Virginia Hospital Center | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published March 25, 2020 at 7:30AM

Resources to Assist Those in Need — Arlington County has created a list of food, financial and medical assistance that is available for neighbors in need during the coronavirus outbreak. [Arlington County]

Vihstadt Stands Up for Farmers Markets — “At Saturday’s County Board meeting, former board member John Vihstadt rapped the state government for lumping in farmers’ markets – of which Arlington has nearly a dozen operating throughout the week – with restaurants (which for the most part are now closed to dine-in service and in many cases are shuttered completely) rather than treating them as supermarkets (which remain open and running at full strength).” [InsideNova]

News

Coronavirus Cases in Arlington Jump to 26

By ARLnow.com

Published March 22, 2020 at 3:40PM

The number of known coronavirus cases in Arlington has jumped from 17 on Friday to 26 on Sunday.

That’s according to new numbers from the Virginia Dept. of Health, which is now reporting 219 cases statewide and 3,337 people tested. Arlington has the third-highest number of positive COVID-19 tests in the state, after Fairfax County (31) and James City (32).

News

Officials Say Testing Held Back by Limited Supply

By Vernon Miles

Published March 19, 2020 at 10:15PM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:21AM

(Updated at 10:25 p.m.) In a small press conference, local officials explained that the second day of drive-in coronavirus testing went well but efforts are hamstrung by a lack of coronavirus tests.

“We’ve been able to process 63 patients,” said Melody Dickerson, Virginia Hospital Center’s Chief Nursing Officer. “We are training more laboratory staff to help with the process. The limiting resource is the testing supplies. That is a finite resource and we continue to monitor that closely.”

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published March 19, 2020 at 7:30AM | Updated March 19, 2020 at 10:42AM

More on Arlington’s Drive-Through Testing — “Arlington County and the Virginia Hospital Center launched a coronavirus sampling site Wednesday, but a short supply of test kits and limited lab processing ability are forcing them to be selective with who they see.” [WAMU]

Grocery Stores With Senior-Only Shopping Hours — “Some DC-area grocery stores are offering or plan to offer special shopping hours for senior citizens, and in some cases other vulnerable people, during the coronavirus crisis. [Washingtonian, Twitter]

News

JUST IN: Arlington Opening Drive-Through Coronavirus Testing Site

By ARLnow.com

Published March 17, 2020 at 10:10PM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:22AM

Arlington County and Virginia Hospital Center are partnering to set up a drive-through coronavirus testing site.

The temporary site is set to open Wednesday at a county-owned property across from Washington-Liberty High School. The county says to expect additional traffic on N. Quincy Street north of Washington Blvd as a result.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published March 16, 2020 at 7:35AM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:22AM

List of County Gov’t Changes — “With cases in the region, including Arlington, we are taking critical steps to slow down the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), as the health and safety of our employees and our community is our top priority. While we will be making changes to some programs and services, we will continue to operate essential government services for our residents and businesses.” [Arlington County]

Visits Cancelled at County Jail — “All Professional Visits will be non-contact for a minimum of 30 days. All Personal Visits will be cancelled for a minimum of 30 days. All programs will be cancelled for a minimum of 30 days.” [Arlington County]

News

JUST IN: APS Preparing for ‘Possibility of School Closures in the Future’

By ARLnow.com

Published March 6, 2020 at 3:55PM | Updated September 23, 2020 at 11:23AM

(Updated at 4:05 p.m.) With the first confirmed coronavirus cases in the D.C. area, preparations for a possible local outbreak are stepping up.

Arlington Public Schools said in an email to parents today that it was “preparing for the possibility of school closures in the future, if necessary,” while monitoring student health and continuing to disinfect surfaces in schools. The full email is below.

News

Urgent Care Facility at VHC Carlin Springs Campus Closes as Demolition Nears

By Vernon Miles

Published January 28, 2020 at 5:05PM

The Virginia Hospital Center’s Carlin Springs Road location is closed for good and demolition is on the way.

The closure has been a long time coming, with Arlington County acquiring 601 S. Carlin Springs Road as part of a land swap with the hospital. VHC, in turn, received land from the county that it’s now using for the expansion of its main campus.

News

Virginia Hospital Center to Open Primary Care Service in Crystal City This Summer

By Vernon Miles

Published January 9, 2020 at 11:00AM | Updated January 9, 2020 at 11:32AM

Virginia Hospital Center in Crystal City (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

(Updated at 11:30 a.m.) Virginia Hospital Center recently opened a new immediate care facility in the Crystal City area, but plans are already in the works to expand the facilities.

“Virginia Hospital Center Immediate Care will be adding family medicine and OB/GYN care (by appointment) in coming months,” a spokesperson told ARLnow in an email.

News

Virginia Hospital Center is Now Operating As a Trauma Center

By ARLnow.com

Published January 8, 2020 at 11:00AM | Updated January 8, 2020 at 8:06PM

Virginia Hospital Center entrance (file photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 8 p.m.) Virginia Hospital Center is now operating, effectively, as a Level II Trauma Center.

Trauma operations took effect Monday morning. The official Level II designation that VHC is working towards indicates that the Arlington hospital is equipped to handle serious trauma cases — everything from falls to crashes to gunshot wounds — with properly-trained staff (including board-certified trauma surgeons) and necessary equipment on hand 24 hours a day.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 19, 2019 at 7:30AM | Updated December 19, 2019 at 9:02AM

Snowflake on an office window in Ballston (staff photo)

Beyer on Impeachment Vote — “Voting for these articles of impeachment is the only moral course of action, the only way to honor our oath of office. I have no doubt that the votes I cast today will stand the test of time.” [Press Release]

Car2go Bye Bye — “Share Now, the German company that manages the car rental company until recently known as Car2Go, has announced it will exit the North American market effective February 29, 2020… There are currently 150,694 users in D.C., according to a company official who isn’t authorized to speak on the record.” [DCist, Share Now]

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 3, 2019 at 7:05AM

An airplane departing Reagan National Airport flies past the U.S. Air Force Memorial (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Hospital CEO Retiring Next Year — “Virginia Hospital Center President and CEO Jim Cole is stepping down after more than three decades with the organization. Cole, chief for 25 of his 35 years with the Arlington hospital, announced his retirement internally Monday. It’s set to take effect Sept. 1, 2020.” [Washington Business Journal]

County Crew Rescues Phone from Storm Drain — “So they got specialized shovels. And then the guy GOT INTO THE DRAIN and dig through the leaves, following the pinging and vibrating and found the phone! The phone was at 1% power when it came out. Still can’t believe it. Above and beyond. Kudos to Arlington County.” [Facebook/Arlington DES]