SOVAH HEALTH

Local hospitals are preparing to face a potential rise in COVID-19 cases.

Frontline healthcare workers have faced unprecedented challenges over the last year and a half.

Authorities said a man is dead after a fatal crash in Pittsylvania County last week.

According to the Virginia Department of Health, nearly 80,000 people in Southside have received at least one dose, and about 66,000 are fully vaccinated.

Sovah Health announced a $12 million upgrade to the Danville emergency room.

A big week in Martinsville kicked off Tuesday with a special salute to our health care workers.

Here's a look at some of the stories we'll be following today as they make headlines across the country and Southwest Virginia.

Flashing lights and blaring sirens marked what Chief Medical Officer Sheranda Gunn-Nolan calls “the hardest year in medicine.”On Monday, first responders thanked Sovah healthcare workers who are tackling the pandemic on the frontlines. “What has been very difficult has been the feeling of helplessness because as caregivers we are here to help heal the body,” said Sovah Health Interim Chief Executive Officer Tory Shepherd. Seeing spikes in January at the system’s hospitals in Martinsville and Danville, 25 patients a day were in the critical care unit in Martinsville. With a vaccine available, many health care workers are rejoicing. Ad”We were able to do this under a year is a testament to man’s ingenuity,” said Dr. James McKay with Sovah Health.

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – With an empty COVID-19 unit in Martinsville and new coronavirus cases declining, Sovah Health hospitals are easing some of their visitor restrictions. A patient can have one visitor in the morning and a different visitor at night but visitors cannot switch during each time block. For high-risk patients, visitors are still not allowed. After using technology for months to connect patients with families, health care workers understand virtual support is not always enough. “There’s nothing that can substitute for having friends and family members at the bedside to help understand what’s happening and care,” Sovah Health Chief Nursing Officer Barbara Seymour said.

MARTINSVILLE, Va – Nearly one year since the pandemic started, staff members at Sovah Health Martinsville are celebrating a new milestone of their own. The hospital’s COVID-19 unit has been completely empty for an entire week. There are a handful of coronavirus-positive patients in the intensive care unit at the hospital. Members of the COVID-19 unit feel no victory is too small to celebrate after spending a year on the frontlines. Nearly one year since the pandemic started, staff members at Sovah Health Martinsville celebrated having an empty COVID unit for a whole week since last March.

The top man at Sovah Health in Martinsville is out. The health system confirmed to 10 News that Dale Alward is no longer the CEO at the Martinsville campus. Tory Shepherd, the hospital’s COO, will now serve as interim CEO. Tory Shepherd (Sovah Health)“We will inform our community when a permanent leader has been identified,” wrote Sovah Marketing Director Kelly Fitzgerald to 10 News in an email. “As a matter of practice, we maintain confidentiality on all personnel matters, so we cannot provide additional details.”This news comes on the same day that we learned Centra CEO Dr. Andy Mueller is leaving for Maine.

DANVILLE, Va. – Frontline workers at SOVAH Health in Danville and Martinsville are asking the community to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the holidays. The Danville hospital has lost 11 COVID-19 patients in the last week. This year has brought unprecedented challenges to our hospital, to the public health of our community, and to our personal lives. This is our Christmas wish from Sovah Health….. #MaskUp #SlowTheSpread #SovahHealth #DefeatCOVID19 #MakingCommunitiesHealthier Posted by Sovah Health - Martinsville on Tuesday, December 22, 2020“I have had to do CPR, in full PPE, respirators, goggles, gowns, gloves... I’m going tell you that that’s really hard. It’s really hard, watching patients die, and they can’t have their family members at their side,” SOVAH Nurse Tony Edmonds said.

Close to 600 people across Sovah Health are now vaccinated against COVID-19. You’re only doing half the work if you do half the dose,” said Sovah Health CMO Dr. Sheranda Gunn-Nolan. “We’re all hoping and pleading with the community, when it’s your time, be ready to be vaccinated,” said Sovah Health CEO Alan Larson. Sovah Health expects to receive the Moderna vaccine later this week. When we reached out to LewisGale, we were told that health group does have the Moderna vaccine.

ROANOKE, Va. – 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. “I think the federal express driver had never had such an exciting package on their truck,” 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.

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Staff at Sovah Health continue to see a rise in COVID-19 patients. The health system is treating 44 patients for COVID-19 between both the Danville and Martinsville campuses. In Sovah Health’s bi-weekly update, staff members reassured the community that there are adequate resources to treat COVID-19 patients and steps are being taken to prevent any new cases within the hospitals. We’re testing all admitted patients for COVID-19 as well,” hospitalist Adam Kostka said. Right now, Sovah Health is preforming elective surgeries but is limiting visitation to prevent the spread of the virus.

