We recently put out a call for self-made team member videos talking about the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and what you’d like to tell people about the virus. Ballad Health is interested in hearing and sharing your message on Ballad Health social media or through other avenues. We’re still encouraging team members to submit those to us, and now we’re also interested in videos from team members answering some new questions that reflect on COVID-19 while also looking ahead to the coming year. Here’s a link to our previous call for videos, telling people what your COVID-19 experience is like and what you most want to tell people. This second video would include your answers to the following questions: One wish for next year? My wish is… One thing you could change about 2020? One thing I would change about 2020 is… What are you most hopeful for? I am most hopeful for……

  In a huge step in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the first Ballad Health team members received their vaccinations on Tuesday, with more of them planned across the system in the coming days. The first inoculation was given to Emily Boucher, RN at Johnston Memorial Hospital’s intensive care unit, on Tuesday afternoon. Other frontline caregivers at Johnston Memorial were also vaccinated during the afternoon, Norton Community Hospital began administering vaccinations on Wednesday and team members at Tennessee hospitals should begin receiving theirs later this week. By late Wednesday afternoon, more than 200 team members had received the vaccination. “While approval of this vaccine certainly does not mean the pandemic is over, it undoubtedly gives us a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Alan Levine, CEO and chairman of Ballad Health. “We’re still a long way from being done with this, but this is the first…

Here’s a video featuring Dr. Roger McSharry, talking about side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. (You can view this from a home computer or non-network device if it’s more convenient than viewing at work.)   With our first shipments of Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine arriving at Ballad Health this week, we’ve begun vaccinating our workforce. Team members are encouraged to get the vaccine as it becomes available to them – but some may wonder if it is safe to receive because it was developed so quickly under pandemic emergency circumstances. Our clinical leaders strongly believe that yes, it is safe to take, and any potential side effects are expected to be very minor, with the benefits of the vaccine far outweighing any problems. During trials, this vaccine demonstrated 95% efficacy in preventing confirmed COVID-19 when comparing vaccine to placebo. Our leaders all expect to receive the vaccination as soon as it is available….

We began administering coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech on Tuesday at several Southwest Virginia hospitals, with a phased approach that provides the vaccine for the most critical/high-risk positions first. Here’s what some of the team members who got the vaccine had to say about why they wanted to do so. Some also were getting vaccinated in honor of someone, or with certain loved ones in mind.   Dr. Ricky Jones, emergency room physician, Johnston Memorial Hospital “In the ER it’s high-risk, so getting the vaccine will help protect myself, my patients and my family.”     Susan McQuaide, ER tech at Johnston Memorial Hospital “I chose to get the vaccine because I take care of my elderly mother and care about my co-workers very much. I want to do all I can to help keep our work environment safe. I’m honored to work at Johnston Memorial because of the support they give our…

Things are moving quickly with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine at Ballad Health. Continue to visit our vaccine information center on Ballad Health News for the latest updates plus information on vaccine safety and efficacy, plans for distribution of the vaccine at our facilities, and info for those who have already received the vaccine. You can find the latest frequently asked questions posted to the site here. These are updated regularly as developments occur, so check back regularly. NOTE: Leaders across the system are encouraged to print out these resources listed below in PDF format and post around the workplace. FAQs for those who have already received the vaccination, with info about potential side effects FAQs about the vaccine in general COVID-19 Vaccine Workgroup newsletter Issue #8, which lists myths and facts about the vaccine COVID-19 Vaccine Workgroup newsletter Issue #7, which contains FAQs from the recent ACIP meeting about the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine COVID-19…

With vaccine companies working rapidly to come up with an effective vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), how do we know if the vaccines are safe? Who will be offered the vaccine first? What are the side effects of taking the vaccine? Good questions. Two vaccines – from Pfizer/BioNTech and from Moderna – could be available in limited quantities very soon, while others are not far behind. We have several resources to help you learn more about the vaccine. Read our latest FAQ about vaccine safety, efficacy and availability. Read the latest Ballad Health COVID-19 Vaccine Workgroup newsletter, which contains more information about the vaccine, including a Q&A with Dr. David Kirschke, chief medical officer for the Northeast Regional Health Office of the Tennessee Department of Health. Routinely visit our COVID-19 Vaccine Information Center for more FAQs and the latest developments as more information becomes available.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been extremely tough on healthcare workers, especially those on the front lines. Dealing face-to-face with the virus – treating patients, seeing people die from COVID-19, comforting families, risking exposure ourselves and fighting constant misinformation – takes its toll, even as our Ballad Health team members continue to do amazing work. But there are many, many people across the Appalachian Highlands who see what you’re doing and support you, and they’re working to do the right thing by following COVID-19 safety precautions. Your work matters, and it is appreciated by many thousands of people in the community! Here are a few examples of supportive messages from the public that we’ve received on Ballad Health social media: From a woman who lost her father to COVID-19: “All of you are in my prayers for the amazing job you do. I would always try to compliment the nurse who would come…

