Category Archives: Uncategorized

Fredericksburg Region VCNP Board Meeting 8/30/21

General News, News - Fredericksburg, Uncategorized

Planning a “Meet-your-NP” event, which has changed several times now due to rising Covid rates.

Talk to Samantha/Rachel about a “Yoga in the Park” session- meet your NP for October ( possibly 10/18/21). Mary Washington Park- bring water bottles, consider sticker labels with some NP info on the bottles, possibly small essential oil to give participants. Timmye will check with the “Scenter of Town” on the oils available. Linda will check with Rachel/Samantha on the yoga instruction.

Nominations to go out. We need a president elect after Rachel Farrar steps in as president.

Although we can’t be together in person, VCNP is committed to serving it’s members and providing member-exclusive benefits. We discussed CME options since we are unable to have a CME gathering locally. Also, the Legislative meeting this year will be postponed due to rising Covid numbers and restrictions on gatherings.

Piper suggested our local VCNP group send out the invitation she received from local endocrinology PA Scott Urquart for the 4th Annual Advanced Practice Collaborative virtual interactive conference to be held September 10-11, 2021.

A blast email invitation for the conference went out to the Mary Washington Healthcare PAs and NPs, as well as to all the VCNP members of the Fredericksburg Region including the code to cover the cost of the conference which was provided by Scott for all to use.

VCNP dues are due! Make sure your membership dues do not lapse!

Submitted 9/1/21 JPSF

VCNP Shenandoah Region May 2021 Meeting Minutes

News - Shenandoah, Uncategorized

VCNP-Shenandoah Region

May 2021 Meeting Minutes

May 20, 2021

Members in attendance:  Sarah Gibson, Monica Heck, Vicky Sullivan, Maretta Yoder, Heather Codding, Haley Tusing, Susan Adamson, Andrea Knopp, Amy Graham.  Virtual:  Lynne Poole

Meeting Location:  Vito’s Restaurant.  Harrisonburg, Virginia

Presentation:  Trauma Informed Care-What Providers Need to Know

Speaker:  Monica Heck DNP, FNP-C

Business Meeting:  

  1.  Future meetings were discussed. Plan for September 16 and November 18, 2021.  September meeting will likely be a drug rep sponsored dinner and the speaker in November is Rimma Wolfe- a pharmacist, topic TBD.  Locations TBD.
  •  Susan Adamson updated us on the opening of the new Free Clinic.  There have been 85 visits in the first 5 weeks!          
  •  Further discussion on ways to boost attendance at our meetings, including:  door prizes and NP student scholarships.  These topics will be further discussed with hope of finalizing plans at the next meeting. 

The meeting was then adjourned.

Respectively submitted.

Maretta Yoder, Secretary

In the News

Uncategorized

VCNP members have recently been featured in a variety of news stories across the commonwealth and the nation. Congratulations on your recognition, and thank you for sharing the great work of NPs!

Distinguished NP Award recipient Kathleen Putnam, PhD, WHNP-BC, spoke with WDBJ about her NP career.

https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/04/30/local-nurse-practitioner-gets-award-after-nearly-three-decades-of-practicing/

VCNP Rising Star Award recipient Brenda Kozak, FNP-C, was interviewed for a WFXR story about her recent recognition. https://www.wfxrtv.com/living-local/local-nurse-practitioner-wins-commonwealth-rising-star-award/ –  

Deborah Gray, DNP, ANP-BC, FNP-C, FAANP, was recognized with ODU’s Provost Award for Leadership in International Education.

https://www.odu.edu/news/2021/4/deborah_gray_wins_pr#.YJA5uuspA0q

Susan Adamson, FNP, MSN, chair of the Blue Ridge Free Clinic’s Board of Directors, spoke with WHSV about the new clinic, which opened April 12.  https://www.whsv.com/2021/04/02/new-free-clinic-to-open-in-harrisonburg/.  

