Diabetes is a condition that affects millions of Americans; in fact, more than 34 million Americans have diabetes, and one in three people in the United States is pre-diabetic. What is diabetes? Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. If you have diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it makes as well as it should. When there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss and kidney disease. There isn’t a cure for diabetes yet, but maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy food and being physically active can really help. Taking medicine as needed, getting diabetes self-management education and support, and keeping health care appointments can also reduce the impact of diabetes on your life. Did you…

If you are enrolled in the Choice medical plan, Ballad Health will make a cash contribution to each eligible team member’s health savings account (HSA), which can be used to pay for deductibles, co-insurance and other eligible out-of-pocket expenses related to your health, dental and vision plans. The amount of the January contribution is $250 for those enrolled in individual coverage and $500 for those enrolled in family coverage. We anticipate these funds to be deposited into the HSA accounts by Jan. 7, 2022. This contribution will be for the 2022 calendar year. As a reminder, you can also elect to make your own contributions into the health savings account. Contributions can be increased, decreased or stopped any time during the calendar year. The HSA contribution change form is located on the Benefits page on the Ballad Health intranet. From the intranet main page > Human Resources > Benefits > HSA Change Form. The new…

Symphony of the Mountains is performing two Christmas shows this weekend, and tickets are being offered free to healthcare workers as a show of appreciation. Each team member can get up to two free tickets; children and students are admitted free. The performances are titled “By the Fireside.” The orchestra’s music director, Cornelia Laemmli Orth, and the full symphony orchestra will perform favorite carols, traditional Christmas songs such as “White Christmas” and “Winter Wonderland” and children’s holiday favorites. Weekend shows: Saturday, Dec. 4 – MeadowView Mariott Conference Resort & Convention Center in Kingsport, Tennessee, 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5 – Emory & Henry College’s McGlothlin Center for the Artis in Emory, Virginia, 3 p.m. To get tickets, call the Symphony of the Mountains ticket office at 423-392-8423. Tickets will be held at the box office to be picked up. To learn more about Symphony of the Mountains, visit their website at https://symphonyofthemountains.org/.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.— Ballad Health is hosting a two-day event that will enable job seekers to apply, interview and receive job offers for new roles with Ballad Health Medical Associates and Marsh Regional Blood Center – all on the spot. The hiring event will be held Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1905 American Way in Kingsport and on Thursday, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 101 W. Springbrook Drive, in Johnson City. Ballad Health is seeking candidates for all open nursing and clinical support positions. Key jobs being sought at the event include physician practice registered nurses; physician practice licensed practical nurses; medical assistants; certified/registered medical assistants; phlebotomists/donor techs; donor mobile driver/screener; component prep technicians; patient service representative; radiologic techs; medical technologists; and schedulers. For all team members, if you know of someone who might be interested and qualified for one of these jobs, please let them know…

  GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in Greeneville has moved to a new space at 438 E. Vann Road. The convenient new location is accessed on the second floor in the back of the building. Greeneville’s EAP office had previously been located at 303 Takoma Ave. The EAP began seeing patients at the new East Vann Road location on Monday, Oct. 4. The Greeneville in-person business hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays only. Business hours by telehealth visit are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Greeneville EAP office is also the home of the Greeneville Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic, which serves the general public. The EAP phone number for all locations is 423-302-3480. EAP services During stressful times, it’s a sign of strength to reach out for support. The Employee Assistance Program provides benefit-eligible team members and their covered dependents with confidential mental health…

Here’s an important message from Debbie Dover, Senior Vice President, Talent Engagement and Chief Human Resources Officer for Ballad Health: Great news! It’s that time of year where the valuable matching retirement plan contribution has been deposited into your account. Ballad Health is proud to make this contribution again this year in recognition of the hard work and dedication shown by all our team members on a daily basis, especially during the pandemic crisis we continue to experience. Did you receive the full match? Your retirement plan is a significant benefit and part of your overall compensation package, so make the most of it. Make sure you’re taking full advantage of the match – and then save more. The Ballad Health 403(b) Plan, Ballad Health 401(k) and Abingdon Physician Partners 401(b) Plan all offer a matching discretionary contribution of 6%. That means Ballad Health will match your contributions up to 6% once you’ve reached the…

