One Future Together: UVA Health Strategic Planning Process Kicks-off | Input Sought from Team Members

Our strategic planning process has launched! Entitled, One Future Together, the process is creating a 10-year vision for UVA Health. It includes and integrates all four of our missions: patient care, research, education, and community/ health equity. During the initial phase, leaders are soliciting input and inspiration from across UVA Health and from the communities we serve.

• Read the launch announcement on Connect.
• For more information, visit onefuturetogether.uvahealth.com.
• To attend upcoming virtual or in-person listening sessions, please email onefuturetogether@virginia.edu.

COVID-19 

Employee Health Expands COVID-19 Vaccination Program | Effective Tuesday, July 6 | Five appointments will be available each weekday for team members wishing to receive the J&J COVID vaccine. Details:

• Self-Schedule via VaxTrax: Select Employee Health as the clinic location.
• Required: Bring your UVA Health badge ID and wear a mask while in the building.
• Questions: Email CovidVax@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu or call UVA Employee Health at 434.924.2013.

Reminder: Weekly Prevalence Testing Begins for Unvaccinated Team Members on July 12 | Unvaccinated team members whose work requires them to be physically present in a UVA Health facility at any time will be required to undergo weekly prevalence testing beginning Monday, July 12. 

• Learn more about the new COVID-19 vaccine guidance for UVA Health team members on Connect or by contacting CovidVax@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.
• Find testing information on the Be SAFE website.
• Schedule a testing appointment: time2test.sites.virginia.edu/

Upload Your Proof of Vaccination Before Start of Prevalence Testing | Team members who did not schedule their vaccinations through VaxTrax should send a scanned image or photo of their immunization record, such as a CDC card or other official medical record, along with their UVA computing ID to CovidVax@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu. Employee Health will validate this information and update records in VaxTrax, which will be available for viewing by managers. Any other forms of documentation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 (COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources Page)

Happenings

Do You Know a Health Unit Coordinator Deserving of Recognition? | The HUC of the Year award will be accepting nominations through Thursday, July 15. Awards will be presented during National Health Unit Coordinator Week, August 23-29. Eligibility, criteria, and nomination details.

Appreciation

Blood Shortage Ongoing | Thank You to All Who Have Donated | Thank you to all who have saved lives by donating blood in the past few weeks. Your contributions have been amazing, however donations are still needed. The American Red Cross, UVA Health’s primary supplier of blood products, is facing a severe blood shortage. As the number of trauma cases, organ transplants, and elective surgeries rise across the country, the nation’s blood supply is being depleted. Eligible donors, especially those with Type O blood and platelet donors are asked to make an appointment to give now and help save patient lives. Make an appointment today using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 800 RED CROSS (800.733.2767).

PREVIOUS UPDATES

Monday, June 28, 2021

Entranceway Temperature Checks End at UVA Health Facilities

As of today, Monday, June 28, patients and visitors entering the Medical Center and other UVA Health facilities will no longer have their temperature checked. Everyone not wearing a UVA Health ID badge will continue to be asked symptom questions as they enter our facilities. Detailed screening during registration and clinical intake will also continue.

Happenings

Deadline Extended: Nominate a Team for the Charles L. Brown Award | New Deadline: 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 13 | The annual Charles L. Brown Award for Patient Care Quality goes to a care team or teams that have worked to improve quality and patient safety. Sponsored by the Department of Quality and Performance Improvement, the award includes a $10,000 prize. For questions, contact Jeff Lucas at 434.243.1755 or jl2bd@virginia.edu. Apply now.

Webinar: Tackle Emotional Eating With WW | Thursday, July 8 | Noon | Hoos Well and WW (formerly Weight Watchers) want to help you learn what happens when your body is stressed, discover what to do to reduce stress, and choose how to take time for yourself. All UVA and UPG Health Plan participants are invited to attend. Register or learn more about the benefits you receive with WW. 

Reboot Your Health and Well-Being | Begins Tuesday, July 13 | Reboot your health and well-being and get good habits back on track with this six-week, highly engaging class. Receive personalized coaching to identify and meet goals using strategies from Health Coaching and Positive Psychology. To register or for more information, contact Beth Frackleton at edw2z@virginia.edu or 434.243.8199.

FEAP Resources | Read FEAP’s Tip of the Month: Reflections on Parenting During the Pandemic. Also, check out the recently refreshed Virtual Resources for Social Justice Support.

Appreciation

Thank You, Population Health Department! | On March 12, 2020, Population Health began offering two special Interactive Home Monitoring (IHM) programs – IHM-COVID and IHM-Student COVID – to provide post-discharge care to patients with COVID-19. By the time the programs were deactivated on June 15, 2021, they had cared for 1,042 patients.

“It has been amazing to be a part of serving throughout the pandemic alongside all of UVA Health,” says Novella Thompson, Director, Population Health. “Seeing teams collaborate and cross department lines in ways I’ve not seen in my more than 10 years at UVA Health was deeply meaningful and value-added. To be a part of this work is extraordinary — I am incredibly grateful!” Going forward, patients referred to IHM-COVID will be provided care through the regular IHM program.

