Ballad Health is aware of fraudulent emails circulating that appear to come from MyChart, Epic or healthcare organizations. These messages are not from Ballad Health and may attempt to trick users into clicking links, sharing personal information or signing up for products or services. Click here to learn more about these phishing emails. Healthcare organizations across the country are reporting phishing emails targeting MyChart users. If you have any questions or concerns about an email you’ve received, you can call our consumer contact team at 1-833-822-5523. Our team is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If a patient asks about phishing emails, you may also direct them to call 1-833-822-5523 or visit www.balladhealth.org/mychart/phishing-emails to learn more. Examples of phishing email messages MyChart phishing emails can be highly misleading. Scammers are sending convincing emails using the MyChart logo and language that is nearly identical to real MyChart messages. Reported phishing scheme emails have included subject lines…

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Ballad Health’s annual Camp Firefly event returns to Warriors’ Path State Park on Saturday, Sept. 12, offering an interactive day to help children, teens and their families navigate grief. The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is designed to meet the needs of children and teens who have experienced the death of a loved one. Adult caregivers are encouraged to attend Camp Firefly alongside their children, as the camp offers separate services to help adults understand how to support a child’s grieving process, cope with their own grief and respond to a child’s unique needs. A panel of experienced professionals will be available to answer questions. Team members are encouraged to spread the word to anyone who may want to participate in the camp or to volunteer for the event. Click here to sign up as a participant or a volunteer. “Grief can be extremely lonely and isolating, and kids sometimes…

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Ballad Health Cancer Care has been awarded two grants from the American Cancer Society totaling $30,000 to help patients and caregivers overcome critical barriers to accessing cancer treatment – namely, the costs of transportation and temporary lodging. The grants include $20,000 to support transportation needs and $10,000 to assist with lodging. The funding is part of $9 million awarded to health systems nationwide by the American Cancer Society to reduce the financial burden on cancer patients, enabling them to focus on healing and recovery. The grants will help cover expenses such as gas, hotel rooms and temporary lodging for both patients and their caregivers. “We are incredibly grateful to the American Cancer Society for their continued partnership and support,” said Dr. Ibrahim Nakhoul, a medical oncology specialist at the Ballad Health Cancer Care – Kingsport. “For many cancer patients in our region, access to care depends not only on having a…

Team members are invited to submit their own photos to be used as decorations for the Ballad Health community Christmas trees we sponsor and decorate each holiday season, with the submission deadline set for Tuesday, Sept. 1. This is a way to pay homage to the everyday heroes we have working in our hospitals and offices. We’re asking for photos of our team members that are NOT from the workplace, but instead are outside the work environment and show our team members doing various other activities – celebrating a milestone, running a 5K with a fellow team member, working in the garden, doing volunteer work, attending a parade or community event, etc. Ballad Health Christmas trees will be located in the following cities: *Rather than traditional live trees, the Believe in Bristol display will feature professionally installed “flagpole light trees” without ornaments, so no photo submissions are needed for that tree. The trees are usually…

$44 million hospital will restore inpatient care in Unicoi County community The big picture: Nearly two years after Hurricane Helene destroyed Unicoi County Hospital, Ballad Health leaders, elected officials and community members gathered Aug. 19 to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new hospital for the community. By the numbers Why it matters What leaders are saying Building for the future A community effort What’s next Construction is underway on the replacement hospital and is set for completion in 2028.

Did you know there are more than 1,400 known species of human pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa? Each month, our Ballad Health infection prevention team is highlighting one of those pathogens, or something important in how we deal with those pathogens, that you might encounter in your work. See what you know, or can learn, about these “bugs” through our “Bug of the Month” series, and about how we can prevent spread! This month, we’re spotlighting multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) — germs that have developed a resistance to multiple antibiotics. If you have questions or want more information, please reach out to your infection preventionist.