school, Christina Feggans-Langston remembers abandoning the bus stop outside her house for the one three blocks away in the public housing complex at Westhaven. The swap made sense: her friends were there, it was livelier, more fun, and always encircled by a protective layer of grownups and extended family members she knew well. Today, as she returns to Westhaven as the community’s new clinic nurse and a clinical instructor at the School of Nursing, the place still feels like home.

In her health-promotion and primary-prevention work, Feggans-Langston, along with her clinic-coordinator colleague Shelly Bryant, act as “connectors": doing home visits and nursing assessments, giving residents rides to medical appointments, helping with medication, and offering supplies in a pinch, like condoms, toilet paper, grocery cards, diapers, as well as company to those who stop in — work that hearkens back to the efforts of Black public health nurses throughout history.

“This community is a hidden gem,” Feggans-Langston said of the 60-year-old community. “There’s so much talent here, so much history, so many stories. I’m glad to be back … I grew up three blocks away. To me, this job isn’t just about having a body in a position: it’s having someone who looks like you and truly knows and is comfortable with this community. I’ve come full circle.”

Thank you, Christina, for taking such good care of our community and its members. Read more about Christina and her journey on Connect.

Friday, Jan. 20, 2023

UVA Leverages $100 Million Gift to Launch the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology to Transform Healthcare

The University of Virginia announced plans today to launch a biotechnology institute that positions UVA at the very forefront of cutting-edge medicine such as cellular and gene therapies that revolutionize how diseases are treated and cured. The new institute is made possible in large part due to a $100 million gift from the couple after whom it will be named.

UVA’s new Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology will advance research in these areas for the benefit of patients everywhere and, closer to home, ensure that no Virginian needs to leave the state for even the most complex care. Paul Manning is the chairman and chief executive officer of PBM Capital, a healthcare-focused investment firm.

In addition to transforming healthcare delivery across the state, UVA’s ambitious plans will significantly impact the economies of both Central Virginia and the entire Commonwealth. The Manning Institute is anticipated to generate hundreds of jobs directly, as well as potentially thousands indirectly. It is also anticipated to attract pharmaceutical and biotech companies to what is expected to become a major hub for research and manufacturing centered around UVA’s new state-of-the-art biotech facility. The added economic impact is anticipated to be significant over the coming years.

In addition to the generous gift from Paul and Diane Manning, the first phase of the institute will be funded by a substantial initial investment of $50 million from the Commonwealth of Virginia and $150 million from UVA, for a total initial investment of $300 million.

Read more in the UVA Health Newsroom.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 12:34 p.m. Jan. 20)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Jan. 20)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

(Information source: UVA Health Data)

Patient Care

Watch This Weekend: CNN Visits UVA Health

Last month, CNN correspondent and neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta and a news crew came to Charlottesville to discuss focused ultrasound technology and treatments. Airing this weekend, the 30-minute episode will feature a patient with essential tremor who was treated in December at UVA Health by Dr. Jeff Elias; an interview with Dr. Neal Kassell, founder of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation; and more.

• How to Watch | To watch live on CNN International, the program will air Saturday, Jan. 21, at 12:30 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 22, at 6 a.m., 1 p.m., and 11 p.m. (EST). (Check your streaming services, or access CNN International using your cable provider login information.) We will share a link to the video as soon as it is available next week.
• Read the Article | Visit CNN.com to read the article, “A sound you can’t hear but may one day change your life.”

Operations

Construction Alert | Lane Road

Saturday, Jan. 21 | 7-11 a.m. | To allow workers to remove scaffolding, Lane Road will be partially closed between Crispell Drive and the hospital’s main loading dock. The parallel-parking spaces in front of MR-4 will be temporarily blocked.

Leadership

Jeffrey R. Martens, PhD, Appointed as Senior Associate Dean for Research

Jeffrey R. Martens, PhD, has been appointed as the new Senior Associate Dean for Research at the UVA School of Medicine, effective May 15. Professor Martens is a nationally and internationally lauded leader, researcher, and educator. Dr. Martens’ research is focused in two areas of pharmacology and therapeutics, including sensory neuropharmacology and cardiovascular pharmacology, with work in both the heart and olfactory systems. Please join us in welcoming, Professor Martens! Read more on Connect.

Strategic Plan Virtual Coffee Talk With Jason Lineen, Chief Strategy Officer

Grab your coffee and learn more about UVA Health’s first enterprisewide strategic plan, One Future Together | Hope and Health for All, by joining a virtual coffee talk session with Jason Lineen, Chief Strategy Officer. Jason will share plan details and discuss how we will work together to implement the plan to achieve our mission of transforming health and inspiring hope for all Virginians and beyond. Don’t miss this great opportunity to join in the conversation about UVA Health’s bright future. All UVA Health team members are invited to attend. Space is limited. Please email Peggy Pasternak at PSP3P@uvahealth.org to RSVP.

• Thursday, Feb. 9 | noon-1 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 24 | noon-1 p.m.
• Monday, Feb. 27 | 7-8 a.m.

Human Resources

Take the UVA Family Support Collab Childcare Survey

Deadline: Friday, Feb. 3 | UVA is conducting a study to identify the current and future childcare needs of all team members. Please take a moment to complete the survey, even if you are not currently a parent or caregiver. The anonymous survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Questions? Email AskHR@virginia.edu. Take the survey.

Happenings

Upcoming Community MLK Celebration Events

• Cousins: Connected Through Slavery | Tuesday, Jan. 24 | 4-5 p.m. | Virtual | Featuring guest authors Betty Kilby Baldwin and Phoebe Kilby. Registration required.
• Medical Center Hour: Addressing Environmental Health Inequity | Wednesday, Jan. 25 | noon-1 p.m. | Pinn Hall Auditorium and Zoom | Learn about the connections between equity, health, and environmental risks like pollution and climate change. Speakers will be Dr. Ebony Hilton (UVA anesthesiologist), Dr. Irène Mathieu (UVA pediatrician), Tracy Kelly (UVA pediatric nurse practitioner), and Lena Bichell (UVA medical student). Details. 
• More Community MLK Celebration Events | All events listed here are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. See the calendar of events for times, locations, and details.
• Missed the MLK Recognition Week Events? Catch Up With These Replays
  • Celebrating the Dream … Continuing the Journey: Transforming Health and Inspiring Hope! | Watch now (passcode: 4rXW7@$A).
  • Diversity Dialogue With Dr. Tracy Downs | Watch now (passcode: .658gUNK).
  • Legacies of Harm and Commitments to Healing | Watch now (passcode: rd^c76Kf).

Nominate an RN for a Nursing Excellence Award

Deadline: Thursday, Feb. 23 | The Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO) honors several nurses each year for demonstrating excellence in their roles. Award recipients are selected based on peer-reviewed nominations received by the NPGO Awards and Recognition Committee. Please consider nominating one or more of your well-deserving RN colleagues for these honors. Learn more. Questions? Email npgo@uvahealth.org.

Continuing Medical Education: Free Training in LGBTQ+ Patient Centered Care

Deadline: Friday, Sept. 1 | Because UVA Health is a participant in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index, our team members have access to more than 200 free, on-demand, CME-accredited LGBTQ+ training options. These include interactive eLearning courses and webinars (live and recorded) from the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center and the Center for Affiliated Learning (CAL).

• National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center courses | Register. (Facility ID: 55856.)
• The CAL courses | Register. (Facility ID: 55856. Security keyword: HRC.)

As part of UVA Health’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, we encourage all team members to participate in these free trainings by Sept. 1. (Don’t forget to use our facility ID!) Doing so will help UVA Health remain a leader in LGBTQ+ healthcare equality. For more information, contact Tonya Fredericks at TRF4G@uvahealth.org or Bizz Glover at EBG7F@uvahealth.org.

Appreciation

Shout Out to Our Researchers!

