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3.30.2022

UVA Health Update | March 2-30, 2022 (Archive)

Happy National Doctors Day!

national doctors day

Doctors’ Day falls on March 30 of each year. It is important to have this day set aside to recognize the value our doctors bring to UVA Health and also to reflect on all they’ve accomplished. It takes a special person to dedicate their lives to others. The sacrifices are real: the long days and nights away from family, the missed holidays and milestones, the added effort of building resilience. The last couple of years have been especially difficult with the challenges of a pandemic and the many global events. For their efforts, we are so very grateful.

Our doctors bring hope, health, answers, and empathy to those in need. Please join us in thanking them for choosing to use their talents to heal others, and for choosing UVA Health.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:20 p.m. March 30)

AcuteICUIMUTotal
123116

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

NursesPhysiciansResidentsOtherTotal
211913

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

PATIENT CARE

Medical Care During Ramadan, April 2 to May 1

Ramadan begins the evening of Saturday, April 2, and ends at sundown on Sunday, May 1. One of the fundamental principles in observing this holy month for followers of Islam is fasting during daylight, which includes not taking oral medications. Please be aware of this, and ask patients if they will be observing Ramadan. If so, it would be prudent to discuss a medication plan with them to insure optimal medical care while they observe this holy month. Read more on Connect.

OPERATIONS

Reminder: Virginia Medicaid Real-Time Eligibility Verification Has Been Paused

Wednesday, March 30, to Sunday, April 3 | The Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) will not provide real-time eligibility (RTE) verifications for Medicaid while it transitions from the current Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) to the Medicaid Enterprise System (MES). MES is supported by Google Chrome and not Microsoft Edge. When the system transition is complete, all Medicaid accounts from March 30 through April 3 will be sent out in a batch to run eligibility. Team members who currently have access to the DMAS website will automatically have access to the new MES system.

Note the following during the RTE pause:

University Hospital Cafeteria Wants Your Feedback

Survey Deadline: Friday, April 1 | Morrison Healthcare, UVA Health’s dining vendor, is seeking feedback on your experience at the east café. Fill out a survey to let them know how they did and how they can make your experience better next time. Take the survey now.

Blocked: Crispell Drive

Saturday, April 2 | 6 a.m.-6 p.m. | A crane will be parked on Crispell Drive to finish the cooling tower motor replacement at the Chiller Plant. During this time, Crispell Drive will be blocked from the intersection with Lane Road to the South Garage. The South Garage will remain open at all times. Traffic control and flaggers will be on site to direct traffic.

ACCOLADES

UVA School of Medicine, School of Nursing Earn Top Rankings From U.S. News & World Report

The University of Virginia School of Medicine and School of Nursing have earned top rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-23 Best Graduate Schools guide. The School of Medicine was ranked No. 1 in Virginia for both medical research and primary care, while the School of Nursing was Virginia’s top-ranked nursing school. Nationally, the UVA School of Medicine was ranked:

The UVA School of Nursing was ranked:

Read the full release on Connect.

LEADERSHIP

To Be Your Best, Find a Diverse Set of Personal Advisors

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, discusses how important it is to surround yourself with a diverse group of mentors. Read more.

CEO’s List: Achievements From Across UVA Health

From clinical care to research and advocacy to innovation, this month’s CEO’s List honorees embody the pillars of our mission. K. Craig Kent, MD, Chief Executive Officer, UVA Health, says we should all be incredibly proud of their accomplishments and grateful that such driven and compassionate leaders are on our team. Read this month’s list on Connect.

HAPPENINGS

Get Your Free Colorectal Cancer Screening Test Before March Ends

During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, Shari Stanley, RN, Colorectal Screening Program Coordinator, is hand-delivering free fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) to qualified team members on a UVA health plan. She is also available to answer questions about colon cancer, risk factors, and insurance coverage. This year, UVA Health debuted a new at-home stool test called Polymedco OC-Auto® FIT that has a 95% overall accuracy rate. Contact crcscreening@virginia.edu or 434.297.8427 to see if you are eligible for a free test. Read more.

Free Retreat: Day of Mindfulness

Saturday, April 2 | Starts at 10 a.m. | Zoom | Led by Teresa Miller, this online retreat is open to current and past participants of the UVA Mindfulness Center programs.

Batter Up: Free Baseball and Softball Tickets

Virginia Sports is offering UVA Health team members free tickets to three upcoming games. Limit 2 per person. Additional general admission tickets may be purchased for $5.

Improve Your Epic Efficiency: New Monthly Webinar Series

Wednesday, April 6 | 5-5:30 p.m. | Register | Join host Mark Lepsch, MD, (Northridge Internal Medicine) for 30 minutes of high-yield, skills-related content that will immediately simplify your life in Epic. This session will focus on bringing simplicity and consistency to your navigator tabs (office visits, MyChart, and phone call encounters) and making you faster through level of service and visit diagnosis speed buttons. Those who register will be added to a master list to receive monthly invitations and a replay video link. Watch this brief video for an overview of the program and a preview of the next session’s material.

APPRECIATION

Ending the Stigma of Mental Illness

In both her professional and personal life, Jennifer Payne, MD, has seen firsthand the stigma of mental illness. A professor in the University of Virginia School of Medicine’s psychiatry department, Payne has devoted her career to treating a psychiatric illness that is common during and after pregnancy. Additionally, her daughter, Amanda, fell ill with schizoaffective disorder at age 15. Now Payne has made a startling discovery. Her research into depression and pregnancy, she hopes, could help remove the stigma of mental illness once and for all. Thank you, Dr. Payne. We all benefit from your effort and determination. Read more about Dr. Payne and her research on the Healthy Balance blog.

PREVIOUS UPDATES

Monday, March 28, 2022

Guideline Change: Masking in Non-Clinical Areas

Medical protective face mask used on the face during the covid 19 pandemic to protect against coronavirus. Several masks isolated on a black background

Effective Immediately | In response to lower COVID case counts and the reduced impact of COVID-19 on our team members and hospital census, UVA Health is relaxing the masking policy for non-clinical areas, starting March 28. Team members in clinical areas are still required to wear medical grade three-ply facemasks or respirators (e.g., N95s or equivalents) with the addition of eye protection when directly caring for a patient. Please note, this policy applies to UVA Health team members only. Patients, families, and visitors will continue to follow universal masking protocols when within UVA Health facilities. Changes to CDC and state guidance will continue to be monitored for any changes that would impact UVA Health’s masking policy. Read more details on Connect.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:20 p.m. March 28)

AcuteICUIMUPedsTotal
1311116

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. March. 28)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

NursesPhysiciansResidentsOtherTotal
00044

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

Operations

Pausing: Virginia Medicaid Real-Time Eligibility Verification

Wednesday, March 30, to Sunday, April 3 | The Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) will not provide real-time eligibility (RTE) verifications for Medicaid while it transitions from the current Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) to the Medicaid Enterprise System (MES). MES is supported by Google Chrome and not Microsoft Edge. When the system transition is complete, all Medicaid accounts from March 30 through April 3 will be sent out in a batch to run eligibility. Team members who currently have access to the DMAS website will automatically have access to the new MES system.

