Health System News - July 2025
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CHKD's Mobile Intensive Care Service Celebrates 50 Years of Lifesaving Transport
When CHKD’s Transport Program was established in 1975, the team operated one vehicle with a two-person crew --- a pediatric nurse and a paramedic --- focused solely on the safe transport of critically ill and premature newborns to CHKD’s fledgling Neonatal/Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Fifty years and more than 50,000 transports later, CHKD’s Mobile Intensive Care teams now include pediatric respiratory therapists as well as nurses and paramedics, who operate out of a fleet of five distinctively-decorated trucks with the same quality of equipment and level of care found within the hospital.
The Mobile Intensive Care Unit team can be activated only by a physician's request and will operate under the direction of a CHKD physician once sent. The team is activated by a CHKD attending physician once contact with the referring physician has confirmed the need for transport. Referring physicians should ask for the response of the CHKD transport team during consultation. Referring physicians need only call one phone number for both consultation and transport team activation, (757) 668-8000.
CHKD Announcements
New Visitor Screening Procedures Begin July 17
As part of our ongoing commitment to safety, CHKD will begin screening all visitors to the main hospital for weapons starting Thursday, July 17.
Firearms, knives, tasers, pepper spray, and other weapons are forbidden inside our hospital. Any prohibited items detected during screening will be confiscated and not returned.
Please help us share this information with patients, families, and guests as needed, and thank you for supporting our efforts to maintain a safe environment for everyone at CHKD. Read More.
Practice Note: Effective August 1, H&Ps Required to Schedule Radiology Exams with Sedation/Anesthesia
To enhance patient safety and increase efficiency, CHKD Radiology will now require physician visit notes and/or H&Ps prior to scheduling radiology exams with sedation/anesthesia.
While this has been a written policy for many years, there has been a recent, significant increase in faxed physician orders without visit notes or H&Ps. This requires radiology staff to contact ordering physician practices to obtain this information, which has not always been provided in a timely manner. To address this inefficiency, no exams with sedation/anesthesia will be scheduled unless the order includes office notes and/or H&Ps.
Please share this important update with your office staff so that we can work together to provide the best possible care for your patients.
X-ray Services Resume at CHKD's Health Center at Concert Drive
Our radiology team is pleased to announce that the X-ray equipment upgrade at our Concert Drive location has been completed, and outpatient walk-in X-ray services have resumed using new state-of-the-art X-ray equipment. Thank you for your patience during the upgrade. Outpatient walk-in X-ray services are available at the following locations and times:
- Concert Drive: M–F, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Landstown: M–F, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Oakbrooke: M–F, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Loehmann’s Plaza: Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Volvo Parkway: Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Please share this update with your colleagues and patients.
New PPE Form Required
A new Virginia law updates the Preparticipation Physical Evaluation (PPE) form for student-athletes. Beginning July 1, the updated form will be valid for 14 months from the provider’s signature—two months longer than before. All public middle and high schools will accept it. The new form must be used for all physicals starting July 1 and must confirm that the student received a physical within 14 months, is cleared for sports participation, and has parental consent. Physicals completed on the old form before July 1 will still be accepted for 14 months from the signature date.
Please delete outdated forms from your files and shared drives, and begin using the updated version for any upcoming physicals.
Meredith Bucher Elected Region 5 President of Virginia Society of Health System Pharmacists
Congratulations to Meredith Bucher from the Pharmacy Department on being elected Region 5 President of the Virginia Society of Health-System Pharmacists (VSHP)! VSHP’s mission is to promote optimal, safe, and effective pharmaceutical care for all people.
This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to Meredith's leadership and dedication to advancing pharmacy practice. Her term began in June 2025, and we are proud to have her representing CHKD at the regional level.
Physician Education and Information
Pediatric Grand Rounds
Pediatric grand rounds, sponsored by the EVMS Department of Pediatrics, part of Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Science at ODU, are offered weekly to faculty, community faculty, residents, medical students, and other healthcare professionals. Come and learn about various topics led by local and national clinical experts. All participants receive1 AMA PRA Category 1 credit for attending.
View a List of Upcoming Topics
Innovation and Evidence-based Practice Conference
Thursday, October 9, 2025 | 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. | Waitzer Hall
Discover the latest in evidence-based practice, quality improvement strategies, and healthcare research. This event offers valuable insights and networking opportunities to enhance your practice and knowledge. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to showcase your process or quality improvement project at our Poster Exhibition.
Credits: CNE and AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Nuss Advanced Pectus Course - Registration Open
October 22, 23, & 24, 2025
This year’s course features didactic lectures by renowned experts in chest wall reconstruction from around the country, including Dr. Nuss. Additionally, there will be an interactive hands-on workshop where surgeons can observe the latest instruments and technology to enhance patient care for those with chest wall deformities. On the second day, there will be a concurrent breakout session tailored for allied health professionals and managers, focusing on establishing and maintaining a pectus program while optimizing patient care. There will also be opportunities for individual surgeons to submit interesting cases for group review and discussion by the expert panel.
Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University designates this live activity for a maximum of 14.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Resources for Patients and Families
Wonders and Worries: Back to School and Beyond
Two Part Series | Begins Thursday, July 31, 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Virtual
QPR - Suicide Prevention Training
Wednesday, August 6, 6:30-8 p.m. | Virtual
The Power of Positive Sports Parenting
Wednesday, August 13, 9-11 a.m. | YMCA Corporate Office, Chesapeake
Purposeful Parenting
Wednesday, August 13, 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Virtual
Provider Relations at CHKD