We were incredibly humbled by the show of support from our incredible community partners, including the Arlington County Government, Arlington County Police Department and Arlington County Fire Department. Thank you to all who came out to recognize our team members who join us on the front lines of COVID-19. We are honored to work alongside you in protecting our community! #StrongTogether
Virginia Hospital Center is among the first hospitals in the nation to receive the fastest available molecular point-of-care test for the detection of COVID-19. The test shows positive results for COVID-19 in as little as five minutes and negative results in 13 minutes. VHC’s Chief Medical Officer, Jeffrey DiLisi, MD, MBA spoke to Fox 5 DC this morning to discuss how VHC is using the test, and what it means for our community.
Maryanne Boster
Director of Corporate Communications
Virginia Hospital Center
tel: 703.558.6581
Arlington, VA: April 10, 2020 – Virginia Hospital Center (VHC), a community-based hospital providing medical services to the Washington, DC metropolitan area for 75 years, is among the first hospitals in the nation to receive the fastest available molecular point-of-care test for the detection of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), delivering positive results in as little as five minutes and negative results in 13 minutes.
“Access to testing remains a crucial step in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jeffrey DiLisi, Chief Medical Officer of Virginia Hospital Center. “Our ability to use this rapid result test is a great step forward in protecting the safety of our patients, staff and community.”
The new Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test runs on Abbott’s ID NOWTM platform—a lightweight box (6.6 pounds and the size of a small toaster) that can sit in a variety of locations. Because of its small size, it can be used in more non-traditional places where people can have their results in a matter of minutes, bringing an alternate testing technology to combat the novel coronavirus.
“Through the incredible work of teams across Abbott, we expect to deliver 50,000 COVID-19 tests per day to healthcare professionals on the front lines, where testing capabilities are needed most,” Chris Scoggins, Senior Vice President of Rapid Diagnostics at Abbott said in a statement. “Portable molecular testing expands the country’s capacity to get people answers faster.”
Virginia Hospital Center is now using the ID NOW COVID-19 test to confirm COVID-19 diagnoses for inpatients and VHC staff.
Maryanne Boster
Director of Corporate Communications
Virginia Hospital Center
tel: 703.558.6581
Arlington, VA: April 10, 2020 – Virginia Hospital Center (VHC), a community-based hospital providing medical services to the Washington, DC metropolitan area for 75 years, has joined a national clinical trial to test a potential medication for the treatment of COVID-19. Hospitalized adult patients with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and significant symptoms – including difficulty breathing, using supplemental oxygen or needing a ventilator – can now enroll in the trial through VHC.
The trial will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of remdesivir, an antiviral drug previously tested in humans for the treatment of Ebola. Remdesivir has shown promise in animal studies as a treatment for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) which are both caused by different types of coronavirus.
“Investigating all potential treatments for this novel coronavirus is a top priority here at VHC as we work to provide our patients with the best possible care,” said Jeffrey DiLisi, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Virginia Hospital Center. “We are optimistic that the data collected through this valuable study may help to positively shape the outcomes for all patients diagnosed with COVID-19 going forward.”
Participants in the trial will be randomly assigned to either receive remdesivir or a placebo intravenously for up to 10 days. Trial participants and their doctors will not know whether patients are receiving the medication or a placebo. Patients will otherwise receive the current standard of care for their symptoms. VHC physicians will assess trial participants each day for changes in their condition.
Trial data from all participating hospitals and an estimated 440 patient participants will be combined and analyzed about halfway through the trial’s enrollment period to determine whether any changes to the trial are needed. The trial could be stopped if participants are not benefiting from remdesivir, or the trial could be changed to add another medication or therapy that could improve participants’ response.
The study is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a division of the National Institutes of Health. Gilead Sciences Inc., which developed remdesivir, is supplying it for the study.
Maryanne Boster
Director of Corporate Communications
Virginia Hospital Center
tel: 703.558.6581
Arlington, VA: April 10, 2020 –Virginia Hospital Center (VHC), a community-based hospital providing medical services to the Washington, DC metropolitan area for 75 years, is proud to be an official partner site for the Mayo Clinic’s investigational convalescent plasma program. The program explores the use of convalescent plasma as a potential treatment for hospitalized patients with severe or life-threatening COVID-19, or those at high risk of progression to severe or life-threatening disease.
“Virginia Hospital Center is always at the forefront when it comes to innovative methods that protect the safety of our patients, staff and community,” said Jeffrey DiLisi, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Virginia Hospital Center. “Increasing our understanding of potential treatments for this novel coronavirus is a critical next step in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Convalescent plasma refers to blood plasma collected from individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. That plasma is then used to treat other hospitalized patients with advanced illness. The plasma donor must have recovered from, and then tested negative for, COVID-19 and be otherwise healthy. The patient is transfused with the donor’s plasma, which contains antibodies that can attack the virus and may help patients recover more rapidly.
The convalescent plasma program at Mayo Clinic, led by researcher Michael Joyner, MD, grew from a national initiative of physicians and investigators from 40 institutions who self-organized to investigate the use of convalescent plasma during the COVID-19 pandemic.
VHC began enrolling patients and interested, eligible donors into the program earlier this week.
Maryanne Boster
Director of Corporate Communications
Virginia Hospital Center
tel: 703.558.6581
Arlington, VA: April 10, 2020 – The drive-through COVID-19 Sample Collection Site opened by Virginia Hospital Center (VHC), a community-based hospital providing medical services to the Washington, DC metropolitan area for 75 years, in partnership with Arlington County has collected samples for COVID-19 testing from more than 1,000 patients since first opening on March 18.
“Every person who comes through our site is now one step closer to having much-needed answers,” said James Meenan, Director of the Outpatient Lab at Virginia Hospital Center. “Our team continues to become more and more efficient as we provide this service to members of our community.”
“Testing for COVID-19 is an important tool to slow the spread of the virus in our community, in our region, and our nation. The sample collection effort that Virginia Hospital Center has stood up with Arlington is helping our community add a critical tool to slowing the spread of virus here,” said Dr. Reuben Varghese, Health Director and Public Health Division Chief for Arlington County. “This tool along with physical distancing of 6 feet or greater when you have to go outside as permitted under the stay at home orders in the Commonwealth, and frequently washing your hands with soap and water are a package of tools in our control to slow COVID-19 and flatten the curve.”
As the team onsite has worked to streamline its processes, the Hospital has been able to expand available appointments and the COVID Scheduling Line hours.
VHC has added additional partner labs to process the samples for testing to facilitate faster turnaround times for results. Individuals waiting for results should follow the instructions of their health care provider and self-quarantine.
To protect patient privacy, media access to the site remains restricted. B-roll footage for use by media outlets is available online.
Elise Yanker Hasenei is a breast cancer survivor who knows firsthand what it’s like to spend a lot of time inside of a hospital. One of the many things she felt were out of her control were the hospital gowns she had to wear during treatment. Shortly after she beat cancer in 2013, she created a cancer gown company based in Arlington, Virginia, called Go Lisey. Now, amid the COVID-19 pandemic – she has donated 140 of the gowns to Virginia Hospital Center.
ABC7 News is On Your Side with what you need to know before you or a loved one heads to the delivery room.
“He’s a sweetheart,” said Taryn Overman as she held her newborn in her room at Virginia Hospital Center.
