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IT & Epic
IT & Epic

Urgent IT notice: Steps to preserve business or personal contacts on personal devices

Who and what is affected If you access Ballad Health email on your personal phone, you may have some Legacy Wellmont/Mountain States Health Alliance/Ballad Health email contacts that were automatically synchronized with your device, giving the appearance that they were part of your personal contacts. These synchronized contacts may be impacted by Ballad Health’s systemwide change on Monday, March 20, regarding how work email is accessed from personal devices. (See here for more details on this change.) Whether or not you take the steps required to continue accessing email on your device, there is a possibility you will notice contacts missing from your devices in the coming weeks and months. This is because, upon removing your previous work email application, these synchronized contacts will be lost from your device. Synchronized contacts may also be lost upon resetting your phone or replacing your phone, even if you copy over all apps and contacts to a new…

IT & Epic
System Updates
System Updates

Ballad Health opens new Spine and Rehabilitation location in Kingsport

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – As Ballad Health continues investing in the expansion of high-quality healthcare throughout the Appalachian Highlands, its physical medicine clinic is moving to a more convenient location. Now open and serving patients on the campus of Indian Path Community Hospital, Ballad Health Spine and Rehabilitation specializes in bringing physiatry recovery services to people in the Kingsport community. “We have listened to the patients and communities of the Appalachian Highlands, and it’s immensely exciting and gratifying to bring this service to the Indian Path campus,” said Rebecca Beck, chief executive officer of Holston Valley Medical Center and Indian Path. “We’re developing our access points to make best use of our resources while meeting patients where they need us.” Ballad Health Spine and Rehabilitation will operate within Indian Path and is housed at 2205 Pavilion Drive, Suite 100, in Kingsport. The clinic also has satellite locations in Rogersville and Morristown in Tennessee and in Big…

System Updates
IT & Epic
IT & Epic

Epic upgrade set for March 15; here’s what you need to know

An Epic upgrade is scheduled for Wednesday, March 15, beginning in the early hours of the morning. Here’s an FAQ to help you prepare. Who is affected? These changes apply to all Ballad Health Epic users. What is expected? On Wednesday, March 15, beginning at 12:01 a.m., Epic users will experience a scheduled Epic downtime due to Ballad Health applying the Nov. 22 version of Epic. IT analysts will place a freeze on non-emergency changes in Epic beginning Wednesday, March 8, at noon through Thursday, March 16. In preparation for the upgrade, the IT Clinical Informatics team will offer virtual training sessions and provide tip sheets prior to the upgrade, as applicable. The IT Clinical Informatics team will also perform facility rounding to ensure team members affected by the upgrade are prepared for the upgrade and associated downtime. The Clinical Informatics team members will continue their rounding late Tuesday, March 14, and resume normal rounding…

IT & Epic
IT & Epic
IT & Epic

Urgent reminder: Take these steps if you use work accounts, email on non-Ballad device

In order to keep using your Ballad Health email and other work accounts from non-Ballad Health mobile devices, you will need to set up Intune and multi-factor authentication (MFA) on your devices. This applies to team members who access work email, Microsoft Teams or Microsoft Office from personal phones or tablets, and those who access VDI remotely from a personal device. This is optional, and you will not be required to download anything to your personal devices, but team members who opt out will lose access to work accounts on personal devices on March 20. There’s more information below, and the key place to find all the tip sheets, FAQs and training session schedules you need for this change is the ShareIT site of the Ballad Health intranet. Important note to leaders: Please share the flyer below with your teams so we can make sure all team members who currently use personal devices to access work…

IT & Epic
Foundation
Foundation

Niswonger Children’s Hospital Radiothon raises record $1 million for children’s health, advances Hope Rising campaign goal