Note the following during the RTE pause:

Blocked: Crispell Drive

Saturday, April 2 | 6 a.m.-6 p.m. | A crane will be parked on Crispell Drive to finish the cooling tower motor replacement at the Chiller Plant. During this time, Crispell Drive will be blocked from the intersection with Lane Road to the South Garage. The South Garage will remain open at all times. Traffic control and flaggers will be on site to direct traffic.

Happenings

Get Your Free Colorectal Cancer Screening Test Before March Ends

During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, Shari Stanley, RN, Colorectal Screening Program Coordinator, is hand-delivering free fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) to qualified team members on a UVA health plan. She is also available to answer questions about colon cancer, risk factors, and insurance coverage. This year, UVA Health debuted a new at-home stool test called Polymedco OC-Auto® FIT that has a 95% overall accuracy rate. Contact crcscreening@virginia.edu or 434.297.8427 to see if you are eligible for a free test. Read more. 

Got Ideas for Improving Patient Access? Share Them During Discussion Sessions With John Bennett 

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

Mindfulness Classes

Appreciation

Sending Thanks to the Child Life Team

During Child Life Month, UVA Health is celebrating a special team that helps kids and their families cope with illnesses, procedures, and treatments. ⁠Five child life specialists and one child life assistant work with children who are undergoing treatment or have a sibling or family member undergoing treatment. They focus on treating the child as a whole, including assessing patients’ psychosocial and developmental needs. Child life specialists prepare children for procedures, provide diagnosis teaching, use therapeutic play to express feelings, and support family members during traumas and bereavements. The child life assistant helps to normalize the hospital environment by providing play, implementing special programming, celebrating milestones and special events, and ensuring kids still get to be kids. Thank you to this team for supporting our smallest patients in such an important way!

Friday, March 25, 2022

Senator Tim Kaine Convenes COVID Care Roundtable at UVA Medical Center

time kaine visit

We were pleased to welcome U.S. Senator Tim Kaine to UVA Medical Center on Friday morning for a roundtable discussion with UVA Health leaders, frontline care providers, and researchers. Sen. Kaine spoke with UVA physicians and nurses as well as a neuropsychologist, physical therapist, and UVA data science expert to discuss their experiences caring for patients with COVID-19 and researching the disease, with a particular emphasis on their experiences with long COVID. Sen. Kaine has introduced the Comprehensive Access to Resources and Education (CARE) for Long COVID Act, which would improve research on long COVID and provide more resources for people experiencing its impacts. Sen. Kaine said he chose to hold the roundtable at UVA Health — home to one of the nation’s first post-COVID clinics — for its experience and expertise in caring for patients with COVID. We appreciate Sen. Kaine’s visit and his efforts to support patients recovering from COVID-19.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:05 p.m. March 25)

AcuteICUTotal
10515

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

NursesPhysiciansResidentsOtherTotal
711312

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

Clarification: Here’s How Team Members Can Schedule a COVID Vaccination Appointment

To schedule a vaccination appointment at UVA Health, team members should use one of the pathways listed below. Note: VaxTrax is no longer being used to schedule COVID vaccination appointments.

Add Your Memories: Reflection and Hope

If you missed the Reflections and Hope Event on Monday, March 21, here are three ways to add your thoughts and stories to the historic record being assembled about UVA Health’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

If you want to catch up on Monday’s event, view the speed-watcher’s guide on Connect(featuring speakers and topics organized by timecode), or watch videos of UVA Health team members and leadership looking back at the last two years of the pandemic.

OPERATIONS

Updated Masking Guidance

Effective Monday, March 28 | In response to lower COVID case counts and the reduced impact of COVID-19 on our team members and hospital census, UVA Health is relaxing the masking policy for non-clinical areas, effective March 28. Team members in clinical areas are still required to wear medical grade 3-ply facemasks or respirators (e.g., N95s or equivalents) with the addition of eye protection when directly caring for a patient. Please note, this policy applies to UVA Health team members only. Patients, families, and visitors will continue to follow universal masking protocols when within UVA Health facilities. We will continue to monitor CDC and state guidance for any changes that would impact our masking policy. For more details, refer to the March 25 email from Reid Adams, MD, Chief Medical Officer, and Costi Sifri, MD, Hospital Epidemiologist, or read it on Connect.

South Tower: Fire Alarm System Test

Monday, March 28 | 12:30-2 p.m. | The South Tower elevator lobby will be testing the fire alarm system, which will sound on the floors above and below the tested area. While the facilities team will work to minimize the impact of the test, please be aware that you may hear the alarm more than once. Questions? Contact Scott Guynes (Facilities Management) at 434.282.3794 or Josh Bullock (Facilities Planning & Capital Development) at 434.284.3233.

Blocked: Crispell Drive

Saturday, April 2 | 6 a.m.-6 p.m. | A crane will be parked on Crispell Drive to finish the cooling tower motor replacement at the Chiller Plant. During this time, Crispell Drive will be blocked from the intersection with Lane Road to the South Garage. The South Garage will remain open at all times. Traffic control and flaggers will be on site to direct traffic.

Coming Soon: Epic Upgrade Set to Go-Live Wednesday, May 25

This year, a single Epic upgrade is planned and will occur on May 25. Among other changes, many team members will see modifications to their Epic InBasket. Look for communications starting in April with more specifics.

HAPPENINGS

Donate Blood, Win a Chance to Go to the All-Star Game

Monday, March 28 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Quayle Learning Center, Battle Building, First Floor | The American Red Cross, UVA Health’s primary supplier of blood products, is facing a severe blood shortage. You can help by donating blood. Appointments required. Swag alert: All donors will receive a $10 Fanatics e-gift card by email for donations March 1-31. Donors are also automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to the 2022 MLB All-Star Game in Los Angeles. Sign up by emailing giveblood@virginia.edu. Learn more.

Special Medical Center Hour | Who Tells Your Story? Using Narrative to Build Community, Define Purpose and Foster Agency

Monday, March 28 | noon-1 p.m. | Claude Moore Nursing Education Building, Room 1120 and Zoom | In this session, we will explore how our stories shape our behaviors, perspectives, and journeys. In an age of burnout and trauma, we'll question those narratives as we endeavor to rewrite stories for clinicians and their patients that are grounded in agency, equity, and self-determination. Please note the day change from the regularly run Medical Center Hour. Read more.

