HOW MANY VENDORS HAVE PUT UVA HEALTH ON CREDIT HOLDS?
Who is responsible for the financial management of UVA Health?
The excerpts below from the letter our doctors sent via TheTruthAboutUVAHealth.com are baffling and extremely concerning.
Reading their letter raised a couple more questions…
WHY HAS THE CFO POSITION AT UVA HEALTH BEEN VACANT SINCE FEBRUARY 2024?
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF UVA HEALTH?
As healthcare providers and support staff, many of us have experienced difficulties getting the supplies we need to take care of our patients. Our leadership has led us to believe that this is due to back orders. While this may have been the case at times, we are now learning that many of the supplies we cannot obtain are because UVA Health has not been paying its bills on time.
As a result of being delinquent, UVA Health has been put on credit holds by multiple vendors which has compromised patient care.
IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE FOLLOWING VENDORS HAVE PUT UVA HEALTH ON CREDIT HOLDS:
AADCO – Supplier of lead aprons and eye protection. UVA Health was placed on credit hold for not paying bills.
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC – Supplier of cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology supplies. In June 2024, a credit hold was placed with over $2 million owed and $700,000 overdue.
CORDIS – Supplier of cardiology and endovascular devices. In August 2024, UVA Health was placed on a credit hold for two weeks. Out of courtesy for patients, Cordis released a few products but withheld the rest until payment was resolved.
GE HEALTHCARE - Supplier of bedside and OR monitors. GE monitors stopped transmitting data to EPIC (clinical electronic medical record). When UVA Health staff called GE, they were told that UVA Health was on credit hold for not paying bills.
GETINGE – Supplier of scope supplies for coronary artery bypass grafting. Placed a credit hold on UVA Health for delinquent bills.
PHILIPS – Supplier of intracardiac echocardiography supplies and lead extraction supplies. Has placed at least two credit holds on UVA Health. The most recent was November 2024 with over $400,000 not paid. This resulted in two patients almost not being able to receive the critical treatment they needed.CRITICAL LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS SUPPLIES - Earlier this year, UVA Health staff had trouble getting supplies due to credit holds.
HOTEL ROOMS IN CHARLOTTESVILLE - UVA Health has a bank of hotel rooms for patients who are discharged at a late hour and would have to travel a long way to get home. We have heard from patients that one hotel told them UVA Health doesn’t pay its bills. We have also heard that UVA Health has an outstanding debt with Boar’s Head Resort which is owned by The University of Virginia Foundation.
Recently, there have been three OR incidents where gases have made employees sick. One employee passed out and stopped breathing. Fortunately, this employee was in an environment where immediate medical attention was available and the employee survived. Why is this happening? No solution has been found. Is it related to unpaid bills?
ARE THERE OTHER VENDORS THAT UVA HEALTH OWES OUTSTANDING DEBTS?
ARE THERE OTHER VENDORS THAT HAVE PLACED UVA HEALTH ON CREDIT HOLDS?
- Concerned UVA Health Physicians & UVA School of Medicine Faculty
What is going on at UVA Health?
We are Concerned Citizens of Charlottesville and Patients of UVA Health who are troubled by what we have heard from many UVA Health professionals over the past year.
These professionals are not only our doctors and nurses but also our friends, family and neighbors. We believe our community should value and protect its health care workers who have dedicated their lives to helping UVA patients.
A Parrhesiastes is someone who speaks the truth in a clear and honest way…
It's about the courage to speak one’s mind even when it's difficult or unpopular…to prioritize truth over social niceties or personal gain...
But speaking the truth can be dangerous. A Parrhesiastes understands this risk and is willing to face the consequences, from social disapproval to vindictive employers or even violence...
Because ultimately Parrhesiastes act out of a sense of duty.
They believe speaking the truth is necessary for the greater good and to protect the people and institution they love.