Dear friends and neighbors,
As we approach summer's end, the conversation around COVID-19 revolves around variants. The delta variant is much more transmissible and, for those that are unvaccinated, appears to be more likely to produce severe disease and death. Accordingly, the number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 at UVA Health has increased over the past several weeks. Reports
also suggest that the delta variant may cause more frequent and potentially more serious infections in younger individuals and children. Unfortunately, vaccinated patients have a higher likelihood of contracting delta versus other COVID-19 strains; however, the risk of breakthrough infection is still low and, with the exception of those that are immunosuppressed, vaccinated patients who contract delta are not likely to develop severe disease. The vaccination rate in this region is quite high — which is great news — but many are still unvaccinated and at risk. As Dr. Costi Sifri, one of our nationally recognized infectious diseases experts explains, getting vaccinated is the
best defense against COVID-19 and variants like delta, drastically reducing the risk of infection and severe disease. It's still easy and free to get a vaccine. Schedule an appointment to receive your first dose today.
When you next visit UVA Health, you may notice some changes, reflective of just how far we've come in the last few months. Our outpatient clinics have ended remote check-in. Patients can now check-in and register at their appointments in person. Also, valet parking
services, suspended last year, have returned for the Medical Center main entrance, Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center, and Emergency Department. Finally, we've continued to make progress on our University Hospital expansion project, including increasing the capacity of our Emergency Department and the pre- and post-operative spaces near our operating and procedure rooms. All of these changes, large and small, demonstrate our ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality, patient-centered care to all our patients.
I'm also excited by another recent move that will increase access to health care and innovative treatments in our community. UVA Health recently forged an expanded clinical affiliation
with Centra — a four-hospital health system centered in Lynchburg that provides care to a large part of central and southern Virginia. We already work closely with one another in high-risk obstetrics, gynecology-oncology, telemedicine for stroke patients, and dialysis. This new partnership in treating blood disorders and kidney transplants will bring even more opportunities to collaborate with local providers, host clinics in Lynchburg, and recruit specialists to conduct advanced care close to home.
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From left to right: Nurse Shanice Artis; UVA Children's Dr. Amy Wrentmore, Dr. Jeffrey Gander, and nutritionist Tegan Medico; and patient Luke Post.
As I often mention, it's really our people here at UVA Health that define our patient-centric approach to care. And many really great stories from this past month alone explain just what I mean. Take the story of Shanice Artis, who, after earning her master's of nursing at UVA, started her career caring for the sickest patients during the pandemic. Or read about the team of UVA Children's providers combating food insecurity among the families it serves by
opening a food pantry where most pediatric outpatients receive care. Or get to know Luke Post, a 15-year-old patient from Rockingham County receiving cancer treatment, who was recognized by the New York Yankees for a fundraiser he launched to support patients like him being cared for at UVA Children's. Thank you to these incredible people — and you — for being a part of the UVA Health family.
Wishing you and your loved ones health and happiness,
K. Craig Kent, MD
Chief Executive Officer, UVA Health
Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, University of Virginia |