Batter Up: Free Baseball and Softball Tickets

Virginia Sports is offering UVA Health team members free tickets to three upcoming games. Limit 2 per person. Additional general admission tickets may be purchased for $5.

APPRECIATION

Thank You, Educators, for a Successful Match Day!

match day

On Friday, March 18, the UVA School of Medicine’s Class of 2022 learned where they will continue their training as residents at hospitals across the country. The event brought together family and friends to help the soon-to-be doctors celebrate. At noon, the students simultaneously opened envelopes that revealed the location of their residencies. Thank you to all of our educators for your dedication and commitment to these students. From the moment our students put on their white coats four years ago to the moment they opened their Match Day envelopes, you have been there to support, guide, and teach them. Your knowledge, wisdom, and patience have been invaluable during their journey. Thank you, thank you, thank you! For Match Day stats and photos of the exciting day, visit Connect.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

There’s Still Time to Be Part of Reflections and Hope Activities

If you missed the Reflections and Hope Event on Monday, March 21, here are three ways to add your thoughts and stories to the historic record being assembled about UVA Health’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

  1. Online Gratitude Board | View the words of gratitude from across UVA Health and our community for all our team members and share your own.
  2. Wall of Reflections | Write a message on the boards posted in the following Medical Center locations:
  1.  Submit Your Video Story | Deadline: Thursday, March 31 | Create your own Reflections and Hope video to share with our teams on Connect. Details. 

If you need to catch up on Monday’s Reflections and Hope event, view the speed-watcher’s guide on Connect, featuring speakers and topics organized by timecode.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 3:05 p.m. March 23)

AcuteICUIMUTotal
107118

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

NursesPhysiciansResidentsOtherTotal
20057

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

Hope Helps Us Do the Impossible

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, reflects on the power of hope two years after the COVID-19 pandemic started. Read more.

Need to Know: COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Updates

Patient Care

An Update to Hand Hygiene and PPE Doffing Standards       

For the care of patients with COVID on isolation, the following guidelines apply for hand hygiene and glove use:   

Read more on Connect. 

Happenings

National Poison Prevention Week

March 20-26 | All pharmacies in the Blue Ridge Poison Center’s service area — including UVA Health’s — will be offering refrigerator magnets and stickers to insert with filled prescriptions. Contact Kristin Wenger, Education Coordinator, at 434.982.4386 or klw2s@virginia.edu for materials. Read more.

Donate Blood, Win a Chance to Go to the All-Star Game

Monday, March 28 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Quayle Learning Center, Battle Building, First Floor | The American Red Cross, UVA Health’s primary supplier of blood products, is facing a severe blood shortage. You can help by donating blood. Appointments required. Swag alert: All donors will receive a $10 Fanatics e-gift card by email for donations March 1-31. Donors are also automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to the 2022 MLB All-Star Game in Los Angeles. Sign up by emailing giveblood@virginia.edu. Learn more.

Mindfulness Classes

Appreciation

Shari Stanley, RN (photo by Kay Taylor)

Reminder: Colorectal Screening Saves Lives

“Colorectal cancer is one of the few cancers that is preventable by screening,” says Shari Stanley, RN, Colorectal Screening Program Coordinator (pictured here). “We can estimate that at least 50% of deaths — maybe more — from colorectal cancer are preventable with screening.” During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March (and beyond!), Stanley is an in-house resource for team members. She is available to answer questions about colon cancer, risk factors, and insurance coverage, and she is hand-delivering free fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) to qualified team members on a UVA health plan. Thank you to Shari and her colleagues for keeping us aware of the risks we face and providing screening options. Contact crcscreening@virginia.edu or 434.297.8427 to see if you are eligible for a free test. Read more. 

Monday, March 21, 2022

Observing a Historic Milestone: March 2022 Reflections and Hope Event

Today was a day of reflection about how UVA Health responded to one of the most extraordinary events in history and healthcare. Together, we have endured unprecedented change and extreme sacrifice to deliver the very best care to our patients and to support each other through sometimes unimaginable circumstances.

Two years ago, on March 21, 2020, the first patient with COVID-19 was admitted to UVA Health Medical Center. Today, March 21, 2022, we honored this significant milestone with a special “Reflections and Hope Event” to pay tribute to the patients who entrusted us with their care, our team members for their enduring dedication and perseverance, and our community for its support.

Today was also a day of hope, a day when we resolved to use the diverse, yet shared experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic to guide our evolution as an organization and as healthcare providers toward a better, stronger future.

Video: UVA Health team members look back on two-years in COVID pandemic.

Video: UVA Health Reflections and Hope Event

You are also invited to share your stories, reflections, and hopes in the way most meaningful to you. See below for details.

3 WAYS TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

Take a Look at the Online Gratitude Board

View the words of gratitude from across UVA Health and our community for all our team members. Feel free to share your own message as well. We are so grateful for our dedicated UVA Health team members. As we each take time to reflect on our journey through the COVID-19 pandemic, may we find new hopes for our collective future as we strive to fulfill our mission of transforming health and inspiring hope for all Virginia and beyond.

Write Messages on the Wall of Reflections

Beginning March 21 | Share your reflections on the boards posted in the following Medical Center locations:

Toolkits were delivered (March 18-21) for ambulatory locations to create a Wall of Reflection in off-site clinics and offices.

Submit Your Video Story

Deadline: Thursday, March 31 | Create your own Reflections and Hope video to share with our teams on Connect. For tips or to submit your video, email scb3u@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu. Video guidelines:

Read more on Connect.

HELPFUL RESOURCES

Faculty and Employee Assistance Program (FEAP) Resources

FLIP: A Guided Reflection

FLIP (Fear, Loss, Inspiration, Possibility/Promise) is a practice designed to help individuals process difficult or stressful situations in a way that promotes healing and growth through reflection and imagination. Created by Chaplains William Dixon, Carlson Sawyer, and Ann Marie Smith. Read details on this practice on Connect.

APPRECIATION

Thank You, Dave Matthews!

Singer-songwriter Dave Matthews took time to share his appreciation of Charlottesville’s healthcare workers via a special recorded thank-you note and a lovely, solo acoustic version of his song, “Mercy.” Thank you, Dave, for lifting us up with your music!

Watch the Dave Matthews video.

Friday, March 18, 2022

UVA Health Masking and Testing Policies Still in Place, University Announces Changes

masks

Today, the University announced changes to its COVID-19 response starting on March 21, including moving to masks being optional in some areas, the elimination of saliva testing, phasing out weekly prevalence testing, and the end of proof of vaccination requirements for large event venues.

