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The Appalachian Highlands Care Network, a collaboration between Ballad Health and regional partners, recognized as one of Modern Healthcare’s 2026 Innovators Awards honorees Article summary Read the full article JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – National publication Modern Healthcare recognized Ballad Health’s Appalachian Highlands Care Network with its annual Innovators Award, which “recognizes leaders and organizations driving innovation that improves care, achieves measurable results and contributes to clinical and financial goals.” Launched in 2021 as a population health initiative by Ballad Health, the Appalachian Highlands Care Network works to connect uninsured patients with a wide array of healthcare, social services and support at reduced or no cost. The network relies on partner organizations across the Ballad Health service area in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia to meet patients’ needs regardless of their ability to pay. “The work of Appalachian Highlands Care Network is a powerful example of what happens when people and organizations come together to meet…

Article summary Read the full article NOTE: The following message was emailed to Ballad Health team members from HR on Thursday, April 9. Dear Colleague, We are pleased to announce that we are again partnering with Press Ganey to administer the Team Member Pulse Survey. This will be conducted from April 20 to May 4 and will consist of 16 questions that can be completed in less than 10 minutes. Since the full survey last year, many action plans and initiatives have been implemented and no doubt many of you assisted in identifying opportunities for improvement for your departments. Your continued input will provide us with updated information and help steer the direction of future initiatives. It’s important to track our progress and review against the previous surveys and national benchmark data. All survey responses will go directly to Press Ganey. No one at Ballad Health will have access to your individual responses. You should…

This week, team members across the system will receive a short HealthStream CBL (computer-based learning) assignment in their Outlook email, with information about how to be a hand hygiene observer. More about this initiative To meet minimum hand hygiene observation requirements from LeapFrog – a hospital safety and quality ratings system – our acute care facilities will be partnering with various team members to assist in the data collection. This CBL presents education on correct hand hygiene and instruction on how to observe and record hand hygiene for the LeapFrog initiative, and requires an attestation that the team member has completed the CBL. What should you do next? Hand hygiene is the foundation of infection prevention and the No. 1 way to prevent the transmission of organisms. It is the responsibility of all team members. Thank you for completing the CBL and for keeping our facilities as safe as possible by practicing proper hand hygiene!

Award highlights efforts to make healthcare costs easier to understand and navigate for patients Article summary Read the full article JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Patients across the Appalachian Highlands are experiencing clearer bills, faster insurance decisions and easier access to financial assistance — and that progress has earned Ballad Health national recognition from the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). Ballad Health has been named a recipient of the HFMA’s 2026 MAP Award for High Performance in Revenue Cycle, its fourth time receiving the honor. This award recognizes U.S. healthcare organizations that excel across HFMA’s MAP Keys benchmarks, implement patient-centered financial communication practices and demonstrate innovation in revenue cycle processes. “We are honored to receive the 2026 MAP Award,” said Alan Levine, chairman and CEO of Ballad Health. “For our patients, this means clearer information about the cost of care, faster answers and fewer delays related to insurance or billing. We are focused on making healthcare…

Ballad Health will host a Systemwide Grand Rounds presentation Tuesday, April 28, from noon to 1 p.m., with a topic of “Sepsis Awareness.” It will cover how pediatric and obstetric sepsis are different from adult sepsis, and is worth 1 CME/CNE credit. Register now for this free, one-hour virtual seminar, accessible on Microsoft Teams. The host site will be Johnson City Medical Center in Auditorium 3. Click here for more information or to register for the event. This presentation will be a two-parter, with Part 1 covering how pediatric sepsis is different than adult sepsis, and Part 2 covering how OB sepsis is different than adult sepsis. ACCME Statement: Ballad Health is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide CME for physicians and designates this activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Ballad Health is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American…

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The 2026 Excellence Awards on March 12 celebrated improvement projects that have significantly benefited patients, team members and the organization, shining a light on the great work of dozens of teams from across the system. The awards banquet was held at MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center, with more than 600 team members participating. A panel of experts evaluated 87 of the 102 submitted projects, recognizing top performers for their measurable impact on quality, safety, efficiency and innovation. “From bedside improvement to crisis response, excellence at Ballad Health is embedded in who we are,” said Dr. Amit Vashist, Ballad Health’s chief clinical officer. “These awards matter. Recognition builds belief. It reinforces that disciplined improvement changes culture.” Check out our photo gallery at the bottom of this article; a more extensive gallery of photos is also available for viewing and downloading. And the submission period for the 2027 Excellence Awards is now open!…