While many at UVA Health deliver care to our patients or educate students about the delivery of such care, our colleagues conducting research shape the medicine we deliver tomorrow —- and how we deliver it. Recent examples include:

• Battling Alzheimer’s | Important new Alzheimer’s research solved key mysteries about a leading biomarker and could pave the way for earlier diagnosis, far before symptoms appear. (George Bloom, PhD)
• Boosting the Brain | Another important UVA discovery could hold the key to boosting the brain’s ability to battle Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis. (John Lukens, PhD)
• Breast Cancer’s Spread | An unhealthy gut triggers changes in normal breast tissue that helps breast cancer spread, School of Medicine research revealed. (Melanie Rutkowski, PhD)
• Understanding the Biological Clock | A key discovery about how the microbes in our guts regulate the biological clock could help us battle sleep disorders, combat jet lag, fight off foodborne illness and even improve chemotherapy outcomes. (Sean Moore, MD, MS, and Jason Papin, PhD)
• High Blood Pressure Driver | UVA researchers identified a key contributor to high blood pressure that could lead to new treatments. (Swapnil Sonkusare, PhD, pictured)
• Better, Faster Drug Development | A surprising discovery could speed the drug-development process and help prevent potentially harmful drug interactions. (Wladek Minor, PhD)
• Durable Tremor Relief | Focused ultrasound for essential tremor, a scalpel-free surgery alternative pioneered here at UVA, offers long-lasting relief for appropriate patients, a five-year review found. (Jeff Elias, MD, and Shayan Moosa, MD)

This is a minute sampling of the research that occurs here daily. (More can be found in the UVA Health Newsroom.) We’re grateful to these team members and to all who expand our knowledge of medical science. Thank you, researchers!

To keep up with the School of Medicine's research news, subscribe to the Making of Medicine blog.

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023

Missed the MLK Recognition Week Events? Catch Up With These Replays

UVA Health recently celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Recognition Week with Rev. Gerald Hudson’s (pictured) talk on “Celebrating the Dream … Continuing the Journey: Transforming Health and Inspiring Hope,” with Dr. Tracy Downs’ diversity dialogue, and with a conversation about the legacies of harm and commitments to healing. If you missed these wonderful events, check out the recordings:

• Celebrating the Dream … Continuing the Journey: Transforming Health and Inspiring Hope! | Keynote speaker Rev. Gerald Hudson, with remarks from UVA Health leadership. Rev. Hudson is an internationally acclaimed scholar and leader whose work supports diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas of life. Watch now (passcode: 4rXW7@$A).
• Diversity Dialogue With Dr. Tracy Downs | A community dialogue about the MLK keynote address. Featuring Dr. Tracy Downs, Chief Diversity and Community Engagement Officer; guest speaker Rev. Gerald Hudson; and hosted by Melody Pannell, Director of Diversity & Community Engagement. Watch now (passcode: .658gUNK).
• Legacies of Harm and Commitments to Healing | In honor of The National Day of Racial Healing, learn about the legacies of harm of UVA and what steps can be taken to bring about racial healing and restorative hope. Featuring guest presenter Dr. Louis Nelson, Vice Provost for Academic Outreach and Professor, Architectural History. Watch now (passcode: rd^c76Kf)

Community MLK Celebration Events

• Cousins: Connected Through Slavery | Tuesday, Jan. 24 | 4-5 p.m. | Virtual |Featuring guest authors Betty Kilby Baldwin and Phoebe Kilby. Registration required.
• Medical Center Hour: Addressing Environmental Health Inequity | Wednesday, Jan. 25 | noon-1 p.m. | Pinn Hall Auditorium and Zoom | Learn about the connections between equity, health, and environmental risks like pollution and climate change. Speakers will be Dr. Ebony Hilton (UVA anesthesiologist), Dr. Irène Mathieu (UVA pediatrician), Tracy Kelly (UVA pediatric nurse practitioner), and Lena Bichell (UVA medical student). Details.
• Other Community MLK Celebration Events | All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. See the calendar of events for times, locations, and other event details.
  • Through Tuesday, Jan. 31 | MLK Day Donation Drive
  • Thursday, Jan. 19 | Shining a Light on the Era of Integration
  • Thursday, Jan. 19 | The Jefferson School Open House and 10th Anniversary Celebration
  • Thursday, Jan. 19 | In Conversation with Karen Walrond: Unlocking the Transformative Power of Joy
  • Friday, Jan. 20 | Free Movie Friday, "I Am Not Your Negro"
  • Sunday, Jan. 22 | 38th Annual MLK Community Celebration and Worship Service
  • Monday, Jan. 23 | Ours and Theirs: Celebrating the Perseverance of the HBCU Campus Amid Racialized Land Patterns
  • Thursday, Jan. 26 | The Poetic Justice’s Thoughts on Dr. King’s Struggle for Justice
  • Thursday, Jan. 26 | Keynote Event: Dr. Yaba Blay, Celebrating the Dream, Continuing the Journey
  • Friday, Jan. 27 | Gallery Exhibition Opening Reception: "Black Joy Is"
  • Saturday, Jan. 28 | Madam C.J. Walker, Genealogy and American History
  • Tuesday, Jan. 31 | Tell Them We Are Rising
  • Tuesday, Jan. 31 | Behind the Scenes: Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King’s Commemorative Statue “The Embrace”

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:04 p.m. Jan. 18)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Jan. 11)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

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

Operations

4 North Reopens as Acute Care Contingency Space

The Medical Center has reopened 4 North as a temporary acute care unit in response to the recent capacity surge and the prevalence of respiratory viruses — including COVID — in the inpatient population. In opening 12 isolation beds on 4 North, adjustments will be made in other units to maintain current total bed capacity. Please contact Rebecca Lewis or Ryan MacDonald with questions. 

Construction Alert | Lane Road

Saturday, Jan. 21 | 7-11 a.m. | To allow workers to remove scaffolding, Lane Road will be partially closed between Crispell Drive and the hospital’s main loading dock. The parallel-parking spaces in front of MR-4 will be temporarily blocked.

Leadership

Medical Center CEO Blog: Cultivating Healthy Communities

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, discusses our commitment to creating an environment of equity and inclusion, not only for our team members but also for the patients and communities we serve. Read more.

Human Resources

New Education Benefit Now Available

UVA Health has launched our new Education Benefit Program to support team members who want to pursue a degree, earn professional certification, or take a review course to maintain certification.

• Education Benefit Lab | Thursday, Jan. 19 | 7 a.m.-3 p.m. | Medical Center Dining Conference Room 3 | Offering walk-throughs of the education benefit process and provide an opportunity to have questions answered.
• Education Benefit Program Highlights | Watch this short video to learn about the 2023 changes to your education benefit.

More information and frequently asked questions can be viewed by visiting the UVA HR Education Benefits webpage. For questions, please email AskHR@virginia.edu with the subject line, “Medical Center Ed Benefits.”

Happenings

Tonight: “Practice Models in Modern Radiology: Traditional, Private Equity, Consortia, Venture Capital, and Others. Why This Matters to You.”

Wednesday, Jan. 18 | 8-9 p.m. | Zoom | Panel discussion includes experts on the intersection of healthcare and business, each with national experience in radiology leadership. Part of the Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging's Keynote Lecture series. Learn more.

Get to Know the Refreshed Hoos Well Portal for 2023

Thursday, Jan. 19 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom | Join a live demonstration webinar of the refreshed Hoos Well portal. Learn how to achieve improved well-being as you earn up to $500 in cash rewards. The webinar will walk through aspects of the portal such as how to participate in the Triple Tracker monthly physical activity challenge, how to register for complementary health coaching, how to set goals, sync activity trackers and devices, and create a virtual community of well-being among colleagues and friends through social groups and personalized challenges. Register.

Physicians and APPs: Get a New Provider Directory Headshot

McKim Hall | Ground Floor | Room G045 | Physicians and advanced practice providers can get a new or updated headshot taken for the provider directory on the dates listed below. 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.

• Friday, Jan. 20 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 25 | 8-11 a.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 31 | noon-3 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 7 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Thursday, Feb. 16 | 9 a.m.-noon
• Monday, Feb. 20 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 28 | noon-3 p.m.

Providers: Please make sure your online profile is accurate, up to date, and complete — including a provider profile video. Details and scheduling.

