Welcome to the official page for Riverside Health.
11/17/2025
Epilepsy impacts millions of Americans, yet misconceptions and uncertainty are still common. Understanding the condition and how to support those living with it can make a meaningful difference.
In this episode of Healthy YOU, Chief Nurse Executive Frankye Myers speaks with Dr. Elsie Achieng, board-certified neurologist, about the causes and risk factors of epilepsy, seizure management strategies, lifestyle considerations, and how patients and caregivers can navigate everyday life with confidence.
✨ Tune in to learn what epilepsy looks like day-to-day, how it’s treated, and how the right support helps individuals live confidently and independently.
🎉 Celebrating 2 Years of Care, Compassion & Community Support
This month, we proudly celebrate the second anniversary of the Psychiatric Emergency Department at Riverside Mental Health & Recovery Center. Over the past two years, this incredible team has provided specialized, around-the-clock care to nearly 12,000 patients, creating a safe and calming space for children, teens, and adults experiencing a mental health or substance-use crisis.
Today, we celebrate:
💚 The dedicated providers, nurses, therapists & support team members
💚 The families and community members who trust us
💚 The lives helped, stabilized, and strengthened
Thank you to every team member who has made this milestone possible. Here’s too many more years of healing, hope, and compassionate care.
Our thoracic and pulmonary teams are now performing diagnosis and treatment in one visit — a single-anesthesia bronchoscopy + resection (SABR) that streamlines care for patients with early-stage lung cancer or suspicious nodules.
What used to take two separate procedures can now happen all at once — less waiting, less worry, and more time focusing on healing.
💬 “Our patients are waking up with a diagnosis — and their cancer already removed.”
We’re so proud of our amazing teams for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and helping our community breathe easier. 🫁💚
Today, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who have honorably served in the U.S. Armed Forces. We’re especially proud to honor the incredible veterans who are a part of our Riverside family. Their courage and dedication inspire us daily and we’re proud to call them fellow team members.
We invite you to take a moment to view these photos and join us in celebrating the veterans who continue to make a difference throughout Riverside!
To all who have served — thank you. Your dedication and sacrifice inspire us all. 💚
11/10/2025
🔥 “Nobody warned me about this part of menopause…”
In this short clip, Dr. Elizabeth Lunsford explains a common—but rarely discussed—condition called Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM). If you’re dealing with dryness, discomfort, or urinary changes, you’re not alone—and you’re not imagining it.
But that’s just the beginning. 👇
In the full YouTube conversation, Dr. Lunsford breaks down what GSM really is, why it’s so often missed, and what you can do to feel better.
🎥 In the full video:
✔️ What GSM is and how it affects intimate and urinary health
✔️ The hormonal shifts driving these changes
✔️ Treatments that are safe, simple, and effective
✔️ Why talking about it matters—for every woman
💬 Tag someone who needs to hear this—because menopause shouldn’t come with silence.
11/06/2025
From first huddle to final follow-up, Dr. Melvin Schursky leads with care, collaboration, and purpose.
Take a look inside a day in surgery at Riverside Walter Reed Hospital — and see how every moment in surgery reflects a commitment to exceptional care. 💚
11/05/2025
This year, we are thrilled to share that the Virginia Nurses Foundation has nominated 23 of our incredible Riverside nurses for its annual awards!
This remarkable achievement fills us with pride and gratitude, as it reflects the compassion, dedication, and professionalism that define our Riverside nursing community every single day.
These nominations come from all four of our acute care facilities, as well as the Riverside College of Health Sciences and Riverside Health, showcasing the strength and unity of our entire nursing family.
Each nominee represents the very best of what it means to live the Riverside mission, caring for others as we would care for those we love. Whether providing bedside care, mentoring the next generation, or advancing innovation in practice, our nurses embody the spirit of excellence that moves us forward together.
Today, we celebrate not only our 23 nominees, but all of our nurses whose passion and dedication make Riverside truly exceptional.
11/04/2025
🎉 We’re celebrating a huge milestone — our 50th Earn and Learn Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Class!
From our very first class to today, this program has helped hundreds of students start fulfilling health care careers while earning an income and gaining hands-on experience. The Earn and Learn CNA program is more than just training, it’s a community of people who care deeply about helping others and growing together.
Each graduate represents a success story — someone who took a step toward a brighter future while making a real difference in the lives of patients and families across our region. 💚
We’re deeply grateful to our instructors, partners, and students who make this program possible. Here’s to 50 classes of impact and many more to come!
