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Dear friends and neighbors,
Among the most gratifying parts of my job is to see the impact of our wonderful care in the communities we serve. I am proud of our amazing UVA Health team focused on delivering exceptional outcomes for our patients. Today, I would like to shine a light on some of the important work of our physicians.
Our physicians remain committed amidst national workforce crises:
Like health systems around the country, UVA Health faces staff and nursing shortages. Understanding the vital role our clinicians and staff play in the health and wellness of our community, we committed to a multi-year multi-million-dollar investment
to bolster our retention and recruitment efforts. Amid this crisis, I am grateful to report that our physician retention rates are amongst the best in the nation. Last fiscal year, we had a 2.7 percent turnover rate of physicians versus the national average of 7.7 percent, which meant we were in the top decile in the nation for physician retention. This allows us to sustain the high-quality care that our patients and communities deserve and need. Not surprisingly, research has shown that patients who maintain continuity with the same physicians over their lifetime have better outcomes and higher satisfaction.
Supporting the health of our patients and communities:
Last fiscal year, our 1,400 physicians and advanced practice providers (nurses practitioners, physician assistants, etc.) delivered nearly 187,000 days of inpatient care, conducted more than 35,000 surgical procedures, and performed almost 1.4 million outpatient visits, our highest volumes to date. Looking at our most critically ill patients, including those with COVID-19, UVA Health's survival rates rank among the top decile of academic medical centers across the country. Our physicians and our advanced practice providers deserve credit for this incredible effort. Their work extends deeply into our communities — including rapidly standing up
community testing events, supporting local vaccination efforts, providing
free medical care for underserved populations, hosting special clinics for newly relocated
Afghan refugees, and so much more.
Physician-led initiatives to improve patient care and physician resilience:
Our physicians are on the front lines caring for millions of patients, with and without COVID, who seek their care at UVA Health. The livelihood of our physicians is our top priority, and we are constantly trying to find ways to create the best environment possible for their success. We currently have four physician-led initiatives that will help us improve the daily work lives of our physicians and all 16,000 people who are part of UVA Health. Anesthesiologist Dr. Bob Thiele is helping revamp our Be Safe program, so it is easier for physicians to navigate. Neurologist Dr. Andy Southerland is spearheading a competition to bring out the best ideas to address and support operational challenges at UVA Health. Pathologist Dr. Anne Mills is leading an effort to enhance
communications and two-way dialogue across the institution, while gastroenterologist Dr. Neeral Shah is taking on an initiative to ensure our mission and values are reflected in everything we do.
I am thankful that we have such incredible and dedicated UVA Health physicians and advanced practice providers and appreciate the trust you place in our care.
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 |
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UVA Health
1215 Lee Street
Charlottesville, VA 22903
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