TO: Ballad Health All FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center DATE: November 18, 2020 TITLE: Daily COVID-19 Scorecard – 11.18.20 ACTION: Cascade to all team members Click here to view the Daily COVID-19 Scorecard on the Ballad Health website.
County mayors in Northeast Tennessee recently released a letter renewing the call for people to take coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) precautions like masking and social distancing, one day after a group of business leaders, college presidents and pastors signed their names to a separate but similar message. Here’s the message from county mayors. Here’s the message from other local leaders, as posted by the Johnson City Press. “There are a lot of people who are pulling in the same direction here, and it was really nice to see,” said Joe Grandy, mayor of Washington County, Tennessee. Ballad Health is extremely grateful to all our local leaders who are working together to ensure the health of the Appalachian Highlands. Everyone should read these messages and pass along to others. And just as a reminder, here are the basics on social distancing and mask-wearing:
Ballad Health continues to take steps to ensure we have adequate staffing and resources for the rising number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inpatients. Following the health system’s announcement it would pause all elective, non-emergency surgeries that require an overnight stay, Ballad Health is also launching several initiatives to hire 350 nursing and bedside care positions. On Thursday, Nov. 5, Ballad Health Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alan Levine sent an email to all team members, outlining these efforts. Steps include: Paid Time Off Balances. In January when we reset balances, any hours over the designated limit of 100 (200 if you are from legacy Wellmont and are in the annual PTO step down process), will be moved to a personal frozen bank, meaning you will not lose those hours. Ballad Health is reviewing several recommendations submitted by team members on what to do with those hours, such as saving them, cashing them out or rolling them…
We all know wearing a mask at all times is required in all Ballad Health facilities for the safety of our patients, visitors and team members. Team members – as well as our patients and visitors – are doing a remarkable job of being safe and compliant. But there are exceptions, whether inadvertent or on purpose, that put us all at risk. First, make sure you’re among those who ALWAYS follow our COVID-19 safety requirements. Second, please do your part to ensure everyone around you does the same. Don’t be afraid to say something to people onsite who are not wearing a mask or are wearing one incorrectly. It might be a fellow team member, someone making a delivery to a Ballad Health facility or other visitors. As a reminder for team members: The mask should cover your nose and mouth at all times. Team members may take off their masks if they are alone…
Ballad Health is now using four-prong coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing for patients who meet criteria for rapid, in-house tests. Effective immediately, COVID-19 in-house testing on Cepheid machines will include additional viral tests for influenza A, influenza B and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). All other cases should follow the existing testing structure. This test is labeled “COVID VIRAL 4PLEX” within the Epic order entry system. This order is to be used for previously-defined patient populations requiring rapid, in-house testing, such as: Admitted patients who are Patient Under Investigation (PUIs) for COVID-19 High-risk behavioral health patients requiring inpatient psychiatric unit placement Incarcerated patients Access to in-house testing will still be limited to the defined populations, and requests for testing outside of these guidelines must be channeled through clinical leadership within the Corporate Emergency Operations Center (CEOC). As we work to increase testing capacity, please watch for future communications, which will include a modified workflow. NOTE: This…
This message was emailed from Alan Levine, CEO and president of Ballad Health, to all team members on Thursday, Nov. 5. Dear Colleagues: Last Friday, I communicated with our team that we would be announcing several steps designed to ensure we have adequate nurse staffing for our inpatient care units and the emergency department. I shared that the first of these steps involves a temporary pay adjustment for all bedside nurses and certain other roles in inpatient care areas and the emergency department. Since Friday, I’ve heard from several of you about financially recognizing other areas within the health system. While I’ve attempted to respond to each inquiry individually, I feel it is important to further communicate with the team as a whole to explain the rationale for the steps we are taking. We are at a critical juncture in our region for COVID-19 hospitalizations and we expect to be reaching our capacity as…
This message was emailed to all Ballad Health team members on Friday, Oct. 30, from Alan Levine, Ballad Health’s chairman and chief executive officer: Good Afternoon: Over the past nine months, our team throughout the region has dedicated itself to doing all we can do to care for the people we are entrusted to serve. It has been very difficult, given the magnitude of the challenge, and the fact there has been no light at the end of the tunnel. In fact, twice now, we have seen massive surges in COVID volume, with the current surge threatening our very capability to be able to offer the full range of services needed in our region. Several days ago, I shared with you in an email that we are very aware of the strain and stress that has been placed on our nursing team, and their support. I also said we are working on several initiatives…
TO: All Ballad Health team members and medical staff members FROM: Corporate Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) DATE: Oct. 30, 2020 TITLE: Temporary deferral/suspension of non-emergent elective procedures that require overnight stay ACTION: Please read and share with all team members Ballad Health’s position in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been increasingly clear for the last several weeks: As a health system, and as a community, we are in a truly difficult situation and action must be taken. To that end, Ballad Health is pausing all non-emergent elective procedures that require an overnight stay at all facilities. Deferrals began Nov. 2, as surgery schedules have permitted. Inpatient COVID-19 cases are expected to exceed 200 by Saturday, Oct. 31, and with an ever-climbing positivity rate and new infections every day, this is a necessary measure to ensure we have enough capacity and staffing to care for our critically ill patients. The reduction applies only…
As the nation approaches a COVID-19 vaccine emergency-use authorization, there are many questions from our clinicians and team members regarding Ballad Health’s vaccine response. Here’s a quick update on where things stand: We are diligently reviewing data, and Ballad Health has two standing committees evaluating information released regarding COVID-19 vaccines. The committees are aware of the science related to vaccine development, vaccine shipping and storage requirements, preparation, delivery and follow-up. To the extent possible, the committees are evaluating effectiveness and potential side effects, as well as diligently reviewing information available from multiple sources including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. David Reagan, former chief medical officer for the Tennessee Department of Health and former associate dean and professor of medicine for the James H. Quillen College of Medicine at ETSU, remains a key advisor to both groups, and Ballad Health Medical Associates is well-represented within these committees. Finally, no decision has been…
This message was recorded by Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, in support of the work Ballad Health is doing during the COVID-19 pandemic. To hear his message, click on the audio link at the bottom: Hi, I’m Newt Gingrich. A few years ago, I had the chance to come visit your chairman and CEO, Alan Levine, my longtime friend and, frankly, one of the most respected healthcare leaders in the country. Alan introduced me to 1,000 of the best leaders I think I’ve ever met in a healthcare organization. He told me about the incredible work being done by all the nurses, doctors and healthcare teams throughout the Appalachian Highlands region, and I saw it for myself when I was there. I’ve been watching the progress of how Ballad Health has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. And having seen the impact in various communities throughout the world, I told…
TO: Ballad Health All FROM: Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center DATE: October 27, 2020 TITLE: Daily COVID-19 Scorecard – 10.27.20 ACTION: Cascade to all team members COVID-19 patients and the positive rate continue to rise at an alarming rate. Please view the statistics on today’s scorecard. Ballad Health urges you to tune in to our Facebook LIVE video tomorrow (Wednesday, Oct. 28) at 11 a.m. for more information. Click here to view the Daily COVID-19 Scorecard on the Ballad Health website.
Practicing good hand hygiene reduces your chance of getting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the flu and other common diseases. During this pandemic, we can’t afford to let down our guard. Please remember to do the simple things like always using good hygiene habits. Reminder: To make sure you wash long enough with soap and hot water, try singing the “Happy Birthday” song two times while you wash. (If there are other people around, it’s up to you whether you sing it silently or out loud!)
