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UPDATE: House and Senate Democrats, governor roll out special session priorities
Updated, Aug. 14 House of Delegates Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn rolled out the House Democratic Caucus’ legislative priorities for the Aug. 18 special session, a slate of coronavirus-related measures and law enforcement reforms. Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, announced in a news release Thursday that the following COVID-19 legisla[...]
Sentara Healthcare to merge with N.C. health system
Norfolk-based Sentara Healthcare announced Wednesday it has signed a letter of intent to combine organizations with Greensboro, North Carolina-based Cone Health. Transaction details were not disclosed. Sentara President and CEO Howard P. Kern will oversee the combined organization, which will have about $11.5 billion in combined revenue. The corporate headquarters of each organization will remain […][...]
COVID-19 cases surpass 100,000 in Virginia
Virginia has now recorded more than 100,000 cases of COVID-19 since it started tracking the coronavirus in February, the Virginia Department of Health recorded Monday. The state has 100,749 confirmed and probable cases, up 7,643 from Aug. 3. Virginia’s number of deaths went up by 109 last week to 2,327, and the statewide positivity rate […]
Va. first state to launch COVID-19 tracking app
Virginia on Wednesday became the first state in the nation to launch an app that offers alerts to people who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The app, Covidwise, is available for Apple and Android devices. It uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology (which does not drain phone batteries[...]
Northam launches primary care task force
As primary care physicians report that the pandemic has caused financial stress and layoffs at their practices, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday the creation of a primary care task force in partnership with the Virginia Center for Health Innovation (VCHI) and Secretary of Health and Human Resources Daniel Carey. During the pandemic, 40% of primary […]
Virginia joins six-state antigen testing agreement
Virginia will be part of a six-state agreement that will expand rapid testing for COVID-19, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. The state will purchase 500,000 antigen tests, which the governor says can deliver results in 15 to 20 minutes. Virginia joins Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and Ohio in the compact, acc[...]
Reston telemedicine company to go public
Reston-based telemedicine provider SOC Telemed announced Monday it plans to go public through a merger with a “blank check” company, Healthcare Merger Corp. (HCMC) — a transaction that would value SOC at $720 million. The combined company will operate as SOC Telemed and be listed on the Nasdaq. HCMC is a Nasdaq-listed public investment company. […]
Leidos names health group president
Reston-based federal contractor Leidos announced Monday that Elizabeth “Liz” Porter has been promoted as the company’s health group president. She will report to Chairman and CEO Roger Krone. Porter had been serving as acting health group president since March 9 and had previously served as operation manager for the Leid[...]
Virginia sees 136 COVID-19 deaths last week, higher than previous weeks
The number of new COVID-19 cases in Virginia went up by 7,034 last week, a decrease from the previous week, but the number of new virus-related deaths rose by 136, a higher rate than in recent weeks. The Virginia Department of Health reported Monday, Aug. 3 that there are 93,106 coronavirus cases statewide and 2,218 […]
VCU names health system CEO, health sciences senior VP
Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health System announced Wednesday that Dr. Arthur L. Kellermann will become VCU Health System CEO and VCU’s senior vice president for health sciences on Oct. 1. Dr. Peter F. Buckley, who has held both positions on an interim basis since January, will continue in his role until Kellerman[...]
Northam restricts Hampton Roads region, bans gatherings of more than 50
Gov. Ralph Northam said he would place Hampton Roads localities on further restriction, starting at midnight Thursday. No alcohol can be sold or consumed at restaurants after 10 p.m., and all restaurants must close by midnight. Gatherings of more than 50 people will be prohibited until further notice, according to a public healt[...]
U.Va. Medical Center snags No. 1 hospital rating for fifth year
University of Virginia Medical Center once again was ranked the best hospital in Virginia by U.S. News and World Report’s annual list of the best hospitals in the nation, which was released Tuesday. “It is an honor to be ranked the No. 1 hospital in Virginia for the fifth consecutive year, and I want to […]