👉 Read our full press release to learn more about this incredible milestone and what’s next for the Earn and Learn CNA program: https://ow.ly/bRNG50XmvxK
11/03/2025
Lung cancer remains one of the most common and serious cancers in the U.S., but advancements in screening and treatment are helping patients detect it earlier and improve outcomes.
In this episode of Healthy YOU, Chief Nurse Executive Frankye Myers talks with Dr. Ronald Hale, board-certified radiation oncologist at Riverside Radiation Oncology Specialists. They discuss:
✅ The signs, symptoms, and risk factors for lung cancer
✅ How low-dose CT scans can save lives through early detection
✅ How modern radiation therapy treats cancer while preserving quality of life
Listen and share this inspiring conversation of hope and healing.
🎃 Happy Halloween from our spooktacular team members across Riverside Health System!
This year, our teams showed off their fang-tastic creativity with festive costumes and plenty of Riverside spirit!
Thank you to everyone who helped make Halloween a little brighter (and a lot more fun) across our hospitals and care locations. 🌟
10/30/2025
💗 Our team showed up and showed out in pink this month! From ribbons to bright smiles, every shade of pink represented hope, strength, and unity in support of those impacted by breast cancer. 🎀
As October comes to a close, we’re filled with gratitude for everyone who joined us in spreading awareness and encouragement throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 💕
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The original charter for Riverside dates back to December 15, 1915. The company began as one hospital, founded by the community and built on a site at Huntington Avenue and 50th Street in Newport News, Virginia. In 1962, the hospital was relocated to the present site of Riverside Regional Medical Center in central Newport News. Since then, Riverside has evolved into a flagship regional medical center with affiliates throughout the region in every aspect of healthcare.
Riverside is a 501c(3) tax exempt, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health and saving lives. Riverside Health System is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors, as is each of the Riverside affiliates throughout the region.
Through the dedication and tireless energy of our employees, physicians and volunteers, we assure that the needs of the community are met in every Riverside endeavor.
Service Area
Eastern Virginia including: cities of Gloucester, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, Richmond, Tappahannock, West Point, Williamsburg and Yorktown; Eastern Shore Area of Virginia; Counties of Essex, Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, Northumberland, Richmond and Surry.
Major Accreditations, Affiliations, Approvals and Memberships
Facilities within Riverside Health System are licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia under the appropriate licensing statutes. In addition, Riverside facilities have the following accreditations or memberships:
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
American Association of Blood Banks
American Health Care Association
American Hospital Association
American Medical Association (Continuing Medical Education)
American Society of Health System Pharmacists (Riverside Regional Medical Center Pharmacy Practice Residency Program)
Chamber of Commerce
CHAMPUS
College of American Pathologists: Laboratory, Nuclear Medicine, Respiratory Therapy
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (Riverside Rehabilitation Institute)
Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons (Cancer Program)
Community Health Accreditation Program, Riverside Home Care, Riverside Hospice, Riverside Home Infusion and Pharmacy
Hospice Association of America (HAA), Riverside Hospice
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, Accreditation, Riverside School of Radiologic Technology
Liaison Council on Certification for Surgical Technologist (LCC-ST), National Merit Award, Riverside School of Surgical Technology
Medicare Certified, Riverside Home Health, Riverside Hospice
National Association of Home Care, Riverside Home Health, Riverside Hospice
National Hospice Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), Riverside Hospice
National League of Nursing
Peninsula Emergency Services Council
Residency Review Committee of the American Medical Association
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Medicare)
Virginia Association for Home Care (VAHC), Riverside Home Health
Virginia Department of Medical Assistance (Medicaid)
Virginia Health Care Association
Virginia Health Quality Center (VHQC), Riverside Home Health
Virginia Hospice Association (VHA), Riverside Hospice
Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association
Education Affiliations
Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University
Medical College of Hampton Roads
Old Dominion University
Hampton University
Thomas Nelson Community College
Christopher Newport University
Rappahannock Community College
Newport News Public Schools
Other Relationships
Riverside Health System is a member of the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) and holds a voting seat in the MSV House of Delegates. Riverside is the only hospital or health system member invited to participate as a voting member in this organization. This affiliation is evidence of Riverside's credibility with its physician partners.
Riverside Health System is a participating hospital with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Riverside Health System is a partner in the Virginia Health Network (VHN) with eight other hospitals and health systems in the Hampton Roads and Richmond areas of Virginia. The system owns 35.1% of this for-profit Preferred Provider Organization. VHN contracts with payors, mostly health insurance companies and self-insured employers, to utilize VHN hospitals and physicians as the exclusive providers in their managed care programs.
