Greater Prince William County leaders and healthcare officials have banded together in an effort to stress the importance of community health as Virginians head into flu season.

According to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, it’s estimated at least 39 million Americans became ill during last year’s flu season leading to 18 million medical visits, 410,000 hospitalizations and at least 24,000 deaths.

In an effort to spread this message to our communities and stakeholders, leaders from each organization recorded messages about the importance of flu shots and getting medical attention during COVID-19. These messages, recorded in both English and Spanish, are being distributed and shared through social media and health agencies to reach every segment of the community and keep them safe and informed.

Doctors say it’s critical people get their flu shot this year during the pandemic. The CDC warns with more than 200,000 COVID-19 related deaths already in the United States, another respiratory illness could increase the chances of residents catching both diseases at once.

In addition, flu symptoms are very similar to those of COVID-19. Both viruses are more severe for the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions. Getting a flu shot to prevent the flu will allow healthcare professionals to better manage the COVID-19 pandemic, save thousands of lives and preserve health care resources.

Get your flu shot today by visiting your primary care provider’s office. Area drugstores and pharmacies are also offering flu shots, generally covered by insurance. For more information, please visit vaccinefinder.org, sentara.com/getcarenow, and novanthealthuva.org. To view the videos, click here.

On October 7, Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center unveiled a space in the Buckhall Community Cemetery for those who have lost children to miscarriages.

This project was a collaborative effort with Grace United Methodist Church.

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Sentara Healthcare has always been committed to improving health every day, for all people.

Flu season is fast approaching. Sentara hospitals usually see an increase in flu cases around mid-September and early October.

This year, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors say it’s critical to get your flu shot.

As part of Sentara’s commitment to keeping our communities safe, on Saturday, October 17, 2020, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center will host a free drive-thru flu shot event while supplies last. This first-come, first-served event is at Christ Chapel, 13909 Smoketown Road in Woodbridge.

This free event is available for adults, 18 years of age, and older. Patients will receive a flu shot without ever leaving the comfort of their vehicle. The public must wear a mask and all COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at all times.

Health experts warn with nearly 200,000 COVID-19 related deaths in the United States already, another respiratory illness could increase the chances of residents catching both diseases at once. In addition, flu symptoms are very similar to those of COVID-19. Both viruses are more severe for the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions. Getting a flu shot to prevent the flu will allow healthcare professionals to better manage the COVID-19 pandemic, save thousands of lives, and preserve health care resources.

As part of Sentara’s commitment to keeping our communities safe, all Sentara employees, volunteers, and non-employed partners are required to receive a flu shot each year to help protect the communities we serve.

Drugstores and pharmacies are also offering flu shots, generally covered by insurance. Sentara patients can schedule an appointment online and
visit their primary care office for a flu shot. For more information, please visit sentara.com/flushots or to schedule an appointment with a Sentara Medical Group provider, visit sentara.com/getcarenow.

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s “Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus” Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions

“Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients by implementing the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke initiative,” said Kathie Johnson, President, Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center. “The tools and resources provided help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes.”

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center additionally received the Association’s Target: StrokeSM Elite Plus award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke. For those hospitals measuring Door-To-Device (DTD) times in at least 50% of applicable patients within 90 minutes for direct arriving and within 60 minutes for transfer qualified for the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Advanced Therapy designation.

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center additionally received the Association’s Target: Type 2 Honor Roll award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed with more than 90 % of compliance for 12 consecutive months for the “Overall Diabetes Cardiovascular Initiative Composite Score.”

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center has also met specific scientific guidelines as a Primary Stroke Center or as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, featuring a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.

“We are pleased to recognize Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center for their commitment to stroke care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee and Executive Vice Chair of Neurology, Director of Acute Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get With The Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

To learn more about stokes, Sentara Stroke Center locations, and living well after a stroke, please visit sentarastrokeeducation.com.

During these trying times, healthcare workers have had to adapt during this pandemic. This includes hospital chaplains like Cindy Hardy. Cindy, a board-certified chaplain, has been with Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center for nearly five years.

Traditionally, her ministry involves visiting and praying with patients and their families and sharing her healing touch, but with COVID-19 isolation and social distancing, the ministry has changed. Reverend Cindy Hardy, MDiv, shares how she’s still able to help her patients.

What would your interactions with patients look like in a typical day (before COVID)?

“I spend time with patients and families at the bedside providing spiritual care and advanced care planning. Now I am unable to go into positive COVID-19 room, I provide tele-chaplaincy for positive patients and all family members. I am still able to go to the bedside with a mask and eye protection with negative COVID patients. I also try and provide spiritual support to our staff of all faiths.

Touch is such a big part of healing- where now I have to imagine, it’s restricted. How do you help/offer comfort without it?

“Whether it be at the direct bedside or on the phone I listen to patient and family stories of life review, provide prayers, humor, request outside rituals when available, and provide comfort blankets. With the staff, I use the “PositiviTEA” Cart and Code Lavender Cart, I round on the staff and use my three associate chaplains to provide additional support.”

What sort of “creative” measures have you relied on during this time?

“Technology has been integral during this time. I’ve used FaceTime, telephone support, personal letters, and WebEx with system chaplains, just to name a few.”

What words of wisdom/healing have you been offering to patients, MOTs, and families?

“One day at a time. I daily pray for our MOTS safety and strength. Sometimes it is not what you say it is being there. Offering prayers in real time. I provide motivational quotes to encourage true feelings and self-care.”

Cindy spearheads the Chaplin’s Closet, which accepts new clothes for patients who can’t wear their original items once discharged from the hospital. If you’d like to donate, Cindy is currently accepting new men’s and women’s items of all sizes, including pants, shorts, underwear including bras, flip flops, crocs, and slippers.

