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BRISTOL, Tenn. — Bristol Regional Medical Center invites the community to a special Open House event on Thursday, July 17, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the hospital’s main lobby. This event offers residents an opportunity to meet the team members who deliver care, learn about the services available at the hospital and explore the latest in medical technology and innovation. “We’re proud to open our doors and welcome the community in for this special event,” said John Jeter, CEO of Bristol Regional and Johnston Memorial Hospital. “This is a great chance for folks to meet our dedicated team, ask questions and see firsthand how we care for our region every day. Our mission is centered on improving health, and that begins with building strong connections with the people we serve.” This event offers residents an opportunity to meet the team members who deliver care, learn about the services available at the hospital and explore…

Ballad Health to host open house for community MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. — A nearly $1 million investment from Ballad Health has secured a key cardiac service for Johnson County residents. Johnson County Community Hospital is now home to a brand-new, top-of-the-line CT scanner. In addition to investing in the equipment, Ballad Health also funded an addition to the hospital to house the larger scanner, which began serving patients last month. “This is a very important investment for Johnson County, and we’re thrilled to bring the latest equipment to patients who deserve high-quality care,” said Lisa Carter, president of Ballad Health’s Southern Region, which includes Johnson County Community Hospital. “Ballad Health serves the Appalachian Highlands, so that means that we’re committed to providing the highest quality care that we can, regardless of where someone lives, which is why investments like this are crucial.” The addition of the new scanner also enables the facility to provide cardiac…

Although it’s been nine months since devastating flooding impacted our region, for those who have experienced high-stress situations like a natural disaster, the memories can remain fresh. News reports, anniversary dates, social media posts, reading, watching TV or movies, even sounds or smells can bring back difficult memories. We recognize that negative experiences can stick with you and come up when you least expect it – which is why Ballad Health’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to all team members and their covered dependents. EAP benefits include up to 10 therapy and/or medication management visits per plan year at no cost. These services are delivered by licensed professionals – including licensed clinical  social workers, licensed professional counselors and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners – either in person or via telehealth. Online scheduling is available at balladhealth.org/medical-services/behavioral-health-mental-health, making it easier than ever to get started. We encourage all team members to reach out to the…

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 that you might encounter in your work. See what you know, or can learn, about these “bugs” through our “Bug of the Month” series! This month, we’re highlighting something that’s not a bug, but an environment that can host bugs. It’s splash zones — the area within 3 feet of the sink. It’s an area with the potential for spreading infections, including multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs). It is a key focus for The Joint Commission. 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.

Ballad Health team members can get a substantial discount on entry fees for the annual Crazy 8s 8K Run and other Crazy 8s events coming up on Saturday night, July 19, in Kingsport. Team members and their families are offered the following discounted rates: Crazy 8s 8K Run: $20 entry fee Almost Crazy 3K Run/Walk: $15 fee Totally Crazy 3K/8K combo: $35 fee Lazy 8s (virtual 8K or shirt only): $20 fee Team members should go to the Crazy 8s registration site and use the code BALLADC8 to get the discount. NOTE: This discount is good only when used through preregistration, and it cannot be honored for race-day registration. Online preregistration ends at midnight on Friday night, July 18. Please do not share the code with anyone outside of Ballad Health. If you can’t make it out to the race itself, there is a virtual option that allows people to complete the 8K (five miles) distance any time before or on race day,…

Here are some of our latest clinicians to join Ballad Health: Lisa Carter, MD, joins BHMA Infectious Disease in Bristol BRISTOL, Tenn. – Lisa Carter, MD, has joined Ballad Health Medical Associates (BHMA) Infectious Disease – Bristol, specializing in diagnosing and treating infectious diseases. Dr. Carter offers a wide range of services and treatments, including chronic urinary tract infections, heart valve infections, human immunodeficiency virus care, infected wounds, prosthetic joint infections, sepsis and unusual infections. “I’ve always loved science,” Dr. Carter said. “It just made sense to use that love to help patients.” Dr. Carter earned her degrees from Meharry Medical College in Nashville and Vanderbilt University, also in Nashville. She served a fellowship and residency at Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine in Fairborn, Ohio, and is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine and infectious disease. Dr. Carter is accepting new patients at BHMA Infectious Disease, located at…