Connect | UVA Health Bridge Plan | UVA Human Resources
Faculty and Employee Assistance Program | Wisdom & Well-being Program

Friday, June 25, 2021

UVA Health considers it our duty — and our honor — to protect the health and safety of our patients, team members and community. To that end, UVA Health expects all team members to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Consistent with Policy OCH-002, which grants the Medical Center Hospital Epidemiologist authority to require team members to undergo any additional screening, vaccinations or tests as may be necessary for infection control and patient safety. Learn more about the new COVID-19 vaccine guidance for team members on Connect. Questions? Check out the COVID-19 Vaccination Program page or contact CovidVax@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

Updated COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance for Team Members

COVID-19 

Seminole Square Community Vaccination Center Begins Last Week of Operation | As previously announced, our COVID-19 vaccination activities are shifting from Seminole Square to the COVID Clinic in the West Complex. Appointments are available at the Seminole Square center through Friday, July 2. The COVID Clinic will begin offering vaccination appointments on Wednesday, July 7. Team members can schedule an appointment at either location through VaxTrax.

(COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources Page)

Patient Care

Good News: Do You Use the Vocera App? Your Notification Tones Can Now Be Customized | In response to provider requests, you can now customize the notification notes in the Vocera app (Vocera VCS Client for smartphones). This tip sheet will walk you through the steps. Note: The volume of your new tones will honor your phone’s volume settings for both normal- and high-priority messages. Urgent (breakthrough) message tones will play at a pre-defined volume regardless of your phone’s volume settings. To silence Vocera tones, press your phone’s volume button or open the message. For more tips on using Vocera, visit the new How To Use Vocera page.

Operations

Hot Water: Annual Maintenance | Saturday, June 26 | 5 a.m.-midnight | The central boiler plant will be taken offline for annual maintenance. Steam and hot water will be unavailable during the outage. For details on the outage, read the Incident Action Plan on Connect. Questions? Contact Nina Green, Associate Director, Health System Physical Plan, at nlg2n@virginia.edu.

University to Test Emergency Notification System | Tuesday, June 29 | 10:50-11:05 a.m. | The University will test all components of the emergency notification system. No action is required. When the test is over, an "all clear” will be issued.

Parking and Transportation Modifications | Independence Day Holiday | The University Transit Service bus and Health System Transit shuttle service will not operate Monday, July 5. Team members may park in the South Garage on Crispell Drive and the 11th Street Garage (level D and above only) Monday, July 5 (midnight-11:59 p.m.). The Medical Center Courtesy Shuttle will operate on the weekend schedule, running every 60 minutes from 7:20 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. UtoCar will operate normally. 

Happenings

Last Chance: Nominate an Individual or Group for the 2021 Governor Honor Awards | Deadline: Monday, June 28 | These awards celebrate the accomplishments and important contributions made by the state workforce and reflect the highest levels of outstanding work at state agencies. The Governor's Honor Awards are open to full-time, part-time, and wage University and Classified staff and Medical Center team members. Please note that teaching faculty, UPG, Foundation, and contingent workers are ineligible. Nominate.

Appreciation

Community Efforts Provide Impressive Vaccination Rates | In response to an article about how the Charlottesville-area Latino community became one of the most highly vaccinated racial groups in the state, Dr. Craig Kent offered a shout-out via Twitter. “So proud of@drmaxluna and the @uvahealthnews Latino Health Initiative for their outstanding work. To further their outreach, they plan to launch a ‘Doses on the Go’ program in tandem with @HealthyBRHD's new mobile vaccination clinic.” Thank you to all involved in vaccinating our community!

Connect | UVA Health Bridge Plan | UVA Human Resources
Faculty and Employee Assistance Program | Wisdom & Well-being Program

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Hot Water: Annual Maintenance

Saturday, June 26 | 5 a.m.-midnight | The central boiler plant will be taken offline for annual maintenance. Steam and hot water will be unavailable during the outage. For details, read the Incident Action Plan on Connect.

Questions? Contact Nina Green, Associate Director, Health System Physical Plan, at nlg2n@virginia.edu.

COVID-19 

Quantitative SARS CoV-2 Antibody Testing Now Available | Providers can now order both a quantitative Spike Protein IgG Antibody and/or a Qualitative IgG Nucleocapsid IgG Antibody. This may be helpful to understand the presence of past infection or the response to vaccine especially in immunocompromised individuals though a correlate of protection has not yet been established. This will replace the non-quantitative IgG Spike Antibody which is currently orderable.

Spike protein IgG can be positive in the following situations:

• prior infection
• vaccination with Moderna, Pfizer, or Johnson & Johnson
• received monoclonal spike IgG therapy
• convalescent plasma treatment

Nucleocapsid protein IgG can be positive in the following situations:

• prior infection
• convalescent plasma treatment

For questions please contact the Clinical Microbiology director on call at PIC 1221. 

Q&A: What to Know About the ‘Delta’ Variant and Current Vaccines | The Delta variant is dominant in the U.K. and its presence is growing rapidly worldwide, but Dr. William Petri says the COVID-19 vaccines are successfully fighting the new threat. UVA Today.

(COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources Page)

Patient Care

Reminder: Continue to Wear Eye Protection During Patient Care | Hospital Epidemiologist Costi Sifri, MD, has asked that we remind all patient care providers that wearing eye protection — face shields, goggles, etc. — is still a UVA Health requirement. Let’s all do our part to provide the safest care possible to our patients!

June 24: MyChart eUpdate Goes Live | A new MyChart feature called eUpdate will be available for all Ambulatory Clinics using Cadence, allowing patients with active MyChart accounts to update personal, health, and insurance information prior to their appointment. Patients will receive notification from MyChart three days prior to their appointment to let them know eUpdate is available for completion. This notification includes links to FAQs and a Patient User Guide. Tip sheets are also available for Clinical and Access team members. View the recorded eUpdate training session. Your key resource for learning support is the eUpdate Project page. Questions? Email RPFA@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

Operations

One Week Left! | 2021 Annual Retraining | Deadline: Wednesday, June 30 | Members of the UVA Health community have been assigned the 2021 Annual Retraining course in Workday Learning. Full project details and FAQs can be found on the Annual Training project webpage.

Happenings

Ninth Annual UVA Saves Hour | Thursday, June 24 | 2-3 p.m. | Help UVA reduce energy use during #UVASavesHour. If you’re on Grounds during this time, mark your calendar for 2 p.m. and switch off or unplug nonessential items around your workplace. Check out details on the event and other ways to save.

Tom Sox Public Health Appreciation Night | Charlottesville High School | Thursday, June 24 | 6:50 p.m. | Hosted by the Charlottesville Tom Sox and Blue Ridge Health District, this free event and baseball game will offer special recognition to all public health workers. The event will include contests, giveaways, and more. No need to RSVP. Details.

Appreciation

HOOS Well & UVA Children’s Thank You! | On behalf of UVA Children’s Hospital, Hoos Well would like to thank employees who participated in the Hoos Well Charity Challenge for UVA Children’s and commend them on taking steps to improve their health. Hundreds of employees executed one or more healthy behaviors daily for a good cause: to raise awareness of pediatric care and research at UVA Children’s. Numerous employees routed a portion of their earnings to UVA Children’s which will benefit our youngest neighbors and their families. Thank you!

Connect | UVA Health Bridge Plan | UVA Human Resources
Faculty and Employee Assistance Program | Wisdom & Well-being Program

Monday, June 21, 2021

Pride Month: Free Film Screening & Discussion

Living with Pride: Ruth C. Ellis @ 100 | Saturday, June 26 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | June is Pride month and the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, Cville Pride, and the UVA LGBT Committee for Faculty and Staff invite you to celebrate virtually. Join a live streaming of the classic documentary “Living with Pride: Ruth C. Ellis @ 100,” followed by a Q&A with director and producer Yvonne Welbon. 

“Living with Pride” is the inspiring story of activist Ruth Ellis. Born July 23, 1899, Ellis was thought to be the oldest “out” African-American lesbian. Her story offers a rare opportunity to experience a century of our history as lived by one inspiring woman. Register.

COVID-19 

How UVA’s Biocomplexity Institute Helped Map the Pandemic, From Jan. 2020 to Now | Go behind the scenes to see how this UVA institute provides crucial data, modeling and COVID-19 forecasts to Virginia, UVA, the CDC, and outposts in Europe and India. Read more on UVA Today.

(COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources Page)

Operations

Crispell Drive Lane Closure | Wednesday, June 23 | 3-5 a.m. | Annual fire pump flow testing will necessitate the closing of one lane of Crispell Drive, and traffic control personnel will be on-site. Two-lane traffic will resume when testing is complete.

Happenings

Jefferson Trust Adjusts Annual Grants Application Process | The Jefferson Trust, a donor-led initiative of the UVA Alumni Association, awards grants to innovative ideas across Grounds that enhance or expand the University community and the student experience. It has recently adjusted its application process. For details and deadlines, read more on Connect.

Call for Nominations: 2021 Governor’s Honor Awards | Deadline: Monday, June 28 | These awards celebrate the accomplishments and important contributions made by the state workforce and reflect the highest levels of outstanding work at state agencies. The Governor's Honor Awards are open to full-time, part-time, and wage University and Classified staff and Medical Center team members. Please note that teaching faculty, UPG, Foundation, and contingent workers are ineligible. Nominate.

Appreciation

Thanks to All Who Helped Make the Seminole Square Vaccination Clinic a Success! | The final day of operations inside the COVID-19 Vaccination Center at Seminole Square will be Friday, July 2. To date, UVA Health has administered a total of 120,073 vaccinations, of which 32,156 (first doses) were given at Seminole Square. To all who made this possible: Thank you for the coordinating, the scheduling, the supplying, the staffing, the administering, but most of all … the caring. Our community is safer because of your efforts. (Note: Beginning Wednesday, July 7, COVID-19 vaccinations will be available at UVA Health’s COVID Clinic on the first floor of the West Complex. Appointments are required, and can be made by calling 434.297.4829).

