As we close out the fiscal year, it’s hard to believe how quickly it has come to an end. While funding delays made it feel like we were just getting started, the SVHC team has been working diligently to wrap up end-of-year deliverables and close out projects in preparation for the new program year beginning July 1.
If you have attended coalition meetings this year, you are aware that the Virginia Healthcare Emergency Management Program (VHEMP) has undergone several changes in recent years. To support long-term sustainability and resilience, the Southwest Virginia, Central Virginia, and Eastern Virginia Healthcare Coalitions will be combining efforts to support partners across the Commonwealth in a more unified approach.
This will enhance our resilience and interoperability across the Commonwealth. The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA) will operate a single Regional Healthcare Coordination Center (RHCC), supported by one centralized hotline: (346) 766-8663. As you being to update and review your emergency plans, please be sure to include this number. All existing coalition phone numbers will automatically forward to this line.
You may also notice updates to staff roles and titles, reflecting this new program structure.This change does not mean we will lose our regional focus. We will maintain our regional advisory boards and medical advisors. Each region is unique, and our role is to serve our communities. We encourage you to join us for our next coalition meeting on July 28 at 2:00 PM, where we will share additional details about these changes and what they mean for our partners.
As part of this transition, VHHA will also begin curating and distributing preparedness updates that reflect a broader, statewide perspective. So we are saying goodbye to our regional listserv and newsletter; The Weekly Situational Brief . During our July meeting, we will share information on how to subscribe and stay connected to these updates moving forward.