Masks continue to be required in all UVA Health facilities. When working in clinical areas, medical-grade masks or respirators (N95 or equivalent) are specifically required. In non-clinical areas, medical-grade masks or respirators are preferred over cloth masks. If you wish to wear a cloth mask in a non-clinical area, it is recommended that you wear a medical-grade mask under it.

Testing policies remain unchanged for our UVA Health faculty, team members, and students, including prevalence testing procedures for those with COVID-19 vaccine exemptions.

The need for changes to these policies is continually reviewed and based on COVID-19 conditions in our community.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 3:05 p.m. March 18)

AcuteICUPedsTotal
188127

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. March. 18)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

NursesPhysiciansResidentsOtherTotal
10045

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

Final Announcement: COVID-19 Two-Year Reflections and Hope Event

Monday, March 21 | 9:30-10:15 a.m. | University Hospital Lobby (maximum attendance 434) or Livestream | Monday, March 21, marks the two-year anniversary of admitting the first COVID-19 patient for care at UVA Health. In observance of this milestone, all team members are invited to attend a special event that will offer an opportunity to reflect and pay tribute to the extraordinary dedication and the many contributions and sacrifices of our team members. 

Share Your Stories | Deadline: Thursday, March 31 | Create your own Reflections and Hope video to share with our teams on Connect. For tips or to submit your video, email scb3u@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu. Video guidelines:

Read more on Connect.

Patient Care

National Patient Safety Awareness Week

March 13-19 | This week, UVA Health recognized its commitment to delivering the highest quality care and improving outcomes for all our patients. Read recent patient-safety messages from UVA Medical Center leaders:

Glucommander Rollout Complete

Glucommander, a prescription-only software medical device for glycemic management that began rolling out in November 2021, is now active in all areas of University Hospital as of March 1. Glucommander makes it easier for teams to care for patients in the hospital who are using an insulin drip to manage their diabetes or high blood sugar. Education is complete for current providers and nurses, and, moving forward, new hires will be trained on the software during their orientation. For questions or support, please contact the following team members:

Happenings

National Women’s History Month | Upcoming Events

Read more on Connect.

Medical Center Hour | A Healing ARC for Hospital Inequities: From Institutional Racism to Reparative Justice

Wednesday, March 23 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom | Racism is an ongoing public health crisis, and racial inequities in health, many of which are institutionally derived, are increasingly documented. Read more.

Physicians, NPs, and PAs: Get an Updated Headshot

McKim Hall | Ground Floor | Room G045 | Physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants needing an updated headshot for their pages on uvahealth.com are invited to stop by to get their photo taken. No appointment is needed. The shoot should take 10 minutes or less. Please bring a white coat if you have one; if not, one will be provided. Walk-in dates are as follows:

Appreciation

Happy Certified Nurses Day!

In honor of National Certified Nurses Day on March 19, UVA Health celebrates all RNs who have achieved national certification in their nursing specialty. As of this month, 1,167 RNs hold a specialty certification. That’s 47.5% of all eligible RNs and UVA Health’s highest percentage ever! Certified nurses are considered clinical experts who have demonstrated a level of knowledge validated by the credentialing boards. They have committed themselves to life-long learning as they are expected to engage in continuous educational opportunities, maintaining a level of up-to-date knowledge in their area(s) of expertise. Thank you and congratulations! Visit uvacertifiednurse.com to learn more about certification and resources available at UVA Health.

March 16, 2022

Mark Your Calendar: COVID-19 Two-Year Reflections and Hope Event

Monday, March 21 | 9:30-10:15 a.m. | University Hospital Lobby (maximum attendance 434) or Livestream | Monday, March 21, marks the two-year anniversary of admitting the first COVID-19 patient for care at UVA Health. In observance of this milestone, all team members are invited to attend a special event that will offer an opportunity to reflect and pay tribute to the extraordinary dedication and the many contributions and sacrifices of our team members.

Reflections and Hope Online Gratitude Board | View the words of gratitude from across UVA Health and our community for all our team members. Feel free to share your own message as well.

Share Your Stories | Deadline: Thursday, March 31 | Create your own Reflections and Hope video to share with our teams on Connect. For tips or to submit your video, email scb3u@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu. Video guidelines:

Details on Connect.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:06 p.m. March 16)

AcuteICUPedsTotal
168125

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. March. 16)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

NursesPhysiciansResidentsOtherTotal
20035

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

PATIENT CARE

be safe

New Look: Be Safe Events Icon

Starting this week, the Be Safe Events desktop icon is getting a new look (see right). Please be advised that, given the large number of devices that UVA Health manages, it may take a day or two until you see the new orange icon on your desktop.

National Patient Safety Awareness Week

March 13-19 | This week UVA Health is recognizing its commitment to delivering the highest quality care and improving outcomes for all our patients. Read recent patient-safety messages from UVA Health leaders:

OPERATIONS

Repairs: 11th Street Garage Elevators Out of Service

Wednesday, March 16 | 8-10 p.m. | Both elevators in the 11th Street Garage will be out of service for repairs. During this two-hour outage, attendants will be available to provide assistance.

CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY

CATEC donation

Giving Back and Building Strength

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, discusses a recent donation of an ambulance to a local EMT training program. Read more.

HAPPENINGS

Chasing Zero: Eliminating High Risk Medication Errors on Transitions to Skilled Nursing Facilities

Thursday, March 17 | noon-1 p.m. | Webex | Amber Inofuentes, MD; Bethany Delk, PharmD; Jess Dreicer, MD; and Michael Chilmaid present their work, which won this year’s Charles L. Brown Award for Patient Care Quality.

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

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

APPRECIATION

UVA Health Implants New EVAHEART Device

heart failure team

UVA Health is one of seven centers nationally to have implanted the new EVAHEART 2 left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as part of the COMPETENCE Trial. EVAHEART 2 is an implantable heart assist device intended to help patients with severe heart failure, whose hearts are unable to pump enough blood to support their normal activities or even sustain life. This device is the 11th to be implanted in the United States as part of the COMPETENCE Trial, a study that is determining if the EVAHEART 2 LVAD can demonstrate similar clinical outcomes as the FDA-approved HeartMate 3 LVAD and is suitable for commercial use in the treatment of severe heart failure. UVA Health was selected as a trial site based on excellent LVAD outcomes as well as our highly coordinated research team. This milestone was achieved through a tremendous commitment to offering innovative, life-saving treatments to our patients. Congratulations to all who helped make this first implant at UVA a great success! (Pictured: Heart Failure team)

Monday, March 14, 2022

Be Safe Events Resolution Process Enhanced

This is National Patient Safety Awareness Week, and in the spirit of delivering the highest quality care, significant changes have been announced to the Be Safe Events reporting system. These changes address feedback from team members around improving problem solving, transparency, and tracking capabilities to ensure front-line leaders can address the issues reported to them and get feedback in real time. Changes include an email notification process to help keep team members who submit an event informed about what is happening with the event file. Once alerted to activity on the event file, the submitter can use the File Tracker function in the system to see who is managing the issue and what is being documented in the system whenever that file is accessed. The reporting team member will also receive an email with an update on the status once a Be Safe Event has closed and will be asked for real-time feedback about the resolution. Please help promote this tool by displaying the print-on-demand sign on your visual management boards. Read more on Connect.