Connect | UVA Health Bridge Plan | UVA Human Resources
Faculty and Employee Assistance Program | Wisdom & Well-being Program

Friday, June 18, 2021

A Day to Celebrate Freedom

On June 19, 1865, U.S. Gen. Gordon Granger marched into Galveston, Texas — two months after the Civil War ended — and read aloud the Emancipation Proclamation, effectively ending slavery in that region. That day is now commemorated as Juneteenth, liberation day for enslaved people, even though they had legally been freed 2 ½ years earlier. Yesterday, President Joe Biden signed into law the first national holiday since 1983: Juneteenth National Independence Day. Read ways to commemorate the holiday on Connect.  

COVID-19 

Major Changes Coming to UVA Health COVID-10 Vaccination Program | In coming weeks, UVA Health will relocate the community vaccination center from Seminole Square to the West Complex. Some UVA Health outpatient pharmacies will begin offering COVID-19 vaccinations by appointment, and pop-up community vaccination events will end. Read more on Connect.

Request for Referrals: Know Someone Who is Homebound and Wants to Get Vaccinated? |UVA Health vaccinators have delivered “doses of hope” to more than 175 homebound patients so far and welcome referrals so others can benefit from this special outreach program. To make a referral, contact the UVA COVID Vaccine Call Center at 434.297.4829 (4VAX), Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. You can also email PFAVaxHelp@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

ERC Pharmacy Offering Added COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments for Team Members | The Education Resource Center (ERC) Pharmacy has opened more COVID-19 vaccination appointments for team members. The pharmacy is administering Pfizer vaccines and is offering appointments Monday through Thursday. First-dose appointments should be booked via VaxTrax, and second-dose appointments can be scheduled during first dose visits. Details:

• Self-Scheduling: In the VaxTrax system, select ERC Pharmacy as the clinic location.
• Required: Bring your UVA Health badge ID and wear a mask while in the building.
• Questions: Email CovidVax@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu or call UVA Employee Health at 434.924.2013.

(COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources Page)

Patient Care

Urgent Medical Device Recall - Philips Sleep and Respiratory Care Products | Clinical Engineering Services has issued an advisory regarding a recall of certain Phillips ventilation and positive-airway pressure devices. Foam used for sound abatement on these devices may leak into the airway circuit and cause adverse health effects. Philips has advised to stop using these devices, if medically permissible. Clinical Engineering is working with Philips to coordinate the repair or replacement of affected devices. A list of affected devices and required corrective actions can be found here.

Happenings

Missed the UVA Health Town Hall on June 9? | It’s easy to catch up. Check out the Town Hall speed-watcher’s guide on Connect.

Last Call: Have Thoughts About the UVA Health Town Hall? | Provide feedback and suggestions for future town halls by completing a short survey. 

Tom Sox Public Health Appreciation Night | Charlottesville High School | Thursday, June 24 | 6:50 p.m. | Hosted by the Charlotesville Tom Sox and Blue Ridge Health District, this free event and baseball game will offer special recognition to all public health workers. The event will include contests, giveaways, and more. No need to RSVP. Details. 

Appreciation

Thank You, Nursing Assistants! | National Nursing Assistants Week is June 17-23, and from all of us at UVA Health, thank you! We are grateful for the hands-on care you provide to our patients and their families and for the support you give to your nursing colleagues and interprofessional teammates. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Show your appreciation to a nursing assistant by sending a personalized Happy Gram. 

Connect | UVA Health Bridge Plan | UVA Human Resources
Faculty and Employee Assistance Program | Wisdom & Well-being Program

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

UVA Children’s Is Ranked No. 1 in Virginia

Congratulations to all of the UVA Children’s providers and team members who deliver exceptional care to children and families throughout Virginia and beyond! Thanks to you, UVA Children’s is ranked as the No. 1 children’s hospital in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report in the publication’s 2021-22 “Best Children’s Hospitals” guide. This is the first year U.S. News has reported a state-by-state ranking of the nation’s best children’s hospitals. In addition, five UVA Children’s specialties are ranked among the top 50 nationally in their fields. The five ranked specialties are neonatology, pediatric cardiology and heart surgery, pediatric diabetes and endocrinology, pediatric orthopedics, and pediatric urology. We are all extraordinarily proud of these rankings and even more proud of the UVA Children’s teams who earned them! Read more.

Patient Care

Coming Soon: MyChart eUpdate Launches Thursday, June 24 | A new MyChart feature called eUpdate will be available for all Ambulatory Clinics using Cadence, allowing patients with active MyChart accounts to update personal, health, and insurance information prior to their appointment. Patients will receive notification from MyChart three days prior to their appointment to let them know eUpdate is available for completion. Tip sheets are available for both Access and Clinical team members. Watch a recording of the eUpdate training session. Learn more. Questions Email RPFA@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

Operations

Crispell Drive Lane Closure | Wednesday, June 23 | 3-5 a.m. | Only one lane of Crispell Drive will be open during annual fire pump flow testing. Traffic control personnel will be on-site. Both lanes will be open at the conclusion of the testing.

Happenings

Log on Tonight: “When You Are the Target: A Case Study and Expert Panel Discussion on Racism, Bias and Prejudice Against Healthcare Providers” | Wednesday, June 16 | 8-9 p.m. | Increased recognition of bias against Asian-Americans has further focused Americans on current issues of racism and bias. Beyond considering how such bias may impact their patients’ care, healthcare providers themselves can be the target. Drs. Tracy Downs, Raymond Liu, Sanjay Misra, Kim Penberthy, and Arturo Saavedra discuss a case study of patient bias against a healthcare provider at a major academic institution. Moderated by Dr. Ziv Haskal. Free and open to the public. Details and Webex link.

