With severely limited elective volumes, interventional cardiology program will be consolidated with Johnson City Medical Center and Holston Valley Medical Center’s high-volume program will be accelerated GREENEVILLE, Tenn. –  Plans underway at Greeneville Community Hospital to expand the award-winning regional cardiology network tied to Holston Valley Medical Center and Johnson City Medical Center have been accelerated by the leadership of Greeneville Community Hospital in consultation with physician leaders. The decision to accelerate these plans was made based on a significant decline in elective procedure volumes affecting the interventional cardiology program at Greeneville Community Hospital, and the desire to ensure all patients benefit from a high-volume interventional program fully integrated with tertiary services. Capital will be invested in upgrading the cardiac imaging diagnostics and vascular surgery capabilities at Greeneville Community Hospital – expanding its capabilities with the most leading technology for cardiac diagnosis in the nation. Interventional cardiology services will be provided at Johnson City Medical…

Visioning Committee composed of Kingsport leaders ranging from faith community to political, academic and business leadership JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Building on preliminary recommendations from a Visioning Committee composed of local business, academic, physician and community leaders, and local practicing physicians, Ballad Health on Monday announced changes that will lead to a dedicated women’s and newborn facility, in Kingsport – the first of its kind in the region. The changes will help with near-term efforts to enhance capacity for responding to COVID-19 while also leading toward the establishment of a dedicated women’s and newborn hospital linked with regional high-acuity children’s services. These changes will also lead to bolstering Holston Valley Medical Center’s (HVMC) role as a regional high-acuity tertiary hospital and further the integration of the individual hospitals into one hospital with two campuses. Beginning this month, Ballad Health will continue to work toward the positioning of services at both its Kingsport hospitals to optimize…

Health system launches region-wide telehealth urgent care clinic, and expands Connected Care to more than 300 providers JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Expanding on what was already the region’s most expansive network of telehealth technology, Ballad Health today launched a region-wide, technology-driven virtual urgent care center for on-demand care to patients from the comfort of their homes. Already, Ballad Health has been providing telehealth technology in 108 schools throughout the region, in addition to telehealth technology access to Niswonger Children’s Hospital in every emergency department throughout the Ballad Health system. This technology investment is unparalleled in the Appalachian Highlands, making it one of the more aggressive efforts to create virtual access in the nation. Connected Care Virtual Urgent Care The Connected Care Virtual Urgent Care Clinic offers access to care for adults and children experiencing illnesses, such as the cold or flu; eye infections; sinus infections; stomach or gastrointestinal illness; heartburn or acid reflux; minor skin…

TO: Ballad Health Leaders (Managers, Directors, AVP, VP, SVP, EVP) FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center DATE: April 9, 2020 TITLE: Daily COVID-19 briefing – April 9, 2020 ACTION: Please post and cascade to all team members. This is a review of the major activities that occurred today related to the COVID-19 response.   Ballad Health announces added investment for nursing, direct care team to ensure availability during possible COVID-19 surge Citing severe volume disruptions at hospitals and other care sites because of the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis, we have announced several steps to ensure the availability of critical staff that might be needed during a potential patient surge, while also assisting team members and mitigating losses sustained by the system. Among other things, these steps include investing in guaranteed hours for certain bedside positions. The actions announced Wednesday address three critical goals: Meet critical staffing needs for bedside care, registered nurses, as well…

“It’s OK to not be OK.” Ballad Health Behavioral Health is committed to acting quickly to provide resources to our team members. Our goal is to support each person’s overall well-being during this time of uncertainty for our nation, as well as raise awareness in our community that “It’s OK to not be OK.” We have added additional resources to specifically triage, assess and offer emotional support to team members Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Team members can access this hotline via the Respond Crisis Hotline at 800-366-1132. The behavioral health team can help with: Stress Anxiety Depression Feelings of isolation Financial strain Grief Sleep deprivation Uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic

On Thursday, April 2, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed Executive Order 23, requiring Tennesseans stay home unless they are carrying out essential activities. The order went into effect immediately and will remain so until Tuesday, April 14, at 11:59 p.m. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam issued a similar order on March 30, remaining in effect until June 10. These orders were made in response to continued spreads of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Why is this necessary? Previously, Gov. Lee had strongly encouraged residents to stay home and adhere to physical distancing guidelines, but he stopped short of an executive order. However, as of April 3, Tennessee had 3,067 COVID-19 cases – and 37 fatalities. Physical distancing remains the best and most effective method to flatten the curve of COVID-19, and these executive orders are firm mandates to ensure compliance. Where can I go? Most Ballad Health team members are still reporting for work – after all,…

Wash your hands front and back with soap for 20 seconds, including in between your fingers, with warm to hot water. Avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes with contaminated hands. If you need to touch your face, wash hands first to ensure they are clean. Depending on your comfort level you can wear a mask in public, covering both nose and mouth – pinching the nose piece to curve to your face. When arriving home, wipe down your car: steering wheel, door handle, floor board and control panel. Leave shoes outside of home or in the garage, preventing additional germs from bottom of your shoes to enter your home. Some wipe down or spray with Lysol their shoes and let dry for next use. If you are going to stay home for the remainder of the day, remove clothes worn in public and change into home clothes. Avoid sitting on sofa, bed, or kitchen…

Subscribe to the COVID-19 forum on the Epic UserWeb. It contains resources to support our response to COVID-19, facilitates shared best practices between community members, and addresses questions about Epic’s response or how Epic’s software can help you respond. If you don’t already have an Epic UserWeb account, go here to register for one, using your Ballad Health email address. Click on “Forums” at the top of the page, then look under the “Topics” list on the left for COVID-19; you will see forums for all Epic applications here, as well.

During this time of high stress as we face COVID-19, it’s important for team members to share positive inspiration and encouragement even as we are not able to physically embrace each other. Gary Metcalf, Ballad Health corporate director of spiritual health services, offers this inspirational message as the first part of an “Embrace” series of messages. This prayer was written by John Ehman, chaplain with Penn Medicine: A Prayer… For all who care for the sick with enormous courage, compassion, and expertise, that they may be safe and feel affirmed in this most sacred work; For all suffering in isolation, holding on through the course of illness, that they may find relief and energy, in body and spirit, by every means; For families separated by physical barriers, necessary but painful, that the transcendent connection of love has for them the power of an embrace; For all anxious in the surrounding uncertainty, waiting on tests, vigilant for…

TO: Ballad Health Leaders (Managers, Directors, AVP, VP, SVP, EVP) FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center DATE: April 6, 2020 TITLE: Daily COVID-19 briefing – April 6, 2020 ACTION: Please post and cascade to all team members. This is a review of the major activities that occurred today related to the COVID-19 response.   Homemade face masks for team members in non-clinical settings Many team members in non-clinical settings have inquired about the federal government’s recommendation to wear a cloth mask when out in public. Based on that recent recommendation, any of our team members who work in a non-clinical setting that are not issued a medical grade mask do have the option of wearing one of their own cloth face masks if they so choose. It is important that team members not touch the front of the face covering while wearing these masks and they must be washed daily. Proper use of ear-loop…