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – The Martinsville Police Department is searching for an 18-year-old man it believes shot at a car Sunday afternoon, hitting the driver. At 4:45 p.m., on Starling Avenue at the intersection of Wilson Street, Nyzah Antonio Bradley shot at a blue Chevy Camaro, hitting the driver in the leg, according to the Martinsville Police Department. The driver was then taken to Sovah Health in Martinsville and later released. Warrants have been issued for Bradley on the charges of malicious wounding, shooting into an occupied vehicle, using a firearm in the commission of a felony, reckless handling of a firearm and discharging a firearm in the city. Anyone has any information regarding this shooting or where Bradley may be is asked to contact Sgt.

HENRY COUNTY, Va. The Henry County Sheriffs Office is asking for help finding an Axton woman as they believe a man was shot multiple times at her home on Sunday. Shortly before 8 p.m., authorities learned that a 37-year-old man had been shot and was dropped off at the emergency room at Sovah Health in Martinsville. He was then flown to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Investigators believe that the shooting happened at the home of Brittany Monique Williams on Hobson Road in Axton. Deputies are searching for Williams and ask anyone with information to contact the Sheriffs Office at 276-638-8751.

DANVILLE, Va. Starting Monday, Sovah Health in Danville will gradually start allowing visitors again following a zero-visitor policy enacted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Below are some of the new guidelines:One visitor per day for telemetry, medical, surgical and one-day surgery areasOne support person for obstetric pateintsOne parent or guardian for pediatric patientsAll visitors must be 18 or older, and every visitor will be screened before entering the building and will be required to wear a mask. Visitors are not allowed for patients who are high risk, in isolation, are immunocompromised, under observation or test positive for coronavirus. Sovah Health is Martinsville still has a zero-visitors policy in place.

MARTINSVILLE, Va. NASCAR is showing its appreciation for some local doctors and nurses in a unique way. NASCAR haulers paraded around Sovah Health in Martinsville Monday afternoon. With the NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway Wednesday, the hospital thought the parade would be a good way to help celebrate the hospital and the doctors and nurses that work there. This is a very special day for us, once again to honor those frontline heroes, many, many, many of which are in this audience today, and say Thank you. We really appreciate NASCAR coming out and saying Thanks to all of you, our team here at Sovah Martinsville," said Sovah Health Martinsville CEO Dale Alward. After the parade, hospital employees were treated to meals.

DANVILLE, Va. Food for Frontline donations bought award-winning BBQ from a southside staple for employees at Sovah Health. On Wednesday, hospital employees were treated to lunch from the Checkered Pig BBQ. The community has been so supportive and so thankful, it's been very helpful, thank you, said Alan Larson, Sovah Health CEO. Thats just really a great experience to see everybody kind of pulling together during this time, said Leonard Phelps, Checkered Pig Assistant General Manager. Since the start of the initiative, 10 News viewers have donated more than $30,000 to feed more than 1,500 essential workers.

DANVILLE, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health and Sovah Health co-hosted a news conference on Wednesday afternoon. The two groups discussed COVID-19 updates about both the region and Sovah Health locations. Dr. Scott Spillmann, the Southside District health director for Virginia Department of Health and Sovah Health - Danville CEO Alan Larson spoke.

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – A 52-year-old Martinsville woman died after being hit by a car while trying to cross a street on Wednesday evening. Police said that Donna Day Spencer was trying in the 300 block of Fayette Street when she tried to cross the road at about 6:25 p.m., but was hit by a 2014 Toyota Prius. She was taken to Sovah Health in Martinsville and then to Roanoke Memorial Hospital where she died. The case remains under investigation by the Martinsville Police Department. Anyone with additional information about this accident is asked to contact Lt. S. E. Hines at 276-638-8751.

ROANOKE, Va. – Seasonal influenza precautions were in place as of Monday at Sovah Health’s Danville and Martinsville campuses. If you are visiting the campuses, the hospital recommends the following:Please limit the number of visitors to three (3) per patient, unless otherwise specified. Centra Lynchburg General Hospital also announced restrictions on visitation during flu season. Monday afternoon, flu recommendations were being finalized for Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, according to a hospital spokesperson. According to the Virginia Department of Health, as of Dec. 28, the flu was widespread in Virginia.