Deborah Gray, DNP, ANP-BC, FNP-C, FAANP, shared her experience with Shot@Life, a grassroots advocacy campaign to improve the health of children worldwide by increasing access to vaccines.

https://www.aanp.org/news-feed/faanp-impacting-the-health-of-children-worldwide-one-shot-at-a-time?utm_source=Real_Magnet&utm_medium=Ebulletin&utm_campaign=PPP_ShotatLife_2021&utm_content=04_21

Teresa Tyson, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, and The Health Wagon were featured in a Wall Street Journal article about COVID vaccines reaching remote areas of the country. (https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-reach-the-most-remote-americans-11615982401)

Eileen O’Grady, RN, NP, PhD, was interviewed on Good Morning Washington (https://wjla.com/features/good-morning-washington/investing-in-yourself-the-next-level-of-well-being) and quoted in a peer reviewed journal article (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1555415520305109?dgcid=author). 

Teresa Gardner, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, spoke to CBS News about how the Health Wagon is waiting for vaccines for patients in southwestern Virginia. https://tinyurl.com/ec4w47tu 

Kathryn Reid, PhD, was interviewed about autonomous practice licensure in this Ask a Professor column. https://www.npschools.com/blog/guide-to-np-practice-in-virginia?fbclid=IwAR0jlUrK7UwRKy7LjBpTVhXZ8K3PW1C1MpsIEKIgeOhIyqcf3B6eHbWoJG8

Katie Page, CNM, MSN, FACNM, was quoted in a Virginia Mercury article about nurse midwives. https://www.virginiamercury.com/2021/03/03/in-virginia-a-growing-focus-on-maternal-health-disparities-helped-remove-barriers-for-nurse-midwives/

Olivia Newby, DNP, FNP-BC, CDE, FAANP, authored an op-ed that appeared in The Virginian-Pilot about HB 1737. https://www.pilotonline.com/opinion/columns/vp-ed-column-newby-0223-20210222-a5obo4avwjh4fbkeazgjgubk7i-story.html.  

In the News

Uncategorized

 

VCNP members have recently been featured in a variety of news stories across the commonwealth and the nation. Congratulations on your recognition, and thank you for sharing the great work of NPs!

Distinguished NP Award recipient Kathleen Putnam, PhD, WHNP-BC, spoke with WDBJ about her NP career.

https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/04/30/local-nurse-practitioner-gets-award-after-nearly-three-decades-of-practicing/

VCNP Rising Star Award recipient Brenda Kozak, FNP-C, was interviewed for a WFXR story about her recent recognition. https://www.wfxrtv.com/living-local/local-nurse-practitioner-wins-commonwealth-rising-star-award/ –  

Deborah Gray, DNP, ANP-BC, FNP-C, FAANP, was recognized with ODU’s Provost Award for Leadership in International Education.

https://www.odu.edu/news/2021/4/deborah_gray_wins_pr#.YJA5uuspA0q

Susan Adamson, FNP, MSN, chair of the Blue Ridge Free Clinic’s Board of Directors, spoke with WHSV about the new clinic, which opened April 12.  https://www.whsv.com/2021/04/02/new-free-clinic-to-open-in-harrisonburg/.  

Deborah Gray, DNP, ANP-BC, FNP-C, FAANP, shared her experience with Shot@Life, a grassroots advocacy campaign to improve the health of children worldwide by increasing access to vaccines.

https://www.aanp.org/news-feed/faanp-impacting-the-health-of-children-worldwide-one-shot-at-a-time?utm_source=Real_Magnet&utm_medium=Ebulletin&utm_campaign=PPP_ShotatLife_2021&utm_content=04_21

Teresa Tyson, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, and The Health Wagon were featured in a Wall Street Journal article about COVID vaccines reaching remote areas of the country. (https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-reach-the-most-remote-americans-11615982401)

Eileen O’Grady, RN, NP, PhD, was interviewed on Good Morning Washington (https://wjla.com/features/good-morning-washington/investing-in-yourself-the-next-level-of-well-being) and quoted in a peer reviewed journal article (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1555415520305109?dgcid=author). 