TO: All Ballad Health team members FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) DATE: Dec. 1, 2020 TITLE: Ballad Health to pause all elective/non-emergency procedures ACTION: Please read this memo as well as the Elective Surgery Acuity Scale (ESAS) protocol posted here, then cascade and share with all members of the Ballad Health Medical Staff.   On Tuesday, Dec. 1, Ballad Health met yet another grim milestone: 287 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inpatients, a new record for the system. Ballad Health is now on track to exceed 500 COVID-19 inpatients by the end of December, putting an impossible strain on system resources. While we cannot correct behavior, we can prepare for the worst-case scenario, which very likely will become reality in the coming weeks. To that end, effective Monday, Dec. 7, all elective and non-emergent surgeries will be postponed, including already-scheduled procedures. This is a necessary move to preserve much-needed space and staffing. Because team…

NOTE: This message was emailed to all Ballad Health team members on Monday, Nov. 30, from Alan Levine, Ballad Health’s chairman and chief executive officer.   First of all, I would like to thank our Ballad Health team members who took the time during the holiday weekend to speak with NBC News about what we are experiencing in our region. NBC had a team here from Wednesday through Saturday trying to get perspectives from front line caregivers. On top of NBC, we also had interviews with CNN, and this week, The Associated Press will be doing a daylong visit at one of our hospitals. This messaging is so important, as we now see what appears to be an additional surge coming toward us. It is unfortunate that so many do not take seriously the threat of this virus, or, like so many health systems in the same situation, the extent to which the Ballad Health team is…

TO: All Ballad Health team members FROM: Corporate Emergency Operations Center DATE: November 24, 2020 TITLE: COVID-19 Vaccine Update #2 ACTION: Please read, review the accompanying document (Tennessee Guidelines for Vaccines Allocation) and cascade to all team members   On Friday, Nov. 20, Pfizer and BioNTech asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to grant Emergency Use Authorization for their coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. The FDA will likely reach a decision on the vaccine within weeks and, if approved, Ballad Health could begin receiving doses as early as December. Other companies are also moving closer to bringing a vaccine to market. Please see the accompanying chart to help you determine during what phase you may be eligible to receive the vaccine. Categories will be finalized before vaccination begins. Click here to see the chart of guidelines for vaccine allocation We’re working hard to put a plan in place to offer the vaccine to…

TO: Ballad Health All FROM: Corporate Emergency Operations Center DATE: November 23, 2020 TITLE: Holiday celebrations ACTION: Please read, cascade to all team members and post in team member common areas.   With the holiday season approaching, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is unfortunately showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, the spread of COVID-19 in the Appalachian Highlands is the worst it has been since the pandemic began. Click here to read this memo in PDF format. Due to this unprecedented situation and the strain COVID-19 is having on our health system, we are asking that all team members consider modifying their plans this holiday season to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and support the safety of our patients and fellow team members. This means being diligent both at work and away from work. Below is a list of guidelines for safely celebrating the holiday season: For weeks we have asked our communities to…

As we draw closer to having a COVID-19 vaccine, Ballad Health is helping lead a COVID-19 Vaccine Workgroup, comprising several of our leaders along with leaders from other health organizations in the region. This team is monitoring and evaluating all aspects of vaccine development and will help determine Ballad Health’s – and the region’s – response to a vaccine when it becomes available. We have a second vaccine group focused on the deployment and logistics of providing and administering the vaccine once it’s available. In an effort to keep team members informed on all the latest developments, we’ve created a web page on Ballad Health News for news items, FAQs, messages from our leadership team, the latest issues of the COVID-19 Vaccine Workgroup’s newsletter and more. Click here to go to our COVID-19 vaccine information center.