COVID-19

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

AcuteICUWomen'sTotal
149124

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. March. 14)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

NursesPhysiciansResidentsOtherTotal
20024

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

Operations

Earn While You Learn Program Expands to EMTs

The Earn While You Learn program, which provides paid on-the-job training for numerous roles, is expanding to EMTs. The program includes three months of training plus on-the-job training in the Emergency Department. Immediately upon program completion, you transition into a permanent role with a one-year commitment. All costs are covered while being paid to learn, and no healthcare experience is necessary. Must be at least 18 years old. Express interest in the program by completing this form.

Happenings

Chasing Zero: Eliminating High Risk Medication Errors on Transitions to Skilled Nursing Facilities

Thursday, March 17 | noon-1 p.m. | Webex | Amber Inofuentes, MD; Bethany Delk, PharmD; Jess Dreicer, MD; and Michael Chilmaid present their work, which won this year’s Charles L. Brown Award for Patient Care Quality. 

Reminder: COVID-19 Two-Year Reflections and Hope Event | Call for Your Video Stories

Monday, March 21 | 9:30-10:15 a.m. | University Hospital Lobby (maximum attendance 434) or Livestream | Monday, March 21, marks the two-year anniversary of admitting the first COVID-19 patient for care at UVA Health. In observance of this milestone, all team members are invited to attend a special event that will offer an opportunity to reflect and pay tribute to the extraordinary dedication and the many contributions and sacrifices of our team members. 

Share Your Stories | Deadline: Thursday, March 31 | Create your own Reflections and Hope video to share with our teams on Connect. For tips or to submit your video, email scb3u@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu. Video guidelines:

Participate in a Discussion With John Bennett Regarding Access

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

Sign Up Now: Mindfulness Classes

Save the Date: Social Issues in Medicine Community Poster Session

Thursday, May 5 | 5:15-6:45 p.m. | UVA Education Resource Center Auditorium | RSVP by Thursday, April 21 | The Social Issues in Medicine Community Poster Session recognizes first-year medical students and agency partners and their year-long work to improve community health outcomes. Questions? Contact Tammy Prailey at tdp9s@virginia.edu or 540.219.1706.

Appreciation

Hematology Oncology 3 West Clinic Named a ‘Pinnacle of Excellence’

Press Ganey recently recognized the Emily Couric Hematology Oncology West Clinic as a 2021 Pinnacle of Excellence Award winner. The clinic team exhibited the highest levels of standards in the Patient Experience category for three years in a row (April 2018-March 2021), which is determined by survey results in the following areas: likelihood to recommend your practice to others, teamwork, and overall rating of the clinic. This is the second year in a row the team has received this award, and they are the only clinic at UVA Health to receive the award. Congratulations, team!

Friday, March 11, 2022

Newsweek Names UVA Medical Center No. 1 Hospital in Virginia

hospital expansion

Newsweek has ranked University of Virginia Medical Center as the No. 1 hospital in Virginia in its “World’s Best Hospitals 2022” guide. The news magazine also rates UVA as the No. 42 hospital in the U.S. and among the top 250 hospitals in the world. Nancy Cooper, global editor in chief for Newsweek, highlighted in her introduction to this year’s list that ”what has set the world's leading hospitals apart is their continued ability to deliver the highest-quality patient care and conduct critical medical research even as they focused on battling COVID.”

Newsweek’s rankings are based on recommendations from more than 80,000 medical experts in 27 countries, patient experience surveys, and medical performance indicators such as quality of care, infection-prevention measures, and patient safety. Read more.

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:35 p.m. March 11)

AcuteICUPedsTotal
116118

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

NursesPhysiciansResidentsOtherTotal
20057

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

OPERATIONS

Goodbye, Hoos Health Check App

As health reporting is no longer required prior to coming to work, the Hoos Health Check app has been removed from KnowledgeLink and mobile app stores. This software is decommissioned and will no longer save health checks. Feel free to remove the app from your mobile device.

Want to Save on Gas? Try These Commuting Options

With gas prices rising, many who work at UVA Health may experience greater financial stress due to the cost of their commute. UVA Parking and Transportation has provided a resource sharing Charlottesville’s many alternative transportation options from the surrounding areas that can meet the needs of many commuters. Check out the breakdown of the different options and how much money users can save. Use the cost calculator at the bottom of the page to calculate the cost of your commute.

CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY

CATEC Celebrates UVA Health Ambulance Donation in Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

catec donation

On March 9, Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC) Emergency Medical Technician students commemorated the donation of a UVA Health ambulance to its program with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ambulance will be used by CATEC’s High School and Adult Education EMT programs to simulate hands-on learning experiences. Students will be able to replicate emergency medicine ride-alongs, practicing raising and lowering patients into the ambulance, working in tight spaces, and spatially locating equipment.

The ceremony kicked off an exciting collaboration between CATEC and UVA Health. CATEC’s Adult Education program is providing Certified Nurse Assistant training directly to UVA Health employees. Their “Earn While You Learn” model provides full-time employment to participants completing CATEC healthcare training. Read more.

HAPPENINGS

Donate Blood, Win a Chance to Go to the All-Star Game

Monday, March 14 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Quayle Learning Center, Battle Building, First Floor | The American Red Cross, UVA Health’s primary supplier of blood products, is facing a severe blood shortage. You can help by donating blood. Appointments required. Swag alert: All donors will receive a $10 Fanatics e-gift card by email for donations March 1-31. Donors are also automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to the 2022 MLB All-Star Game in Los Angeles. Sign up by emailing giveblood@virginia.edu. Learn more.

National Women’s History Month | Upcoming Events

Read more on Connect.

Medical Center Hour | Letter to a Young Female Physician

Wednesday, March 16 | noon-1 p.m. | Pinn Hall Conference Center Auditorium andZoom | In this lecture Dr. Suzanne Koven will examine the long history and current state of sexism in medicine and offer ideas about how policy change, male allyship, medical humanities, and even social media can help dismantle it. Read more.

Chasing Zero: Eliminating High Risk Medication Errors on Transitions to Skilled Nursing Facilities

Thursday, March 17 | noon-1 p.m. | Virtual (link to come) | Amber Inofuentes, MD; Bethany Delk, PharmD; Jess Driecer, MD; and Michael Chilmaid present their work, which won this year’s Charles L. Brown Award for Patient Care Quality.