Cultivating Well-Being During Challenging Times

Thursday, Jan. 26 | 1-2 p.m. | Zoom | Hoos Well and FEAP invite you to join a webinar hosted by pioneering neuroscientist and psychologist Dr. Richard Davidson, a world-renowned speaker who leads conversations on well-being. He has shown through decades of ground-breaking research that well-being is a trainable skill and that we can actually change the structure and function of our brains through meditation. In this reward-eligible webinar, Dr. Davidson will share his insights and wisdom on how to build connection, well-being, and flourishing by learning and practicing a measurable set of skills for as little as 5 minutes a day. Space limited. Register.

Mindfulness Classes

• Mindful Eating | Mondays, Jan. 23 to March 13 | 4-6 p.m. | Zoom | Register.
• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction | Thursdays, Feb. 2 to March 23 I 4-6:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, March 11 | Register.
• Free Mindfulness for UVA Health Employees | Thursdays, Feb. 2 to March 23 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, March 11 | Zoom | Register.
• Mindfulness Renewal | Mondays, March 6-27 I 4-6 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, March 11 | Register.

Appreciation

Congratulations, 3 Central, on Two Years Without a CAUTI

A catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is one the most common hospital-associated infections. On Jan. 5, the team on 3 Central — an acute care general medicine unit — celebrated its two-year anniversary of being CAUTI-free!

“Our unit typically has two or three patients with Foley catheters each week. But for the past two years, our staff and our traveler nurses have consistently worked hard to follow the CAUTI standard work and get Foley catheters discontinued as soon as possible,” says Molly Caton, RN, Assistant Nurse Manager, 3 Central. “This accomplishment is a big deal for our unit and something of which we are very proud.”

Caton praises the team for their tremendous work. “Our charge nurses have been especially exceptional in identifying patients who could have their Foleys discontinued and in educating staff on the standard work. Our nurses, patient care assistants, and patient care technicians are always mindful to give daily CHG [chlorhexidine gluconate] baths to these patients —  many who have limited mobility, so it can take a lot of effort to ensure these catheters remain clean throughout each shift.” To celebrate, the team threw a “CAUTI-gras” (pictured).

Congratulations to our UVA Health colleagues on 3C — you’re a model for us all!

Friday, Jan. 13, 2023

Strategic Plan Virtual Coffee Talk With Jason Lineen, Chief Strategy Officer

Grab your coffee and learn more about UVA Health’s first enterprisewide strategic plan, One Future Together | Hope and Health for All, by joining a virtual coffee talk session with Jason Lineen, Chief Strategy Officer. Jason will share plan details and discuss how we will work together to implement the plan to achieve our mission of transforming health and inspiring hope for all Virginians and beyond. Don’t miss this great opportunity to join in the conversation about UVA Health’s bright future. All UVA Health team members are invited to attend. Space is limited. Please email Peggy Pasternak at PSP3P@uvahealth.org to RSVP.

• Thursday, Feb. 9 | noon-1 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 24 | noon-1 p.m.
• Monday, Feb. 27 | 7-8 a.m.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 12:19 p.m. Jan. 13)

Due to a system error, Workforce Impact data is not available today.

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

Ambulatory

Ambulatory Operations Growing Access Team Leadership

In alignment with the health system’s One Future Together | Health and Hope for All strategic plan and the ongoing work to improve patient access at UVA Health, Chief Ambulatory Operations Officer John Bennett announced the promotion of Katie Fellows to Administrator, UVA Health Access, and the creation of two new Director, Access roles. The changes represent meaningful personnel investments that complement the operational changes happening as part of the One Team | United on Access project. Read more on the Ambulatory Operations intranet site.

Operations

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

Monday, Jan. 16 | In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, there are a few changes to regular operations:

• Clinics Closed | Per the clinic holiday schedule, clinics will be closed on Monday, Jan. 16.
• Parking and Transportation Modifications | The University Transit Service Red and Blue Lines and Health System Transit shuttle service will not operate on Monday, Jan. 16. Team members may park in the South Garage on Crispell Drive and the 11th Street Garage (level D and above only) on Jan. 16. 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 not operate on Jan. 16.
• UVA Health Update on Hiatus | The UVA Health Update will not be sent on Monday, Jan. 16. The Update will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

4 North to Reopen as Acute Care Contingency Space

The Medical Center is preparing 4 North as a temporary acute care unit in response to the recent capacity surge and the prevalence of respiratory viruses — including COVID — in the inpatient population. In opening 12 isolation beds on 4 North, adjustments will be made in other units to maintain current total bed capacity. The unit will be operationally ready the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 18. Please contact Rebecca Lewis or Ryan MacDonald with questions.

Reminder: Update Your Red Book for 2023

Emergency Management has updated the Red Book, which contains emergency contact information and basic response procedures for team members to use during emergency events. 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. The updated Red Book can be accessed on the intranet or via the Red Book desktop icon.

• Action to Take Now | Managers or designees should make sure their unit’s Red Book is updated by verifying that the date in the footnote on each page (not just the cover page) is January 2023. All unit-specific information should be transferred over to the new copy.

Team members working in academic buildings — such as McKim Hall, Pinn Hall, McLeod Hall, the MR buildings, and the Health Sciences Library — should follow the academic Emergency Procedures Guide.

Happenings

MLK Recognition Week Events

Below are upcoming UVA Health events in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. recognition week:

• Celebrating the Dream … Continuing the Journey: Transforming Health and Inspiring Hope! | Monday, Jan. 16 | 11 a.m.-noon | Online |Join UVA Health in celebrating the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as we strive to continue our journey of transforming health and inspiring hope. This virtual program features keynote speaker Rev. Gerald Hudson (pictured) with remarks from our UVA Health leadership. Rev. Hudson is an internationally acclaimed scholar and leader whose work supports diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas of life. Registration required.
• Diversity Dialogue with Dr. Tracy Downs | Monday, Jan. 16 | noon-1 p.m. | Online | Engage in a community dialogue about the MLK keynote address. Featuring Tracy Downs, MD, Chief Diversity and Community Engagement Officer; guest speaker Rev. Gerald Hudson; and hosted by Melody Pannell, Director of Diversity & Community Engagement. Registration required.
• Medical Center Hour: Environmental Health Equity | Wednesday, Jan. 25 | noon-1 p.m. | Pinn Hall Auditorium and Zoom | Join a moderated discussion with Dr. Ebony Hilton Buchholz and Dr. Irène Mathieu. Details.

Other Upcoming Community MLK Celebration Events

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. See the calendar of events for times, locations, and other event details.

• Saturday, Jan. 14 | 2023 MLK Day Celebration: Landscape Restoration Service Project
• Tuesday, Jan. 17 | MLK Day Donation Drive
• Thursday, Jan. 19 | Shining a Light on the Era of Integration
• Thursday, Jan. 19 | The Jefferson School Open House and 10th Anniversary Celebration
• Thursday, Jan. 19 | In Conversation with Karen Walrond: Unlocking the Transformative Power of Joy
• Thursday, Jan. 26 | The Poetic Justice’s Thoughts on Dr. King’s Struggle for Justice
• Thursday, Jan. 26 | Keynote Event: Dr. Yaba Blay, Celebrating the Dream, Continuing the Journey
• Saturday, Jan. 28 | Madam C.J. Walker, Genealogy and American History
• Tuesday, Jan. 31 | Tell Them We Are Rising
• Tuesday, Jan. 31 | Behind the Scenes: Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King’s Commemorative Statue “The Embrace”

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

Tuesday, Jan. 17 | 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Medical Center Dining Conference Rooms 1 and 2 | The Reusable Office Supply Exchange (ROSE) Program is a free service that collects new or gently used office supplies. The ROSE Supply Closet is available monthly for dropping off office supplies or taking what you need. The inventory includes a variety of supplies, like envelopes, staplers, and desk lamps. Read more on Connect.