Article summary Read the full article JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — Ballad Health Medical Associates Family Medicine – West Oakland, a department of Johnson City Medical Center, recently welcomed three new physicians — Bruce Winegar, DO; Eric Harman, MD; and Rebecca Jenkins, DO — who will offer comprehensive, family-focused primary care. Dr. Winegar was born and raised in Kingsport. His services include annual physicals, joint injections, immunizations and wellness exams, as well as the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes. “I am grateful to practice medicine in the community where I grew up and still call home,” Dr. Winegar said. “Primary care has always been my goal. Preventive care plays an important role in keeping individuals healthy and strengthening the community.” Dr. Winegar is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. He earned his medical degree from Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate, Tennessee, and completed his residency in…

Article summary Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a leading cause of preventable hospital deaths and readmissions nationwide. About 60% of post-surgical VTE cases occur after discharge – nearly half within the first week – with risk persisting for weeks to months. Up to 70% may be preventable through measures such as blood-thinning medications and compression stockings. Clinicians are encouraged to reassess VTE risk at discharge, educate patients on warning signs and consider extended prophylaxis for high-risk patients. Read the full article March is recognized as Blood Clot Awareness Month. Ballad Health’s Anticoagulation Stewardship Committee aims to highlight a crucial patient safety issue impacting many surgical patients: blood clots that form after leaving the hospital. Why this matters Research indicates that most post-surgical blood clots, known as venous thromboembolism or VTE, don’t occur during hospitalization. Studies consistently show around 60% of these clots happen after patients return home, with approximately 40% occurring within 30 days of discharge….

Did you know there are more than 1,400 known species of human pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa? Each month, our Ballad Health infection prevention team is highlighting one of those pathogens, or something important in how we deal with those pathogens, that you might encounter in your work. See what you know, or can learn, about these “bugs” through our “Bug of the Month” series, and about how we can prevent spread! This month, we’re spotlighting what’s known as “wet time” or “kill time” – the amount of time a disinfectant must remain wet on a surface to effectively kill pathogens. If you have questions or want more information, please reach out to your infection preventionist. Click here to see the flier below in PDF format.

Expanded, two-story addition will provide private rooms and advanced neonatal care for families across the Appalachian Highlands JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Ballad Health celebrated the grand opening of an expansion of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Niswonger Children’s Hospital with a press conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a major milestone for children and families throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. The $53 million project, funded through capital from Ballad Health, $22.2 million from the Ballad Health Foundation’s Hope Rising comprehensive capital campaign for pediatric needs and a $16.8 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Health, adds 43,000 square feet across two new floors. The expansion includes 48 private family rooms, specialized twin rooms, a new milk lab for advanced nutrition, and updated technology such as Panda Warmers to help regulate body temperature for premature and medically fragile infants. Past graduates of the former NICU opened the ceremony with an invocation, representing the…

Rinks, who starts March 23, brings more than 15 years of healthcare leadership experience to the role KINGSPORT, Tenn. — Ballad Health has selected an experienced leader in healthcare to lead its hospital operations in Kingsport. Kevin Rinks has accepted the position of chief executive officer of Holston Valley Medical Center and Indian Path Community Hospital, effective March 23, following a national search. “Kevin is a mission-driven leader with a proven ability to strengthen hospital operations while ensuring the delivery of high quality, safe care,” said Dr. Chad Couch, president of Ballad Health’s Northern Region. “Throughout his career, he has demonstrated strong physician relationships, developed high-performing teams, and his results are excellent. He is the right leader for Holston Valley and Indian Path.” Rinks brings more than 15 years of advanced healthcare leadership experience, most recently serving as chief executive officer of the 295-bed St. Vincent’s Southside Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla., which is part of Ascension,…

Article summary Ballad Health has launched Rest Matters, a systemwide initiative to create a quieter, more restful healing environment for hospital patients. Hospitals will observe quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and emphasize practical steps such as lowering noise, dimming lights, bundling care to reduce interruptions and providing comfort items like ear plugs, eye masks and extra blankets. Read the full article Ballad Health has launched “Rest Matters,” a systemwide initiative focused on creating a more restful, healing environment for patients in our hospital facilities. This effort depends on each team member and the role we play every day in supporting patient healing. What this means for our hospitals Rest Matters is grounded in evidence-based best practices and informed by multidisciplinary teams across Ballad Health. Key components include: Establishing quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. to reduce noise and unnecessary disruptions. Focusing on simple, practical actions such as lowering noise levels,…

Did you know there are more than 1,400 known species of human pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa? Each month, our Ballad Health infection prevention team is highlighting one of those pathogens, or something important in how we deal with those pathogens, that you might encounter in your work. See what you know, or can learn, about these “bugs” through our “Bug of the Month” series, and about how we can prevent spread! This month, we’re spotlighting PPE — personal protective equipment — that helps protect both patients and team members from all these bugs. If you have questions or want more information, please reach out to your infection preventionist. Click here to see the flier below in PDF format.