Health Care: A new horizon

Virginians could look back at 2024 a few years from now and see a turning point for health care in the commonwealth — the dawn of a “Virginia Research Triangle” in biotechnology, pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical research.

In December 2023, the University of Virginia broke ground on the $350 million Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology, slated to open in late 2026. Meanwhile, Richmond and Petersburg’s regional pharmaceutical industry hub is growing swiftly, and Hampton Roads is expanding health care access through the merger this year of Eastern Virginia Medical School and Old Dominion University as well as the ONE School of Public Health, the two schools’ collaboration with Norfolk State University and Sentara Health.

In proposing $90 million to build a research triangle and network between U.Va., Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Tech, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in December 2023 that the state’s investment would “expand Virginia’s university research capacity … [to] enhance life-saving research development for generations to come.”

As important as a research triangle would be to Virginia’s economy, it could prove invaluable to the state’s patients, especially those diagnosed with rare diseases. The Mannings say they hope the biotechnology institute will transform the future of medicine, making headway in the areas of cellular and gene therapies, nanotechnology and drug delivery.

In other health care developments, consolidation and mergers continue to abound across the state. For independent medical practice owners, the load of patients, billing, insurance and other work has become too heavy — leading many physicians to retire or join larger health systems. Dr. Sandy Chung, CEO of Fairfax’s Trusted Doctors practice, says that there are pluses and minuses for patients: Large practices lack “some of that personal touch,” although some patients prefer the “sameness” of visits at a large health system. The shortage of primary care physicians also is widening, especially in rural areas.

However, work is underway on several new hospitals, including Bon Secours’ Harbour View Medical Center in Suffolk, Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital in South Boston, and Inova Health System’s Springfield and Alexandria hospitals. In April 2023, the $400 million Children’s Tower opened at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, months after the 2022 opening of Children’s Pavilion in Norfolk, a 14-story inpatient and outpatient facility owned by Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters.

Additionally, Carilion Clinic opened its $11.5 million, 37,000-square-foot mental health outpatient clinic at Roanoke County’s Tanglewood Mall in October 2023. It’s estimated that the facility will serve about 800 patients weekly.

In the health insurance industry, a new option is now available for small business owners and employees: multiple employer welfare associations. Businesses with two to 50 employees can join other small businesses to form consortiums through local business chamber organizations and provide health care plans at a lower cost. In January, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce announced it’s partnering with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to start the WiseChoice Healthcare Alliance, which allows any member employer of a local chamber or other trade association to join the program and purchase Anthem insurance.

As health care professionals and patients survey the future of Virginia’s medical landscape, most hope for increased access to affordable, quality care, as well as new and improved treatments for common and rare diseases and conditions.

As UVA Health CEO Dr. Craig Kent noted last spring, “Health care is evolving incredibly rapidly now … and treatment has changed a lot over the past 10 years. In the end, it’s about the research and the people.”