Making minutes count: Carilion trains to quickly respond to heart attacks
Carilion is training to respond quickly to heart attacks in honor of Heart Health Month. Carilion is nationally recognized for it's heart response, and how quickly it's doctors can perform advanced lifesaving care. Learn about the critical difference that timely response can make in the event of a heart emergency and how Carilion's medical team is dedicated to saving lives. Discover firsthand what happens behind the scenes when 911 is called for a heart attack and witness the efforts to make every minute count.
Demand for hip, knee, shoulder replacements projected to substantially increase in the next decade
As the population is aging, doctors are projecting a substantial increase in the number of hip, knee, and shoulder replacements in the next decade. Now, Carilion is re-starting educational sessions called Points on Joints to help navigate the process.
NRV girl who lost both feet in tragic incident defies odds, is now dancing happily
It's nothing short of miracle. Aubrey Scaletta from the New River Valley lost both her feet in an accident while riding in her father's pickup truck. After six surgeries, Aubrey is defying odds, not only walking, but dancing.
Local ministry hosting fundraiser to help 6 year old who lost feet in tragic accident
Family and friends in Roanoke are breathing a sigh of relief now that a young girl involved in a freak accident is home.The community is pitching in to help by raising money for her medical bills.Six-year-old Aubrey Scaletta had been at Carilion after she lost her feet in a freak accident. Doctors reattached them.Empty Tomb Motorcycle Ministry is hosting a ride where anyone can join. Itโs happening July 8th at Exalted Ministries. The ride begins on Williamson Road in Roanoke and continues to Radford University.
Mountain Lake Lodge partners with Carilion to raise mental health awareness in memory of Stephen โtWitchโ Boss
To bring more awareness to mental health struggles, even here in Virginia, Mountain Lake Lodge is partnering with Carilion Clinic Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Services to support the many initiatives critical to helping those in need, Stone said.
Officials cut the ribbon on $90 million biomedical research institute in Roanoke
The Roanoke Valley continues to be a leader in medical research and education as Virginia Tech and Carilion officially opened the $90-million, 139,000-square-foot Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion.
Carilion teams up with tech company to improve patient care
ROANOKE, Va. โ Carilion is thinking outside of the box to improve patient care. The health system is teaming up with tech company MetiStream to create a technology called the Surgical Clinical Reviewer. Essentially, it will use artificial intelligence to read charts, simplifying and speeding up whatโs currently a time-consuming process. This is the first collaboration between Carilion Innovation and an outside company. Ultimately, they hope this technology will be used in health systems nationwide.
Radford University to have in-person graduation ceremonies this spring
Following Virginiaโs draft plan thatโll allow more people at graduations, Radford University has announced that it will have in-person graduations on its main campus and at the Radford University Carilion campus. The undergraduate and graduate ceremonies for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021 will be held April 29 through May 2. Graduates will be allowed up to four guests and must complete a Commencement RSVP Form by April 16. The university said that people will be required to follow Radford University protocols, wear masks and social distance.
โWeโre not at the finish line yet but it is so hopefulโ: Carilion reflects on one year of COVID-19
ROANOKE, Va. โ Exactly one year ago Wednesday, Carilionโs first COVID-19 patient was in the hospital, but they didnโt know it yet. โNo one really has been untouched by this virus,โ said Dr. Chad Alvarez, senior director of Retail Pharmacy for Carilion. A year after the first COVID-19 case reached southwest Virginia, leaders at Carilion are reflecting on how theyโve overcome unprecedented challenges. AdCOVID-19 reached a peak in southwest Virginia in January with 450 hospitalizations. โWeโre not at the finish line yet but it is so hopeful,โ Abbott said.
Carilion Clinic shares tips on how to spot โspoof callsโ
Carilion Clinic is warning people about a rise in โspoof callsโ and wants to offer tips on how to spot phone scammers. Phone scam calls might be hard to spot given that scammers can use illegal spoofing techniques to display fake information in a caller ID. Here are seven tips Carilion has shared for dealing with spoof calls:Donโt give out personal informationIf someone calls from an unknown number, donโt answer itIf you find that the caller isnโt who you thought it was, end the callIf you are asked to hit a button to stop getting the calls after answering the phone, end the callDonโt answer any questions, especially if they are closed-ended onesBe wary if the call seems suspicious or youโre being pressured to providing informationSet a password for your voicemail accountCarilion said that people should avoid giving out their personal information and answering calls from unknown numbers. People can call their provider or the main Carilion number at 800-422-8482 to check if a call was legitimate. If you believe you were scammed you can file a complaint with the FCC.
Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital to loosen restrictions this week
LEXINGTON, Va. โ Starting Tuesday, people will be able to visit their loved ones at the Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital. The Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital will be relaxing its visitation policy after most Carilion hospitals did the same a week ago. Starting Tuesday at 9 a.m., Carilion Rockbridge Community Hospital will switch from the highly restricted red level to the just restricted visitation of its yellow level. The yellow level allows most patients to have one adult visitor per day while the red level does not allow visitors with few exceptions. Carilion raised its visitation restrictions to red level back in December.
Frontline workers discuss mental health impacts of COVID-19 pandemic
Now, mental health professionals are looking at the potential long-term impacts COVID-19 has had on healthcare providers. According to Mental Health America, 93% of healthcare workers have felt stressed or overwhelmed in the last year. โI think that those people who have been most impacted are seeing the most mental health impacts as well,โ Karen Pillis with Family Service of Roanoke Valley said. โThe mental health effects lasts much longer thereโs, and I believe in this case, we have not even begun to see like the next wave,โ Pillis said. Family Service of Roanoke Valley is offering four free short-term sessions to anyone who may be experiencing stress or anxiety from the pandemic.
Carilion to loosen visitation restrictions in several hospitals this week
ROANOKE, Va. โ A coming change will allow many adult patients to now have a visitor with them. Starting Tuesday at 9 a.m., the following hospitals will shift from Carilionโs highly-restricted red level down to just restricted visitation of its yellow level:Carilion Franklin Memorial HospitalCarilion Giles Community HospitalCarilion New River Valley Medical CenterCarilion Roanoke Community HospitalCarilion Roanoke Memorial HospitalCarilion Tazewell Community HospitalCarilion Rockbridge Community Hospital will continue operating at the red level remain until further notice. Yellow level allows most patients to have one adult visitor per day, something not allowed while hospitals were at red level. Carilion raised its visitation restrictions to red level back in December. AdClick here to learn more about the restrictions at each facility.
Carilion study to offer alternative options for heart failure patients
A Carilion structural cardiologist has conducted a clinical trial that will help patients with complex heart failure conditions. Dr. Jason Foerst is the first provider in the country to enroll a patient in a heart failure clinical trial, โThe CORCINCH-HFโ study, according to a statement sent by Carilion Tuesday morning. Officials say the research will help Carilion offer alternative options for patients with complex heart failure conditions. The study aims to explore the AccuCinchยฎ Ventricular Restoration System as a potential treatment option for heart failure patients who are experiencing shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling due to the bottom left portion of the heart not functioning properly, according to the release. AdCurrently, there are no other treatments available for this complex heart failure condition, and Carilionโs Cardiovascular Institute is one of the select sites to participate nationwide.
โHope is within sightโ: First mass vaccination clinic in Roanoke Valley fully booked
ROANOKE, Va. โ The next step of vaccine distribution in the Roanoke Valley was announced Wednesday. Carilion and the Virginia Department of Health announced mass clinics for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. After lots of confusion and frustration over a slow COVID vaccine rollout, hope is on the horizon for thousands. Carilion and VDH are teaming up to vaccinate 4,000 adults 65 and older in the Roanoke Valley this weekend. Leaders from the health department and Carilion ensure their partnership will get shots in arms as efficiently and effectively as possible but itโs all dependent on supply.
6,000 Carilion employees have received the COVID-19 vaccine
ROANOKE, Va โ Thousands of healthcare providers at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Since getting its first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine three weeks ago, nearly 6,000 of Carilionโs 13,000 employees have gotten the first dose. More than 1,500 employees are on track to get their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine this week. But more vaccines have also caused some hurdles for Carilion, including finding ultra-cold storage for the Pfizer vaccine. While the vaccine distribution has been steady among staff, the number of COVID-19 patients being treated at the hospital continues to rise.
