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Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR

Deadline for performance appraisals is coming up — be sure to complete by Nov. 30

Don’t forget: Ballad Health’s performance appraisal period is underway through Thursday, Nov. 30, for all team members. We want to provide you with essential information to ensure a smooth and effective evaluation process. Your contributions are invaluable to our organization, and your dedication to excellence is greatly appreciated. General information on the performance appraisal period: Dates: Annual performance appraisals are scheduled to take place between Sept. 18 and Nov. 30 for all Ballad Health team members. Review period: The performance evaluation will cover the 12-month period from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. Annual wage increase: Team members hired into an annual increase-eligible position before August 2022 will receive the full 3% increase which takes effect in January 2024, as recently approved by the Ballad Health Board of Directors. Our policy with respect to team members who have a final written warning or are in a flat-rate compensation position will apply. Eligible team members…

Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR

Balladeer Children’s Program enjoys making artwork in November!

The Balladeer Children’s Program had a very special painting activity in November, with their artwork set to be exhibited at East Tennessee State University’s Reece Museum! The Balladeer 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! Click here to visit the Balladeer Children’s Program page on the Ballad Health intranet. 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! November events ETSU Reece Museum art activities — Spenser Brenner, local artist and exhibition coordinator at the Reece Museum at ETSU, led the Balladeer kids in a landscape painting activity. About 135 kids participated in the events. The artwork…

Benefits & HR
Team Member Kudos
Team Member Kudos

Meet our 2023 Servant’s Heart Award winners: Shane Duncan

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring our 2023 Scott and Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award winners in Ballad Health News, as well as on Ballad Health social media. The award honors team members, physicians and volunteers who display the heart of a servant by going above and beyond the normal call of duty in helping others at work and in the community, as nominated by their peers. Click on the video player below to see a brief profile of our first winner, Shane Duncan. And use the link at the bottom of this story to nominate someone for the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award. Shane Duncan is the Consumer Contact Center director for Ballad Health – an important resource for thousands of people in the region. In addition to his day job, he serves as the chair for one of Ballad Health Foundation’s biggest fundraising events – the annual Night of Hope and Miracles, which…

Team Member Kudos
Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and Ballad Health reach new agreement

CHATTANOOGA – Ballad Health and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BlueCross) announced Tuesday they have reached a new multi-year agreement that will enable members in Northeast Tennessee to continue receiving in-network care with Ballad Health’s providers after Dec. 31. With the new agreement, BlueCross and Ballad Health will move forward in serving members and patients, providing peace of mind to people throughout the region. The three-year deal, which is subject to regulatory review, covers all Ballad Health facilities and affiliated providers for all BlueCross plans including BlueCare Tennessee and Medicare Advantage. “We’re pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with Ballad Health in support of members and employer customers throughout Northeast Tennessee,” said Scott Pierce, executive vice president and chief operating officer for BlueCross. “Contract negotiation is an important process which allows both parties to adapt to the changing health care environment. Our new agreement allows us to balance affordability with the access and quality that people…

Benefits & HR
Team Member Kudos
Team Member Kudos

Time to get to know our 2023 Servant’s Heart Award winners — and nominate for 2024!

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be featuring this year’s winners of the Scott and Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award through videos, stories and photos — and we are opening the nomination process for the 2024 awards! This is Ballad Health’s highest honor, given to members of our team who have been recognized by their peers for displaying the heart of a servant by going above and beyond the normal call of duty in helping others at work and in the community. Nominate someone! Do you know someone who has the heart of a servant and deserves recognition for their great work? If so, nominate them for the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award! Click here to access the 2024 nomination form. More about the Servant’s Heart Award This award is named in honor of Scott and Nikki Niswonger, who have exemplified what it means to have the heart of a servant throughout their lives. The Niswongers were…