Schwartz Center Rounds | Feeling Alone: COVID and Visitation

Friday, March 18 | noon-1 p.m. | Pinn Hall Conference Center Auditorium | Register |Panel members include Kevin Adams, MDiv, PhD, BCC, Manager, Department of Chaplaincy Services & Pastoral Education; Bush Bell, MBA, CPXP, Administrator, Hospitality and Support Services; Kris Blackstone, MSN, MHA, RN, CCRN, Assistant Nurse Manager, MICU/Special Pathogens Unit; Sharon Bragg, DNP, RN, CCRN-K, Assistant Nurse Manager, MICU/Special Pathogens Unit; and Erin Mitchell, Welcome Team, Emergency Department.

Save the Date and a Request for Videos: COVID-19 Two-Year Reflections and Hope Event

Monday, March 21 | 9:30-10:15 a.m. | University Hospital Lobby (maximum attendance 434) | Live-streamed event (link forthcoming) | Monday, March 21, marks the two-year anniversary of admitting the first COVID-19 patient for care at UVA Health. In observance of this milestone, all team members are invited to attend a special event that will offer an opportunity to reflect and pay tribute to the extraordinary dedication and the many contributions and sacrifices of our team members.Share Your Stories | Deadline: Thursday, March 31 | Create your own Reflections and Hope video to share with our teams on Connect. For tips or to submit your video, email scb3u@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu. Video guidelines:

Calling All Artists: Submit Your Artwork for the 2022 Team Member Art Show

Submission deadline: Thursday, March 31 | Original art submissions are now being accepted from team members and volunteers for the annual Team Member Art Show, scheduled to be on display in the University Hospital lobby May 5-June 30. Wall art in oil, acrylic, pastels, mixed media, and photography will be considered. Read more on Connect.

APPRECIATION

UVA Health Supply Chain: Top 50 in North America

balloons

Global Health Exchange (GHX), a healthcare business and data automation company, recently released its annual list of the 50 best healthcare supply chains in North America. UVA Health was on the 2021 list that recognizes hospitals and health systems that demonstrated improved operational performance in supply-chain automation. To create the list, GHX analyzed the performance of more than 4,100 hospitals in the United States and Canada that are part of its digital trading network. The list scored several areas, including maximizing automation and increasing exchange utilization and trading partner connections. The 2021 recipients will be honored at the 22nd annual GHX Summit May 9-12 in Hollywood, Fla. Kudos to our Supply Chain Management, Medical Center Contracts and Procurement, and Accounts Payable teams for their outstanding work. This is a well-deserved honor!

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Save the Date and a Request for Videos: COVID-19 Two-Year Reflections and Hope Event

Monday, March 21, marks the two-year anniversary of admitting the first COVID-19 patient for care at UVA Health. In observance of this milestone, all team members are invited to attend a special event that will offer an opportunity to reflect and pay tribute to the extraordinary dedication and the many contributions and sacrifices of our team members. Details:

Share Your Stories

Create your own Reflections and Hope video to share with our teams on Connect. For tips or to submit your video, email scb3u@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu by Thursday, March 31. Video guidelines:

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:20 p.m. March 9)

AcuteICUPedsTotal
137222

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

NursesPhysiciansResidentsOtherTotal
10023

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

UVA Health Leadership

Dr. Tsung to Chair UVA Department of Surgery

Tsung

Allan Tsung, MD, has been appointed Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Tsung will assume his new role June 27. Tsung comes to UVA from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, where he serves as Professor and Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology in the Department of Surgery. He is also Director of the Microscopy Shared Facility and Co-Director of the Gastrointestinal Clinical Trials portfolio at the Ohio State James Comprehensive Cancer Center. Read more on Connect. 

Patient Care

Wherever Needed, Our Team Members Are There

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, applauded how team members go wherever they are needed most, including to the Charlottesville Free Clinic. Read the blog.

Operations

Advisory: Don’t Use Vocera to Page FEAP

Team members working in University Hospital are advised not to use Vocera to contact the Faculty and Employee Assistance Program (FEAP). If you select Vocera as the transmission option, FEAP will not receive your page. Currently, the only way to page FEAP is through the hospital page office at 434.924.0000. 

New One-Way Traffic Pattern: Emmet Ivy Garage

Through August | The road directly in front of the Emmet Ivy Garage will be changing to a one-way pattern for a period of six months. Traffic will enter via Emmet Street and exit via Ivy Road. In addition to the new traffic pattern, the University Transit Service will be relocating the bus stop at the Emmet Ivy Garage as follows: 

Please plan additional time to navigate the new traffic pattern. Read details on the Ivy Corridor Projects.

Happenings

Regional Critical Incident Exercise

Friday, March 11 | 8 a.m.-1 p.m. | Warner Hall (formerly Maury Hall) | Multiple first responders from local and state agencies will be on Grounds during this exercise, which is intended to strengthen the University’s ability to respond to a complex incident. Temporary fencing will be constructed around the perimeter of John W. Warner Hall to restrict public access, and staff will be on site to answer questions and help direct pedestrians. Signs will be placed on the sidewalk along McCormick Road. No roads will be closed related to this activity. For questions, please contact Sgt. Ben Rexrode at br7u@virginia.edu or 434.924.7166.

Donate Blood, Win a Chance to Go to the All-Star Game

Monday, March 14 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Quayle Learning Center, Battle Building, First Floor | The American Red Cross, UVA Health’s primary supplier of blood products, is facing a severe blood shortage. You can help by donating blood. Appointments required. Swag alert: All donors will receive a $10 Fanatics e-gift card by email for donations March 1-31. Donors are also automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to the 2022 MLB All-Star Game in Los Angeles. Sign up by emailing giveblood@virginia.edu. Learn more.

Appreciation

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. UVA Health Awardees Are …

Established in 2013, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. UVA Health Award is presented annually to a student, faculty, or staff member of UVA Health who embodies Dr. King's values and teachings in cultural competence, healthcare disparities, or fostering an environment of inclusiveness, in accordance with the institution's mission and values. This year’s awardees include Mariana Araujo, Dr. Perry Bradford, Dr. Cathy Campbell, Jacqueline Carson, and Dr. Richard Merkel. These five were honored at a ceremony on Tuesday, March 8. Read about the honorees on Connect, or watch the recorded awards ceremony (passcode: T=ebTu8y). Congratulations to the honorees and thank you for your devotion to creating a welcoming healthcare environment for all!