2023 Virginia Patient Safety Summit

Thursday, Feb. 23 | 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | The 2023 Virginia Patient Safety Summit is an opportunity for the Virginia hospital and healthcare community to have a conversation about “Moving Forward Together” to continue to provide safe, high-quality patient care, and foster joy in work among the healthcare workforce. Drs. Tejal Gandhi, MD, Chief Safety and Transformation Officer at Press Ganey, and Peter J. Pronovost, MD, PhD, FCCM, Chief Quality & Clinical Transformation Officer, University Hospitals, Cleveland, will deliver the keynote speeches. Registration is free for all Virginia hospital staff, providers, and students. Replays of the summit will also be made available. Details and registration information is available at www.vhha.com (select “Programs and Events”).

Nominate an RN for a Nursing Excellence Award

Deadline: Thursday, Feb. 23 | The Nursing Professional Governance Organization (NPGO) honors several nurses each year for demonstrating excellence in their roles. Award recipients are selected on the basis of peer-reviewed nominations received by the NPGO Awards and Recognition Committee. Please consider nominating one or more of your well-deserving RN colleagues for these honors. Learn more. Questions? Email npgo@uvahealth.org.

Appreciation

Well Done! 262 Providers and Teams Honored for Superb Patient Experience Scores

The UVA Health Patient Experience Office recently announced recipients of the annual Patient Experience Awards, which honor providers and teams who ensure outstanding patient experiences. Honorees for fiscal year 2022 include:

• 262 of our doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and dentists  
• 163 teams from inpatient units, outpatient clinics, and departments

The awardees were chosen based on their high scores on the surveys administered by Press Ganey to measure patient perception at UVA Health. Congratulations to all! Read more on Connect.

Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023

Don’t Miss These MLK Recognition Week Events

Below are upcoming UVA Health events in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. recognition week:

• Celebrating the Dream … Continuing the Journey: Transforming Health and Inspiring Hope! | Monday, Jan. 16 | 11 a.m.-noon | Online |Join UVA Health in celebrating the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as we strive to continue our journey of transforming health and inspiring hope. This virtual program features keynote speaker Rev. Gerald Hudson (pictured) with remarks from our UVA Health leadership. Rev. Hudson is an internationally acclaimed scholar and leader whose work supports diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas of life. Registration required.
• Diversity Dialogue with Dr. Tracy Downs | Monday, Jan. 16 | noon-1 p.m. | Online | Engage in a community dialogue about the MLK keynote address. Featuring Tracy Downs, MD, Chief Diversity and Community Engagement Officer; guest speaker Rev. Gerald Hudson; and hosted by Melody Pannell, Director of Diversity & Community Engagement. Registration required.
• Medical Center Hour: Environmental Health Equity | Wednesday, Jan. 25 | noon-1 p.m. | Pinn Hall Auditorium and Zoom | Join a moderated discussion with Dr. Ebony Hilton Buchholz and Dr. Irène Mathieu. Details.

Other Upcoming Community MLK Celebration Events

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. See the calendar of events for time, location, and other event details.

• Saturday, Jan. 14 | 2023 MLK Day Celebration: Landscape Restoration Service Project
• Thursday, Jan. 19 | Shining a Light on the Era of Integration
• Thursday, Jan. 19 | The Jefferson School Open House and 10th Anniversary Celebration
• Thursday, Jan. 19 | In Conversation with Karen Walrond: Unlocking the Transformative Power of Joy
• Thursday, Jan. 26 | The Poetic Justice’s Thoughts on Dr. King’s Struggle for Justice
• Thursday, Jan. 26 | Keynote Event: Dr. Yaba Blay, Celebrating the Dream, Continuing the Journey
• Tuesday, Jan. 31 | Virtual Colonnade Club MLK Celebration Event
• Tuesday, Jan. 31 | Behind the Scenes: Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King’s Commemorative Statue “The Embrace"

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:04 p.m. Jan. 11)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Jan. 11)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

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

Ambulatory

ARD Project Virtual Nursing Town Hall

Friday, Jan. 13 | noon-12:45 p.m. | All team members in ambulatory nursing roles and clinic leaders are encouraged to participate in this second of two Ambulatory Role Delineation (ARD) Project virtual town halls to share their insights as the ARD team kicks off the next phase of their work focused on nursing roles. The team will solicit feedback on areas of opportunity and invite engagement to better assess roles and recommend improvements. Connection details and pre-reads are available on the project website.

Operations

Reminder: FY24 Technology Proposals Due Soon

Due Friday, Jan. 13 | Health Information and Technology (HIT) is now accepting proposals for technology support and acquisitions during Fiscal Year 2024. Use this link to submit proposal(s). To learn more, visit the HIT governance website or contact Kevin Greenwood Director, Health IT Initiatives & Portfolio, at KTG3H@uvahealth.org.

MLK Day: Parking and Transportation Modifications

The University Transit Service Red and Blue Lines and Health System Transit shuttle service will not operate on Monday, Jan. 16. Team members may park in the South Garage on Crispell Drive and the 11th Street Garage (level D and above only) on Jan. 16. 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 not operate on Jan. 16.

Construction Alerts

• Emmet Street Overnight Closures | Through Tuesday, Jan. 17 | Monday-Friday | 8 p.m.-6 a.m. | A new pedestrian bridge will be installed over Emmet Street. This work will take place overnight on weekdays and will require a full closure of Emmet Street between Thomson Road and Stadium Road.
• Fontaine Research Park | Through Friday, March 3 | Well-drilling will occur at Fontaine Research Park. There will be minimal disruptions, however parking in the immediate area will be impacted.

Leadership

Medical Center CEO Blog: Congratulations Fiscal Year 2022 Patient Experience Provider Award Recipients

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, celebrates the recipients of the annual Patient Experience Awards, which honor providers and teams who ensure outstanding patient experiences. Read more.

Human Resources

Deadline Approaching for Basic Health Plan Enrollees: Transfer HSA Funds From Chard Snyder to Fidelity

Team members who had a 2022 HSA with Chard Snyder and elected Basic Health with HSA for 2023 must complete this electronic consent form no later than Jan. 13 to have their funds included in a bulk transfer to Fidelity. If you signed the electronic consent form after Nov. 29, you do not need to complete it again. Those who choose to stay with Chard Snyder will be charged a $4 monthly fee. Read more on the HR website, or on Connect.

Webinar: Ask Fidelity — Discover the Potential of Your Health Savings Account

Thursday, Jan. 12 | 6-7 p.m. | Prepare for the transition to Fidelity as the new administrator for UVA’s HSAs and FSAs. Details and registration.

New Education Benefit Now Available

UVA Health has launched our new Education Benefit Program to support team members who want to pursue a degree, earn professional certification, or take a review course to maintain certification.

• Education Benefit Lab | Thursday, Jan. 19 | 7 a.m.-3 p.m. | Medical Center Dining Conference Room 3 | Offering walk-throughs of the education benefit process and provide an opportunity to have questions answered.
• Education Benefit Program Highlights | Watch this short video to learn about the 2023 changes to your education benefit.

More information and frequently asked questions can be viewed by visiting the UVA HR Education Benefits webpage. For questions, please email AskHR@virginia.edu with the subject line, “Medical Center Ed Benefits.”

Get to Know the Refreshed Hoos Well Portal for 2023

Thursday, Jan. 19 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom | Join a live demonstration webinar of the refreshed Hoos Well portal. Learn how to achieve improved well-being as you earn up to $500 in cash rewards. The webinar will walk through aspects of the portal such as how to participate in the Triple Tracker monthly physical activity challenge, how to register for complementary health coaching, how to set goals, sync activity trackers and devices, and create a virtual community of well-being among colleagues and friends through social groups and personalized challenges. Register.

Benefits Wednesday: Meet With a Counselor to Discuss Benefits

Wednesday, Feb. 15 | Medical Center Dining Conference Room 3 | 7 a.m.-3 p.m. | The Human Resources team will have a benefits counselor on site at the Medical Center every month in 2023 to discuss your benefits and provide an opportunity for you to ask questions. No appointments necessary; walk-ins welcome.

Happenings

Physicians and APPs: Get a New Provider Directory Headshot

McKim Hall | Ground Floor | Room G045 | Physicians and advanced practice providers can get a new or updated headshot taken for the provider directory on the dates listed below. 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.

• Thursday, Jan. 12 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 20 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 25 | 8-11 a.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 31 | noon-3 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 7 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Thursday, Feb. 16 | 9 a.m.-noon
• Monday, Feb. 20 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Tuesday, Feb. 28 | noon-3 p.m.