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Niswonger Children’s Hospital is a regional asset, and on Friday, March 3, the entire Appalachian Highlands region stepped forward to support their children’s hospital. The 11th annual Niswonger Children’s Hospital Radiothon not only broke a local fundraising record, but it has now been recognized as one of the most successful programs in the nation among the children’s hospitals participating in the national Children’s Miracle Network. This year’s event raised more than $1 million to support the Hope Rising campaign to expand Niswonger Children’s Hospital, nearly doubling the milestone held by last year’s event. “Every single dollar raised during Radiothon is contributed toward the goals of the campaign, while Ballad Health underwrites the cost of program,” said Ballad Health Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alan Levine. “Every bit of the region’s generosity will go toward serving our children, and that’s what makes giving to our foundation so special. “The 1,700 individual donations…

Foundation
Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity & Inclusion

Ballad Health team members help international nurses adjust to Appalachian Highlands culture

As a former refugee who came to America in 1998 from Bosnia, Holston Valley Medical Center’s chief nursing officer, Adnan Brka, wholly understands the importance of going beyond the call of duty to help international nurses familiarize themselves with our region. Every quarter, Brka contacts all the Ballad Health team members who are international nurses to ensure their needs are being met both at work and at home. He then works alongside Holston Valley’s clinical education team to organize gatherings outside of work with meals and drinks. Through these meetings, he and other nursing leaders can connect with each nurse, speak to them individually and see if there are any resources to help improve their quality of life while living in the United States. “My ultimate goal is to see what they do when they’re not at work,” he said. “I want to make sure they’re living enjoyable lives and finding what they need outside…

Diversity & Inclusion
Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR

Ballad Health team members can get great discounts to Dollywood, Splash Country

Dollywood is once again offering some great discounts to Ballad Health team members on admission to the theme park or to Splash Country in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. All you have to do is use the special Ballad Health link when ordering tickets online. Click here for the Ballad Health ticket discounts. One-day ticket prices (not including tax or fees) and details are as follows: Dollywood theme park Adults/ages 10-up – $45 with Ballad Health discount Children ages 4-9 – $42 with Ballad Health discount Regular prices: $89 adults, $79 children Opens for the season on Saturday, March 11 Splash Country Adults/ages 10-up – $36 with Ballad Health discount Children ages 4-9 – $30 with Ballad Health discount Regular Splash Country prices: Not available yet Opens for the season on May 13 When purchasing your ticket, you will be asked to select a date. The Dollywood ticket will be valid for five days from the date…

Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR

Balladeer Children’s Program enjoys skating, ETSU basketball as February events

The Balladeer Children’s Program had some great events in February, with more fun coming up! The program, a free benefit for Ballad Health employees, is intended to strengthen family bonds and relationships among our Ballad Health family. Activities include visits to area attractions, picnics in local parks, holiday celebrations and activities, sports activities, discount tickets for attractions or events, treats, take-home projects and much more! Check out what our Balladeers have been up to lately, and if you’re interested in joining, see the information at the bottom of this article! February events Skate events Four events were held – Johnson City, Bristol, Marion, Norton – featuring great music and fun games. Admission was free (families had to pay for concessions and arcade games, where applicable). 340 people attended. ETSU basketball The program gave away tickets to Balladeer families for the East Tennessee State University men’s basketball game at Johnson City’s Freedom Hall on Feb. 25…

Benefits & HR
System Updates
System Updates

Get to know our Clinical Command Center — a crucial part of patient care

As part of Ballad Health’s digital transformation, we’ve established a Clinical Command Center that combines the responsibilities of what we previously called the transfer center (MD Link/Connect), enterprise call center and the Regional Communications Center (RCC). The Clinical Command Center operates 24/7 with a goal of improving patient outcomes through centralized coordination of care. The team at the command center takes into consideration the acuity of the patient, where they are and what care services are needed, and then coordinates resources as appropriate. It’s a critical service for our health system. Getting a patient access to the appropriate care services as quickly as possible can save lives and improve patient outcomes, as well as increase efficiency at our hospitals. The Clinical Command Center serves almost like an air traffic control tower does for airplanes – coordinating patient care in the most efficient manner. The center handles several crucial responsibilities, including: Communication with emergency medical air…