Team Member Kudos
From the CEO
From the CEO

Holiday wishes and a few updates — including our Servant’s Heart Awards

Dear Colleague: As we settle in for Thanksgiving, I’d like to first give thanks to our fellow team members, physicians and volunteers who will be serving our patients during the holiday. Many of our colleagues choose to work during the holiday so others can be with their families, and of course, to be able to show special attention to our patients who must be hospitalized or need other services during the holiday. Whatever brings you to work on this holiday, you all have the gratitude of our patients, your colleagues and our communities. This time of year provides us with an opportunity to count our blessings, and to reflect on what we value most. I hope that we all agree that kindness, compassion and empathy are core virtues that, when put on display and lived, make the lives of those around us better. In each and every interaction we have; with each other, with our patients and their families,…

From the CEO
Sharecare
Sharecare

Did you know Ballad Health offers up to $250 per year/per team member to shop at Sharecare.com? Register now to learn more!  

Sharecare is a digital company Ballad Health partners with to administer the B-Well wellness program. This platform will help you as a team member manage all your health in one place, no matter where you are in your health journey. Registering is simple and the steps are listed below. Visit balladhealth.sharecare.com to register and create a user ID and password or log in to the Ballad Teams app. Take your RealAge® Test as guided through the Sharecare platform. If you’ve already registered for Sharecare, simply log in and retake the RealAge test. Download the Sharecare app to your mobile device or tablet from the App Store or Google Play. Visit the Rewards page to see available challenges and how to earn rewards. Live better, longer using tools and resources from Sharecare. Once you register and download the Sharecare app, you can complete incentive activities to earn up to 250 points equating to $250 to spend…

Sharecare
Foundation
Foundation

Longtime Children’s Miracle Network partner Panda Express® makes 10-year commitment to Niswonger Children’s Network

Donation supports Panda Cares® Center of Hope at Niswonger Children’s Therapy Services JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — In its latest commitment to children’s healthcare in the Appalachian Highlands, longtime Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals partner Panda Express® has committed to donating $418,000 from its locations in Bristol, Kingsport and Johnson City over the next 10 years to benefit the Ballad Health Niswonger Children’s Network. Panda Cares® representatives teamed up with the Niswonger Children’s Network and Ballad Health Foundation to cut the ribbon of the first part of the donation – the Panda Cares® Center of Hope. The new center opened in the Niswonger Children’s Therapy Services gym on Tuesday, Nov. 14, made possible by the generosity of Panda Express® associates and guests. “We’re humbled by the generosity of Panda Express® associates and guests and can’t think of a better way to enter the holiday season than providing this valuable resource to the children and their families who…

Foundation
IT & Epic
IT & Epic

Upgrade to latest Epic version set for Nov. 15

Ballad Health will undergo an Epic upgrade on Nov. 15 that will include a scheduled downtime as we apply the “Feb/May 2023” version of Epic. Here’s what you need to know as we approach the upgrade: The scheduled downtime will begin on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 12:01 a.m., and will last approximately two hours. Epic will not be completely offline but will be placed in a Level 3 – Downtime “Read Only” status. Information can’t be entered into Epic during this downtime period. IT will notify users when the downtime period has ended through an IT All Clear notification. IT analysts will place a build freeze on non-emergency changes in Epic beginning Wednesday, Nov. 8, through Thursday, Nov. 16. Epic upgrades ensure our electronic medical record is current with Epic’s latest version, which brings new features and functionality. Ballad Health is working to increase our utilization of Epic so we can take full advantage of what the…

IT & Epic
Compliance
Compliance

Spotlight on Ballad Health’s compliance program

The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics and the Healthcare Compliance Association designated Nov. 5-11, 2023, as Corporate Compliance and Ethics Week. This a great time to spotlight Ballad Health’s Compliance Program and ongoing compliance efforts. Code of Ethics Ballad Health is committed to acting with integrity and ethical behavior at all times. To outline some of the most important points of this commitment, a Code of Ethics was developed and approved by the Ballad Health Board. The Code of Ethics calls on employees to “display a superior level of professionalism and integrity while engaged in the organization’s business.” The Code of Ethics can be found on the Ballad Health intranet site and in Policy Manager. Who’s who in Compliance? As part of the Corporate Compliance program, Ballad Health has a chief compliance officer who oversees the compliance program and a HIPAA compliance officer who supports the HIPAA compliance initiatives across Ballad Health.   The Corporate…