Providers: Please make sure your online profile is accurate, up to date, and complete — including a provider profile video. Details and scheduling.

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

Tuesday, Jan. 17 | 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Medical Center Dining Conference Rooms 1 and 2 | The Reusable Office Supply Exchange (ROSE) Program is a free service that collects new or gently used office supplies. The ROSE Supply Closet is available monthly for dropping off office supplies or taking what you need. The inventory includes a variety of supplies, like envelopes, staplers, and desk lamps. Read more on Connect.

Postpartum Depression: Management & Outcomes

In this three-part series, Dr. Jennifer Payne, Professor and Vice Chair Research, UVA Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, discusses postpartum depression, including risk factors, biological basis, outcomes, effects on children; management of psychiatric disorders during and after pregnancy; and neuroactive steroid treatments for postpartum depression. Sessions will be recorded and shared with those who register. CME credits available. Register.

• Risks, Biological Basis, Epidemiology | Friday, Jan. 13 | noon-1 p.m.
• Management of Psychiatric Disorders During and After Pregnancy | Friday, Jan. 27 | noon-1 p.m.
• Neuroactive Steroid Treatments | Friday, Feb. 10 | noon-1 p.m.

Mindfulness Classes

• Unwinding Anxiety | Mondays, Jan. 16 to Feb. 20 I 5:30–7 p.m. | Register.
• Mindful Eating | Mondays, Jan. 23 to March 13 | 4-6 p.m. | Zoom | Register.
• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction | Thursdays, Feb. 2 to March 23 I 4-6:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, March 11 | Register.
• Free Mindfulness for UVA Health Employees | Thursdays, Feb. 2 to March 23 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, March 11 | Zoom | Register.
• Mindfulness Renewal | Mondays, March 6-27 I 4-6 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, March 11 | Register.

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

Deadline: Friday, Feb. 10 | The Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion invites nominations for the 14th annual John T. Casteen Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Leadership Award. The award honors one student, one staff, and one faculty member from the University of Virginia, UVA Health, and University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Details.

Appreciation

Installed: New Instrument Washers in the Sterile Processing Department

In our everyday lives, keeping clean is important. For Central Sterile Services (CSS), cleanliness is its full-time job. CSS provides supplies and implantable devices, and reprocesses (cleans, disinfects, and sterilizes) instruments needed for a wide variety of areas. These include operating rooms, outpatient clinic and procedure areas, and research labs. Ensuring that UVA Health’s medical and research equipment is perfect and sterile is a vital aspect to delivering quality care to our patients and in ensuring our colleagues can advance medical science. To help accomplish this mission, CSS has installed new instrument washers.

The new washers were installed over a three-week period last fall, helping assure CSS’s ability to support continued operations for UVA Health. “These particular washers are the backbone for most instrumentation needed,” says Kevin Elgin, Director of Central Sterile Services. “They are part of a critical ‘remanufacturing’ process to reuse critical instrumentation, making sure it is available in the right condition at the right time.”

Thank you to Elgin; Brittany Ellwood, Acting Manager, Sterile Processing Department; and all involved in obtaining, installing, and putting to good use our new washers! Read more on Connect.

Monday, Jan. 9, 2023

Reminder: Update Your Red Book for 2023

Emergency Management has updated the Red Book, which contains emergency contact information and basic response procedures for team members to use during emergency events. 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. The updated Red Book can be accessed on the intranet or via the Red Book desktop icon.

• Action to Take Now | Managers or designees should make sure their unit’s Red Book is updated by verifying that the date in the footnote on each page (not just the cover page) is January 2023. All unit-specific information should be transferred over to the new copy.

Team members working in academic buildings — such as McKim Hall, Pinn Hall, McLeod Hall, the MR buildings, and the Health Sciences Library — should follow the academic Emergency Procedures Guide.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 12:34 p.m. Jan. 9)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Jan. 9)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

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

Operations

Reminder: FY24 Technology Proposals Due Soon

Due Friday, Jan. 13 | Health Information and Technology (HIT) is now accepting proposals for technology support and acquisitions during Fiscal Year 2024. Use this link to submit proposal(s). To learn more, visit the HIT governance website or contact Kevin Greenwood Director, Health IT Initiatives & Portfolio, at KTG3H@uvahealth.org.

MLK Day: Parking and Transportation Modifications

The University Transit Service Red and Blue Lines and Health System Transit shuttle service will not operate on Monday, Jan. 16. Team members may park in the South Garage on Crispell Drive and the 11th Street Garage (level D and above only) on Jan. 16. 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 not operate on Jan. 16.

Human Resources

Benefits Wednesday: Meet With a Counselor to Discuss Benefits

Wednesday, Feb. 15 | Medical Center Dining Conference Room 3 | 7 a.m.-3 p.m. | The Human Resources team will have a benefits counselor on site at the Medical Center every month in 2023 to discuss your benefits and provide an opportunity for you to ask questions. No appointments necessary; walk-ins welcome. Upcoming dates:

Happenings

COVID-19: Views From the U.S. Front Line

Monday, Jan. 9 | 9-10:30 p.m. | Online | With global health and economic impacts unseen in previous crises, the COVID-19 pandemic demands our full understanding. But for all we know about the disease today, we know remarkably little about the origins of the virus. Matt and Yen Pottinger were among the first to recognize the consequences of poor transparency and coordination to control the virus, both within and between countries. In this public forum moderated by Syaru Shirley Lin of the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation (CAPRI) and the University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs, the Pottingers reflect on successes and failures in responding to COVID-19 and ongoing efforts to understand the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This event is being held in person in Taiwan and livestreamed. It is co-sponsored by CAPRI and the UVA’s Miller Center of Public Affairs. Learn more and register.

Refugee Mental Health and Adaptation

Wednesday, Jan. 11 | noon-1 p.m. | Virtual | The fourth in a four-part series for clinical providers and relevant community members to gain awareness of the unique challenges and resources for providing mental healthcare for refugee patients. Register.

Physicians and APPs: Get a New Provider Directory Headshot

McKim Hall | Ground Floor | Room G045 | Physicians and advanced practice providers can get a new or updated headshot taken for the provider directory on the dates listed below. 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.

• Thursday, Jan. 12 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Friday, Jan. 20 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 25 | 8-11 a.m.
• Tuesday, Jan. 31 | noon-3 p.m.

Providers: Please make sure your online profile is accurate, up to date, and complete — including a provider profile video. Details and scheduling.

Postpartum Depression: Management & Outcomes

In this three-part series, Dr. Jennifer Payne, Professor and Vice Chair Research, UVA Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, discusses postpartum depression, including risk factors, biological basis, outcomes, effects on children; management of psychiatric disorders during and after pregnancy; and neuroactive steroid treatments for postpartum depression. Sessions will be recorded and shared with those who register. CME credits available. Register.

• Risks, Biological Basis, Epidemiology | Friday, Jan. 13 | noon-1 p.m.
• Management of Psychiatric Disorders During and After Pregnancy | Friday, Jan. 27 | noon-1 p.m.
• Neuroactive Steroid Treatments | Friday, Feb. 10 | noon-1 p.m.

Community MLK Celebration Events

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. See the calendar of events for details.