System Updates
Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR

There are benefits to using Ballad Health Pharmacy; here’s what you need to know

Have you checked out Ballad Health Pharmacy for your medication and pharmacy needs? If not, you may be missing out on some great team member benefits and discounts compared to other retail pharmacies. If you have a health insurance plan through Ballad Health, you’re eligible for some great benefits and discounts at Ballad Health Pharmacy: You save 10% on the cost of over-the-counter items compared to shopping at non-Ballad pharmacies. You receive free preventive meds. The pharmacy offers a long list of preventive medications that are FREE to team members who have a Ballad Health insurance plan, with no deductible applied. The list includes medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, asthma, COPD and much more – including inhalers such as Symbicort, Advair, Breo and Combivent; and brand-name drugs such as Eliquis, Farxiga, Effient, Xarelto and Premarin/Prempro. Click here to see the whole list on the HR Benefits page of the Ballad Health intranet. (NOTE: You must…

Benefits & HR
Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity & Inclusion

Ballad Health salutes Black History Month

February is Black History Month, an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. At Ballad Health, we recognize Black History Month not just as a chance to study Black history, but also as a way to celebrate diversity and foster an environment where we are all recognized for our abilities and valued for our contributions. Black History Month is an excellent time to learn about barrier-breaking figures in healthcare, as well. The Association of American Medical Colleges shares 10 inspiring stories of Black medical pioneers, from the first Black neurosurgeon in the United States to the leader of the first American Red Cross Blood Bank. The medical field would not be where it is today without the lifesaving research and contributions of Black physicians. Locally, you can learn more about Black history by checking out the links below: Revisit a video, from 2021, about…

Diversity & Inclusion
System Updates
System Updates

STRONG ACC launches Bright Start plan in Northeast Tennessee; will improve learning outcomes for young children by 2025

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.— Northeast Tennessee’s Bright Start plan has officially launched, beginning a three-year campaign to increase reading and math levels for children in 10 target counties. Bright Start is a statewide initiative driven by Tennesseans for Quality Early Education (TQEE) designed to close achievement and opportunity gaps for Tennessee children birth through third grade. Backed locally by the STRONG Accountable Care Community (STRONG ACC), Bright Start NETN is one of six Bright Start communities in Tennessee and one of two focused on rural areas. “STRONG ACC’s mission to align regional partners around improving physical, social and economic health, especially for underprivileged children and their families, made it an excellent choice to serve as the convening entity for the Bright Start Northeast Tennessee partnership,” said Mark Cruise, director of STRONG ACC. “We are excited to implement the Bright Start Northeast Tennessee plan and unveil our three-year strategic plan with the help of many program partners…

System Updates
System Updates
System Updates

Urgent: Marsh Regional in critical need of O-negative blood donations

Marsh Regional Blood Center is in urgent need of type O-negative blood! The center, which supplies blood to all Ballad Health hospitals, is at “system alert” level for the current O-negative supply, which means at this point it is not able to supply the hospitals with the blood orders they’ve requested. Patients in Ballad Health hospitals, all regional cancer centers and those needing in-flight transfusions depend on the generous hearts of donors in our region. All eligible donors – including Ballad Health team members – are encouraged to make a blood donation before the supply gets any lower, with an emphasis on the critical need for O-negative donors as soon as possible. “O-negative blood is extremely important because it can be transfused to anyone, regardless of their blood type,” said Evan Kulbacki, MD, medical director for Marsh Regional. “Because it is universal, it’s what hospitals use in trauma cases, and it is carried on rescue aircraft…

System Updates
System Updates
System Updates

Neurosciences Symposium set for Friday, March 3, in Johnson City

The Ballad Health Neurosciences Symposium will take place on Friday, March 3, at the Millennium Centre in Johnson City. Continuing medical education credits are available. To register, visit www.balladhealth.org/neuro23 or email Crystal.wampler@balladhealth.org.

