NOTE: This message was emailed on Wednesday, Nov. 23, to all Ballad Health team members from Alan Levine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Ballad Health.
Dear Colleague:
With the holiday season upon us, and as we settle in for Thanksgiving, I’d like to first give thanks to our fellow team members who are planning to work during the Thanksgiving holiday. Some of them are working because they wanted to volunteer so others could enjoy the holiday with their families; others have chosen to work because they know their patients and colleagues need them. Whatever brings you to work on this holiday, you all have the gratitude of our patients, your colleagues and our communities.
As you know, I enjoy telling the stories of Ballad Health. These “mission moments” are many, and they all make me so proud to be a part of your team. ut today, I want to tell you the story of one of our cherished volunteers.
Some of you might already know Ronnie Alley. Ronnie has been giving of his time five days a week at our Kingsport hospitals since 2002 – the week after he graduated high school. He serves in the surgery waiting area as the liaison between doctors and patients’ family members.
What is so inspiring about Ronnie’s story is his dedication and commitment to giving back. Ronnie was born with cerebral palsy and has been in leg braces since he was 3 years old. Since then, he’s undergone eight surgeries, including a major hip surgery after which he had to learn how to walk again.
But that’s never slowed down his service. He gets up at 3 a.m. every day to get dressed and catch a ride to work on public transit.
“I don’t look at it as volunteer work. I look at it as a career. I’m blessed to be able to do it,” he said.
“I do what I do to give back to the community, because I feel like someone has taken care of me my whole life, and now, it’s my time to take care of them.”
Ronnie says he enjoys life and tries to get as much out of it as he can.
“I work every day because that day might be my last one. Nobody knows. We’re not promised tomorrow,” he said.
I have learned from Ronnie. It is so easy to take the things we are blessed with for granted, and to forget to give thanks for even the simplest of things. Ronnie is right. Tomorrow is not promised. We are blessed to have the opportunity to serve others. Other people take care of us, and we sometimes don’t even realize they are doing it for us. We should take what we are given and find a way to pay it forward. And to think … I learned all this just from what Ronnie said. Imagine the gift of working with him every day!!!
Please take a moment to watch this special video about a day in the life of Ronnie – you can visit the Ballad Health Intranet homepage or click this link if you’re watching it from an internal Ballad Health device or visit this link of you’re viewing from an external device. And if you watch the video, please share Ronnie’s story with everyone you can – whether it be family or on social media. His story will inspire many.
When I see Ronnie wear the Ballad Health logo, my heart swells with pride – just as it does every time I see one of our colleagues who is in the act of serving others. The Ballad Health name and logo mean something – each person has a story, and it is our privilege to have a front row seat to their story. Ronnie is living proof of that. He clearly understands the privilege of being there for families who are vulnerable and need his help.
The holidays are one of my favorite times of the year since they give us an opportunity to gather with family and friends, cherish each other’s company and reflect on our many blessings.
This is our time to express gratitude for everything God has blessed us with, and this year, I’m especially thankful to have the opportunity to serve alongside people who represent everything that is good in our world – our incredible team members, physicians and volunteers.
As I reflect on everything our health system has accomplished, I continue to be inspired by the selfless acts of so many, especially knowing the personal difficulties everyone has experienced in the last two years. Balancing our commitments to family, to our own mental health, to our patients and to our employer… all these things are accomplishments and victories as we emerge from the most challenging time we’ve experienced in the healthcare professions.
As we enter this holiday season, I hope each of you can find the time to take solace in the fact that we have been given an opportunity to serve those who are in need the most, and you are rising to the occasion every day.
A couple of items of interest as we bring in the holiday season:
- First, as we close out the year, I want to remind everyone that, in January, all Ballad Health team members will receive an annual wage increase of up to 4%. Recognizing the pressure inflation has brought to everyone, this is double our typical wage increase, and the largest we’ve done as Ballad Health. It is well-deserved, and our Board of Directors felt strongly that we make this investment in you.
- Also, Ballad Health has once again partnered with Bristol Motor Speedway to purchase tickets for every team member, including medical providers employed by Ballad Health Medical Associates. Each team member will receive one ticket for Speedway in Lights, which is good for one vehicle to experience the holiday light spectacular.
- I am also pleased to announce that Ballad Health will continue our tradition of providing a $25 Food City gift card to all team members.
The gift cards and Speedway in Lights tickets will be distributed by each facility’s human resources department, and distribution times might vary. Team members will receive an email with information on when and where they can pick up their gift cards and tickets.
*Please note, our partner, Ensemble Health Partners, has special gift and bonus programs for its associates, and its own wage programs, and so I refer these associates to Ensemble for any holiday programs administered by Ensemble or for any questions about compensation.
Associates of our partners, Compass One and Morrison’s, will receive the Food City gift card and Speedway in Lights tickets. Any questions about compensation should, as always, be referred to Compass One and Morrison’s.
One of my favorite Bible scriptures is James 1:2-4, which states, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
No matter our life circumstances, I pray you find peace and joy this holiday season. May God bless you and your family, and I hope you’re able to create many memories full of happiness and love.
Thank you for your service, and God bless.
Alan