For more information or to arrange a donation drop off, please contact 703-523-0680.

Sentara Healthcare is a not-for-profit healthcare organization committed to serving the patient and becoming the healthcare provider of choice in the communities we serve.

Sentara is now offering services to help people with diabetes meet support groups and management programs to help improve their health.

Sentara Diabetes & Nutrition Management Services at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center has achieved the significant milestone of accreditation by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES).

Accreditation represents a high level of quality and service to the community, and the ability to better meet the needs of Medicare recipients and others affected by diabetes in the Greater Prince William County, Stafford County, and southern Fairfax County area.

“We are proud of our designation and our continued commitment to improving the lives of individuals with Diabetes and providing support to patients and their families. We offer a friendly environment based on open dialogue to personalize and help improve health through prevention, wellness and education. Services are offered in person and via telehealth.” – Robyn Johanson, Program Quality Coordinator.

Sentara Diabetes & Nutrition Management Services, located on the campus of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, will be offering diabetes education and nutrition management sessions and support groups in person and by telehealth.

Diabetes education services utilize a collaborative process through which people with or at risk for diabetes work with a diabetes educator to receive individualized care to help them reach their health goals.

Diabetes education is a covered Medicare, Medicaid and most commercial insurances when delivered through an accredited program.

“Evidence shows diabetes education and support is helping people with diabetes to lower their A1c’s and obtain the knowledge and skills to better self-manage their condition,” said Sacha Uelmen, Director of Accreditation at ADCES. “That is why we need programs like Sentara Diabetes & Nutrition Management Services to make these services available in their community.”

ADCES is a National Accredited Organization (NAO) for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Accredited programs must meet the 2017 National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support; 10 standards that are revised every 5 years by a group of diabetes educators representing both ADCES and the American Diabetes Association and approved by CMS.

Programs must maintain compliance with the Standards during the 4-year accreditation cycle. To join our Diabetes Support Group or schedule your Diabetes Management and/or Nutrition Management appointment, please call 703-523-0590 or visit sentara.com/diabetes to learn more.

Meet Behnam Goudarzi, MD, FCCP. He’s a Board Certified in Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Internal Medicine and Sleep Medicine. Dr. Goudarzi is the President of the Medical Staff at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center. 

What are your thoughts as a physician working during a pandemic?

During this devastating pandemic, as a physician, I’d like to urge everyone to stand as one and follow strict social distancing and healthy hygiene guidelines. We have all seen what happens otherwise. This virus spreads fast.  

We are in an evolving scenario. Now is the time for mitigation. Every person’s concern should be to try to decrease the number of people that are affected in a short period of time. This way, we can get more and more prepared in terms of PPEs, testing, treatment and vaccination. 

What are your concerns as a pulmonologist?

Patients with certain chronic diseases are at higher risk, despite their age. The hallmark of this disease is respiratory failure due to lung inflammation, a type of pneumonia. Chronic respiratory illnesses put patients at a disadvantage. Patients, who suffer from respiratory illnesses should be extra careful to avoid contracting the virus.  

Though it’s still early, what are the potentially-lasting effects of COVID-19 on both patients with and without existing lung conditions?

Currently, there is no evidence that this kind of pneumonia has any different long term effects than other types of pneumonia. In general, every time somebody catches pneumonia, varying degrees of scars can develop in the lungs. There are no proven curing treatments at this time, though certain long-existing medications have shown some promising effects. 

What do you want patients and the community to know about COVID-19?

Information and knowledge about COVID-19 are increasing by the moment. Recent research from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, says the “maximum transmission distance of SARS-CoV-2 aerosol” could be up to 13 feet. Coronavirus does not walk or fly. It is spread by humans, so let’s defeat it by not spreading it. 

To learn more about COVID-19, visit sentaraupdates.com.

Meet Behnam Goudarzi, MD, FCCP. He’s a Board Certified in Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Sleep Medicine. Dr. Goudarzi is the President of the Medical Staff at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center. 

-What are your thoughts as a physician working during a pandemic?

During this devastating pandemic, as a physician, I’d like to urge everyone to stand as one and follow strict social distancing and healthy hygiene guidelines. We have all seen what happens otherwise. This virus spreads fast. 

We are in an evolving scenario. Now is the time for mitigation. Every person’s concern should be to try to decrease the number of people that are affected in a short period of time. This way, we can get more and more prepared in terms of PPEs, testing, treatment, and vaccination. 

-What are your concerns as a pulmonologist?

Patients with certain chronic diseases are at higher risk, despite their age. The hallmark of this disease is respiratory failure due to lung inflammation, a type of pneumonia. Chronic respiratory illnesses put patients at a disadvantage. Patients, who suffer from respiratory illnesses should be extra careful to avoid contracting the virus.  

– Though it’s still early, what are the potentially lasting effects of COVID-19 on both patients with and without existing lung conditions?

Currently, there is no evidence that this kind of pneumonia has any different long term effects than other types of pneumonia. In general, every time somebody catches pneumonia, varying degrees of scars can develop in lungs. There are no proven curing treatments at this time, though certain long-existing medications have shown some promising effects. 

-What do you want patients and the community to know about COVID-19?

Information and knowledge about COVID-19 is increasing by the moment. Recent research from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, says the “maximum transmission distance of SARS-CoV-2 aerosol” could be up to 13 feet. Coronavirus does not walk or fly. It is spread by humans, so let’s defeat it by not spreading it. 

To learn more about COVID-19, visit: sentaraupdates.comsentaraupdates.com.

This post is sponsored by Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center.