Testing for COVID-19 is no longer required for individuals age 65 and under prior to admission to Virginia state-run behavioral health facilities. Many private hospitals have followed suit. We’ve got all the details on the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS)’s revised COVID-19 admissions guidance.

ACEP President Aisha T. Terry, MD, MPH, FACEP addressed several critical emergency medicine issues at VACEP ‘24. Her attendance marks the third straight year that VACEP has brought ACEP’s emergency physician leader directly to Virginia’s emergency medicine community.

Emergency physician leaders from Virginia and the American College of Emergency Physicians briefed attendees at VACEP ‘24 on key legislation considered in Richmond this year.

This week, the Virginia General Assembly reaches its halfway mark known as Crossover. Here’s the latest on the priority legislation that VACEP is tracking.

See photos and a recap of VACEP’s 2024 EM Advocacy Day in Richmond.

A look at the issues we are following, supporting, and opposing in the 2024 General Assembly.

Here’s a look at where VACEP improved the speciality for Virginia emergency physicians — and set precedents nationwide — in 2023.

This year, a legal case VACEP was heavily involved in set a precedent for all potential challenges and threats to the prudent layperson standard (PLP). That’s the verdict in an article on ACEP Now, where VACEP President Todd Parker, MD, FACEP co-authored a piece recapping the legal underpinnings of Virginia's recently repealed "Downcoding Provision.”

ACEP Councillors, including 10 from Virginia, gathered this month in Philadelphia to discuss a series of resolutions to improve the practice of emergency medicine. Here’s a look at them with VACEP Board member and Councillor Caroline Cox, MD.

Physicians from Eastern Virginia Medical School review the recent peer-reviewed clinical study, Diagnostic Accuracy of Unenhanced Computed Tomography for Evaluation of Acute Abdominal Pain in the Emergency Department.

A new psychiatric and behavioral health ED in Lynchburg, plus a new one coming soon in Hampton Roads, are seen as an answer to reduce boarding in EDs and give mental health patients a safer, more personalized, compassionate space with care from specialists.

VACEP leaders met with a leadership forum comprised of state chief medical officers and physicians to educate them on Virginia’s screening process for psychiatric patient admissions from emergency departments to a psychiatric hospital, inpatient psychiatric facility, or crisis stabilization unit. Get the presentation and learn about the challenges we’re working to overcome.

Effective August 1, VACEP signed a full-service management agreement with Ruggles Service Corp. to handle day-to-day association leadership at VACEP. (The Board and physician leaders remain unchanged).

This month, emergency physicians from Carilion Clinic review a study that considers whether acetazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that reduces proximal tubular sodium reabsorption, can improve the efficiency of loop diuretics, potentially leading to more and faster decongestion in patients with acute decompensated heart failure with volume overload.

An overnight Norfolk emergency physician whose bedside manner, ability to stay cool under multiple critical patients, and mentoring of students and residents has been recognized by the American College of Emergency Physicians with a teaching award.

With the Downcoding Provision dead and ruled a violation of federal law, medical groups in Virginia are making moves to recover Medicaid reimbursements dating back to July 2020.

A new report shows that while emergency physicians account for the vast majority of Virginia balance billing arbitrations with insurers, overall, the process is working.

Due to redistricting, every seat in the House and Senate is open. and Virginia will see the most crucial General Assembly election in recent history. Last week, Virginia held its primary elections to determine who will be on the November ballots. The results were a mixed bag for the emergency physician community.

A new law will put trained security in EDs 24/7, and every ED must develop a security risk assessment and plan for implementation. If you are an emergency department medical director, it’s not only in your best interests to be involved in this process — your participation is required by state law. Here are your next steps.

VACEP secured a number of wins in the 2023 Virginia General Assembly. Our efforts will soon be apparent in every emergency department statewide. Get the rundown of new EM laws that go into effect on July 1.