🎉 Final IPC Week Update: And the Winners Are…!

What an incredible week it’s been across the region! From creative posters and hilarious skits to neon hand hygiene flair and hidden germs, our teams proved that infection prevention is both essential and exciting. The 2025 Infection Prevention Week Regional Competition showcased the best of teamwork, creativity, and commitment to patient safety — and now it’s time to announce our final results!

Submitted by Stephanie W. Hodges, BSN, RN, CEN, CFMH ED Director

We would like to extend our gratitude to our incredible medical interpreters. Your skill, compassion, and dedication bridge the gap between languages and ensure that every patient is heard, understood, and cared for. You make communication possible in the most meaningful moments. Thank you for being the voice that connects us all and for making a difference with every word you interpret. We appreciate you! 

Kudos to the Life-Guard flight crew for achieving both of their clinical focus goals for FY25 — and going above and beyond! They exceeded the national average of all flight programs contributing to the GAMUT (Ground and Air Medical Quality Transport) database in two critical areas:

Jon and Bryan provided us with a great breakfast this morning to get our Monday started off right. Thank you both. We really appreciate everything you do for our team.

This week we celebrate the people who keep our hospitals safe, reliable, and ready — our healthcare engineers and facility professionals. Their work embodies Carilion’s Values every day. Curiosity drives them to understand complex systems and find better solutions. Collaboration connects them with caregivers, contractors, and support teams to keep operations seamless. Commitment keeps them on call through storms, shutdowns, and emergencies. Compassion reminds them that every repair ultimately protects a patient.

October 19-25 celebrates the vital role that our Pharmacy Team plays in improving the health of the communities we serve.  Our Pharmacy team is involved in every aspect of medication delivery throughout the system-from purchasing to distribution, drug information to clinical decision making, dispensing to medication assistance, our teams are the medication experts.

Hello everyone,

I’m excited to share and celebrate our outstanding quality performance for the month of September! We achieved zero CLABSI infections across our organization in September, and we’ve continued our streak with zero HAIs so far in October.

This achievement reflects the exceptional care, dedication, and teamwork each of you demonstrates every day in providing the highest quality care to our patients. Thank you for your continued commitment to excellence!

Your hard work does not go unnoticed!

Dr. Lisa Uherick traveled to Richmond in early October to receive the 2025 Virginia Primary Care Workforce Champion award. Dr. Uherick, along with Drs. Stephen Combs (Ballad Health) and Andreya Risser (Bon Secours), was recognized by the Virginia Center for Health Innovation for supporting physician well-being and Carilion's participation in the AMA's Joy in Medicine program.  

Thank you for representing Carilion's well-being work, Dr. Uherick!

Chris Monk swiftly stepped into to care for a sick coworker in the lobby when arriving to work this week. She left her own items behind and wheeled her to the ED to ensure she received immediate attention! Your commitment to others does not go unnoticed Chris!