Two Weeks Left! | 2021 Annual Retraining | Deadline: Wednesday, June 30 | Members of the UVA Health community have been assigned the 2021 Annual Retraining course in Workday Learning. Full project details and FAQs can be found on the Annual Training project webpage.

Have Thoughts About the UVA Health Town Hall? | Provide feedback and suggestions for future town halls by completing a short survey. Missed the Town Hall and want to catch up? Watch the speed-watcher’s guide on Connect.

Appreciation

Thank You, PICU! | The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) recently provided thorough, attentive, timely, and proficient care to a young girl who was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The patient’s mom, who is also a UVA nurse, was so impressed with the care her daughter and their family received from the entire care team that she nominated the PICU for the annual DAISY Team Award, which they received at a surprise ceremony. Thank you to the team for doing what you do best! Read the full story on Connect.

Connect | UVA Health Bridge Plan | UVA Human Resources
Faculty and Employee Assistance Program | Wisdom & Well-being Program

Monday, June 14, 2021

All-Star Panel to Discuss Racism Against Healthcare Providers

When You Are the Target: A Case Study and Expert Panel Discussion About Racism, Bias, and Prejudice Against Healthcare Providers | Wednesday, June 16 | 8-9 p.m.
Increased acts of violence and disrespect toward Asian Americans have drawn more attention to how racism and bias may impact patients’ care and how healthcare providers themselves can be targeted. Part of the UVA Radiology Keynote Lecture Series, this event will feature Drs. Tracy Downs, Raymond Liu, Sanjay Misra, Kim Penberthy, and Arturo Saavedra discussing a case study of patient bias against a healthcare provider at a major academic institution. Moderated by Dr. Ziv Haskal. Free and open to the public. Details and Webex link.

Operations

Crispell Drive Lane Closure | Wednesday, June 23 | 3-5 a.m. | Only one lane of Crispell Drive will be open during annual fire pump flow testing. Traffic control personnel will be on-site. Both lanes will be open at the conclusion of the testing. [Please note corrected date and time.]

Happenings

Have Thoughts About the UVA Health Town Hall? | Provide feedback and suggestions for future town halls by completing a short survey. Missed the Town Hall and want to catch up? Watch the speed-watcher’s guide on Connect. 

Free Mindfulness Class for UVA Health Team Members | Mondays, June 21-Aug. 16 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Daylong Retreat: Saturday, July 31 | Zoom | No class Monday, July 5. | Register.

2021 Annual Retraining | Deadline: Wednesday, June 30 | Members of the UVA Health community have been assigned the 2021 Annual Retraining course in Workday Learning. Full project details and FAQs can be found on the Annual Training project webpage.

Appreciation

Commemorating the End of Slavery | U.S. Gen. Gordon Granger marched into Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865 – two months after the Civil War ended – and read aloud the Emancipation Proclamation, effectively ending slavery in that region. In 2020, Governor Ralph Northam and the Virginia General Assembly made Juneteenth an official state holiday. This year, UVA is celebrating with observances and events across Grounds. Learn more about how you can commemorate the anniversary on Connect. Thank you to the teams and individuals at UVA Health for assisting with this year’s events and bringing to the forefront this important milestone in our history.

Connect | UVA Health Bridge Plan | UVA Human Resources
Faculty and Employee Assistance Program | Wisdom & Well-being Program

Friday, June 11, 2021

Town Hall Meeting: Speed-Watcher’s Guide

If you missed the Wednesday, June 9, UVA Health Town Hall (or want to re-watch), here's your chance to catch up. Watch a replay on Connect, and easily navigate agenda topics by time code. Watch now. 

Have Thoughts About the UVA Health Town Hall? | Provide feedback and suggestions for future town halls by completing a short survey.

COVID-19 

3 COVID Interventions Being Discontinued | The following changes are now in effect:

• Refilling of Hand Sanitizer Containers | Clinical teams no longer need to collect hand sanitizer containers for refilling and should discard empty containers. Contact Supply Chain to arrange pick up of any full bulk hand sanitizer containers still in your unit.
• Floor Signs | A team from Environmental Services will begin removing floor signs directing people where to stand. Work will begin on inpatient units. 
• Half-Mask Respirator Cleaning Stations | Located on 4 South, these stations are no longer in use. Please see updated guidance for self-cleaning processes.

(COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources Page)

Patient Care

Get Ready for MyChart eUpdate With Live Training Events | Launching Thursday, June 24 |eUpdate is a new feature in MyChart that allows patients to electronically sign documents, pay visit copays, and update information about allergies, insurance, and other details before arriving for their appointments. To help you get ready, learning resources are now available. Live training events are scheduled for the following times:

• Monday, June 14 | 3-4 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 15 | 8-9 a.m.
• Wednesday, June 16 | 10-11 a.m.

Click the above links to join, or email UVAEpicUpgrade@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu for an Outlook meeting invite.

