NOTE: This message was emailed on Sunday, June 26, 2022, from Alan Levine, Chairman and CEO of Ballad Health, to all team members
Dear Colleague:
As always, I want to share with you our most sincere gratitude for the incredible work each of you do. I know the pressure of the labor shortages continues to take its toll. While progress is slow, I can tell you that there has been some progress in terms of hiring and reducing turnover systemwide. We will continue to lean in with our initiatives to hire more nurses and nursing support, and will continue to listen to you as good ideas are shared for how we can continue to reduce turnover.
As you may recall, Ballad Health last March announced a two-part bonus we wanted to provide to all team members, with the first part being paid out in March, and the second part being paid out in July. In keeping our promise, we are pleased to share that the second part of the bonus will be paid out July 15.
Human Resources will provide the details, but generally, if you are a full-time team member and were paid an average of 60 hours per pay period (regular, overtime, PTO and MML) through the most recent pay period, you will be paid $500. If you are part-time or work an average of below 60 hours per pay period, you will receive a special bonus of $250. You must be an active team member upon payout. If you are a partner with Compass ONE, you will receive this bonus. If you are with Ensemble Health Partners or State Information Solutions, and you work in a Ballad Health hospital facility, you are eligible for the bonus as well.
Read the original announcement about the bonuses here, with more details.
This bonus was intended as a thank you for the incredible work being done during this difficult period. No amount is enough, but I hope you do know the appreciation is genuine.
Recent activity at the U.S. Supreme Court
I know each of us has watched with interest some of the rulings coming out of the Supreme Court. Several recent rulings impact hospitals and healthcare workers, but none has attracted more attention than the reversal of Roe vs. Wade.
The argument of whether or not the U.S. Constitution protects the right for a woman to seek and receive an abortion has been settled by the currently sitting members of the Court. This is obviously an argument that provokes emotion from those who have arguments on both sides, and we are watching the political reaction to the court decision play out in various protests and venues throughout the nation. The wisdom of our founders, among other things, was that our democratic republic can survive only if people can exercise their expression without fear of repression by the government. To the degree people feel the need to express their view on this important topic, I can only hope we each respect the deeply held beliefs of others as we have our discourse, particularly if they disagree with our own view. Within the walls of our own institutions, it is important to remember we are all on the same team – focused on listening to, and caring for, the people who trust us.
To this end, Ballad Health has very conservative and strict policies with respect to abortion – and our policies are very closely tied to the laws of Virginia and Tennessee. The Supreme Court case does not change our current policies. That having been said, Tennessee has a “trigger law” which provides for certain restrictions and boundaries in the event Roe vs. Wade were to be overturned. These new provisions were triggered by the Attorney General of Tennessee on Friday, which sets in motion a 30-day clock – with the new provisions going into effect at that time.
Our clinical team is reviewing the new statutory provisions, and we are consulting with other health systems as well. We will implement any changes in accordance with the plain language of the law, and will do our best to interpret any portion of the provisions consistent with the intent of our state leadership’s guidance. Obviously, the many variables that come into play in certain circumstances are relevant, and these will be considered based on the law and with the consultation of experts in the care of women and children. In the meantime, our current policies remain in effect in Virginia and Tennessee, and will remain so until they are specifically updated and approved by our Board of Directors if it is necessary to make any changes.
To be clear, Ballad Health does not provide on-demand abortion services. Our policies reflect the clinical judgment of physicians and, as a healthcare system committed to our patients’ safety, are driven by the life and safety of the mother.
Stepping back from this particular issue, and reflecting on the larger issues of the day, one thing I am truly grateful for is that our region’s culture is one of kindness. So many terrible things play out on our television screens where it seems what divides us overwhelms that which we all have in common – which I believe to be that we are human, imperfect, come from so many different places and experiences, and that each of us has such enormous value. I am grateful for each of you – whether we agree on issues or not – because I believe we all strive to be the best we can be. So, I’d prefer to be grateful for what we all have in common.
God bless each of you.
Alan