Compliance
Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR

Photoshoots and a play highlight Balladeers in October

The Balladeer Children’s Program had a fun and busy October, with an even busier November in the works! 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! Click here to visit the Balladeer Children’s Program page on the Ballad Health intranet. 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! October events Spooky Shindig – This event at Bristol Regional Medical Center was so much fun, with about 175 people attending! We had a magic show performed by David Taylor, food, games, craft and a photobooth! Everyone was encouraged to wear their favorite costume. Each child got to…

Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR

Legacy Wellmont team members with Corebridge retirement accounts: You could save by transferring to Lincoln Financial

Legacy Wellmont team members who still have a Wellmont retirement plan account with Corebridge Financial (formerly VALIC) could save considerable money by transferring the account to Lincoln Financial. See the details below! For more information, visit LincolnFinancial.com/BalladSchedule to set up a one-on-one meeting with your Lincoln Financial retirement consultant. Here’s a link to the flyer below as an interactive PDF file.

Benefits & HR
System Updates
System Updates

Transition of bed management to Patient Flow Center takes effect on Wednesday, Nov. 1

Ballad Health will transition patient bed management to a centralized location, facilitated by the Patient Flow Center team within the Clinical Command Center, effective Wednesday, Nov. 1. With this change, we will manage patient placement and bed availability in real time. NOTE: The go-live was initially scheduled for Oct. 17 but was rescheduled to Nov. 1. Our health system, like others nationwide, has been struggling with severe staffing shortages. To help ensure these challenges don’t affect the quality and safety of patient care, we have streamlined key processes to better manage them through a centralized, more efficient and uniform approach. This helps us manage bed supply to identify bottlenecks and act quickly to place patients in the most appropriate care setting based on their acuity and needs. It will ensure we make the best use of our resources, such as beds and staffing. This will give the health system a more direct line of sight…

System Updates
Foundation
Foundation

Check out our Niswonger Children’s Network Raffle video — and purchase your ticket for a chance to win a new Chevy truck!

The 2023 Niswonger Children’s Network Raffle is underway! Buy a ticket for the drawing to win a new truck or cash prizes from Champion Chevrolet in Johnson City. All proceeds support the Ballad Health Niswonger Children’s Network. Tickets are $50 apiece and payroll deduction is available. The drawing will be held on Dec. 2. (The winner does not have to be present at the drawing to win.) Click here to buy tickets by credit card or through payroll deduction. You can also call Ballad Health Foundation at 423-302-3131 to purchase your ticket. NOTE: The deadline to pay for a ticket using two payroll deductions is Wednesday, Nov. 2, with the cut-off taking place at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. Payroll deduction can still be used to buy a ticket after that, but it must be paid for in one deduction. The contest is limited to 3,000 entrants. The grand prize is a 2023 Chevrolet Colorado. Cash prizes…

Foundation
System Updates
System Updates

SPLAT! … Ballad Health to hold fun, innovative campaign to promote hand hygiene

In an effort to promote handwashing and following infection prevention protocols across Ballad Health, we’ll be hosting a game of “SPLAT” on three different days over the next three months. It’s a fun way to reinforce the lessons learned at recent hand hygiene review sessions. Who: The campaign is for all clinical team members at Ballad Health inpatient facilities and long-term care areas (but not outpatient clinics). When: SPLAT! days will be held on Oct. 31, Nov. 21 and Dec. 20. Prizes: Participants can win prizes, including Dollywood tickets, Barter Theatre tickets and the grand prize of an Apple Watch Series 8. How does it work? This kind of campaign has been used successfully at various health systems around the country and has been featured by the American Nurses Association, the American Journal of Infection Control and other organizations. Each clinical team member will be given three cards on the designated day. Throughout the work…