Can't make a live training event? View the recording!

Learn more on the eUpdate project page. Questions? Email RPFA@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

Happenings

When You Are the Target: A Case Study and Expert Panel Discussion on Racism, Bias, and Prejudice Against Healthcare Providers | Wednesday, June 16 | 8-9 p.m. | Increased acts of violence and disrespect toward Asian Americans have drawn more attention to how racism and bias may impact patients’ care and how healthcare providers themselves can be targeted. Drs. Tracy Downs, Raymond Liu, Sanjay Misra, Kim Penberthy, and Arturo Saavedra discuss a case study of patient bias against a healthcare provider at a major academic institution. Moderated by Dr. Ziv Haskal. Free and open to the public. Details and Webex link.

Nominate an Individual or Group for the 2021 Governor’s Honor Awards | Deadline: Monday, June 28 | These awards celebrate the accomplishments and important contributions made by the state workforce and reflect the highest levels of outstanding work at state agencies. The Governor's Honor Awards are open to full-time, part-time, and wage University and Classified staff and Medical Center team members. Please note that teaching faculty, UPG, Foundation, and contingent workers are ineligible. Nominate. 

Appreciation

Wow! Diverting 9,000 Pounds Per Week! | Thank you to the UVA Health Sustainability Workgroup, which works tirelessly behind the scenes to reduce waste, save money, and reduce harm to the earth. In January, the group, led by Kevin Fox, Director, Facilities Planning & Capital Development, installed a cardboard compactor at the hospital loading dock. Since the installation, UVA Health is now diverting 9,000 pounds of cardboard away from the landfill per week! This saves money by reducing the need to empty the dumpsters, reduces miles and trips by trucks, and recycles the cardboard instead of filling up the landfill. This project and several others are huge logistical efforts that may not be seen by most but have a big impact on the well-being of our community. Thank you to everyone on the Sustainability Workgroup who contributed to this and many other sustainability projects!

Connect | UVA Health Bridge Plan | UVA Human Resources
Faculty and Employee Assistance Program | Wisdom & Well-being Program

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Kibbe Named Dean of the School of Medicine

The University of Virginia has named pioneering physician leader Melina R. Kibbe, MD, as 17th dean of the UVA School of Medicine and chief health affairs officer for UVA Health. Dr. Kibbe is an outstanding clinician, researcher, and highly respected educator. She comes to UVA effective Sept. 15 from her role as the Colin G. Thomas Jr. Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she also holds an appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Read more on Connect.

COVID-19 

COVID-19 Vaccination Activities to Move From Seminole Square to West Complex in Early July | Planning is underway to relocate UVA Health COVID-19 vaccination activities to the COVID Clinic in the West Complex. The Seminole Square Community Vaccination Center will close on Friday, July 2. The West Complex COVID Clinic will begin providing vaccinations to team members and the public on Wednesday, July 7. Details will be announced soon.

COVID-19 Response Leader, William Petri, MD, Receives Thomas Jefferson Award | Lauded for helping UVA navigate the COVID-19 pandemic — from treating patients to vaccine development to mentoring colleagues to educating the public — William Petri, MD, has received this year’s Thomas Jefferson Award for Excellence in Scholarship. Petri, who serves as Division Chief of Infectious Diseases, is recognized as one of the world's premier infectious diseases researchers as well as a consummate physician-scientist, training program director, and institutional leader.

 (COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources Page)

Happenings

Replay: UVA Health Town Hall | If you missed today’s Town Hall, here’s your chance to catch up. Craig Kent, MD, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, was joined by other UVA Health leaders to discuss our organization’s progress and priorities including specific updates on the UVA Health strategic planning process and Novant Health UVA Health System. There was also a live Q&A exchange. Watch now.

Celebrating Juneteenth at UVA | Saturday, June 19, will mark 156 years since the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. This year, Juneteenth at UVA will be celebrated June 4-19 with a series of events sponsored by the Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; the Black Faculty and Staff Employee Resource Group; and the UVA Cancer Center Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Find event details on Connect. 

Appreciation

A Little Pick-Me-Up | Every day we take care of our patients, but it’s important that we take care of each other, too. A prime example of this was found in a tweet last week. Dr. Sharon Bragg, DNP, RN, CCRN, Assistant Nurse Manager, MICU/SPU, tweeted: “Thanks to the STICU for dropping off a goodie basket. The MICU needs treats this week. #Goodies #MICU.” Whether it is a kind note, a word of encouragement, or a basket full of candy and pretzels, we know for certain there is only one way we’ll get through this: together. Thank you, STICU and MICU, for showing us the way!

Connect | UVA Health Bridge Plan | UVA Human Resources
Faculty and Employee Assistance Program | Wisdom & Well-being Program

Monday, June 7, 2021

It’s Almost Time! Don’t Forget to Join the UVA Health Town Hall

Wednesday, June 9 | noon-1 p.m.
Please join Craig Kent, MD, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, and other UVA Health leaders in a discussion about our organization’s progress and priorities including specific updates on the UVA Health strategic planning process and Novant Health UVA Health System. Click here to join at noon on Wednesday, June 9.