Dear Ballad Health team member, It’s that time of year – open enrollment for Ballad Health benefits will run until midnight on Friday, June 4. The information contained in this communication is a summary of the more detailed content available in the Benefits Guide. Open enrollment information can be overwhelming, but we want to make it as easy for you as we can. Please take advantage of the many resources available for you listed at the end of this information to get all of your questions answered. This year, because of the additional option of the PPO (preferred provider organization) medical plan, even if you do not want to make any changes to your current benefit elections, you will need to complete the online open enrollment process to select (or waive) your benefits for the new plan year. Enrollment is easy: Log into the HR & Payroll Service Center on the Ballad Health intranet to…

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The Kingsport Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is moving to a new space – located at 2204 Pavilion Drive, Suite 107, in the medical office building right behind Indian Path Community Hospital – to create a better and more convenient environment for team members in the Kingsport area. EAP will begin seeing patients at the new first-floor location on Wednesday, May 19. Business hours are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Kingsport’s EAP office is currently located in a space accessed via the parking garage at Holston Valley Medical Center. The new location will offer easier access, more privacy and better parking. EAP services The Employee Assistance Program provides team members with confidential mental health and substance abuse services through Ballad Health counseling services. This applies to all benefit-eligible team members and dependents of an eligible team member who is covered by a Ballad Health medical plan. Effective July…

As we celebrate Healthcare Week 2021 next week, May 9-15, we invite you to join us for a little socially distanced fun! During the week, we will be playing bingo across the system. From Monday through Saturday (May 10-15), bingo numbers will be drawn and sent to all our team members via email. Each team member will receive three bingo cards from their managers starting Monday, May 10. When you “bingo,” please return the completed card to Human Resources to be eligible for prizes. Be sure to include your name and team member number on each card! Cards can be hand-delivered to the closest HR location or scanned/faxed to your HR contact. The more times you get bingo, the more chances you will have to win prizes. Once you have redeemed a winning bingo card, you can request additional cards from HR. The deadline for submitting completed cards will be 5 p.m. on Monday, May 17, at which…

Ballad Health supports the continuing professional and career development of our team members by offering tuition reimbursement and ongoing financial support related to their current job, or to prepare them for another position of specific need for the organization. Applications for the upcoming fiscal year are being accepted through March 31. This year, tuition and scholarship dollars will be limited to nursing (RN, LPN and CNA), surgical tech, cardiovascular tech, diagnostic imaging, medical lab technologist and respiratory therapist. If you’re interested, complete the following steps to be considered for continuing education dollars: Complete the application (found on Policy Manager, Ballad Health policy HR-200-094-BH Continuing Education Financial Support – Ballad Health). Obtain the signatures of your direct supervisor and your location Human Resources department representative recommending your participation in continuing education. Scan and e-mail the form to HR4U@balladhealth.org by March 31. Notification of approval will be sent to applicants by April 23 for classes or semesters that begin after July 1….

To fill some key bedside care and lab positions, Ballad Health has increased the bonuses offered to team members for referring someone hired to these jobs. If you refer an external new applicant (non-Ballad Health team member) for any of these full-time position, you can receive: $2,500 – Registered  nurses (bedside, including home health) $1,500 – Licensed practical nurse, respiratory therapist, surgical technologist, medical technician (lab) $750 – Certified nursing assistant Refer an external new applicant (non-Ballad Health team member) for one of the PRN temporary supplemental staffing positions and receive: $1,000 – Registered nurse $500 – Licensed practical nurse, respiratory therapist IMPORTANT NOTE: RNs and LPNs must already have licensure and experience upon hire for the bonus to be applied; graduate nurses do not count toward referral bonuses. Please check first about eligibility for these referral bonuses. How it works: When the person applies for the job, they’ll be asked if they were referred…