System Updates
IT & Epic
IT & Epic

Cybersecurity tips: Protect your mobile devices from cyberattacks

October is national Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Cybercrimes are a constant threat, and health systems are among the most frequently targeted entities. To keep our health system and our patients safe, we’ll be sharing information on some of the most relevant cybersecurity topics each week in October. Mobile device use is on the rise and so is the number of cyberattacks. As you may know, Ballad Health uses multi-factor authentication (MFA) as an important tool to protect personal devices from hacking. 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…

IT & Epic
Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR

Balladeers update: Family Fall Fun Days a big success!

The Balladeer Children’s Program celebrated the coming of autumn with a couple of Family Fall Fun Days in September. 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! Click here to visit the Balladeer Children’s Program page on the Ballad Health intranet. 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! September events Family Fall Fun Days The Balladeer program hosted two Family Fall Fun Days in September – one at Fender’s Farm and one at the Stickley Farm. Both farms were gracious enough to allow the visit as a private Balladeer event before the farms were opened…

Benefits & HR
System Updates
System Updates

City of Elizabethton, Ballad Health partner to advance recreational opportunities for city and county residents

Agreement results from close bond between Ballad Health, Sycamore Shoals Hospital and city leaders ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. — An agreement between Ballad Health and the city of Elizabethton will lead to the reopening of the former Franklin Fitness Center as a community center, the new home to the city Parks and Recreation Department and will facilitate the next phase of a vision to develop the surrounding property into basketball courts and other recreational opportunities for the community. The agreement was reached following discussions early last summer between Ballad Health Chairman and CEO, Alan Levine, Sycamore Shoals Hospital CEO Dwayne Taylor, Elizabethton City Manager Daniel Estes and Councilman Richard Barker. Local business leader and Bank of Tennessee Chairman Bill Greene helped facilitate the developing project. As part of the agreement, the city will acquire the facility, located on the Sycamore Shoals Hospital campus, for $500,000 – significantly below the market value of $900,000, which Ballad Health recognized…

System Updates
IT & Epic
IT & Epic

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Keeping our patients safe through data protection

October is national Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Cybercrimes are a constant threat, and health systems are among the most frequently targeted entities. To keep our health system and our patients safe, we’ll be sharing information on some of the most relevant cybersecurity topics each week in October. As a health system, we must have adequate levels of protection for the sensitive data we manage to protect both ourselves and the patients we care for. Cyberattacks not only disrupt healthcare providers, they also disrupt patient care. Hypothetically, if a Ballad Health provider was phished and had their credentials stolen, a hacker could use that information to log into Epic and access patient information to sell on the black market. Even more dangerous, a hacker using those credentials could potentially change a patient’s medication or procedure or discharge the patient prematurely. According to a research study published in September 2021 by the Ponemon Institute, approximately 43% of the…

IT & Epic
Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR

Message from HR: Important info regarding performance appraisals

Dear team: We are quickly approaching the performance appraisal period for Ballad Health, which will take place Sept. 18 through Nov. 30 for all team members. We want to provide you with essential information to ensure a smooth and effective evaluation process. Your contributions are invaluable to our organization, and your dedication to excellence is greatly appreciated. General information on the performance appraisal period: Dates: Annual performance appraisals are scheduled to take place between Sept. 18 and Nov. 30 for all Ballad Health team members. Review period: The performance evaluation will cover the 12-month period from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. Annual wage increase: Team members hired into an annual increase eligible position before August 2022 will receive the full increase which takes effect in January 2024, pending approval by the Ballad Health Board of Directors. Those hired between Aug. 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023, will receive a pro-rated share of the…