• 2023 MLK Day Celebration: Landscape Restoration Service Project | Saturday, Jan. 14 | 9 a.m.-noon | The Ivy Creek Natural Area | The Ivy Creek Foundation is conducting a landscape restoration and preservation of River View Farm, and you are invited to join the Batten community for an awesome volunteer opportunity. Details.
• UVA Health MLK Day Event | Monday, Jan. 16 | UVA Health will host an MLK Day celebration. Details will be shared in an upcoming edition of the UVA Health Update.
• MLK Day Donation Drive | Tuesday, Jan. 17 to Tuesday, Jan. 31 | Newcomb Hall | Legendary civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. not only fought for racial equality but economic and educational equity. Join in honoring MLK Day by donating goods to the Charlottesville City of Promise. The City of Promise is committed to ending generational poverty and creating a community where all children are equipped to realize their fullest potential. Details.
• Shining a Light on the Era of Integration | Thursday, Jan. 19 | 11 a.m.-noon | Zoom | Journalist Jill Lawrence and psychologist Pamela Gipson Banks discuss the recent culture wars over how race is taught in public schools. Details and registration.
• The Jefferson School Open House and 10th Anniversary Celebration | Thursday, Jan. 19 | 3-5:30 p.m. | The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center | City Center at the Jefferson School welcomes you to an Open House. Details.
• Medical Center Hour: Environmental Health Equity | Wednesday, Jan. 25 | noon | Pinn Hall Auditorium and Zoom | Join a moderated discussion with Dr. Ebony Hilton Buchholz and Dr. Irène Mathieu. Details.
• The Poetic Justice’s Thoughts on Dr. King’s Struggle for Justice | Thursday, Jan. 26 | 4-5:30 p.m. | Caplin Pavilion | A conversation with Virginia Chief Justice John Charles Thomas. UVA Law School Dean Risa Goluboff will present the Gregory H. Swanson Award. Details.
• Keynote Event: Dr. Yaba Blay, "Celebrating the Dream, Continuing the Journey" | Thursday, Jan. 26 | 6 p.m. | The Paramount Theater | Dr. Yaba Blay (pictured) is a scholar-activist, public speaker, and cultural consultant whose scholarship, work, and practice centers on the lived experiences of Black women and girls, with a particular focus on identity/body politics and beauty practices. Learn more and register for free tickets.
• Virtual Colonnade Club MLK Celebration Event | Tuesday, Jan. 31 | 4 p.m. | Virtual | Join for a presentation of pieces from “Tell Them We Are Rising,” a survey of the black educational experience in Virginia by Elvatrice Parker Belsches. Details.
• Behind the Scenes: Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King’s Commemorative Statue “The Embrace” | Tuesday, Jan. 31 | 7 p.m. | Zoom | A conversation with Jonathan Evans and Katie Swenson about the historic significance and the design process behind “The Embrace” sculpture in Boston, Mass. Details.

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

Tuesday, Jan. 17 | 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Medical Center Dining Conference Rooms 1 and 2 | The Reusable Office Supply Exchange (ROSE) Program is a free service that collects new or gently used office supplies. The ROSE Supply Closet is available monthly for dropping off office supplies or taking what you need. The inventory includes a variety of supplies, like envelopes, staplers, and desk lamps. Read more on Connect.

Cultivating Well-Being During Challenging Times

Thursday, Jan. 26 | 1-2 p.m. | Zoom | Hoos Well and FEAP invite you to join a webinar hosted by pioneering neuroscientist and psychologist Dr. Richard Davidson, a world-renowned speaker who leads conversations on well-being. He has shown through decades of ground-breaking research that well-being is a trainable skill and that we can actually change the structure and function of our brains through meditation. In this reward-eligible webinar, Dr. Davidson will share his insights and wisdom on how to build connection, well-being, and flourishing by learning and practicing a measurable set of skills for as little as 5 minutes a day. Space limited. Register.

Appreciation

UVA Children’s Patient Honored as Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals National Champion

When Alyssa and Jamie Riedl brought their 3-year-old son Kahmari — battling a collection of serious gastrointestinal conditions — home from a Washington, D.C., hospital, they were told to prepare for his death. Ten years later — with the support and care of an expert team at UVA Children’s — Kahmari is a 13-year-old who loves singing in his school’s choir, visiting water parks, and solving puzzles. Over the next year, Kahmari will share his story — and the importance of children’s hospitals such as UVA Children’s — across North America as one of 10 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals National Champions for 2023.

The national champions help raise money and awareness for the 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals across the United States and Canada. UVA Children’s has been a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital since 1988, raising more than $14 million for pediatric patients and their families through national and community partnerships.

Thank you to all who care for Kahmari and children like him. Read more about his story on Connect.

Friday, Jan. 6, 2023

Coming Soon: 2023 MLK Celebration Events

Thursday, Jan. 26 | 6 p.m. | The Paramount Theater | Dr. Yaba Blay will deliver the 2023 MLK Celebration keynote address, "Celebrating the Dream, Continuing the Journey." Dr. Blay is a scholar-activist, public speaker, and cultural consultant whose scholarship, work, and practice centers on the lived experiences of Black women and girls, with a particular focus on identity/body politics and beauty practices. Lauded by O Magazine for her social-media activism, she has launched several viral campaigns including Locs of Love, #PrettyPeriod, and #ProfessionalBlackGirl, her multi-platform digital community. Presented by the UVA Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; UVA Health Diversity and Community Engagement; the UVA School of Data Science; and UVA Lifetime Learning in the Office of Engagement. Learn more and register for free tickets.

Other Upcoming Community MLK Celebration Events

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. See the calendar of events for details.

• 2023 MLK Day Celebration: Landscape Restoration Service Project | Saturday, Jan. 14 | 9 a.m.-noon | The Ivy Creek Natural Area | The Ivy Creek Foundation is conducting a landscape restoration and preservation of River View Farm, and you are invited to join the Batten community for an awesome volunteer opportunity. Details.
• UVA Health MLK Day Event | Monday, Jan. 16 | UVA Health will host an MLK Day celebration. Details will be shared in an upcoming edition of the UVA Health Update.
• MLK Day Donation Drive | Tuesday, Jan. 17 to Tuesday, Jan. 31 | Newcomb Hall | Legendary civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. not only fought for racial equality but economic and educational equity. Join in honoring MLK Day by donating goods to the Charlottesville City of Promise. The City of Promise is committed to ending generational poverty and creating a community where all children are equipped to realize their fullest potential. Details.
• Shining a Light on the Era of Integration | Thursday, Jan. 19 | 11 a.m.-noon | Zoom | Journalist Jill Lawrence and psychologist Pamela Gipson Banks discuss the recent culture wars over how race is taught in public schools. Details and registration.
• The Jefferson School Open House and 10th Anniversary Celebration | Thursday, Jan. 19 | 3-5:30 p.m. | The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center | City Center at the Jefferson School welcomes you to an Open House. Details.
• Medical Center Hour: Environmental Health Equity | Wednesday, Jan. 25 | noon | Pinn Hall Auditorium and Zoom | Join a moderated discussion with Dr. Ebony Hilton Buchholz and Dr. Irène Mathieu. Details.
• The Poetic Justice’s Thoughts on Dr. King’s Struggle for Justice | Thursday, Jan. 26 | 4-5:30 p.m. | Caplin Pavilion | A conversation with Virginia Chief Justice John Charles Thomas. UVA Law School Dean Risa Goluboff will present the Gregory H. Swanson Award. Details.
• Virtual Colonnade Club MLK Celebration Event | Tuesday, Jan. 31 | 4 p.m. | Virtual | Join for a presentation of pieces from “Tell Them We Are Rising,” a survey of the black educational experience in Virginia by Elvatrice Parker Belsches. Details.
• Behind the Scenes: Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King's Commemorative Statue "The Embrace" | Tuesday, Jan. 31 | 7 p.m. | Zoom | A conversation with Jonathan Evans and Katie Swenson about the historic significance and the design process behind "The Embrace" sculpture in Boston, Mass. Details.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:19 p.m. Jan. 6)

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. Jan. 6)
UVA Health team members affected and on leave

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

Operations

PACS to Go Offline for Planned Upgrades

To complete a planned upgrade, the Medical Center’s Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) will be offline from 10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6, to 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7. Radiology’s auxiliary PACS functionality will be available during downtime and is expected to minimize the impact on operations. Technicians will send the images from modalities to the auxiliary PACS, and onsite support will be available if issues arise. Please direct questions to the HIT Help Desk on 434.924.5334. That team will route calls to appropriate resources.

Sign Up for the Blue Ridge Poison Center’s Newsletter for a Chance to Win a Prize

Deadline: Monday, Jan. 9 | UVA’s Blue Ridge Poison Center team offers fast, free, and expert help through a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week hotline, and they are passionate about reducing the risk of poisoning among team members and their families. The Poison Center offers two newsletters to keep you informed on poisoning trends, prevention tips, news, and more: Sign up for the ToxTalks newsletter (for clinicians) or The Antidote newsletter (for general audiences). Those who sign up with a UVA email address by Jan. 9 will be entered to win a prize. Five team members will be randomly selected to receive a PoisonHelp mug with treats. Learn more about the Blue Ridge Poison Center.