Based on team member feedback, there will be a live Q&A exchange to answer the questions submitted during the town hall as well as pre-submitted questions. Submit your questions now or during the Town Hall to YourTownHall@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

COVID-19

COVID-19 Weekly Update | Hospital Epidemiologist Costi Sifri, MD 

• Nationwide
  • New cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are decreasing
  • 45% reduction in cases; 20% reduction in hospitalizations; 28% reduction in deaths
• Vaccination Trends
  • Continued broad vaccination but slowing; Johnson & Johnson pause lifted
  • Transitioning from period of more demand than supply to period of more supply than demand
• Virginia
  • New cases and hospitalizations are decreasing
  • 51% reduction in cases; 16% reduction in hospitalizations; 23% reduction in deaths
  • Test positivity rates stable and low — 2.5% statewide; 2.3% in the Blue Ridge Health District
• UVA Medical Center
  • Hospitalizations remain stable

COVID-19 Vaccination Rates (per 100,000 of population) 

 (COVID-19 Dashboard | COVID-19 Resources Page)

Patient Care

Epic Providers: All Inpatient Admission H&P Clinical Documentation Must Use an Approved Note Template | Our last Joint Commission survey cited documentation deficiencies with Admission History and Physical (H&P) notes. As a remedy, all Admission H&P Clinical Documentation must be completed utilizing an approved note template in Epic. Several improvements to the Admission H&P note templates makes them easier to use, including new auto-populated fields such as Chief Complaint. You may still use custom SmartPhrases within these templates, but not as a substitute for the entire note.

• Tip Sheet - List of approved templates and how to find them
• Visit the Admission H&P webpage for important FAQs, guidelines, and support requests

Note: Chief Complaint and ROS elements in the Admission H&P templates are for inpatient admission and H&Ps performed in the outpatient setting for patients who have a planned procedure/anesthesia. If you are doing a preoperative/pre-procedure H&P in the outpatient setting that will serve as the admitting H&P, Chief Complaint and ROS are required elements. This change does not impact the recent 2021 E&M changes specific to billing and coding requirements for Outpatient documentation.

Operations

Urgent Medical Device Correction: GE Carescape Patient Data Module (PDM) | Clinical Engineering has received notification from GE that the Carescape PDM can display a frozen SpO2 saturation value if the unit’s battery has not been removed in more than two years. In response, the Clinical Engineering team has begun to systematically cycle power on PDMs and will work with GE Healthcare to coordinate a software upgrade to correct the issue. Inpatient unit leaders are asked to do two things:

• Communicate the advisory notice with staff
• In the event of a failure (static flat line), replace the PDM immediately and contact Clinical Engineering (4-2391) 

Happenings

Parents Have Feelings Too: A Reboot for those Who Are Parenting through the Pandemic | Tuesday, June 8, noon-1 p.m., and Thursday, June 24, 3:30-4:30 p.m. | Zoom | In this seminar hosted by FEAP and Hoos Well, take a step back to get some perspective on this past year and consider where to go next in relationships with yourself and with your kids. You will learn strategies to grow your own emotional skills and will gain an understanding of the real-life value of emotional intelligence and why it is the greatest gift that you can give to your children. Register. 

Appreciation

5 West Is Hoping to Be a Triple Threat | 5 West recently celebrated a year free of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI) and central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)! The team reached the one-year HAPI milestone on May 28. Ava Speciale, Nurse Manager, and Kim Elgin, Clinical Nurse Specialist, say the team succeeded because they follow the nursing policy for pressure injury prevention, partner with their skin champion, collaborate with the inpatient WOC (wound, ostomy, and continence) team, and remove devices as soon as no longer medically indicated. The team reached the CLABSI milestone in April. In a few months, if the unit reaches a year free of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), they hope to meet a triple milestone — one year free of HAPI, CLABSI, and CAUTI! Thank you to the team for putting patient safety first and keeping 5 West infection-free! Amazing team! Amazing quality outcome!

Connect | UVA Health Bridge Plan | UVA Human Resources
Faculty and Employee Assistance Program | Wisdom & Well-being Program

Friday, June 4, 2021

Community Update From the EVP

K. Craig Kent, MD, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, recently shared the latest edition of the UVA Health Community Update, a monthly email to our friends and neighbors in the local area. Read this month’s issue, which features an update of COVID cases, vaccination progress, and how UVA Health has consistently provided safe, high-quality care through the pandemic. View previous issues and subscribe to receive future issues here.

COVID-19

• COVID-19 Dashboard
• COVID-19 Resources Page

Happenings

Final Call: Nominate a Nursing Assistant | Deadline: Sunday, June 6 | Nominate a nursing assistant for one of four awards: Certified Nursing Assistant of the Year, Patient Care Technician of the Year, Specialty Technician of the Year, and Certified Medical Assistant of the Year. Awards will be presented during National Nursing Assistant Week, June 17-24. See the nomination form for eligibility, criteria, and to nominate.

Reminder: 2021 Annual Retraining Must Be Completed by Wednesday, June 30 | Members of the UVA Health community have been assigned the 2021 Annual Retraining course in Workday Learning. Full project details and FAQs can be found on the Annual Training project webpage.