Benefits & HR
IT & Epic
IT & Epic

Cybersecurity tip: Consider using a passphrase instead of a password

October is national Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Cybercrimes are a constant threat, and health systems are among the most frequently targeted entities. To keep our health system and our patients safe, we’ll be sharing information on some of the most relevant cybersecurity topics every week in October. Check back here soon for more great information. Passphrases One of the easiest ways to make your accounts more secure is to use a “passphrase” instead of a password. A passphrase is a series of words with spaces between, like “Tuesdays are usually rainy” or “pleasant autumn arbor walk.” Passphrases are much harder to guess and hack than passwords, and they have the added bonus of being much easier to remember. Creating a great passphrase Here are some tips for creating a top passphrase: Longer = more secure. Your Ballad Health passphrase must be at least 8 characters, but 10-16 is better, and you can go even longer than…

IT & Epic
COVID-19
COVID-19

Update on latest COVID-19 vaccine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the updated COVID-19 vaccine for the fall respiratory virus season. The new vaccine is now recommended for everyone ages 6 months and up. Ballad Health insurance will cover the cost of this vaccine. If you do not have health insurance through Ballad Health, almost all insurance plans cover recommended vaccines. Vaccines are available, by appointment, at several local retail pharmacy locations, including many Walgreen’s and CVS pharmacies, and at local health departments. Appointments can be made online. You may also want to check with your primary care provider to see if they offer the vaccine. The virus that causes COVID-19 is always changing, and protection from COVID-19 vaccines declines over time. Receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine can restore protection and provide enhanced protection against the variants currently responsible for most infections and hospitalizations in the United States. During this time of increased spread, we encourage team members to…

COVID-19
System Updates
System Updates

Important announcement about chemistry lab equipment changes, impact on turnaround times

As part of an effort to standardize chemistry equipment across Ballad Health, the laboratories at Norton Community Hospital, Dickenson Community Hospital, Indian Path Community Hospital and the Regional Cancer Center at Indian Path are transitioning on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 8 a.m. to the Ortho Vitros 7600 platform. For facilities that send chemistry testing to these four hospital labs, PLEASE BE AWARE of expected delays in turnaround time for test results. The transition period is expected to last 6 to 8 weeks. The new instruments have been set up in a temporary location separate from the main labs. This means a challenging interim stage that will result in longer turnaround times. Every attempt will be made to minimize delays, but an increase is unavoidable. Who and what will be affected? Laboratory teams at the impacted facilities will stop running specimens on their current chemistry equipment at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19, and anticipate being back up…

System Updates
System Updates
System Updates

Football Fridays are here! Wear a branded polo shirt to support your favorite team

We’re into football season now, and to celebrate, Ballad Health team members are now permitted to wear polo shirts with their favorite college, professional team branding on Fridays. Football Fridays will be in effect through the end of the week of the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, Jan. 8. Remember, team members still need to follow our dress code and personal appearance policy. Western-style jeans of any color, blue or other color denim pants, and jerseys will not be allowed during Football Fridays. Polo or other collared shirts need to be in good condition (free of wrinkles, stains, tears, frays and rips) and appropriately sized and fitted to the wearer. If you have questions about the dress code or personal appearance policy, consult our Ballad Health dress code policy (located on the intranet) or email Human Resources at HR4U@balladhealth.org.

System Updates
System Updates
System Updates

COVID-19 cases on the rise; here’s what you need to know

As we approach the season when respiratory viral illnesses increase, we want to provide you with an update of what we are experiencing and how best to prepare for the months ahead. Our region, like the rest of the nation, is seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases. We are experiencing this in our Urgent Care clinics as well as in emergency rooms, and hospitalizations due to COVID are up. While this is nothing like the increases we had during the Delta and Omicron waves, it’s a definite uptick from what we were experiencing over the last few months, and it’s important that we’re aware of this increase and take the proper precautions. To provide context, during the summer, our infection prevention team would work, on average, 25 or fewer cases of COVID per day, with most of those being tested at our outpatient locations. Now we’re seeing 100-150 new cases per day, with an increase…