Human Resources

Get to Know the Refreshed Hoos Well Portal for 2023

Thursday, Jan. 19 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom | Join a live demonstration webinar of the refreshed Hoos Well portal. Learn how to achieve improved well-being as you earn up to $500 in cash rewards. The webinar will walk through aspects of the portal such as how to participate in the Triple Tracker monthly physical activity challenge, how to register for complementary health coaching, how to set goals, sync activity trackers and devices, and create a virtual community of well-being among colleagues and friends through social groups and personalized challenges. Register.

Happenings

COVID-19: Views From the U.S. Front Line

Monday, Jan. 9 | 9-10:30 p.m. | Online | With global health and economic impacts unseen in previous crises, the COVID-19 pandemic demands our full understanding. But for all we know about the disease today, we know remarkably little about the origins of the virus. Matt and Yen Pottinger were among the first to recognize the consequences of poor transparency and coordination to control the virus, both within and between countries. In this public forum moderated by Syaru Shirley Lin of the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation (CAPRI) and the University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs, the Pottingers reflect on successes and failures in responding to COVID-19 and ongoing efforts to understand the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This event is being held in person in Taiwan and livestreamed. It is co-sponsored by CAPRI and the UVA’s Miller Center of Public Affairs. Learn more and register.

Refugee Mental Health and Adaptation

Wednesday, Jan. 11 | noon-1 p.m. | Virtual | The fourth in a four-part series for clinical providers and relevant community members to gain awareness of the unique challenges and resources for providing mental healthcare for refugee patients. Register.

Postpartum Depression: Management & Outcomes

In this three-part series, Dr. Jennifer Payne, Professor and Vice Chair Research, UVA Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, discusses postpartum depression, including risk factors, biological basis, outcomes, effects on children; management of psychiatric disorders during and after pregnancy; and neuroactive steroid treatments for postpartum depression. Sessions will be recorded and shared with those who register. CME credits available. Register.

• Risks, Biological Basis, Epidemiology | Friday, Jan. 13 | noon-1 p.m.
• Management of Psychiatric Disorders During and After Pregnancy | Friday, Jan. 27 | noon-1 p.m.
• Neuroactive Steroid Treatments | Friday, Feb. 10 | noon-1 p.m.

Mindfulness Classes

• Unwinding Anxiety | Mondays, Jan. 16 to Feb. 20 I 5:30–7 p.m. | Register.
• Mindful Eating | Mondays, Jan. 23 to March 13 | 4-6 p.m. | Zoom | Register.
• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction | Thursdays, Feb. 2 to March 23 I 4-6:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, March 11 | Register.
• Free Mindfulness for UVA Health Employees | Thursdays, Feb. 2 to March 23 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, March 11 | Zoom | Register.
• Mindfulness Renewal | Mondays, March 6-27 I 4-6 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, March 11 | Register.

Appreciation

UVA Cancer Center Earns National Re-Accreditation Through 2025

The Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has granted a three-year re-accreditation to the UVA Cancer Center. To earn voluntary CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet 34 CoC quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care. Because it is a CoC-accredited cancer center, UVA Cancer Center takes a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists. This multidisciplinary partnership results in improved patient care. Thank you to all of our UVA Cancer Center colleagues who helped make this re-accreditation happen — and thank you for taking such good care of our patients!

Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023

PACS Downtime Scheduled for Friday, Jan. 6

To complete a planned upgrade, the Medical Center’s Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) will be offline from 10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6, to 6 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7. Radiology’s auxiliary PACS functionality will be available during downtime and is expected to minimize the impact on operations. Technicians will send the images from modalities to the auxiliary PACS, and onsite support will be available if issues arise. Please direct questions to the HIT Help Desk on 434.924.5334. That team will route calls to appropriate resources.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 12:14 p.m. Jan. 4)

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

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

UVA Health Now Offering Bivalent Pfizer COVID Third-Dose Vaccine for Children Ages 6 months to 4 Years Old

Begins Wednesday, Jan. 4 | Multiple UVA pediatric clinics (Northridge, the Battle Building, and Orange) began scheduling appointments today for the Pfizer bivalent COVID third dose for existing patients who are ages 6 months to 4 years. Select UPG and Community Health clinics are offering the bivalent vaccine to existing patients in this age group. UVA Health is also administering the updated vaccine to all eligible individuals at community COVID testing and vaccination events.

The previously authorized three-dose Pfizer-BioNTech primary series for this age group has been revised as follows:

• First and second doses – Monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
• Third primary series dose – Bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, to be given at least 8 weeks after the second monovalent primary series dose.
• Booster dose – A booster dose is not authorized for children in this age group who receive a Pfizer-BioNTech three-dose primary series, including children who previously received a three-dose monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech primary series. An update on this is expected from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January.

Important notes for clinic teams and providers:

• Pfizer 6-months to 4-years COVID bivalent primary series vaccine vial will be a separate vial formulation than the monovalent primary series vial.
• Pfizer bivalent vaccine vials are a 10-dose multi-dose vial and stored at refrigeration. The vial REQUIRES DILUTION.
• Safety Alert! The Pfizer bivalent vial has a maroon top and looks similar to the original Pfizer 6-months to 4-year-old monovalent vaccine vials. Please make sure these are stored separately and not used interchangeably.
• Resources/Tip sheets: The UVA COVID Vaccine Protocol has been updated.

What about children who received the Moderna vaccine?

• The CDC’s new recommendation for children ages 6 months to 4 years who complete a Moderna primary series is to receive one bivalent Moderna booster dose at least two months after completion of the primary series. Find a vaccination location.
• Children aged 5 years who complete a Moderna primary series may receive either the previously authorized bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech booster dose or the newly authorized bivalent Moderna booster dose at least two months after completion of the Moderna primary series.

Resources:

• CDC Interim Clinical Considerations

Patient Care

Hand-Hygiene Coalition Ramps Up Efforts to Enhance Safety, Reach Institutional Compliance Goal

As 2023 begins, UVA Health is recommitting to hand-hygiene excellence and attaining our institutional compliance goal of 90%. A big part of achieving this goal includes practicing exceptional hand hygiene, which not only prevents the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) but also requires every employee working together to ensure compliance and to hold each other accountable. In recent quarters, hand hygiene at UVA Medical Center has fallen steadily, contributing to an increase in HAIs. Our recent 30-day overall inpatient compliance was 76.4% and our perioperative compliance was 62.7%.

To achieve improvements, leadership has reestablished the Hand-Hygiene Coalition to focus on reducing HAIs, improving patient and team member safety, and meeting regulatory and accreditation requirements through long-term compliance with hand-hygiene practice standards. The Coalition will be providing training and information about hand hygiene throughout the year. To request training, please email Infection Prevention & Control at epiinfcontrol@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

Ambulatory

ARD Project Virtual Nursing Town Halls

Friday, Jan. 6, and Friday, Jan. 13 | noon-12:45 p.m. | All team members in ambulatory nursing roles and clinic leaders are encouraged to participate in one of two Ambulatory Role Delineation (ARD) Project virtual town halls to share their insights as the ARD team kicks off the next phase of their work focused on nursing roles. The team will solicit feedback on areas of opportunity and invite engagement to help better assess roles and recommend improvements. Connection details and pre-reads are available on the project website.

In Case You Missed It: One Team | United on Access Go-Lives and More in the December Ambulatory Progress Report

Stay current on all that’s happening with the Ambulatory transformation in the December edition of the Ambulatory Operations Progress Report, including an update on the very first One Team | United on Access go-lives, the next phase of the Ambulatory Role Delineation Project, and more.

Operations

Action Required for Managers and All Team Members: Red Book Updated for 2023

Emergency Management has updated the Red Book, which contains emergency contact information and basic response procedures for team members to use during emergency events. 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. The updated Red Book can be accessed on the intranet or via the Red Book desktop icon.