Teresa Gardner, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, spoke to CBS News about how the Health Wagon is waiting for vaccines for patients in southwestern Virginia. https://tinyurl.com/ec4w47tu 

Kathryn Reid, PhD, was interviewed about autonomous practice licensure in this Ask a Professor column. https://www.npschools.com/blog/guide-to-np-practice-in-virginia?fbclid=IwAR0jlUrK7UwRKy7LjBpTVhXZ8K3PW1C1MpsIEKIgeOhIyqcf3B6eHbWoJG8

Katie Page, CNM, MSN, FACNM, was quoted in a Virginia Mercury article about nurse midwives. https://www.virginiamercury.com/2021/03/03/in-virginia-a-growing-focus-on-maternal-health-disparities-helped-remove-barriers-for-nurse-midwives/  

Olivia Newby, DNP, FNP-BC, CDE, FAANP, authored an op-ed that appeared in The Virginian-Pilot about HB 1737. https://www.pilotonline.com/opinion/columns/vp-ed-column-newby-0223-20210222-a5obo4avwjh4fbkeazgjgubk7i-story.html.  

Uncategorized

3/1/21 Fredericksburg Regional Board Meeting minutes:

Planning a local meeting for April on Anxiety/depression. Will ask Elizabeth Wheatley if she can speak. Do online CEs. Consider future meetings outside or in a park like setting? Cookout style? “Meet your VCNP”? Yoga in the park? Ren Fields or Linda’s coworker? Self-care theme? Essential oils?

Tiffany Simons- Treasurer report: $500 to Juan More Taco feeding program. 252 socks to Micah Ministries.

Regional CE planner- Cherie Wright- nothing to report.

Nicole Brooks- Membership- New member works sat Nephrology Associates- presently at 45 members.

Hishani Perera- Conference planner-virtual conference planning for this year going well. Will have a new Fredericksburg VCNP banner made.

Cathy Duncan- Government Relations- HB 1737 signed by Governor, emergency extension- 2 year minimum to practice independently. Planning to F/U with Joshua Cole who voted against to figure out why. This is an election year. Consider a local legislative reception this year.

Rachel Farrar- President Elect.

Timmye Ross-Public Relations- Could not get on to meeting due to no internet. Resources list. How to access calendar for regions.

Submitted 3/7/21 JPSF

HB 1737: Ask the Governor to sign our bill!

HB 1737 has been communicated to Governor Northam. Because this has been done with sufficient time left until the Special Session concludes, it is now considered a seven-day bill. This means the Governor now has until midnight on February 26 to sign, veto, or amend the legislation.

Contact Governor Northam now and ask him to sign HB 1737!

VCNP Members: Log in and visit the “Advocacy” page or check email for the link to connect with Governor Northam

Non-members: Join us! Receive advocacy updates and the other VCNP members benefits by becoming a member today!

VCNP Member Benefits

VDH’s COVIDWISE exposure notification app joins national key server to increase effectiveness across state lines

Virginia joins D.C., 15 other states participating in the unified server; COVIDWISE surpasses 885,000 downloads

(Richmond, Va.) — Virginia’s first-in-the-nation COVID-exposure notification app will now work across DC and all 15 states that have such an app. More than one in ten Virginians have downloaded and are using COVIDWISE, which notifies people if they have been physically close to someone who tested positive. COVIDWISE, Virginia’s free COVID-19 Exposure Notifications app, is now participating with the Association of Public Health Laboratories’ (APHL) National Key Server, allowing COVIDWISE interoperability with Washington, D.C. and other states’ apps that also use the server. Now COVIDWISE can communicate with other state notification apps to share anonymous bits of information or “exposure notification keys” using a national server that will enable users to find out when they may have been exposed by users from other states.

Click here to read more

Anthem cuts reimbursement rates

General News, Uncategorized

One of Virginia’s largest insurance companies is lowering reimbursement rates for nurse practitioners and physician assistants. VCNP’s president-elect recently Olivia Newby spoke to the reporter of the Virginia Mercury article. 

Olivia Newby said there would be an “absolutely devastating” effect on Primary Care Specialists, the independent practice where she works. The cuts would end up reaching the surrounding community, she added — predominantly working-class people of color.

“We were already busy, overwhelmed, short-staffed in trying to accommodate the patients,” Newby said, pointing out that nurse practitioners make up half of the providers on her practice’s four-person medical staff. “That loss of income may mean we can’t afford support staff. Or maybe we put off buying new equipment. It’s that trickle-down effect that impacts the quality of patient care.”

CLIK HERE to read more

Have you seen this news from Anthem? How will this change in reimbursement rates impact your practice? Share with us.

CLICK HERE to share with VCNP

Events and Conferences