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Becomes first integrated health system in Tennessee to receive national distinction The Big Picture: Ballad Health has been recognized as a Dr. Lorna Breen Wellbeing First Champion for 2026 by the Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation. This designation recognizes healthcare organizations that support their clinicians’ mental well-being at a high level by eliminating intrusive mental health questions and stigmatizing language from licensing and credentialing applications. While a handful of freestanding facilities have received this distinction, Ballad Health is the first integrated health system in Tennessee to be recognized by the foundation. The background By the numbers Why it matters What leaders are saying “This achievement reflects the outstanding work of our Medical Staff Services team in partnership with the Medical Staff Services Committee of the Ballad Health Clinical Council,” said Dr. Amit Vashist, Ballad Health’s chief clinical officer. “Their thoughtful modernization of our credentialing processes supports both clinician well-being and patient safety. As a board-certified psychiatrist,…

September is Sepsis Awareness Month, so throughout the month we’ve been spreading the word to our team members and to the public about sepsis – what is it, why is it a critical issue, what do you need to know about it, and much more. This condition is deadly serious and it’s important that team members and the public are aware of it. Ballad Health has made sepsis prevention a major focus because it creates so many serious issues with our patients. Sepsis can lead to worse outcomes, longer and more expensive treatments and more readmissions. If we decrease the number of sepsis cases, we’ll see better patient outcomes. In recognition of our collective learning about sepsis this month, we have organized a prize drawing. Team members who complete the quiz will be eligible for the drawing, regardless of quiz score. Most importantly, what you take away from the quiz could save your life or the…

UPDATE: Due to popular demand, youth sizes of the Dolly T-shirt are now available to order online in short- and long-sleeve styles. Youth short-sleeve T-shirts will also be available in Ballad Health gift shops beginning Oct. 5 while supplies last. In honor of Dolly Parton’s remarkable legacy and “9 to 5 Day” on Sept. 25 (9/25), which many are celebrating as Dolly Parton Day, commemorative T-shirts are now available for purchase online through Oct. 25. All proceeds support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library through The Dollywood Foundation, helping inspire a love of reading among children across the Appalachian Highlands. To further support the mission of Imagination Library, Ballad Health will also match proceeds from the shirt sale up to $25,000. Ballad Health’s Dolly Parton tribute T-shirts feature a special design celebrating her legacy of caring, creativity and faith on the back. The T-shirt design has been approved by The Dollywood Foundation and Dolly Parton’s estate in…

September is Sepsis Awareness Month. This story, told by a Ballad Health team member, demonstrates how important it is to recognize the warning signs of sepsis and to act quickly. Sepsis can move frighteningly fast. Recognizing it early can mean the difference between life and death. Regina knows that better than most. She has watched sepsis threaten the lives of two people she loves — her 8-year-old son, Luke, and years later, her mother. Their experiences were different, but together they taught Regina a lesson she wants others to hear: Know the warning signs. Trust your instincts. And act quickly. For Regina, that lesson began with Luke. In 2003, Luke was an energetic 8-year-old playing football on a hot fall day during grandparents’ weekend. He came off the field complaining of a headache and not feeling well. At first, Regina thought he was just being an 8-year-old boy who didn’t want to play football. Then…

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The 2026 Ballad Health Trauma Conference is set for Friday, Oct. 9, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the James and Nellie Brinkley Center at East Tennessee State University, bringing together trauma and emergency care professionals for a day of education. This conference brings together physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, emergency department staff, EMS professionals and other healthcare providers from across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia to explore current topics and emerging trends in trauma care. Topics include: Visit the event site for more information or to register. Registration is $15. Whether you provide care in the prehospital setting, emergency department, operating room, ICU, or trauma service, this conference offers practical education that can be applied to improve patient care and outcomes. For questions, contact Jessica Antonino at Jessica.antonino@balladhealth.org. Ballad Health is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide CME for physicians and designates this activity…

The submission period for the 2027 Ballad Health Excellence Awards is open through Oct. 29. If you’ve been involved in a performance improvement project at Ballad Health, now is your chance to be recognized! Last year, we received 102 entries from across the organization, 87 of which were eligible for judging – showcasing the innovation, dedication and excellence that our teams exhibit every day. Click here to see a review of some of our top award winners from 2026, and you can also visit this site which has an extensive gallery of photos from the 2026 awards, available for viewing and downloading. We’re excited to build on that momentum and once again celebrate the impactful work that continues to happen throughout Ballad Health. Submission period *In order to ensure appropriate time for the judging of the projects, this is a firm deadline that will not be extended. Champions of Excellence nominations Once the group project…

