Dr. Karen Shelton talks about the state’s mental health crisis, the dangerous influx of fentanyl into the region, and how we should be responding to the continuing specter of COVID.
Health Care
Posted inEconomy
Demand for mental health services is growing. Regional health providers are expanding to meet it.
Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, as well as Centra Health and Horizon Behavioral Health in Lynchburg, are in the midst of launching new programs aimed at increasing and improving treatment.
Posted inPolitics
Youngkin names Southwest Virginia health leader as health commissioner
Karen Shelton is currently vice president and chief medical officer at Bristol Regional Medical Center. She previously led three Southwest health districts during the pandemic.
Posted inHealth Care
The pandemic may be waning. But as long as viruses are among us, Virginia Tech’s Linsey Marr still has work to do.
Professor studies COVID and flu from engineering viewpoint
Posted inPolitics
House panel to consider transforming Catawba Hospital into substance use treatment center
A new study by the state backs the proposal by Del. Sam Rasoul to turn the Catawba Hospital into a state-of-the-art campus for substance use disorder treatment and addiction recovery. The Roanoke Valley has been hit particularly hard by addiction.
Posted inPolitics
State report says Virginia’s mental health bed registry is out-of-date and unusable
A report by the state watchdog agency stated that 13 of Virginia’s 25 mental health facilities hadn’t updated their availability for at least two days, rendering the list useless for emergency admissions.
Posted inPolitics
Virginia ranks in the bottom third of states in public health spending
New state report finds that local health departments are underfunded, and salaries are not competitive. Ten health districts have no permanent leadership, including three in Southwest
Posted inHealth Care
New behavioral health wing at Bradley Free Clinic helps meet rising demand for mental health services
In 2019, the clinic had fewer than 50 mental health patients. This year it expects to serve more than 1,000.
Posted inEconomy
Carilion to move behavioral health services to Tanglewood Mall
Carilion had previously announced plans to build a separate facility but later put those plans on hold due to the pandemic.