System Updates
Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR

Check out the enhanced Balladeer Children’s Program site on the intranet

For team members who are members of the Balladeer Children’s Program, or who are interested in joining the program, check out the updated page on the HR site of the Ballad Health intranet! The Balladeer site has new content, including new discounts for members, an “FAQ” page and information about our Balladeer Children’s Program leaders, Shawna Gragg and Annie Davis. You can also see a collection of all Balladeer Children’s Program articles we’ve posted to Ballad Health News, describing the great activities the club has been up to since it was created more than a year ago. The page also contains contact information and the events calendar, as well as access to enrolling. You can find the page by going to the intranet main page > Human Resources > Balladeer Children’s Program. NOTE: The page can only be accessed from a Ballad Health network device. What is the Balladeer Children’s Program? The program, a free…

Benefits & HR
System Updates
System Updates

Sepsis Awareness Month: Check out our Q&A about sepsis with Dr. Lauren Py

As we recognize Sepsis Awareness Month throughout September, we’ve put together a Q&A from Dr. Lauren Py, emergency room physician and system chair of Ballad Health’s sepsis committee. While it’s our clinical teams who deal with patients who develop sepsis, all Ballad Health team members should be aware of what sepsis is, why it is a critical issue and what part they can play to try to reduce the number of sepsis cases. Be sure to take a look at the info at the bottom of the Q&A, as well. Q: What is sepsis and why it is such a critical issue for Ballad Health? A: Sepsis is a medical emergency and the leading cause of death in hospitals. Sepsis and septic shock arise from the body’s overwhelming response to infection, which can lead to organ failure and even death. It is a critical issue not just for Ballad Health but for all of our community,…

System Updates
IT & Epic
IT & Epic

Hello World, our new two-way text notification to patients, is now live!

Hello World, Ballad Health’s new two-way texting system, is now live! This system allows you to more easily manage your own healthcare and saves time for patients and clinics alike. How does it work? As a patient, once you’ve opted in to the new Hello World notification system, you will receive text notifications from Ballad Health about appointments and bill pay. The “two-way” aspect of this platform means you can easily respond to these messages with simple prompts, allowing you to confirm or cancel appointments or pay bills, with additional features planned for the future. Once opted in, you can easily opt out at any time. Sign me up! Signing up is fast and easy. There are three ways you can opt in for notifications: Text JOIN to 47649. Log in to MyChart and set up customized notifications in your Communication Preferences. Ask a front desk team member to turn them on for you. This…

IT & Epic
Team Member Kudos
Team Member Kudos

Use our ACTS of Service to recognize team members who deserve thanks for a job well done!

Did you know Ballad Health has a way for you to recognize fellow team members who do great work? It’s called ACTS of Service recognition, available on the Ballad Health intranet through our Human Resources and Organizational Development departments. It only takes a few minutes and you can send someone an eCard to show your appreciation for their dedication and hard work. If you’re a leader, you can nominate a team member for an award. Here’s how to use ACTS of Service: Go to the Ballad Health intranet. (NOTE: You must be on a Ballad Health network device to access the intranet.) Visit “Quick Links” on the left side. Click on “ACTS of Service Appreciation,” which will be the first link listed. Use your team member number as your username (no need to include the “u” as part of the number). If this is your first time using ACTS of Service, or if you’ve forgotten…

Team Member Kudos
System Updates
System Updates

System change: Clinical Command Center to oversee bed management, patient flow

To improve efficiency of patient flow and bed management across Ballad Health, we are transitioning to centralized bed management across the health system. Instead of bed assignments being managed at the facility level by multiple teams, these services will transition to a central team at the Ballad Health Clinical Command Center. This team is responsible for managing the availability and allocation of hospital beds across the entire health system. It will work closely with our teams in the hospitals and use information about acuity levels, bed availability and patient flow to ensure patients are placed in the right bed, at the right time, to support their medical needs. Along with this change, there will be a more robust dashboard and criteria for supporting patient throughput using Epic best practices and tools. Click here to view a list of frequently asked questions about the transition. This is a pivotal process, as one inefficiently handled case can…

