Team members are invited to attend the annual Niswonger Children’s Hospital Christmas tree lighting and festivities, set for Monday, Dec. 4, at 5:30 p.m. It will take place in the hospital lobby. Niswonger Children’s Hospital holiday shirts will also be on sale for adults and children.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring our 2023 Scott and Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award winners in Ballad Health News, as well as on Ballad Health social media. The award honors team members, physicians and volunteers who display the heart of a servant by going above and beyond the normal call of duty in helping others at work and in the community, as nominated by their peers. Click on the video player below to see a brief profile of our next winner, Nellie Arrowood. And use the link at the bottom of this story to nominate someone for the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award. Nellie Arrowood, telemetry technician at Unicoi County Hospital, has been with the hospital since 1990, and goes about her work with a passion to serve others. She began as a certified nurse assistant (CNA) and held numerous roles before taking her current position. As a telemetry technician, she monitors the…
The Balladeer Children’s Program had a very special painting activity in November, with their artwork set to be exhibited at East Tennessee State University’s Reece Museum! The Balladeer program, a free benefit for Ballad Health employees, is intended to strengthen family bonds and relationships among our Ballad Health family. Activities include visits to area attractions, picnics in local parks, holiday celebrations and activities, sports activities, discount tickets for attractions or events, treats, take-home projects and much more! Click here to visit the Balladeer Children’s Program page on the Ballad Health intranet. Check out what our Balladeers have been up to lately, and if you’re interested in joining, see the information at the bottom of this article! November events ETSU Reece Museum art activities — Spenser Brenner, local artist and exhibition coordinator at the Reece Museum at ETSU, led the Balladeer kids in a landscape painting activity. About 135 kids participated in the events. The artwork…
Healthcare advocates recognized with 2023 Inspire Award Ballad Health Foundation’s Night of Hope and Miracles returns to Kingsport for a cozy, ski resort-themed evening that will support the future of healthcare in the Appalachian Highlands. This year’s gala will transform MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center into an upscale ski village beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, complete with holiday-themed cocktails, a silent auction and delicious food. The event also features an experience room that showcases future plans for Niswonger Children’s Hospital and includes actual items used every day in the neonatal intensive care unit. “We’re thrilled to return to Kingsport for another magical year, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome our guests to this ski village for the Night of Hope and Miracles this year,” said Jack Simpson, president of Ballad Health Foundation. “Our teams have been hard at work creating an exciting and immersive experience for guests, and I…
Don’t forget: Ballad Health’s performance appraisal period is underway through Thursday, Nov. 30, for all team members. We want to provide you with essential information to ensure a smooth and effective evaluation process. Your contributions are invaluable to our organization, and your dedication to excellence is greatly appreciated. General information on the performance appraisal period: Dates: Annual performance appraisals are scheduled to take place between Sept. 18 and Nov. 30 for all Ballad Health team members. Review period: The performance evaluation will cover the 12-month period from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023. Annual wage increase: Team members hired into an annual increase-eligible position before August 2022 will receive the full 3% increase which takes effect in January 2024, as recently approved by the Ballad Health Board of Directors. Our policy with respect to team members who have a final written warning or are in a flat-rate compensation position will apply. Eligible team members…
GREENEVILLE, Tenn.— An upcoming hiring event seeks to fill various part-time and full-time clinical positions for Laughlin Healthcare Center. From 1-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29, Ballad Health leaders will be on hand at the long-term care facility, 801 E. McKee St., to match hopeful job seekers to open roles. A total of 15 full-time and part-time jobs are available. Key roles being sought for Laughlin Healthcare Center include licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, certified nursing assistants and licensed physical therapy assistants. During the event on Wednesday, Nov. 29, Ballad Health leaders will be on hand to help match job seekers with 15 full-time and part-time jobs at the long-term care facility, including LPNs, RNs, CNAs and LPTAs. During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with hiring managers, learn more about available roles and potentially receive a job offer on the spot. Applicants are encouraged to bring their resumes and come ready…