Carilion experts urge people to stay vigilant during holidays as vaccines are distributed
ROANOKE, Va. โ Just days away from Christmas, local doctors are urging you not to let your guard down when it comes to COVID-19. As vaccines roll out, experts at Carilion say itโs more important than ever to be extra cautious by continuing to wear masks, practice social distancing and avoid large gatherings. โThese sets of mutations may, and I emphasize may, increase contagiousness between people, transmissibility between people. Itโs also possible that lack of precautions, mask wearing, social distancing, not getting together in big groups could also be at play here,โ said Skolnik. In the last week, theyโve used about 75% of the initial Pfizer allotment.
โNerve-wracking and rewardingโ: Virginia health care systems begin vaccinating frontline workers for COVID-19
ROANOKE, Va. โ After months of waiting, frontline workers in our area are now being vaccinated for COVID-19. The shipment rolled into the region Tuesday and Wednesday and priority workers started rolling up their sleeves. โI think the federal express driver had never had such an exciting package on their truck,โ said Alan Larson, Sovah Health, Market President and CEO Sovah Health in Danville. She says while she loves caring for the sick, this pandemic has taken a physical and emotional toll on healthcare workers. After playing defense for months, the small vaccine is a big weapon in the fight to put the pandemic behind us.
Local health experts discuss vaccine distribution, latest COVID-19 numbers
LYNCHBURG, Va. โ Health officials in the Southwest Region, including Carilion, Centra, LewisGale, and Sovah, report 280 patients are hospitalized with the coronavirus, 61 are in the ICU and 30 are on ventilators. At Centra Health, officials are unsure when theyโll get the vaccine or how. โThey do likely have some amount of immunity to it, unclear of how much and for how long. We still donโt still know is that enough immunity to protect them for a good enough while that weโd say, โwell, letโs not vaccine,โ said Dr. Christopher Lewis of Centra Health. Centra officials say theyโre not going to mandate it for caregivers but strongly encourage it.
Carilion expert weighs in on new CDC research that says masks protect wearer
Researchers now say that wearing a mask can protect you, not just others, from COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control just published new research that shows that wearing a multi-layer cloth mask can block even small droplets that could contain COVID-19. An expert from Carilion Clinic said that this is an important message everyone should hear. And people just need to wear their mask so we can further control the COVID-19 pandemic," said Dr. Paul Skolnik, the chair of medicine for Carilion Clinic. Mask wearing could also prevent future lockdowns, so the CDC is recommending widespread community use.
Hereโs how you can help get toys to kids at Carilion Childrenโs this holiday season
ROANOKE, Va. โ The holidays are going to look a lot different this year, especially for children in the hospital. Carilion Childrenโs usually relies on corporate sponsors to provide holiday gifts but because most people are working virtually, employee toy drives are less likely this year. Junior League of Roanoke Valley (JLRV) is partnering with Carilion for a toy drive, asking the community to step up and help make the holidays brighter for these children. โIt is an unprecedented year and a difficult time for many across the Roanoke Valley. Community members must wear masks when dropping off toys, and they will be asked to place them in the bins themselves.
Carilion Clinic receives nearly $1M to expand telemedicine to rural communities
โItโs another tool in our toolbox," said Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Information Officer, Dr. Stephen Morga. The grant allows Carilion to create Virtual Care Centers so patients who live far away from specialty doctors can go to a medical office closer to home. โFolks that have to take a bus or donโt have their own transportation really find it hard to get in routinely for medical care. Carilion plans to educate patients about the technology so they could use it from home. Carilion plans to implement the changes and technology starting at the beginning of 2021.
As COVID-19 hospitalizations rise, Roanoke Valley health officials urge community to be vigilant
ROANOKE, Va โ A rise in hospitalizations for COVID-19 cases has health officials in the Roanoke and Alleghany Health Districts calling for more vigilance from the public when it comes to curbing the spread of the disease. Health officials say they are now seeing the most hospitalizations since March. This week the Virginia Department of Health is reporting an increase of 11 hospitalizations related to COVID bringing the total to 50 in the Roanoke-Alleghany region. As our Virginia Department of Health colleagues have mentioned, we saw 26 outbreaks of COVID-19 last week in the Roanoke and Alleghany Health District. Health Department leaders warn that as flu season quickly approaches, it is up to everyone to seriously follow the guidelines to prevent a further spike in hospitalizations, outbreaks, and COVID-19 cases.