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Brian Myers has been selected to serve as administrator of Woodridge Hospital, bringing more than a decade of behavioral health leadership experience and a strong commitment to improving access to high-quality behavioral healthcare throughout Appalachia. He assumed the role in early August. “I’m very excited about Brian’s previous experience in behavioral health, and his passion for serving the underserved,” said Tammy Albright, CEO of Behavioral Health Services at Ballad Health. “He will be an integral part of our Behavioral Health leadership structure to help ensure quality and access to services.” Myers joins Ballad Health from Appalachian Regional Healthcare, where he served as assistant vice president of Behavioral Health. In that position, he led the organization’s Behavioral Health and Addiction Medicine service lines, overseeing operations across four inpatient psychiatric hospital campuses and a comprehensive network of outpatient behavioral health programs serving communities in Kentucky and West Virginia. A native of Big Stone Gap,…

Ballad Health’s Systemwide Grand Rounds – “Pediatric sepsis: We have some so far … but we are only getting started” – takes place Wednesday, Sept. 30, from noon to 1 p.m. It will be held at Johnson City Medical Center in Auditoriums 1-2 on the seventh floor, with an option to attend virtually. This event is part of Ballad Health’s recognition of September as Sepsis Awareness Month. Presenting will be Mark W. Hall, MD, a national leader in pediatric sepsis research. Dr. Hall is a professor of pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and chief of the Division of Critical Care Medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Dr. Hall’s immunology work includes clinical conditions such as trauma, burns, sepsis and cardiopulmonary bypass. He is the Principal Investigator for Nationwide Children’s Hospital in the NICHD’s Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network (CPCCRN) and is an active member of the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and…

As a reminder, team members can access valuable benefits by using Ballad Health Pharmacy. Check out the advantages below. You can also help us better serve our team member workforce by completing a quick online survey. The survey is only one page and takes about three minutes to complete. Take our Ballad Health Pharmacy survey. Ballad Health Pharmacy benefits Team members and covered dependents are eligible for multiple benefits and discounts at Ballad Health Pharmacy, including: Mail delivery service Mail delivery service is available for all team members’ residential locations. Call 423-926-6154 and ask to register for courier or mail delivery service. Pharmacy staff will do the rest. Streamlining medications with MedSync In addition to home delivery, Ballad Health Pharmacy is using a powerful tool called MedSync that allows our pharmacy team to synchronize most medications so patients can receive fewer deliveries and make fewer trips to refill prescriptions. By consolidating refills, MedSync simplifies the…

NOTE: September is Sepsis Awareness Month. Be on the lookout for more sepsis-related articles each week in Ballad Health News this month, including an interactive quiz. Many people have heard of sepsis, but misconceptions remain about where it comes from and who is affected. Some think sepsis only happens in hospitals or only affects older adults and people with serious health conditions. In reality, it can develop from common infections and affect anyone, including people who were previously healthy. Understanding what sepsis is and recognizing when an infection may be getting worse can help people know when to seek medical care. Sepsis happens when the body’s response to an infection begins to work against it, causing damage to organs and other tissues. It is not an infection itself. Instead, it is a complication that can develop from infections such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, skin infections and other illnesses. One common misconception is that sepsis…

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Eligible patients can receive a free first-time low-dose CT lung cancer screening through Ballad Health from Sept. 1, 2026, through Jan. 29, 2027. The quick, non-invasive screening can help detect lung cancer earlier, when treatment is often most effective. “We received a tremendous response when we previously offered free low-dose CT scans,” said Dr. Shari K. Rajoo, chief medical officer for population health at Ballad Health. “Thousands of people completed their first lung cancer screening, and many told us they would not have been screened otherwise. We encourage anyone who may qualify to talk with their healthcare provider about whether screening is right for them. It is important to continue screening as recommended each year as long as you qualify. This greatly improves the chance of detecting cancer early over time.” “We encourage anyone who may qualify to talk with their healthcare provider about whether screening is right for them. It…

The Wellness Center in Johnson City is offering a virtual personal training program that connects participants with a real trainer at the center, enabling them to have a customized training plan even if they can’t come to the center for workout sessions. It combines a fitness and workout app with a personal, one-on-one approach to training that includes not just workouts but also diet and nutrition. Using the app also helps keep people accountable as they work the program. “This gives people a customized program right at their fingertips that can help them on their wellness journey,” said Amy Mooney, wellness coach. “It connects people with a real trainer – it’s not just with an app that’s created by AI – so people are actually being supervised by a real person who can set and meet fitness and wellness goals.” All trainers are certified. The program is open to anyone, so you don’t have to…

$44 million hospital will restore inpatient care in Unicoi County community The big picture: Nearly two years after Hurricane Helene destroyed Unicoi County Hospital, Ballad Health leaders, elected officials and community members gathered Aug. 19 to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new hospital for the community. By the numbers Why it matters What leaders are saying Building for the future A community effort What’s next Construction is underway on the replacement hospital and is set for completion in 2028.