System Updates
Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR

Reminder: Ballad Health offers continuing education, career growth opportunities

Ballad Health supports the continuing professional education and career development of our team members by offering tuition reimbursement and scholarships for specific organizational need programs. AS A REMINDER: Tuition applications for the upcoming fiscal year (programs that start after July 1, 2023) are being accepted through March 31. Scholarship requests can be submitted at any time throughout the year. Scholarships for team members Ballad Health will provide full scholarships for any eligible team member who pursues higher education in certain clinical disciplines. Based on the educational program, Ballad Health will cover 100% of tuition, fees and books for team members who pursue higher education for an initial degree in the disciplines listed below. Additional details are listed below: These scholarships cover tuition, fees and books up to: $1,500 a term for LPN $2,500 a semester for team members pursuing an associate degree (RN, surgical technology, catheterization lab technology, medical technology, imaging (general radiology, CT and MRI) or…

Benefits & HR
From the CEO
From the CEO

Message from Alan Levine: Incredible results for our patients

NOTE: This message was emailed to all Ballad Health team members on Wednesday, Feb. 8, from Alan Levine, Chairman and CEO of Ballad Health. There is also a press release covering this material that can be viewed here. Dear Colleague: When we receive an award for outstanding accomplishment, we always celebrate alongside our colleagues – because we know that behind each recognition is a patient whose life was saved, or whose life was made better. There is a family affected. A community impacted. So, when we receive a recognition, we like to applaud it. But … when multiple nationally respected organizations step forward and collectively agree that Ballad Health hospitals are among the nation’s elite in services spanning our entire region, it’s hard to even know where to begin to celebrate – particularly at the five-year mark of Ballad Health’s existence. Suffice it to say, we want to start the celebration by sharing the incredible news…

From the CEO
System Updates
System Updates

Ballad Health opens Woodridge Hospital Walk-In Behavioral Crisis Center

Facility’s newest addition follows national nursing excellence award JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.— Ballad Health is bringing crucial behavioral health services to the region, with the addition of a brand new Walk-In Behavioral Crisis Center at Woodridge Hospital. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Walk-In Behavioral Crisis Center is intended for patients experiencing behavioral health emergencies such as suicidal or homicidal ideation, acute psychosis, auditory and/or visual hallucinations or any other extreme mental or emotional crises. It does not provide care for physical illnesses and injuries. “The Woodridge Hospital Walk-In Behavioral Crisis Center is one of the most important steps we’ve taken to address the health needs of our community,” said Tammy Albright, chief executive officer of Ballad Health behavioral health services. “Immediately, this clinic creates a much-needed access point for behavioral healthcare, thereby enabling people who need intervention to reach experts and services that can help. However, the far-reaching effects of this…

System Updates
System Updates
System Updates

Ballad Health accepting applications through March 10 for Nurse Intern II Program

Ballad Health is accepting applications through March 10 for the 2023 Nurse Intern II Program, which will kick off on June 5. The seven-week program is offered annually during the months of June and July. During the program, RN nursing students preparing to graduate in the next 12 months are paid to participate in educational offerings and a preceptorship in a chosen clinical area of the organization. The goal of the Nurse Intern II Program is to assist nursing students in the process of bridging the gap between theory and clinical practice, while also working to attract and maintain the highest quality healthcare professionals to work for Ballad Health. The program is a collaborative effort of the corporate human resources department, the corporate clinical education department and the individual Ballad Health facilities. Last year, Ballad Health hosted 90 nurse interns, providing them the opportunity to experience a nursing internship with an RN preceptor. Upon completion…

System Updates
B-Well
B-Well

Take the RealAge Test in the Sharecare app to measure your health — and possibly win a Visa rewards e-gift card!

