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2002 SESSION

028684544
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 275
Offered March 4, 2002
Commending Inova Health System.
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Patrons-- Ticer, Barry, Blevins, Bolling, Byrne, Chichester, Colgan, Deeds, Edwards, Hanger, Hawkins, Houck, Howell, Lambert, Lucas, Marsh, Martin, Marye, Maxwell, Miller, K.G., Miller, Y.B., Mims, Newman, Norment, Potts, Puckett, Puller, Quayle, Rerras, Reynolds, Ruff, Saslaw, Stolle, Stosch, Trumbo, Wagner, Wampler, Watkins, Whipple and Williams; Delegates: Abbitt, Albo, Almand, Amundson, Armstrong, Athey, Barlow, Baskerville, Bell, Black, Bland, Bloxom, Bolvin, Brink, Broman, Bryant, Byron, Callahan, Carrico, Christian, Cole, Cosgrove, Councill, Cox, Crittenden, Darner, Devolites, Dillard, Drake, Dudley, Gear, Griffith, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Hogan, Howell, Hull, Hurt, Ingram, Janis, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Jones, J.C., Jones, S.C., Keister, Kilgore, Landes, Lingamfelter, Louderback, Marrs, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., May, McDonnell, McDougle, McQuigg, Melvin, Miles, Moran, Morgan, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, O'Brien, Oder, Orrock, Parrish, Petersen, Phillips, Plum, Pollard, Purkey, Putney, Rapp, Reese, Reid, Rollison, Rust, Saxman, Scott, Sears, Sherwood, Shuler, Spruill, Stump, Suit, Tata, Thomas, Van Landingham, Van Yahres, Wardrup, Ware, Watts, Weatherholtz, Welch, Wilkins, Woodrum and Wright
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WHEREAS, Inova Health System in Northern Virginia was deeply involved in the response to the attacks on September 11, 2001, and in the diagnosis and treatment of those exposed to anthrax in October of 2001; and

WHEREAS, on September 11, Inova Health System treated 27 patients injured in the attack on the Pentagon at its Alexandria, Mount Vernon, and Franconia-Springfield facilities; and

WHEREAS, within moments of the crash at the Pentagon, Inova AirCare was on the scene to transport patients, and AirCare 2, the system's back-up helicopter, transported needed supplies to the scene for use in patient triage; and

WHEREAS, Inova Blood Donor Services collected more than 2,000 units of blood in the first week following the attacks, and a portion of the donations were sent to New York and New Jersey to help injured patients; and

WHEREAS, the Inova Institute of Research and Education contacted the Food and Drug Administration to allow usage of a new drug--in its final phase of testing--in a successful attempt to save the life of Virginia State Police Trooper Michael Middleton; and

WHEREAS, more than a month after the September 11 attacks, Inova Health System played a leading role in the initial diagnosis and treatment of patients exposed to anthrax at the Brentwood Postal Facility; and

WHEREAS, Inova Fairfax Hospital emergency room physician Cecele Murphy diagnosed the first inhalation anthrax patient on October 19, 2001, before the source of the anthrax was known; and

WHEREAS, within two days, the hospital diagnosed the second anthrax case, and Inova physicians soon developed protocols for hospitals to follow in screening postal workers and other potential inhalation anthrax cases; and

WHEREAS, in collaboration with infectious disease specialists from Kaiser Permanente, Inova physicians published an anthrax case study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, an article that was published faster than any other case study in the journal's history; and

WHEREAS, Inova Fairfax Hospital held three press conferences to educate the public on key anthrax information, including the fact that it is not contagious and that patients in and visitors to hospitals are safe; and

WHEREAS, Inova Health System continued to take the lead in producing and distributing anthrax information to inform the public via information hotlines, websites, the press, and public meetings; and

WHEREAS, throughout the turbulent Fall of 2001, the medical professionals and staff of Inova Health System responded to emergency situations with great dispatch, diligence, courage, and professionalism; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Inova Health System for its quick and effective response to the events of September 11 and the anthrax incidents in October 2001; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Inova Health System as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration and gratitude for its dedication to the health and welfare of the citizens of Northern Virginia.