Monday, March 7, 2022

Visitation Policy Reminders and Clarification

visitation

The following information is being provided in response to questions from team members:

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 2:20 p.m. March 7)

AcuteICUPedsIMUWomen'sTotal
16721127

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. March. 7)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

NursesPhysiciansResidentsOtherTotal
00044

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

PATIENT CARE

New Changes in Epic

This month’s Epic updates will go live on Tuesday, March 8, and impact inpatient and ambulatory LIPs, ambulatory and inpatient nurses, and therapy services. Details about the latest changes can be found in the Epic Update Bundle. Questions? Contact the Help Desk at 434.924.5334.

OPERATIONS

New One-Way Traffic Pattern: Emmet Ivy Garage

Through August | The road directly in front of the Emmet Ivy Garage will be changing to a one-way pattern for a period of six months. Traffic will enter via Emmet Street and exit via Ivy Road. In addition to the new traffic pattern, the University Transit Service will be relocating the bus stop at the Emmet Ivy Garage as follows:

Please plan additional time to navigate the new traffic pattern. Details on the Ivy Corridor Projects.

HAPPENINGS

MLK Health System Awards

Tuesday, March 8 | 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. | Zoom | The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. University of Virginia Health System Award is presented annually to a student, faculty, or staff member who embodies Dr. King's values and teachings in cultural competence and healthcare disparities or fosters an environment of inclusiveness, in accordance with the institution's mission and values. Find out who this year’s recipients are by logging in to this virtual celebration.

Staff Appreciation Breakfast

Wednesday, March 9 | 7-9 a.m. | Second Floor, Newcomb Hall | Have a sit-down meal or grab something to go. Pancakes, sausages, an oatmeal bar, coffee, and more will be served along with vegan and gluten-free options. Senior leaders will be on site to thank you for your service, and the HR Benefits team will be available to answer questions. Catered by the Fresh Food Company. Free parking at Central Grounds Parking Garage. No RSVP required. A shuttle will be available for UVA Health team members from Lane Road (near the hospital loading dock) at 7, 7:30, 8, and 8:30 a.m.

Medical Center Hour | Pushing Cool: Big Tobacco, Racial Marketing, and the Untold Story of the Menthol Cigarette

Wednesday, March 9 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom | This lecture describes the methods and strategies used by the tobacco industry over nearly a century to establish menthol cigarette markets in the United States. Learn more.

Got Suggestions for Improving Patient Access? Share Your Ideas During a Discussion Session With John Bennett

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

APPRECIATION

South Tower Illuminated in Support of Ukraine and Team Members Connected to the Region

On March 3, the University of Virginia and Charlottesville communities gathered on Grounds for a student-run candlelight vigil. The hour-long event included poetry readings, remarks by Ukrainian students, and a moment of silence. UVA Health continued the vigil over the weekend by illuminating the South Tower at the Medical Center in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings as a show of support for community members who are affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Thank you to everyone in facilities who helped make this happen!

South Tower illuminated with the colors of the Ukraine flag

Friday, March 4, 2022

South Tower to Be Illuminated in Support of Ukraine and Team Members Connected to the Region

On Thursday evening, the University of Virginia and Charlottesville communities gathered on Grounds for a student-run candlelight vigil. The hour-long event included poetry readings, remarks by Ukrainian students, and a moment of silence. UVA Health will continue the vigil into the weekend by illuminating the South Tower at the Medical Center in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag. The lights will shine on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings to support members of our community who are affected by the conflict in Ukraine. 

FEAP Is Here to Help

The Faculty and Employee Assistance Program (FEAP) is available to help team members deal with these stressful events. Resources include the following:

COVID-19

Current Patient Census (as of 1:20 p.m. March 4)

AcuteICUIMUPedsTotal
24112239

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

NursesPhysiciansResidentsOtherTotal
7111019

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

FDA Reissues EUA for Sotrovimab

The emergency use authorization for sotrovimab has been  reissued by the FDA. It is now authorized for use within 7 days of COVID-19 symptom onset. Previously, the time window was 10 days from symptom onset. Eligible patients should be referred for treatment as soon as possible to ensure they are treated within this new timeframe. 

Updated versions of the following documents are now posted on the COVID Resources page:

Operations

Temporary One-Way Traffic Pattern: Emmet Ivy Garage

Begins Monday, March 7 | The road directly in front of the Emmet Ivy Garage will be changing to a one-way pattern until August. Traffic will enter via Emmet Street and exit via Ivy Road. In addition to the new traffic pattern, the University Transit Service will be relocating the bus stops at the Emmet Ivy Garage as follows: 

Please plan additional time to navigate the new traffic pattern. Details on the Ivy Corridor Projects.

Happenings

National Women’s History Month | Upcoming Events

Read more on Connect.

MLK Health System Awards

Tuesday, March 8 | 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. | Zoom | The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. University of Virginia Health System Award is presented annually to a student, faculty, or staff member who embodies Dr. King's values and teachings in cultural competence and healthcare disparities, or fosters an environment of inclusiveness, in accordance with the institution's mission and values. Find out who this year’s recipients are by logging in to this virtual celebration. 

Medical Center Hour

Pushing Cool: Big Tobacco, Racial Marketing, and the Untold Story of the Menthol Cigarette | Wednesday, March 9 | noon-1 p.m. | Zoom | This lecture describes the methods and strategies used by the tobacco industry over nearly a century to establish menthol cigarette markets in the United States. Learn more.

Staff Appreciation Breakfast

Wednesday, March 9 | 7-9 a.m. | Second Floor, Newcomb Hall | Have a sit-down meal or grab something to go. Pancakes, sausages, oatmeal bars, coffee, and more will be served along with vegan and gluten-free options. Senior leaders will be on site to thank you for your service, and the HR Benefits team will be available to answer questions. Catered by the Fresh Food Company. No RSVP required. Free parking at Central Grounds Parking Garage. A shuttle will be available for UVA Health team members from Lane Road (near the hospital loading dock) at 7, 7:30, 8, and 8:30 a.m.

Appreciation

Transplant Jumpstarted New Process, Expanded Number of Patients Who Can Receive COVID Treatments

A big shout out goes to the Transplant team for breaking through barriers, so patients can access the care they need. Recently, the Transplant team secured extra doses of EVUSHELD, a COVID-19 medication for those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. Transplant partnered with the Virginia Department of Health, UVA Pharmacy, and the Ambulatory COVID team to get the medication into the hands of Transplant clinicians who began administering the drug to patients in just two days. This partnership greatly expanded the ability to serve patients, increasing from just three patients per day in the Infusion Center to up to 20 patients per day directly in the Transplant clinic. To date, the Transplant team has delivered almost 400 doses of EVUSHELD.