Hoos Well Challenge for UVA Children’s | Ongoing | Don’t forget to log in and attest to your healthy activities daily in order to earn $50 in rewards to redeem as gift cards or to donate in support of our smallest Hoos receiving care at UVA Children’s. Details. 

Appreciation

6 West Delivered Lightning-Fast Wedding | If awards were given for the fastest wedding ever planned, the team on 6 West would surely set a world record. Recently, a patient on 6 West was preparing to transfer from University Hospital to a nursing home. The morning he was scheduled to go, the patient and his longtime girlfriend decided they wanted to get married first. The team jumped in to make it happen with decorations, attire, a cake, and music. The bride and groom exchanged their vows in the 6 West day room just three hours later! Thank you to the team on 6 West, Nutrition Services, Volunteer Services, Chaplaincy, the gift shop, and everyone else who came together to make this a special and memorable experience for the couple and family. Read the full story on Connect. 

Connect | UVA Health Bridge Plan | UVA Human Resources
Faculty and Employee Assistance Program | Wisdom & Well-being Program

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Coffee With Colleagues

You are invited to take a brief break with Wendy Horton, CEO of the Medical Center. This is an opportunity to pause, breathe, and share whatever you’d like. No actual coffee will be served, but you will receive a card to redeem for a treat. Special locations have been scheduled for ambulatory clinics at Fontaine in July and November, and Northridge in October. Coffee With Colleagues will be scheduled once a month, and participation is limited. Register.

COVID-19 

Snapshot: UVA Health Vaccination Activities | As of June 1
How many doses of COVID-19 vaccine has UVA Health administered?

How many UVA Health team members have been vaccinated?

How many members of the newly eligible community groups — tweens and teens — have been vaccinated by UVA Health?

Patient Care

Beginning Thursday, June 3: COVID-19 Vaccination Status Will Display on Health Maintenance Reminders for Patients Age 12 and Up | In response to requests from our Primary Care providers and the ambulatory strategy team, all patients currently eligible for COVID-19 vaccination (ages 12 and older) will be automatically enrolled in Epic’s Health Maintenance (HM) plan for COVID-19 vaccination. Providers will be able to view the vaccine HM reminder in the Health Maintenance activity and in Epic Storyboard under Care Gaps if the patient is due for the vaccine. Vaccine-eligible patients will be able to view the vaccination reminder in MyChart on the home Welcome page. No automated notifications will be sent to patients at this time. Questions? Email Dr. Jason Lyman at jl3de@virginia.edu.

Happenings

Mindful Leadership Program | Begins Thursday, June 3 | Open to UVA managers, leaders, and aspiring leaders. Visit UVA HR’s Mindful Leadership Training webpage to read more about the curriculum. Register.

Do You Know a Nursing Assistant Deserving of Recognition? Nominate Them! | Deadline: Sunday, June 6 | Nominate a nursing assistant for one of four awards: Certified Nursing Assistant of the Year, Patient Care Technician of the Year, Specialty Technician of the Year, and Certified Medical Assistant of the Year. Awards will be presented during National Nursing Assistant Week, June 17-24. See the nomination form for eligibility, criteria, and to nominate.

Countdown to UVA Health Town Hall is On | Wednesday, June 9 | noon-1 p.m. | Please join Craig Kent, MD, Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, and other UVA Health leaders in a discussion about our organization’s progress and priorities including specific updates on the UVA Health strategic planning process and Novant Health UVA Health System. Click here to join us at noon on Wednesday, June 9.

Join in the discussion! Based on team member feedback, there will be a live Q&A exchange to answer the questions submitted during the town hall as well as pre-submitted questions. Submit your questions now or during the Town Hall to YourTownHall@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

“When You Are the Target: A Case Study and Expert Panel Discussion on Racism, Bias and Prejudice Against Healthcare Providers” | Wednesday, June 16 | 8-9 p.m. | Increased recognition of bias against Asian-Americans has further focused Americans on current issues of racism and bias. Beyond considering how such bias may impact their patients’ care, healthcare providers themselves can be the target. Drs. Tracy Downs, Raymond Liu, Sanjay Misra, Kim Penberthy, and Arturo Saavedra discuss a case study of patient bias against a healthcare provider at a major academic institution. Moderated by Dr. Ziv Haskal. Free and open to the public. Details and WebEx link.

2021 Annual Retraining | Deadline: Wednesday, June 30 | Members of the UVA Health community have been assigned the 2021 Annual Retraining course in Workday Learning. Full project details and FAQs can be found on the Annual Training project webpage.

Appreciation

Thank You for Pop-Up Vaccination Clinic | Sprint Pavilion on the Downtown Mall | Friday, June 4 | 3-6 p.m. | Weather permitting, UVA Health will again be hosting a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic. Thank you to all who have had a hand (or lend a hand!) in making these dose-on-the-go events so successful. With every shot, you’re making our community safer. This Friday afternoon, UVA Health team members will be administering the Pfizer vaccine to anyone age 12 and older and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to anyone ages 18 and older. Vaccine recipients younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No appointment is necessary.

Connect | UVA Health Bridge Plan | UVA Human Resources
Faculty and Employee Assistance Program | Wisdom & Well-being Program

Archive of previous UVA Health Updates

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