November 5, 2019
Media Contact: VDH Risk Communications Manager Lorrie Andrew-Spear, Lorrie.Andrew-Spear@vdh.virginia.gov
Some Services will Have Reduced Hours
(Manassas, Va.) – The Prince William Health District (PWHD) is reducing the delivery of some of its services and consolidating most of them at the Woodbridge Clinic. These actions are a result of a shortage of nurses and continued inability to fill many nursing staff positions.
“In the past few years, the health district has lost many of its nurses to retirement, relocation or to other jobs in the northern Virginia or D.C. area,” said Prince William Health District Director Dr. Alison Ansher, “We have been unable to fill positions, despite repeated efforts.”
She continued, “The decision to reduce services and discontinue offering certain services at our Manassas clinic was difficult; however, our priority is serving the public’s health, which sometimes means making hard choices about which services we are able to provide at what level. We will offer our support and assistance to our clients and the community during this time of transition.”
The following services will be affected. Women’s wellness services will be consolidated to the Woodbridge clinic site. Teen wellness services will continue in both the Manassas and Woodbridge sites as will Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) testing and treatment. Refugee screenings will be conducted in the Manassas site only. Tuberculosis screening and treatment will be handled on an individual basis.
In addition, clients may notice appointment availability may be further out when scheduling an appointment for services. Clients may also discover that some services may be available at other health care facilities or community health centers in the area and decide to receive their services there. We will notify our community partners of the changes to our services and will assist in referring clients to alternate sources for care whenever possible. The health district will be notifying its patients of the clinic changes.
Services will be reevaluated as new staff is able to be hired and trained. The Health District is currently seeking qualified nurses to provide a broad range of public health nursing services throughout the district. See the job descriptions and apply at jobs.virginia.gov.
You can also follow the Health District on Twitter @PrinceWilliamHD or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PrinceWilliamHealthDistrict.