Many things are changing as we transition from two health systems into one, but there are also a lot of things that ARE NOT changing right away. In fact, the overriding message for all our team members over the next few weeks might be: Keep calm and carry on.
For the most part, our day-to-day operations won’t change on Day 1 of Ballad Health, and the most important thing is for team members to carry on with their normal duties. Changes will happen as we go forward, with some of the bigger transitions not occurring until July 1, 2018, the start of the new fiscal year. We’ll try to make every transition as seamless as possible along the way.
To help answer some questions that are may be circulating, here are some of the key things that WILL NOT change on Day 1 as we begin Ballad Health:
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Benefits, including health insurance – Our benefits and health insurance networks will remain the same until we establish a common HR platform, which is slated for July 1.
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Your doctors and care providers – The people who provide care within our hospitals and clinics will not change upon launch.
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Uniforms/scrubs – We’re going to go through a methodical process to select uniform colors, with team member input. The dress code and uniform policies you follow now will not change until later in the year, and you’ll have plenty of notice before any revisions are made.
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Paychecks (when and how much you’re paid) – You will receive your same paycheck on the same schedule.
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Years of service – You will always retain credit for your years of service. This will not change.
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Current PTO and sick leave balances and accruals – You will retain all balances and accruals that you have already earned.
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Network log-in passwords – These will be the same on Day 1. Any changes about networks log-ins will be communicated well in advance.
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Our IT platforms – The branding on many of our electronic platforms will switch to Ballad Heath, but the overall functions of our systems will remain the same in the immediate term. You will see a new intranet home page on Day 1, but you’ll be able to pull up the home page you’re accustomed to by clicking a single link on the Ballad Health home page. More info on this to follow.
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Signage inside and outside all our facilities – This transition will take place over the course of 2018.
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Printed materials – Many printed items like forms, brochures, business cards, etc. will still have Wellmont or Mountain States branding at launch. Do not throw away your printed materials. Please use them until they are gone, and when you order more, you’ll have the opportunity to order items with Ballad Health branding. We want to minimize waste wherever we can, so we can maximize the resources directed toward patient care.
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The procedure for transferring to a new job – If you’re considering leaving your job to take a position at the other health system (Mountain States to Wellmont or vice versa), it’s important to keep in mind that while we’ll officially be joined together as Ballad Health soon, we will still have separate structures for pay and benefits until July 1, 2018, the start of the new fiscal year. This means if you switch systems prior to July 1, you would be transferring employment to a different organization and would lose what you’ve already paid toward your insurance deductible for the year. You could also potentially affect your pension benefit until we move to a common pension system effective July 1. So in an effort to protect anyone from inadvertently negatively affecting any benefits, Ballad Health human resources will review any proposed transfers between the different systems. After July 1, 2018, any transfers within Ballad Health will NOT negatively affect the benefits mentioned above.
These are some of the most commonly discussed topics, but the list above is not a complete list of everything that will remain the same immediately after launch. Check your email regularly for updates on what’s new – and what’s not – as we start on this exciting journey together as one system.