As part of our B-Well wellness program, Sharecare is offering the RealAge Test Sweepstakes – a chance to see what your “real” age is, plus possibly win a $100 Visa rewards e-gift card! The sweepstakes runs from Feb. 1 to March 31. What is the RealAge Test? The RealAge Test is a scientifically-based assessment that takes about 15 minutes to complete. It shows you the age of the body you’re living in – the first step toward improving your well-being. All eligible Ballad Health team members and their medically-enrolled spouses/partners who create a Sharecare account and complete the RealAge Test can participate. This test is a great way to review all aspects of your health. The questions will help you assess your eating, exercise and sleep habits, along with family health history, behaviors and existing conditions. Including personal wellness indicators such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels also helps you get a truer picture of…

B-Well
System Updates
System Updates

Save the date: Diabetes Symposium set for April 28

The annual Diabetes Symposium is set for April 28 in the Monarch Auditorium at Bristol Regional Medical Center. There will also be a virtual option. This event could be of interest to physicians, NPs, RNs, LPNs, PTs, registered dietitians and pharmacists, among others. More information to come as details are set.

System Updates
IT & Epic
IT & Epic

SharePoint upgrade will mean slight change to reimbursement links on Finance intranet site

As part of a SharePoint upgrade, effective Tuesday, Jan. 31, team members will see a very minor change when they use the mileage, expense and CME reimbursement links. The process for submitting these forms will not change, and the location for accessing them will remain the same on the Ballad Health intranet. The only difference will be for team members who have those links bookmarked as favorites/shortcuts on their computer; those bookmarks will no longer work once the upgrade takes place. Anyone who prefers to access the links that way will need to update their favorites or bookmarks with the new URL. Pending reimbursement submissions will be available to approve on the new site. Any pending submissions older than six months will be deleted. How do I find these reimbursement links? As a reminder, to find the links for these types of reimbursement requests: Go to the Ballad Health intranet main page and click on…

IT & Epic
System Updates
System Updates

Ballad Health Medical Associates announces new online scheduling and virtual care options to improve patient access

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Ballad Health Medical Associates is further expanding access to care through new digital and virtual options to help people find primary care when and where they need it. A full range of primary care options includes in-person visits at a primary care clinic or urgent care clinic, virtual visits with a patient’s physician or a fast and easy online service that allows patients to describe their symptoms and receive a diagnosis and treatment recommendation within an hour by email. “We are listening to our patients and working to improve their access to care,” said Mark Patterson, MD, president of Ballad Health Medical Associates. “Our new digital options make it easy for patients to schedule appointments and receive the appropriate level of care without sacrificing the quality of care.” Virtual healthcare options are accessible by visiting www.balladhealth.org, the Ballad Health app or calling 833-8-BALLAD (833-822-5523). The health system can provide immediate access…

System Updates
CEOC & COVID-19
CEOC & COVID-19

CEOC memo: Reminder on masking, COVID-19 booster shots

TO: Ballad Health All FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center DATE: Jan. 17, 2023 TITLE: Masking reminder ACTION: Please post and cascade to all team members. COVID-19 inpatient cases: 111 COVID-19 patients in ICU: 22 COVID-19 patients on ventilators: 2 COVID-19 pediatric inpatients: 0 While the flu and RSV are on the decline, COVID-19 cases are on the upswing in the region, including among team members – which impacts staffing and patient care. It is crucial that team members follow Ballad Health guidelines on masking and on staying at home when showing symptoms of being sick, in order to prevent further spread. We also strongly encourage all team members to get the latest COVID booster shot. New COVID subvariant – XBB.1.5 A new COVID subvariant – XBB.1.5 – is surging in the Northeast and is expected to spread nationwide over the coming weeks. It accounts for at least 28% of U.S. cases, according to CDC estimates. World…

CEOC & COVID-19
Compliance
Compliance

Reminder: Make sure you’re following Ballad Health’s dress code policy

As a reminder to all team members, please follow our dress code policy. In particular, T-shirts from the Ballad Health family of brands are acceptable to wear on Fridays, but must be worn in compliance with the other elements of our dress code. This means no sweatshirts, hoodies, denim/jeans or unbranded attire. Remember – dress code compliance is considered a security measure. It is important for patients and visitors to be able to recognize us as Ballad Health team members when they see us. It is also important that we present ourselves in a professional and respectful way as we represent Ballad Health to the community. Related to that, please maintain a professional appearance when in a video meeting on Microsoft Teams. In addition, it is crucial that team members properly display their Ballad Health ID badges while they are at work. NOTE: Ballad Health dress code requirements also apply to all Ballad Health Medical…