“This was a huge lift in that an entire process needed to be created,” says Rob Teaster, Administrator, Transplant Service Line and Digestive Health, “including coordinating with Supply Chain; securing cold storage; patients had to be triaged; eligible patients needed to be identified; templates needed to be built; patients needed to be contacted, educated, and then scheduled; and finally, staff needed to be trained. We administered 10 doses on the first day and have given as many as 20 in a single day. I continue to be amazed by the resiliency and dedication of the Transplant team to always go the extra mile for our patients. I am grateful for their work!”

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Ending: Daily Hoos Health Check Attestation

hoos health check

Effective Thursday, March 3 | Team members will no longer be required to complete the daily HOOS Health Check wellness attestation/health screening prior to reporting to work. Daily email and app notifications will stop as well.

COVID-19

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

AcuteICUPedsIMUTotal
28152146

Workforce Impact (as of 4:30 a.m. March. 2)
UVA Health team members affected and on paid administrative leave

NursesPhysiciansResidentsOtherTotal
501612

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

Provider Alert: FDA Increases Evusheld Dosage; Patients May Need Top Up Dose

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has revised the emergency use authorization (EUA) for Evusheld (tixagevimab co-packaged with cilgavimab) to change the initial dose for the authorized use as pre-exposure prophylaxis (prevention) of COVID-19 in certain adults and pediatric patients who have moderate-to-severe immune compromise. The dosing regimen was revised because available data indicate that a higher dose of Evusheld may be more likely to prevent infection by the COVID-19 omicron subvariants BA.1 and BA.1.1 than the originally authorized Evusheld dose.

The original authorized dosage was 150 mg of tixagevimab and 150 mg of cilgavimab administered as two separate consecutive intramuscular injections, with repeat doses every six months while SARS-CoV-2 remains in circulation. With this EUA revision, FDA has increased the initial authorized dose to 300 mg of tixagevimab and 300 mg of cilgavimab. Patients who have already received the previously authorized dose (150 mg of tixagevimab and 150 mg of cilgavimab) should receive an additional dose of 150 mg of tixagevimab and 150 mg of cilgavimab as soon as possible to raise their monoclonal antibody levels to those expected for patients receiving the higher dose. Read the full FDA announcement here.

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

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

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

PATIENT CARE

New Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) Roll-Out

On March 16, UVA Health will be changing to the Polymedco OC-Auto® FIT kit. A fecal immunochemical Test (FIT) is a screening method for hemoglobin in stool for the early detection of blood which may be associated with colorectal cancer. Polymedco’s FIT is the brand specifically recommended by the CDC based on its clinical performance. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) stated that the "Polymedco OC-Auto FIT has the highest sensitivity and specificity" of the FITs available in the United States. UVA Health’s current brand of FIT sensitivity to cancer is 50.5%, where the Polymedco FIT is 93%, with a high overall accuracy (95%) for detecting colorectal cancer. There are no changes in the ordering process. For additional questions, call 434.297.8427 or email CRCScreeningProgram@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

OPERATIONS

Visitation Updates

Effective Thursday, March 3 | Patients will be able to have two visitors with them in most care settings. Visitors must be ages 12 or older and cannot have COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19 or other contagious diseases. Screening at building entrances will no longer be performed. Signs have been installed instructing visitors not to enter if they have COVID or Flu symptoms. Screening will continue at registration and as part of the clinical process. All patients and visitors must always wear a mask inside UVA Medical Center facilities. All public spaces — including the hospital lobby, cafeteria, and waiting areas — will be open to members of the public. Read full details on Connect. See the updated Visitor, Public Access, and Meeting Guidance Matrix on the COVID Resources page.

New One-Way Traffic Pattern: Emmet Ivy Garage

Monday, March 7, to August | The road directly in front of the Emmet Ivy Garage will be changing to a one-way pattern for six months. Traffic will enter via Emmet Street and exit via Ivy Road. In addition to the new traffic pattern, the University Transit Service will be relocating the bus stops at the Emmet Ivy Garage as follows:

Please plan additional time to navigate the new traffic pattern. Details on the Ivy Corridor Projects.

Emergency Medicine Is a Team Sport

In her new Vision and Voice blog post, Wendy Horton, Medical Center CEO, discusses why, amid nationwide staffing shortages, UVA Health is deploying innovative support to teams in the Emergency Department. Read more.

HAPPENINGS

War in Ukraine: Student-Organized Vigil

Thursday, March 3 | 7 p.m. | Amphitheater | From UVA President James Ryan: “The University continues to support members of our community who are affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Like many of you, I have watched these difficult events with concern for the people of Ukraine and admiration for their resolve.” Students, faculty, staff, and centers are collaborating on this important issue.

Dress in Blue Day

Friday, March 4 | Wear blue for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Dress in Blue Day was created to bring awareness to colorectal cancer and prevention. As of 2021, the American Cancer Society recommends regular colorectal cancer screening starting at age 45 for average-risk individuals. To learn more about what screening type is right for you, ask your healthcare provider or visit here.

Staff Appreciation Breakfast

Wednesday, March 9 | 7-9 a.m. | Second Floor, Newcomb Hall | Have a sit-down meal or grab something to go. Pancakes, sausage, oatmeal bar, coffee, and more will be served along with vegan and gluten-free options. Senior leaders will be on site to thank you for your service, and the HR Benefits team will be available to answer questions. Catered by the Fresh Food Company. Free parking at Central Grounds Parking Garage, no RSVP required. A shuttle will be available for UVA Health team members from Lane Road (near the hospital loading dock) at 7, 7:30, 8, and 8:30 a.m.

Save the Date: COVID-19 Two-Year Reflections and Hope Event

Hybrid Event | Monday, March 21, marks the two-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 patient admitted for care. UVA Health invites all team members to a special event to reflect and pay tribute to the extraordinary dedication, as well as the many contributions and sacrifices of our team members. Details:

A recording of the event will also be available for viewing at a later time.

Mindfulness Classes

APPRECIATION

UVA Pharmacies Are Shining in the Middle of a Pandemic

pharmacy

Pharmacies in Charlottesville and the surrounding communities are facing many of the same stressors as other industries — high demand, staffing struggles, and other pandemic pressures. In response, some pharmacies have been forced to cut back hours or customer-service levels. However, the UVA pharmacies have managed to overcome those challenges using teamwork and a focus on the patient to keep their doors open and deliver top-notch care. “I am so incredibly proud of our team right now,” says Justin Vesser, PharmD, Director, Pharmacy. “We have the fortune to have the most talented, patient-focused technicians and pharmacists in the country, and they have been shining brightly during this tough time. It would be easy to focus just on survival right now, but I see our folks going the extra mile to serve others every day.” Thank you to the pharmacy team members for your hard work and dedication. You are so appreciated! Read more on Connect.

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