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Nonemergency medical procedures to resume Friday
Virginia hospitals, outpatient care providers, dentists and veterinarians can resume performing elective surgeries and nonemergency procedures after a temporary ban expires at midnight Thursday, Gov. Ralph Northam announced during a news conference on Wednesday. “I want to encourage all Virginians that your health care is important and I encourage you to resume that health care […]
Northam extends ban on elective surgeries until May 1
Gov. Ralph Northam on Thursday extended the ban on elective surgeries at Virginia hospitals until May 1, despite the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association’s (VHHA) letter sent to Northam urging him not to extend the executive order. Northam issued Order of Health Public Emergency Two on March 25, prohibiting non-emergency medical procedures in an effort […]
Virginia Tech develops in-house COVID-19 testing
Virginia Tech researchers announced Wednesday they have developed in-house COVID-19 testing kits and lab processing services to assist Southwest Virginia health departments with patient testing. Test results can be returned to the health departments as soon as same day. The initiative is being led by Dr. Michael Friedlander, Tech’s vice president of health sciences and technology […]
Virginia is ‘pivoting away’ from field hospitals
Virginia is “pivoting away” from needing field hospitals to handle patient overflow because health systems believe they’ll be able to manage any surge in COVID-19 cases, said Dr. Danny Avula, the director of Richmond and Henrico County’s health departments, Friday evening. “We have not seen any significant increase in hospitalization [and] ventilator use is under […]
Carilion Clinic furloughs workers, reduces hours
With its regular ambulatory and inpatient care declining by 40% to 70% during the COVID-19 crisis, Roanoke-based Carilion Clinic announced Tuesday it is furloughing employees to reduce expenses. It follows similar measures taken by other health care systems operating in Virginia including Bon Secours Mercy Health and Ballad Health. The number of employees who will be […]
Death toll at Henrico nursing home climbs to 39
Canterbury Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center now has 39 patients who have died from causes related to COVID-19, the Henrico County center reported Thursday afternoon. Six died within the past 24 hours. This now exceeds the 37 deaths at the Seattle nursing home that was a highly publicized, early coronavirus outbreak hotspot in the United States. […]
Va. ER physician spearheads intubation PPE production
Virginia College of Emergency Physicians President Dr. Scott Hickey turned to the owners of contracting companies in Powhatan — Michael Potter of Village Building Co. Inc. and David Dowdy of Interior 2000 — to produce boxes designed to protect emergency health care workers while they intubate patients with COVID-19. Designed by Dr. Hsien Yung Lai […]
Hearing call for telehealth, audiologist steps up
Virginia Business virtually sat down with audiologist Dr. Kristin Koch at Evolution Hearing, a private audiology practice that has Charlottesville and Richmond locations. This is part of an ongoing series of conversations with Virginians about how their work lives and businesses have changed during the pandemic. Virginia Business: How has Evolution Hearing adapted during the crisis? […]
SCC offers health insurance tips for laid-off Virginians
The Virginia State Corporation Commission’s (SCC) Bureau of Insurance wants to remind Virginians that there are health insurance options available if they’ve recently been laid off or lost health insurance benefits through their employer. “Loss of a job doesn’t have to mean loss of health insurance coverage,” said Virginia Insurance Commissioner Scott A. White. “In […]
VCU Health physician runs COVID-19 drug trial
A VCU Health liver specialist and gastroenterologist is leading clinical trials for a possible drug treatment for COVID-19 patients. This week, Dr. Arun Sanyal began testing remdesivir, an antiviral medication previously used experimentally to treat the Ebola virus, on several VCU Health System patients with moderate to severe cases of COVID-19. While it’s too early […]
State looks to private industry for protective medical gear
UPDATED MARCH 27, 4 P.M. This week, Virginia received its first shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) for front-line health care workers from the federal government’s Strategic National Stockpile, but that supply is falling far short of the demand that will be needed for the COVID-19 pandemic, so Gov. Ralph Northam is calling on private […]
Health insurers say they’ll waive coronavirus testing fees
WASHINGTON — Major health insurance companies will waive copayments for novel coronavirus testing, Vice President Mike Pence said at a briefing with firm executives and President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. “While the risk to the average American of contracting the coronavirus remains low, we want a full partnership with industry and […]
