JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – In light of the sustained reduction in novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the Appalachian Highlands, Ballad Health has adjusted its regular COVID-19 media briefing and  Facebook Live schedule and scorecard distribution. In lieu of a scheduled briefing each week, Ballad Health will now supply a data packet of current COVID-19 stats and trends every Wednesday, and it will organize briefings or announcements as needed to share timely or crucial updates. The COVID-19 scorecard will be distributed every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. WARNING: While cases are lower and do not necessitate a full briefing every week, the COVID-19 pandemic remains a reality in the Appalachian Highlands. While vaccine efforts are underway, Ballad Health still recommends all community members maintain physical distancing, avoid unnecessary crowds and wear masks in public. In the meantime, all COVID-19 news and updates continue to be shared to www.balladhealth.org/COVID19.

TO: All Ballad Health team members FROM: Corporate Emergency Operations Center DATE: February 1, 2021 TITLE: IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR TEAM MEMBERS related to the COVID-19 vaccination ACTION: Please cascade If you are a Ballad Health team member and need a COVID-19 vaccination, please contact your Team Member Health department to be scheduled for one as soon as possible. At this time, only our PODs are open until Feb. 5 and can give you the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. If you are a Ballad Health team member and did not receive your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination by the end of last week, or your second dose is due this week, please contact your Team Member Health department to be scheduled for one ASAP. You are eligible to receive your second dose of the COIVD-19 vaccination this week. This must be done during one of the scheduled hospital PODs this week at the…

TO: Ballad Health All FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) DATE: January 27, 2021 TITLE: Team member vaccination process update ACTION: Please read and share with all team members. Click here to view this communication in PDF format   All Ballad Health team members remain eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes all medical staff members, new and established team members, volunteers who are working in the hospitals (especially if they are over the age of 75), members of critical governance structures and our outsourced services, including Ensemble and Morrison Healthcare. Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is encouraged and free of charge for all team members. Important updates to the team member vaccination process for first doses: To receive the first dose of the vaccine, team members must call Team Member Health at their facility, or the nearest facility to their primary work location, to schedule an appointment. Scheduling begins Wednesday, Jan. 27. (SEE…

FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) DATE: January 26, 2021 TITLE: Resumption of elective/non-emergency surgical procedures   Ballad Health’s surgery sub-committee – consisting of physicians and leaders from throughout our system, representing a depth of specialties, markets and expertise – has worked tirelessly to prepare our system to restart performing elective and non-emergent surgical procedures. This committee has made recommendations to resume elective surgeries at Ballad Health facilities, with some procedures able to be scheduled for Monday, Feb. 1. The decision to resume procedures was made so we can resume regular Ballad Health operations to the fullest possible extent, while still safeguarding our communities against the continued coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat. Ballad Health is currently in an enviable position for many health systems, as the Appalachian Highlands has sustained a reduction in new COVID-19 cases. Some of this reduction can be attributed directly to our aggressive physical distancing and restriction efforts –…

BRISTOL, Tenn. – While the impact of the pandemic continues to be strongly felt in our region, we remain sincerely hopeful that with the advent of the vaccine, we will soon experience meaningful and sustained improvement within the community we serve and around the world. We are all so grateful for the tremendous teamwork and unwavering commitment of all of our team members during this most challenging time. We’re reminded now of one of Ballad Health’s core values: We listen with empathy and appreciation and respond with kindness and compassion. It is this core value that will sustain us throughout these unprecedented times and a value each of us at Ballad Health lives by every single day. Consistent with this value of compassion, we are reaching out to make you aware of an opportunity to provide additional support and care to our patients and community. We have an opportunity for non-clinical team members to assist…

COVID-19 has changed all aspects of American life, from how we work and send our kids to school to how we celebrate with family, exercise and much more. The toll on our mental health is serious and long-lasting. In fact, today we are facing two crises. We’re dealing with a major crisis with the coronavirus pandemic, which exhausts us mentally and physically. That, in turn, leads to a second crisis – which is burnout. This was a huge problem for healthcare professionals before COVID-19, with more than half of U.S. physicians and over 80% of nurses experiencing burnout in 2018 – double the rate of other professions. (Reith, 2018). One survey in 2020, by Brexi, concluded, “A startling 84% reported feeling at least mildly burned out from work, and 18% feel totally burned out.” Stress and burnout are clearly huge problems that must be addressed, not only for the personal well-being of our healthcare workers…

