The Southwest Virginia Healthcare Coalition (SVHC) has been hard at work this budget period and wanted to take a moment to share updates on current projects, upcoming exercises, training opportunities, and more. We encourage you to read, bookmark, and revisit the information below as needed.
Many of these items will be discussed in greater detail at our next Coalition Meeting on Tuesday, April 14th. If you haven’t already, please click here to register.
VHASS Updates
We continue to make important enhancements to the Virginia Healthcare Alerting and Status System (VHASS) to strengthen platform security and usability. Most recently, we implemented multi-factor authentication (MFA) at login. Last month, we worked with coalition partners to ensure organizational domains were in place to support this upgrade.
To support users, we:
- Host monthly VHASS Office Hours
- Remain available by request for technical assistance
- Continue our monthly communications test within VHASS
We’ll discuss at the upcoming Coalition Meeting whether any changes or enhancements to the communications test are needed.
Upcoming VHASS Office Hours & Communications Tests
Regional Medical Response & Surge Exercise
On Thursday, April 30, SVHC will host its annual Regional Medical Response and Surge Exercise for hospitals, EMS, and the RHCC.
Our final planning meeting will take place on:
- Friday, April 10 at 1:00 p.m.
For questions or additional details, please contact Mary Kathryn Alley or Jeff McKinney.
Hospital Site Visits
Jeff McKinney, Hospital Readiness and Response Coordinator, is actively coordinating annual hospital site visits. If you have not yet scheduled your visit, please reach out to Jeff!
All site visits must be completed by June 30, 2026.
Coalition Meeting
SVHC will host its next Coalition Meeting on:
This meeting is open to all coalition partners and will include updates on current projects, upcoming events, and an opportunity for open discussion and feedback. The Coalition Advisory Committee will meet briefly prior to the full meeting.
Pediatric Pandemic Network: Infectious Disease Tabletop Exercise
On Wednesday, April 15 at 1:00 p.m., the Pediatric Pandemic Network will host a nationwide tabletop exercise focused on infectious disease response. The Virginia Healthcare Emergency Management Program (VHEMP) will facilitate a Virginia-specific breakout room.
VHEMP Hospital Emergency Management Forum
On Tuesday, April 21, VHHA will host the VHEMP Hospital Emergency Management Forum in person in Richmond, VA. While this forum is typically held virtually on the second Friday of each month, the April meeting will be an in-person lunch‑and‑learn session featuring presentations from healthcare continuity planning experts.
2026 Virginia Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Summit
You’re invited to attend the 2026 Virginia Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Summit on Wednesday, April 22.
Theme:
The Preparedness Crossroads: Integrating Legacy Challenges with Emerging Global Threats
This full-day event brings together healthcare professionals, emergency management leaders, support organizations, and industry partners to strengthen readiness for threats to healthcare delivery, including:
- Cybersecurity incidents
- Outpatient facility safety
- Business continuity challenges
- Water service interruptions
- Disaster cost tracking
- Supply chain disruptions
Regional partners may be eligible for reimbursement if a signed MOU is on file.
Click here for additional information.
Certified Healthcare Emergency Coordinator (CHEC) Courses
SVHC will host CHEC Basic and Advanced Courses in Roanoke, VA, on May 19–21, 2026.
CHEC Basic (2 days)
- Foundational training in healthcare emergency management
- All-hazards approach to planning, response, and leadership
- Open to healthcare staff supporting incident management, emergency preparedness, or risk management
- Prerequisite for CHEC Advanced
- Register here, Enrollment Key: CHECB526SWVA
CHEC Advanced (1 day)
- In-depth focus on emergency plans and exercises
- Covers plan development, annexes, implementation, evaluation, and exercising
- Part of a tiered certification process leading to three levels of CHEC certification
- Register here, Enrollment Key: CHECA526SWVA
Click here to learn more.
Community-Based Emergency Response Program Tabletop Exercises
This spring, the Virginia Department of Health will host tabletop exercises across the Commonwealth focused on:
- Mass care
- Mass casualty incidents
- Mass fatality events
Click here for more information and to find an exercise near you.
Basic & Advanced Disaster Life Support (BDLS® / ADLS®)
SVHC will host the National Disaster Life Support Foundation courses in Roanoke, VA, on June 9–11, 2026.
Basic Disaster Life Support™ (BDLS®)
- 7.5-hour, awareness-level course
- Emphasizes an all-hazards approach to disaster response
- Covers workforce readiness, triage, fatality management, and population-based care
- Certification valid for three years
- Register Here, Enrollment Key: BDLS626SWVA
Advanced Disaster Life Support™ (ADLS®)
- 15-hour, hands-on course
- Focus on mass casualty management and surge capacity
- Includes interactive scenarios, tabletop exercises, PPE skills, and EOC simulations
- Requires prior completion of CDLS® and BDLS®
- Certification valid for three years
- Register Here, Enrollment Key: ADLS626SWVA
CMS Exercise Series
We recently wrapped up our CMS Exercise Series. Exercise materials are available here.
Hospital Match Reporting
Last, but certainly not least for our Hospital partners, please remember to begin working on end-of-year 10% or in-kind match reporting, as required under the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) MOU.
- Reporting period: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
- Online reporting form here, including examples to provide context
- Match reporting questions can be addressed during site visits
For questions, please contact Mary Kathryn Alley.
We know this is a lot of information, but we hope that having it all in one place serves as a helpful resource rather than a burden as we begin to wrap up the final quarter of our fiscal year.