Minimally invasive procedure offers new hope for patients considered untreatable – without the need for open-heart surgery KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Holston Valley Medical Center has become the first hospital in Tennessee to successfully perform the EVOQUE tricuspid valve replacement procedure, a groundbreaking, minimally invasive therapy for patients suffering from severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR). This achievement marks a major milestone in cardiac care for the Appalachian Highlands and beyond.   As the only medical center in a 120-mile radius offering both tricuspid valve replacement and repair, Holston Valley is eliminating the need for patients in the Appalachian Highlands to travel to major metropolitan areas for advanced cardiac care. This advancement addresses a critical healthcare gap in a region with higher-than-average rates of heart disease. Tricuspid regurgitation is a serious heart condition in which the valve between the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart doesn’t close tightly, causing blood to flow backward. This can lead…

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Bristol Regional Medical Center hosted an open house last week to celebrate the completion of renovations to its McGlothlin-Street Hospitality House. The event welcomed team members, donors and the community to tour the facility and see the results of recent upgrades made possible by generous donors. The Hospitality House has long provided temporary housing for patients’ families traveling from outside the area or those receiving specialized treatments. “The Hospitality House has always been a refuge for families facing medical crises,” said John Jeter, chief executive officer of Bristol Regional Medical Center. “These renovations allowed us to improve the experience for our guests, making the space more comfortable, welcoming and supportive.” Upgrades to the Hospitality House have created a more home-like atmosphere, helping the facility better live up to its “home-away-from-home” description. The open house provided an opportunity for guests to tour the facility, learn more about its mission and connect with the…

NOTE: This message is from Marvin Eichorn, Ballad Health’s chief administrative officer: Partnership overview Ballad Health has formalized a joint venture agreement with Select Medical Corporation to enhance our critical illness recovery capabilities throughout the Appalachian Highlands region. This strategic partnership represents our continued commitment to delivering specialized, high-quality care while strengthening our position as a regional healthcare leader. The agreement establishes a joint venture for the operation of Select Specialty Hospital – Tri-Cities, a 46-bed critical illness recovery facility that will relocate from Bristol Regional Medical Center to Indian Path Community Hospital in Kingsport. Select Medical will serve as the majority owner and managing partner, while Ballad Health maintains its collaborative role in this hospital-in-hospital model. Strategic benefits for our health system This partnership aligns with Ballad Health’s mission to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve across our 29-county service area. The relocation to Indian Path Community Hospital will provide…

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Marsh Regional Blood Center is proud to announce the relocation of its Bristol donation center to a new and improved facility that will allow for expanded services, increased donor comfort and a continued commitment to meeting the lifesaving needs of the Appalachian Highlands. The new location will officially open on Monday, June 30, at 350 Blountville Highway, Suite 207, Bristol, Tennessee. Donors can continue to reach the center using the existing phone number, 423-652-0014. This move reflects Marsh Regional’s ongoing investment in local health and wellness. The new facility is designed with the donor experience in mind – offering more space, upgraded amenities and improved access, making it even easier for donors to give the gift of life. “At Marsh Regional, our mission has always been to serve our neighbors,” Marsh Regional Director Steffanie Sukel said. “This relocation allows us to better support our donors while continuing to provide lifesaving blood products to…

Ballad Health is thrilled to announce the relaunch of the Ballad Health Nurse Mentor Program – an initiative designed to empower and support both new nurses and Ballad Health Academy students as they begin their professional journeys. This program pairs experienced nurses with mentees to provide meaningful guidance, encouragement and real-world insights that help shape confident, compassionate caregivers. Program resources, including general information, mentor application and flyer, will be conveniently available on: The Clinical Education intranet site (System Clinical Education) The Nursing intranet page (Nurse Mentor Program) The external Ballad Health website (Nursing Mentorship Program in Tennessee & Virginia | Ballad Health) Who can become a mentor? Mentors must be licensed RNs or LPNs with at least one year of nursing experience. Interested individuals can complete the Nurse Mentor Application (Nurse Mentor Application | Ballad Health) to select one of two mentoring tracks: Ballad Health nurse mentoring: Supporting new or transitioning Ballad-employed nurses Ballad Health…