System Updates
B-Well
B-Well

Welcome to a new program year of B-Well, powered by Sharecare

Effective July 1, 2023, we’ve launched a new program year of B-Well wellness activities and challenges, powered by Sharecare, to help team members live their happiest, healthiest and most productive lives! Many of our team members already participate in our B-Well wellness program and use Sharecare – the online, mobile wellness platform that’s accessed through our Ballad Teams team member app. If you haven’t started using Sharecare, register here. It’s free for all team members! Quick review: What is Sharecare? Sharecare is a digital health solution that helps you manage all of your health in one place. You can receive personalized insights, information, daily tracking, innovative programs and one-of-a-kind tools to help you live a healthier life, no matter where you are in your health journey. Sharecare helps you learn what to do to be healthier. From eating better to fitness tips to stress relief, Sharecare recommends simple things to do every day, and then…

B-Well
System Updates
System Updates

Team member resource: Check out what the Ballad Health Medical Library has to offer

Many Ballad Health team members may not be aware of a free educational resource available to them – the Ballad Health Medical Library located at Johnson City Medical Center. It is known to some as the Learning Resources Center (LRC). The library databases are freely available to all Ballad Health team members through the library’s site on the Ballad Health intranet. Team members are also able to make article requests through the library — a valuable resource for many of our clinical team. The medical library is also accessible to team members in-person during operating hours (Monday through Friday, 7:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). What resources are offered? The medical library collection includes over 2,000 items in a variety of genres, including medical and nursing books, leadership books, cultural diversity books and audiovisual materials. Team members can take advantage of the 300 individual journals available. Also available at the library: Access to numerous databases, eBooks…

System Updates
IT & Epic
IT & Epic

Reminder: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) required for CloudSuite access from personal devices

As you may know by now, the new Infor CloudSuite system goes live on the morning of Tuesday, June 27. This upgrade is going to bring a lot of enhancements when using our HR & Payroll Service Center, including improvements to layout, automation and security. Be aware that, as part of the steps taken to improve security around team member accounts, we will now be using a multi-factor authentication (MFA) app for all team member logins to Infor CloudSuite from personal devices. While team members are not required to install the multi-factor authenticator on their personal devices, anyone without MFA will not be able to access the HR & Payroll Service Center from his/her personal device. See a tip sheet on the Ballad Health intranet about how to install MFA on your phone. Once Infor CloudSuite is live on Tuesday, June 27, team members can still access all CloudSuite functions through Ballad Health devices –…

IT & Epic
Benefits & HR
Benefits & HR

Tip from LFG: Set an automatic increase for your retirement savings contributions

Gradually increasing the amount of money you save toward retirement is a great strategy to build wealth. For instance, increasing your contribution rate by 1% each year can make a huge difference over the long haul – and with Lincoln Financial, you can set up our account to do that automatically. If you’re interested in setting up an automatic increase to your contributions, log into Lincolnfinancial.com/retirement, or contact one of Ballad Health’s Lincoln Financial retirement consultants (listed below). Click here to view the flyer below in interactive PDF format.

Benefits & HR
System Updates
System Updates

Helping our patients in need: Be aware of our patient financial assistance options

We recognize sometimes people need help paying their bills, which is why Ballad Health offers financial assistance to qualifying patients who could use support during an emergency or scheduled medical care. In fact, nearly 50% of patients in the Appalachian Highlands qualify for financial assistance at Ballad Health. It’s important for our team member population to be aware of this, and to let any patients or potential patients know they may have options to help them with medical expenses. When paying for medical bills, knowing what assistance options people may qualify for can reduce financial stress. How do patients find out if they are eligible for financial assistance? There are several options, including: Letting our Patient Financial Services team know at registration that they’re interested in getting financial assistance Visiting our website and downloading the application for financial assistance, then filling it out and mailing it back to us Calling us at 888-288-5174 To learn…

System Updates
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
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
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