Ballad Health’s corporate audit and compliance services will host a “Lunch & Learn” Webex on Thursday, March 28, at noon, covering HIPAA rules about “minimum necessary,” and social media and photography. Connect as a Webex by clicking here, or call in by phone using the info listed below.
BRISTOL, Tenn. – The 17th annual Diabetes Symposium has been set for Friday, June 14, at Bristol Regional Medical Center. WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Any interested physicians, nurse practitioners, registered and licensed practical nurses, physical therapists, registered dietitians, pharmacists and other health professionals are encouraged to participate. DETAILS: The event will last from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in the Monarch Auditorium with remote video conference locations to be determined. KEYNOTE SPEAKER: The keynote speaker will be Barb Bancroft, RN, MSN, NP, one of the leading speakers in the nation on diabetes. She has provided more than 2,800 continuing education events and has been described as fascinating, highly informative, dynamic and humorous in her presentations. She provides a wealth of clinical information that can be applied to everyday practice. MORE TO COME: Save the date for this symposium if you’re interested, and be on the lookout for program and registration information coming soon.
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Chuck Whitfield, chief executive officer at Laughlin Memorial Hospital, was honored with a retirement party and surprise dedication of the walking trail at a special celebration last month. Tammy Albright, chief executive officer for the Greene County market, announced that the trail will now be called the “Chuck Whitfield Wellness Walk.” Whitfield, who has served Laughlin and the Greeneville-Greene County community with dedication and distinction for the past 37 years, was surprised by the announcement. Albright thanked Whitfield for his numerous years of service before a crowd of team members, community members and Whitfield’s family. Whitfield started at Laughlin in accounting in 1980 and has held several key positions since then, including assistant administrator, administrator/chief operating officer and, most recently, CEO. Albright said she is “so grateful for Chuck’s vision, his leadership and his numerous contributions to healthcare in this area.” Whitfield also represented this area with excellence when he served as…
Julia Hopson named Greene County Outstanding Team Member Julia Hopson, a registered nurse in Laughlin Memorial Hospital’s (soon to be Greeneville Community Hospital East) radiation oncology department, has been recognized as the first Greene County Outstanding Team Member, a new bimonthly award honoring exceptional work. Julia is a consummate professional who serves in multiple roles, including the oncology-certified nurse representative and clinical research coordinator for the Laughlin Memorial cancer program. She recently was recognized during the radiation oncology department’s Commission on Cancer survey for exceeding requirements toward the standard for survivorship care plans. Julia also is one of the few nurses to obtain additional certification in radiation oncology. She has worked at Laughlin for more than 35 years. Congratulations, Julia! Linda Austin honored as Indian Path DAISY Award recipient KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Linda Austin, RN, 5th floor/PCU at Indian Path Community Hospital, is the latest recipient of the hospital’s DAISY Award. Nurses are selected for…
If you meet the criteria and have not been screened, consider having a screening for colorectal cancer. This is one cancer you can prevent! Ask your doctor whether it’s a good idea for you. It could save your life. This Ballad Health colorectal cancer awareness campaign coincides with Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month which is recognized in March, and stems from a grant from the Tennessee Cancer Coalition. For more information on screenings, contact Kathy Visneski, oncology clinical nurse specialist, at 423-224-5592 or kathryn.visneski@balladhealth.org
Registration deadline is nearing for the conference on highly infectious disease preparation, entitled “Disease X: Are you prepared?” Registration ends March 22 and the conference takes place March 26 at Bristol Regional Medical Center. Register today at balladhealth.org/disease-x-symposium.
When you give to the Ballad Health Team Member Emergency Fund during our annual Team Member Giving Campaign, you help someone in real need, and that’s exactly what happened recently for one team member: “I was very anxious about using the emergency fund as I’m extremely reluctant to ask for help, so when I do ask, it means I’m in a desperate situation. The winter found me unable to pay my power bill, I could not pay my cellphone bill which was very necessary due to living alone, and I had no idea how I would get everything paid and still get groceries. The emergency fund saved me, and gave me some breathing room to do what I needed to do until I could get back on my feet. If anyone is hesitant about using this wonderful service we have through Ballad Health, don’t be. That is why it’s there – to help those of us in need. I am…
When he sewed up a deep cut to the bone in the jungle of Nicaragua on a mission trip shortly after he graduated from college, Dr. Jeremy Meyer was convinced of the critical importance of surgery. Now, he finds his calling to do surgery closer to home at Mountain States Medical Group General Surgery as the group’s newest surgeon, and on occasional medical mission trips. “I saw how surgery was a good fit for doing medical work in the developing countries and I desire to do more of that, so this was the big draw to go into surgery for me,” he said. When Dr. Meyer returned from his life-changing mission trip, he attended medical school at Loma Linda University in California. With a desire to return home to Tennessee, he accepted a surgery residency at his top choice: East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine. Surgery offers Dr. Meyer the opportunity of fixing a problem…
The team member wellness program is an important part of Ballad Health’s benefits package. For those who select medical insurance through Ballad Health, there are significant savings on your premiums by participating in the voluntary wellness plan – which includes completing a health screening. We’ll be announcing the 2019 health screening dates this week, so be on the lookout – because this year’s schedule starts earlier than last year and also will finish up sooner. SCREENINGS START SOONER THIS YEAR Due to the timing of the merger, last year’s health screenings schedule started and finished later in the year than usual. This year you’ll have a longer period of time than last year to complete the screenings. They’ll start March 18 and will be offered through June 5 at locations across the system. The new rates will take effect July 1, 2019. HEALTH PLAN How do the different rates apply? More details are forthcoming about…
The Johnston Memorial Hospital Shamrock 4 Miler will take place Friday evening, March 15, in Abingdon, benefiting the Johnston Memorial Hospital Foundation. Ballad Health team members can get a $5 discount by using the code “BALLAD5” when they register online. To register, visit the race website at balladhealth.org/foundation-events/shamrock-4-miler.
KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Holston Valley Medical Center has been recognized nationally for its excellence in cardiac care. The hospital was recently named one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by IBM Watson HealthTM. This is the fourth time Holston Valley has been recognized with this honor. Organizations do not apply or pay for this recognition or pay to promote their award for top performance. The Watson Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study uses 2016 and 2017 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data, 2017 Medicare cost reports (2016 if 2017 reports were not available) and U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Compare data published in the second quarter of 2018. Hospitals were scored in key value-based performance areas: risk-adjusted mortality, risk-adjusted complications, percentage of coronary bypass patients with internal mammary artery use, 30-day mortality rates, 30-day readmission rates, severity-adjusted average length of stay, wage- and severity-adjusted average cost per case and,…
Our “Kudos & Recognition” feature highlights team members and others from across Ballad Health who have earned honors, awards, professional certifications or done other notable things worth recognizing. If you know a team member who might qualify, email information to doug.janz@balladhealth.org. Rebekah Eichler honored with JMH’s quarterly DAISY Award ABINGDON, Va. – Rebekah Eichler, RN, was the third-quarter DAISY Award honoree at Johnston Memorial Hospital. Rebekah works as a shift leader in JMH’s outpatient surgery department. Her DAISY nomination included the following: “Rebekah arrives every single day ready to lead the team and ready to communicate with the patients and other families. She is always ready to jump in and help others when needed. Her attitude is one of a go-getter and a motivational leader. “Rebekah has a sense for those who are less fortunate or in need of assistance. She pays attention to detail in assessing patients, especially those in need. In the past…