At Ballad Health, continuous learning and development are essential to building a strong, prepared and collaborative workforce. That’s where our Organizational Development department comes in. Led by Aaron Rice, system director, the OD department is focused on equipping every team member – from new hires to seasoned leaders – with the tools, resources and skills they need to thrive. The department oversees several key areas: new team member orientation, administration of our HealthStream learning management system (LMS), nonclinical training, and leadership development programs. Whether you’re attending your first day of orientation or taking part in a leadership coaching session, chances are the OD team is involved and supporting your journey. The OD team also plays a key role in advancing our B Excellent journey, helping to embed our culture of excellence through training and development programs that empower team members to perform at their best. In addition, the team brings extensive audiovisual and production expertise…

Community Health Improvement Week celebrates the people who go above and beyond to lift up others and strengthen the communities they serve. To bring some awareness, here are stories from three team members, highlighting programs Ballad Health provides and supports to help people in various ways – ultimately improving their health. Strong Starts program Becky Artrip, a community health navigator with Ballad Health’s Strong Starts, connected with her client right as her family hit rock bottom. Just as the client received custody of her fourth grandchild, her husband suffered an injury that left him unable to work the job that provided for their family for 30 years. They lost their income, their health insurance and, eventually, their home. At the same time, the client’s youngest grandchild began having seizures, requiring ongoing medical care. Homeless and hopeless, the family of six was drowning and needed help. Becky began by helping the grandfather secure a new job….

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 that you might encounter in your work. See what you know, or can learn, about these “bugs” through our “Bug of the Month” series! This month, instead of spotlighting a particular bug, we’re offering team members an Infection Prevention 101 crossword puzzle! This will be emailed out to most team members from their local infection preventionist — as an attachment in the email — so it can be printed out, filled in and then submitted to the infection preventionist. The puzzle can also be printed out from this article (see below, and you can access as a PDF) and filled out, then returned to the nearest infection preventionist. If you’re unable to print the puzzle, please reach out to your local infection…

Investment in cancer care grows unique services in region JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – In an ongoing commitment to increase access to quality oncology and hematology services in the Appalachian Highlands, Ballad Health celebrated the grand opening of the newly expanded Ballad Health Cancer Care – Johnson City, enabling the health system to offer its high-quality cancer treatment and hematology services to even more patients. The completed expansion adds 11 exam rooms, three new physician offices and two new chemotherapy wings complete with six private rooms and 32 infusion chairs. The expansion also adds more room in the registration area, the infusion center and the in-house pharmacy, broadening the services available to patients battling cancer or needing infusion services. “We’re so proud to welcome our patients to our clinic, and we want our patients and their families to know that every decision was made with their experience in mind,” said Brad Price, senior vice president of…

Here are some of our latest clinicians to join Ballad Health; be on the lookout for more announcements in the coming weeks! WeiQian ‘Daphne’ Coates, FNP-BC, joins Ballad Health CVA Heart Institute – Kingsport KINGSPORT, Tenn. – WeiQian “Daphne” Coates, FNP-BC, has joined Ballad Health CVA Heart Institute – Kingsport, specializing in cardiology. Coates offers a broad range of services and treatments, including management of care for acute and chronic heart conditions, evaluation of watchman procedures, management of cardiovascular risk factors, management of heart failure, management of valvular disorders, preoperative and postoperative care for cardiac procedures, rhythm management and treatment planning for cardiac conditions. “I believe patients should be actively involved in their care,” Coates said. “I see my role as a provider not only as someone who treats illness but also as an educator who empowers patients with the knowledge and skills they need to manage their health. By fostering patient engagement and shared…

ERWIN, Tenn. — After Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic flooding and major losses in the region last fall, Ballad Health has stepped in to support Unicoi County Emergency Medical Services by donating four new Zoll cardiac monitor/defibrillators. The monitors were presented to Unicoi County EMS on Friday during a ceremony at Ballad Health’s Advanced Urgent Care Clinic in Erwin. The donated equipment, valued at nearly $200,000, replaces important monitors lost during the storm and helps in the effort to fully restore emergency response capabilities for the county. “Ballad Health is proud to support our EMS partners as they continue to recover and serve their community,” said Anita Perry, corporate director of trauma services at Ballad Health. “These monitors are a vital part of the care they provide in emergencies.” Ballad Health also donated monitors to Unicoi County EMS in 2021. This new gift shows the healthcare system’s ongoing commitment to local first responders. “We’ve been working…