NOTE: Wednesday, May 29, was the last day of open enrollment 2019 for Ballad Health team members. This is the time of year for all benefit-eligible Ballad Health team members to review your current benefits, make changes, learn about new benefit offerings and update your beneficiary information. Click here to start the enrollment process. Even if you do not need to make changes to your benefits, some benefits require an election. You can enroll by logging into the HR & Payroll Service Center through the Ballad Health intranet. Here’s a list of important links to help you navigate open enrollment: Here’s a summary of what you need to know about open enrollment. Click here for enrollment instructions. Click here to see a detailed benefit guide. Click here to visit the Ballad Health Benefits page on the HR site. VOLUNTARY BENEFITS You will enroll in the following voluntary benefit plans on the HR & Service Center…

We’re about to take another step toward common platform integration for team members – the transition to one performance and learning management system for all team members. Here are the key things you need to know: Starting May 30, 2019, team members who currently access My Learning and Performance through HealthStream will now use their team member number (instead of their badge number). Effective July 1, 2019, team members who currently use TEDS as their platform for performance management and learning management (CBLs) will switch to HealthStream. In the meantime, continue to use TEDS for any CBL assignments. This will standardize our performance and learning platforms so everyone is operating in the same system. We’ll have more details for everyone about the switch, who is impacted and a transition plan for performance management as we get closer to the date, including instructions on how to use HealthStream, so be on the lookout. Your questions will…

The 17th annual Diabetes Symposium at Bristol Regional Medical Center is coming up Friday, June 14, featuring keynote speaker Barb Bancroft. The event is geared toward any interested physicians, nurse practitioners, registered and licensed practical nurses, PTs, registered dietitians, pharmacists and other health professionals. CMEs offered Ballad Health is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Ballad Health designates this live activity for a maximum of six (6.0) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Ballad Health is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Tennessee Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Tennessee Pharmacists Consortium for Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This seminar will provide up to 6.0 hours…

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – To help Marsh Regional Blood Center keep up with the great need for blood and blood products in the region, Eastman Credit Union (ECU) has donated $295,000 to the Ballad Health Foundation for the purchase of a new mobile collection unit for Marsh. Marsh serves the Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia area as the sole provider of blood for Ballad Health hospitals, and depends on donations to meet the community’s need. “We are so grateful for ECU’s generosity and can’t thank them enough for this incredible gift,” said Don Campbell, director of Marsh. “Giving the gift of life is such a special thing, and this new mobile collection unit will help Marsh grow even more to meet the need of our community.” This new collection unit is the second one provided by ECU. Three years ago, they donated $250,000 to replace an older collection unit. The new 40-foot, four-bed unit will operate…

Team member appreciation picnics are planned for our corporate team members as part of Healthcare Appreciation Week in both Johnson City and Kingsport. All picnics will last from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 4 – CBO in Johnson City June 5 – Market Street Centre, 1106 West Market Street, Johnson City June 6 – Corporate HQ, 303 Med Tech Parkway, Johnson City June 6 – Corporate building, 1905 American Way, Kingsport The Healthcare Week gift selections have been shipped to each corporate department’s location and will be available to corporate team members there.  

After a decades-long career in hospital leadership, current Northwest Market president Monty McLaurin announces retirement plans JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Lindy White, chief executive officer of Ballad Health’s Kingsport operations, has been selected to serve as president of the Northwest Market, which includes Ballad Health’s two Kingsport hospitals as well as hospitals in Hawkins, Hancock, Wise and Dickenson Counties, and the planned hospital in Lee County. White begins her new position on June 1, and will succeed Monty McLaurin, who will retire at the end of the year. McLaurin will continue to serve in an advisory capacity on a number of projects for the remainder of the year; his retirement follows a long and successful career history that includes a 15-year tenure in Kingsport. “It is an honor to be appointed to this role, and I am so excited to jump right in and begin collaborating with all the hospitals in the Northwest Market,” said…

Here’s a message from Alan Levine, Ballad Health chairman and CEO, showing appreciation to our EMS partners for all the great work they do. During National EMS Week from May 19-26, we say thank you to all EMS personnel!  

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Patients who need outpatient surgery can now receive care from the newly renovated and enhanced Bristol Surgery Center. The center features four operating rooms and one minor procedure room, ample parking and comfortable waiting areas. Renovations also included new flooring, doors, ceilings, furniture and artwork, as well as upgrades to its HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems. Ballad Health also installed LED surgical lighting and fixtures throughout the suite. “With the renovated Bristol Surgery Center, we’re increasing patient and visitor comfort, as well as improving the overall experience,” said Greg Neal, chief executive officer of Bristol Regional Medical Center and president of Ballad Health’s northeast market. “These renovations will enable our surgical experts to perform at the very best of their abilities, which will ultimately result in better experiences and outcomes.” Neal noted the renovations to Bristol Surgery Center will minimize the facility’s maintenance needs, thereby reducing interruptions to patient scheduling and care….

We celebrated Healthcare Week across Ballad Health this week, recognizing and thanking all our team members for doing their part in providing healthcare to the region. Facilities held picnics, special meals and contests, played bingo, served ice cream and cookies, and gave out some nice swag! And for our Ballad Health corporate team members, there are appreciation picnics coming up in June in both Johnson City and Kingsport. June 4 – CBO in Johnson City June 5 – Market Street Centre in Johnson City June 6 – Corporate HQ on Med Tech Parkway in Johnson City June 6 – Corporate building on American Way in Kingsport Corporate team members, be on the lookout for more details coming your way soon! In the meantime, the Healthcare Week gift selections are being shipped to each corporate department’s location and will be available to corporate team members there. So your gift is on the way! Here’s a look…

In first nine months of fiscal year, Ballad Health turns combined losses of previously independent health systems into operating gains, continues high-quality performance and capital investment JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Ballad Health today announced quality, investment and financial results from its first nine months of the fiscal year, and quarterly results for the third quarter. “Ballad Health’s third-quarter operational performance was strong due to the focus by our team members and affiliated physicians on delivering excellent care while being good stewards of these important health care institutions,” said Alan Levine, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ballad Health. “I am proud of the focus on quality and collaboration with the community, and we continue to see that improved quality leads to lower cost and positive financial performance for our health system.” Ballad Health last week announced a $10 million investment into increasing direct care nursing and nursing support salaries, a direct result of improved…