• Action to Take Now | Managers or designees should make sure their unit’s Red Book is updated by verifying that the date in the footnote on each page (not just the cover page) is January 2023. All unit-specific information should be transferred over to the new copy.

Team members working in academic buildings — such as McKim Hall, Pinn Hall, McLeod Hall, the MR buildings, and the Health Sciences Library — should follow the academic Emergency Procedures Guide.

Reminder: Respiratory Fit Testing Program Has Restarted

Annual respiratory fit testing (RFT) has become mandatory once again for certain Tier 1 team members, and fit testers at off-site locations must complete a new training program. Team members who are due to complete their annual testing will be notified by Employee Health at the start of their birth month. They will then have until the end of that month to complete testing. Read more on Connect. Important details:

• Who must complete testing? | Per UVA Health’s Occupational Health Screening and Maintenance Policy (OCH-002), Tier 1 team members who provide patient care within the University Hospital or any ambulatory clinic with a negative pressure room must undergo annual RFT. Hospital Epidemiology may require other groups to undergo RFT.
• What are new training requirements for fit testers? | Off-site clinics can designate a person to perform fit testing for their teams, and that individual must complete a new training program and annual competency training. Designed to ensure compliance with HIPAA rules and other regulatory standards, the training includes a computer-based learning module and one-hour in-person class at EH facilities. For more information, email Jimmy Fry, EH RFT Coordinator at PFG4WU@uvahealth.org.

Construction Alerts

• Alderman Road | Through Friday, Jan. 13 | Monday-Friday | 7 a.m.-4 p.m. |Construction to increase water supply will take place on Alderman Road during the weekdays. This work will reduce traffic to one lane. Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic.
• Emmet Street Overnight Closures | Through Tuesday, Jan. 17 | Monday-Friday | 8 p.m.-6 a.m. | A new pedestrian bridge will be installed over Emmet Street. This work will take place overnight on weekdays and will require a full closure of Emmet Street between Thomson Road and Stadium Road.
• Fontaine Research Park | Through Friday, March 3 | Well-drilling will occur at Fontaine Research Park. There will be minimal disruptions, however parking in the immediate area will be impacted.

Reminder: FY24 Technology Proposals Due Soon

Due Friday, Jan. 13 | Health Information and Technology is now accepting proposals for technology support and acquisitions during Fiscal Year 2024. Use this link to submit proposal(s). To learn more, visit the HIT governance website or contact Kevin Greenwood Director, Health IT Initiatives & Portfolio, at KTG3H@uvahealth.org.

Leadership

Integration Intel: CEO Erik Shannon Discusses UVA Community Health

Nearly 18 months have passed since UVA Health announced the completion of purchase of our three community hospitals — UVA Health Prince William Medical Center, UVA Health Haymarket Medical Centers, and UVA Health Culpeper Medical Center — and all UVA Community Health Medical Group clinics. The northern market went live on UVA Health Epic and more than 200 other systems, and we’re now preparing for Culpeper’s integration. Erik Shannon, CEO of UVA Community Health, discusses unification progress and the future on Connect.

Medical Center CEO Blog: Belonging For All

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, discusses how creating a sense of belonging is central to our overall workplace satisfaction and success. Read more.

Human Resources

Action Required for Basic Health Plan Enrollees: Transfer HSA Funds From Chard Snyder to Fidelity

Team members who had a 2022 HSA with Chard Snyder and elected Basic Health with HSA for 2023 must complete this electronic consent form no later than Jan. 13 to have their funds included in a bulk transfer to Fidelity. If you signed the electronic consent form after Nov. 29, you do not need to complete it again. Those who choose to stay with Chard Snyder will be charged a $4 monthly fee. Read more on the HR website, or on Connect.

Webinar: Ask Fidelity — Discover the Potential of Your Health Savings Account

Prepare for the transition to Fidelity as the new administrator for UVA’s HSAs and FSAs.  

• Tuesday, Jan. 10 | noon-1 p.m. | Details and registration.
• Thursday, Jan. 12 | 6-7 p.m. | Details and registration.

New Education Benefit Now Available; Learn More at Upcoming Events

UVA Health has launched our new Education Benefit Program to support team members who want to pursue a degree, earn professional certification or take a review course to maintain certification.

• Education Benefit Labs | Open on Thursday, Jan. 5, and Thursday, Jan. 19, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Medical Center Dining Conference Room 3, these events will offer walk-throughs of the education benefit process and provide an opportunity to have questions answered.
• Education Benefit Program Highlights | Watch this short video to learn about the 2023 changes to your education benefit.
  • All benefits-eligible team members can now receive tuition reimbursement of up to $5,250 per calendar year, tax-free.
  • Team members can receive tuition money either upfront or as a reimbursement.
  • Program enrollment and payroll procedures are accessible on Workday.
  • The annual Nursing Scholarship is now included in the IRS pre-tax limit of $5,250.

More information and frequently asked questions can be viewed by visiting the UVA HR Education Benefits webpage. For questions, please email AskHR@virginia.edu with the subject line, “Medical Center Ed Benefits.”

Happenings

COVID-19: Views from the U.S. Front Line

Monday, Jan. 9 | 9-10:30 p.m. | Online | With global health and economic impacts unseen in previous crises, the COVID-19 pandemic demands our full understanding. But for all we know about the disease today, we know remarkably little about the origins of the virus. Matt and Yen Pottinger were among the first to recognize the consequences of poor transparency and coordination to control the virus, both within and between countries. In this public forum moderated by Syaru Shirley Lin of the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation (CAPRI) and the University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs, the Pottingers reflect on successes and failures in responding to COVID-19 and ongoing efforts to understand the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This event is being held in person in Taiwan and livestreamed. It is co-sponsored by CAPRI and the UVA’s Miller Center of Public Affairs. Learn more and register.

Refugee Mental Health and Adaptation

Wednesday, Jan. 11 | noon-1 p.m. | Virtual | The fourth in a four-part series for clinical providers and relevant community members to gain awareness of the unique challenges and resources for providing mental healthcare for refugee patients. Register.

Submit Nominations Now | Uteam Member of the Month

Deadline: 15th of every month | This program recognizes team members each month for their outstanding service to UVA Health and commitment to our ASPIRE values. Any team member, patient, or visitor may nominate an eligible team member, including individuals from UVA Medical Center, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and UVA Physicians Group. Nominate a colleague.

Mindfulness Classes

• Unwinding Anxiety | Mondays, Jan. 16 to Feb. 20 I 5:30–7 p.m. | Register.
• Mindful Eating | Mondays, Jan. 23 to March 13 | 4-6 p.m. | Zoom | Register.
• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction | Thursdays, Feb. 2 to March 23 I 4-6:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, March 11 | Register.
• Free Mindfulness for UVA Health Employees | Thursdays, Feb. 2 to March 23 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, March 11 | Zoom | Register.
• Mindfulness Renewal | Mondays, March 6-27 I 4-6 p.m. | Retreat: Saturday, March 11 | Register.

Cultivating Well-Being During Challenging Times

Thursday, Jan. 26 | 1-2 p.m. | Zoom | Hoos Well and FEAP invite you to join a webinar hosted by pioneering neuroscientist and psychologist Dr. Richard Davidson, a world-renowned speaker who leads conversations on well-being. He has shown through decades of ground-breaking research that well-being is a trainable skill and that we can actually change the structure and function of our brains through meditation. In this reward-eligible webinar, Dr. Davidson will share his insights and wisdom on how to build connection, well-being, and flourishing by learning and practicing a measurable set of skills for as little as 5 minutes a day. Space limited. Register.

Appreciation

1,000th Stem Cell Transplant Marks a Decade of Dedication and Innovation

The Cancer Center team hosted a celebration on Dec. 15 to thank their team for reaching a significant milestone: our 1,000th stem cell transplant. This accomplishment is the culmination of years of dedication, hard work, and innovation to make this treatment more accessible, safer, and effective for a variety of complex blood diseases. Thank you to all involved and congratulations on this extraordinary achievement! Read more about how far this program has come and what’s next for the future of this lifesaving treatment on Connect.

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