                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

AUTHORITY ESTABLISHED; POWERS, PURPOSES, AND DUTIES (§ 23.1-2401)

A. The Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority is established
as a public body corporate, public instrumentality, and political subdivision of
the Commonwealth with such public and corporate powers as are set forth in this
chapter.

B. The purpose of the Authority is to exercise public and essential governmental
functions to provide for the health, welfare, convenience, knowledge, benefit,
and prosperity of the residents of the Commonwealth and such other individuals
who might be served by the Authority by delivering and supporting the delivery
of medical care and related services to such residents and individuals,
providing educational opportunities in the medical field and related
disciplines, conducting and facilitating research in the medical field and
related disciplines, and enhancing the delivery of health care and related
services to the Commonwealth&#8217;s indigent population. The Authority may
perform such public and essential government functions with the power and
purpose to:

   1. Provide health care, including indigent care, to protect and promote the
   health and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth;

   2. Serve as a high-quality teaching hospital to provide and promote health
   care by educating medical and health sciences professionals, providing medical
   services not widely available in the Commonwealth, and treating patients of
   the type and on the scale necessary to facilitate medical research and attract
   physicians, faculty members, researchers, and other individuals necessary to
   maintain quality medical and health sciences education;

   3. Facilitate and support the health education, research, and public service
   activities of the Health Sciences Schools of the University;

   4. Serve as the principal teaching and training hospital for undergraduate and
   graduate students of the Health Sciences Schools of the University;

   5. Provide a site for faculty members of the Health Sciences Schools of the
   University to conduct medical and biomedical research; and

   6. Operate and manage general hospital and other health care facilities,
   engaging in specialized management and operational practices to remain
   economically viable, earning revenues necessary for operations, and
   participating in arrangements with public and private entities and other
   activities, taking into account changes that have occurred or may occur in the
   future in the provision of health care and related services.

C. The Authority shall operate, maintain, and expand, as appropriate, teaching
hospitals and related facilities for the benefit of the Commonwealth and its
citizens and such other individuals who might be served by the Authority.

HISTORY: 1996, cc. 905, 1046, §§ 23-50.16:2, 23-50.16:3; 2000, c. 720; 2016,
c. 588.