We’ve all felt the stress of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) – from changes in job duties to extra or longer shifts and from the pain of losing patients to the fear of infecting family members. That makes it more important than ever to take care of ourselves. To help with this, Ballad Health’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) has developed a “Caring Circles” COVID-19 virtual support group for all team members. It will be centered around the traumatic experiences of healthcare workers dealing with COVID-19. How does it work? Support groups will be held each Tuesday at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. via Zoom, starting March 30. Each session is open for one hour with a structured format where participants are given the opportunity to share. See the EAP intranet page for more information on the Zoom link for each group. The links for the 8 a.m. session will remain the same from week to week,…

Super Saturday vaccination event set March 27 JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Ballad Health will begin providing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations at their community vaccination centers (CVCs) in Tennessee to anyone ages 16 and up, starting Wednesday, March 24. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced on Monday that all Tennessee adults will be eligible to receive vaccinations by no later than April 5. Subsequently, the Sullivan County Health Department approved expansion of eligibility for the vaccine to anyone 16 and older. Other regional health departments are in the process of approving the expansion. People do not need to be a resident of Tennessee to receive the vaccination at the Ballad Health CVCs in Kingsport or Elizabethton; anyone is welcome. To make an appointment for a vaccination, call Ballad Health Nurse Connect at 833-822-5523 (833-8-BALLAD). “I am proud that we are able to work in conjunction with our local health departments and open up vaccine eligibility to the…

As we continue with vaccinations for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), our Ballad Health clinical staff are sharing their thoughts about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, and why it is important to get vaccinated. Here’s a short message from Aliese Harrison, RN, from Johnston Memorial Hospital’s critical care unit, on why she got vaccinated and whether she had side effects.

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Ballad Health needs team members to help staff the Bristol Motor Speedway medical team for the upcoming Food City Dirt Race the weekend of March 26-28 (Friday-Sunday). Needed are: Team members to perform coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) screenings (does not require a licensed team member) Licensed staff (RNs, LPNs, paramedics) to work on COVID-19 screening and to work the medical care centers Ballad Health serves as the official trauma and healthcare provider for Bristol Motor Speedway races, providing care at the site for fans, workers, drivers and anyone else at the event. Some team members who work the races will need to arrive at 7 a.m. and others will be assigned a schedule based on arrival times/gate openings. Workdays for the weekend last approximately 16 hours. Team members will be paid for their work. To see a schedule of events for the race weekend, click here. To join the team for this event,…

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Check out this inspiring video of Jerry Davis, a pastor from Mountain City, Tennessee, as he departs Franklin Woods Community Hospital after battling COVID-19 for weeks and spending eight days on a ventilator. 

As we continue with vaccinations for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), our Ballad Health clinical leaders are sharing their thoughts about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, and why it is important to get vaccinated. Here’s a brief video message from Scott Rinehardt, manager of therapy at Smyth County Community Hospital, on why he chose to get vaccinated and why he feels it is important for others to do the same.

Burnout is always a problem in the healthcare industry, and it’s especially difficult during a pandemic. Be on the lookout for signs of burnout and don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Remember: It’s OK to not be OK. Ballad Health resources Benefit-eligible team members can get six free counseling sessions per plan year – over the phone, if you like. Go to HR’s benefits page on the Ballad Health intranet and look for the EAP (Employee Assistance Program). Our chaplains are another great resource if you need someone to talk to. You can find out more information on the Center for Spiritual Health’s site on the Ballad Health intranet. Watch the burnout video on HealthStream by Dr. Michael Baron, who discusses the drivers behind burnout and ways to help. In addition, Organizational Development has several stand-alone classes that can help – including “Managing Stress and Burnout.” “Managing Stress and Burnout” class from OD – Participants…

Ballad Health needs team members to work at our community vaccination centers (CVCs), assisting with registration and vaccinations for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The CVCs will fully resume starting in four locations, serving community members age 65 and up and any other eligible people in the region. Demand for vaccinations is expected to be high. There is a specific need for trained registration staff. Team members who sign up for CVC work will be paid. Sign up online through the Ballad Health intranet, and the POD manager will call to schedule you at the appropriate site. You can choose from dates listed on the signup form. Click here to sign up. Team members who sign up will be contacted about scheduling and given specific information about working. NOTE: The registration form can only be accessed via Ballad Health intranet. If you are not able to access the intranet, email CEOC-Vaccines@balladhealth.org or call 423-915-5104 to submit your…

Since January, the Appalachian Highlands has experienced a drastic, sustained decrease in novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection rates and hospitalizations. This is welcome news for our regional leaders, community members and healthcare workers. It’s also the result of an enormous community effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, including tireless work to distribute vaccines, passionate advocacy for infection prevention and commitment by our residents to maintain physical distancing, avoid crowds and wear masks in public. With the relatively recent reduction in cases, decisions by some elected leaders to lift mask requirements in their jurisdictions is not unexpected. Ballad Health certainly appreciates county leaderships’ responsiveness to their constituents’ desires, especially as they strive to find balance with public health recommendations. These are still challenging times, and no decisions are made lightly. However, even without mask mandates in place, Ballad Health urges everyone in the Appalachian Highlands to take personal responsibility for their roles in continuing this decline…

TO: All Ballad Health team members FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center DATE: Feb. 15, 2021 TITLE: Clarification on Ballad Health visitation policies ACTION: Please share with affected patients and team members   Following a sustained reduction in novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the Appalachian Highlands, Ballad Health has expanded its visitation policy for patients, with new guidelines going into effect on Monday, Feb. 1. While most Ballad Health patients are permitted two visitors at a time, there are several restrictions, guidelines and clarifications to our policy. See the flyer posted below, as well as these additional bullet points: All visitors will be screened and expected to provide and wear their own cloth face covering. Visitors who arrive at our facilities without a cloth face covering will not be permitted to enter. Patients are allowed any two visitors at a time – they do not have to designate two specific visitors for the entire…

Last Wednesday, we reached a major milestone in our fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – the 50,000th vaccination administered by Ballad Health. Our 50,000th vaccination was given to a community member, Connie Hyder, who said she chose to get the vaccine in order to protect herself, her family and her friends. While that’s a significant achievement, the fight against COVID-19 is far from over, and we’re a long way from being completely safe. It’s crucial that team members and the community continue to wear masks, practice social distancing and wash hands, and it’s vital for more people to receive their vaccinations. But we are getting closer, and the 50,000 vaccinations we’ve given are a big reason that’s happening!

Ballad Health is proud to have partnered with Dolly Parton and her team for our Super Bowl commercial​ this year, which aired on local channels during the game. Her song, “When Life Is Good Again,” inspires hope and healing and perfectly captures the essence of what our team, community and world has been through with the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to a happier and healthier year.