Compliance
IT & Epic
IT & Epic

Cybersecurity tips: Protect your mobile devices from cyberattacks

Mobile device use is on the rise and so is the number of cyberattacks. Hackers are developing more sophisticated malware targeted toward smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. Here are 20 tips to help safeguard your device, yourself and others. Wi-Fi Don’t allow your device to auto-join unfamiliar networks. Always turn off Wi-Fi when you aren’t using it or don’t need it. Never send sensitive information over Wi-Fi, unless you’re absolutely sure it’s a secure network. Apps Only use apps available in your device’s official store — NEVER download from a browser. Be wary of apps from unknown developers or those with limited or bad reviews. Delete apps if they’re no longer supported by your store. Keep them updated to ensure they have the latest security. Don’t grant administrator or excessive privileges to apps unless you truly trust them. Browser Watch out for ads, giveaways and contests that seem too good to be true. Pay…

IT & Epic
Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR

Are you making the most of your retirement plan?

Lincoln Financial can help you review your contribution rate and see if you can boost your savings. Remember, you’ll never have more time to save than you do today!

Benefits & HR
IT & Epic
IT & Epic

Cybersecurity tip: Protect your information

For years, we’ve been warned not to share too much personal information online. Now, you can shop online for almost any product, manage your finances with online banking services and chat with friends and strangers on social media platforms. While you enjoy all the conveniences of modern technology, are you paying attention to all the ways it can be used against you? Let’s take a look at how you can protect your personal information. Guard your login credentials If cybercriminals steal your login credentials, they can access your accounts and find your personal or professional information. Follow these tips when browsing the internet: Don’t enter your login credentials unless you are certain a website or app is secure. Use unique passwords for each of your accounts. A password manager can help you keep track of all your passwords, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) can add another layer of security. Use passwords and update the security software…

IT & Epic
System Updates
System Updates

Ballad Health offers several great clinical resources to team members — including EBSCO and Dynamic Health

We follow evidence-based practice to make the best clinical decisions for our patients – a key to improving patient outcomes and overall healthcare quality. To make the latest evidence-based practice resources accessible for all team members, Ballad Health offers EBSCO (Elton B. Stephens Company) on the Ballad Health intranet main page and within Epic. With a single click, team members can access medical databases, expert-based clinical decision support content and also a nursing resource called Dynamic Health. Dynamic Health for nurses Dynamic Health is designed to help nurses and allied health professionals master skills, obtain fast answers to questions and foster a culture of evidence-based practice and critical thinking, with opportunities for continuing education. It is an evidence-based system with patient skills videos, information about nursing skills and resources on tests, labs, disease processes, conditions and treatments. There’s also a detailed drug guide for health professionals and resources about physical/occupational therapies, speech, nutrition and social…

System Updates
System Updates
System Updates

Reminder: How to download the Ballad Teams app

More than 9,000 of our team members are using Ballad Teams, our mobile team member app. Have you downloaded it yet? Ballad Teams offers important system news, B-Well powered by Sharecare and easy access to an array of other useful resources like your pay statements, PTO balance, team member discounts, IT support and benefits, as well as a link to log into Smart Square scheduling. We continue to add new features. For any team members who downloaded Ballad Teams previously but have since lost the app – perhaps from updates to your phone, or you may have a new phone altogether – or if you’ve never had the app before, here’s how to get it. Installing or reinstalling the app To do so, follow this link for instructions. For iPhone/Apple devices, you will need a code to download the app. The code is provided by following the above link. NOTE: Only one code should be needed per Apple…

System Updates