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring our 2023 Scott and Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award winners in Ballad Health News, as well as on Ballad Health social media. The award honors team members, physicians and volunteers who display the heart of a servant by going above and beyond the normal call of duty in helping others at work and in the community, as nominated by their peers. Click on the video player below to see a brief profile of our first winner, Shane Duncan. And use the link at the bottom of this story to nominate someone for the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award. Shane Duncan is the Consumer Contact Center director for Ballad Health – an important resource for thousands of people in the region. In addition to his day job, he serves as the chair for one of Ballad Health Foundation’s biggest fundraising events – the annual Night of Hope and Miracles, which…
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be featuring this year’s winners of the Scott and Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award through videos, stories and photos — and we are opening the nomination process for the 2024 awards! This is Ballad Health’s highest honor, given to members of our team who have been recognized by their peers for displaying the heart of a servant by going above and beyond the normal call of duty in helping others at work and in the community. Nominate someone! Do you know someone who has the heart of a servant and deserves recognition for their great work? If so, nominate them for the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award! Click here to access the 2024 nomination form. More about the Servant’s Heart Award This award is named in honor of Scott and Nikki Niswonger, who have exemplified what it means to have the heart of a servant throughout their lives. The Niswongers were…
CHATTANOOGA – Ballad Health and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BlueCross) announced Tuesday they have reached a new multi-year agreement that will enable members in Northeast Tennessee to continue receiving in-network care with Ballad Health’s providers after Dec. 31. With the new agreement, BlueCross and Ballad Health will move forward in serving members and patients, providing peace of mind to people throughout the region. The three-year deal, which is subject to regulatory review, covers all Ballad Health facilities and affiliated providers for all BlueCross plans including BlueCare Tennessee and Medicare Advantage. “We’re pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with Ballad Health in support of members and employer customers throughout Northeast Tennessee,” said Scott Pierce, executive vice president and chief operating officer for BlueCross. “Contract negotiation is an important process which allows both parties to adapt to the changing health care environment. Our new agreement allows us to balance affordability with the access and quality that people…
Dear Colleague: As we settle in for Thanksgiving, I’d like to first give thanks to our fellow team members, physicians and volunteers who will be serving our patients during the holiday. Many of our colleagues choose to work during the holiday so others can be with their families, and of course, to be able to show special attention to our patients who must be hospitalized or need other services during the holiday. Whatever brings you to work on this holiday, you all have the gratitude of our patients, your colleagues and our communities. This time of year provides us with an opportunity to count our blessings, and to reflect on what we value most. I hope that we all agree that kindness, compassion and empathy are core virtues that, when put on display and lived, make the lives of those around us better. In each and every interaction we have; with each other, with our patients and their families,…
In an effort to promote handwashing and infection prevention protocols across Ballad Health, we’ll be hosting our next game of “SPLAT!” on Tuesday, Nov. 21. It’s a fun way to reinforce the lessons learned at recent hand hygiene review sessions. We held our first of three SPLAT! days in October, with another one coming up in December. Who: The campaign is for all clinical team members at Ballad Health inpatient facilities and long-term care areas (but not outpatient clinics). When: SPLAT! days are Oct. 31, Nov. 21 and Dec. 20. Prizes: Participants can win prizes, including Dollywood tickets, Barter Theatre tickets and the grand prize of an Apple Watch Series 8. How does it work? This kind of campaign has been used successfully at various health systems around the country and has been featured by the American Nurses Association, the American Journal of Infection Control and other organizations. Each clinical team member will be given…
Sharecare is a digital company Ballad Health partners with to administer the B-Well wellness program. This platform will help you as a team member manage all your health in one place, no matter where you are in your health journey. Registering is simple and the steps are listed below. Visit balladhealth.sharecare.com to register and create a user ID and password or log in to the Ballad Teams app. Take your RealAge® Test as guided through the Sharecare platform. If you’ve already registered for Sharecare, simply log in and retake the RealAge test. Download the Sharecare app to your mobile device or tablet from the App Store or Google Play. Visit the Rewards page to see available challenges and how to earn rewards. Live better, longer using tools and resources from Sharecare. Once you register and download the Sharecare app, you can complete incentive activities to earn up to 250 points equating to $250 to spend…