Health system will continue to support local health departments as requested, and it will continue supplementing efforts by the Virginia Department of Health in the Commonwealth of Virginia JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Due to changes in policy related to allocation and distribution of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines by the Tennessee Department of Health, Ballad Health announced on Thursday, Jan. 21, that it is winding down its Tennessee-based community vaccination centers (CVCs) in Kingsport and Bristol. The CVCs in Kingsport and Bristol ceased giving first doses of the vaccine on Saturday, Jan. 23, while its center in Johnson City provided its final first dose on Friday, Jan. 22. All three Tennessee centers will still provide second-dose vaccines to everyone who received their first shot. After the second-dose administration is complete, the Kingsport and Bristol CVCs will cease operation. The future of the Johnson City CVC will be evaluated, pending future first-dose vaccine allocations from the Tennessee…

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. Be on the lookout in Ballad Health News for more messages from our leaders across Ballad Health about the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Kate Molony, infectious disease specialist at Bristol Regional Medical Center, discusses mRNA vaccines and their safety.    

With the arrival of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines to our hospitals, Ballad Health has been administering vaccinations at an impressive rate to team members and some community members. Our points of dispensing (PODs) and community vaccination centers (CVCs) have given nearly 31,000 vaccinations so far! Pulling off such a project is no small feat, but our all-hands-on-deck approach to getting as many people vaccinated as possible has been impressive. Thanks to all team members who’ve been involved in this massive (and lifesaving) vaccination campaign! Check out these comments from those who’ve been to the PODs and CVCs for vaccinations: “These PODs are just amazing. The flow, the efficiency, the sheer capacity, it’s just mind-blowing. Got my 2nd one Saturday at JCMC & the process was just a work of art! Bravo to all involved!!” “I must say, I was impressed with Bristol’s process.” “The POD at BRMC did an amazing job. Very efficient, accommodating,…

If you’ve had COVID-19 and would like to donate convalescent plasma, please contact Marsh Regional today to learn more. Please bring your positive COVID-19 test result with you. Convalescent plasma donations can be made at Marsh Regional Blood Center’s collection centers in Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol. See the flyer below for more information or click here to view it as a PDF. How does donating convalescent plasma help save lives? Betty Carter, senior donor services recruiter for Marsh Regional Blood Center, can speak from experience. She, her daughter, Lindsay, and her husband, Clay, all had COVID-19, and Clay had a difficult time recovering from the virus. But he benefited from receiving convalescent plasma – which inspires both Betty and Lindsay to donate. Clay was admitted to the hospital, was on oxygen and received the COVID-19 treatment protocol, which includes convalescent plasma – if it is available. The family was worried the supply would be short,…

TO: Ballad Health All FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center DATE: Jan. 12, 2021 TITLE: COVID-19 community vaccination centers serving select patient populations in Virginia and Tennessee ACTION: Read, cascade and share with eligible team members and BHMA patients PDF: Click here to view this email in PDF format.   Over the last two weeks, the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) and Virginia Department of Health (VDH) have begun providing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines to community members over the age of 75. While these efforts are led by regional health departments, Ballad Health is now assisting them by offering the vaccine in both states to any patient who is older than age 75 and established with one of our Tennessee- or Virginia-based Ballad Health Medical Associates providers. This can be a Ballad Health primary care office, specialty clinic or even an urgent care center. Since Ballad Health transitioned to Epic, our universal medical record…

TO: Ballad Health All FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center DATE: January 12, 2021 TITLE: Daily COVID-19 Scorecard – 1.12.21 ACTION: Cascade to all team members   Note inclusion of new data to the scorecard covering COVID-19 vaccinations administered. Click here to view the Daily COVID-19 Scorecard on the Ballad Health website.