NOTE: This message was emailed to all Ballad Health team members on Thursday, Nov. 4. Dear Colleague: This morning, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a new rule which mandates COVID-19 vaccines for any hospital, home health agency, long-term care facility and certain other health care providers. We are in the process of evaluating the rule and the impact it may have on Ballad Health. Upon initial review, it is clear the only exceptions to all team members, students, residents and anyone contracted with Ballad Health being vaccinated are for medical or religious reasons. The mandate is very far-reaching, and will impact our partner colleges and universities as well as vendors and others who have contact with our facilities. Prior to establishing our policy, we will be consulting with our Regional Ethics committee, which includes individuals from various backgrounds, including physician, clergy, nursing and community members. It is important we receive input…

NOTE: This message was emailed from Alan Levine to all Ballad Health team members on July 20, 2021.   Good morning: As we shared with you last week, the federal government issued a stringent new COVID-19 rule which applies to health care workplaces throughout the United States, including Ballad Health. The rule by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is complex and lengthy. The part of the rule which has become an issue for many is the requirement that employers must have a plan, policies and procedures to determine each employees’ COVID-19 vaccination status if an employer permits exceptions to controls such as masking, social distancing, etc. The main point is that the employer must ensure, at all times, that employees are not exposed to the spread of the virus in the workplace. In the event even one unvaccinated employee is in a room unmasked with the potential to infects a coworker, Ballad Health could…

NOTE: This message was emailed to all Ballad Health team members on Thursday, July 15.   Good morning: Over the past 24 hours, we’ve communicated with you about the new emergency rule that OSHA imposed on hospitals and healthcare employers with respect to vaccine status, and other initiatives designed to protect employees.  This rule was adopted by OSHA without the standard public input period, and without the input of hospitals and other healthcare employers. The rule is complex, and in our view, parts of it are problematic. In communicating with our colleagues around the country, it is apparent health systems are struggling to figure out how to comply, with some systems merely mandating the COVID-19 vaccine. As I’ve shared, Ballad Health is not prepared to make the vaccine mandatory at this time. One of the provisions of the rule requires healthcare organizations to have a plan which includes “policies and procedures to determine employees’ vaccination…

NOTE: This message was emailed to all Ballad Health team members on July 14, 2021. Please see addendum at the bottom of the message.   Good morning: I’m certain you are now aware of steps Ballad Health is taking in order to comply with federal rules recently imposed on health care employers – rules which require that employers differentiate the vaccination status of employees for the purpose of protecting employees who are not vaccinated, or who are vaccinated, but remain at some risk. This new rule was promulgated using what is called an “Emergency Temporary Standard” – a rarely used mechanism to impose emergency rules which have the force of law. Some of our team members have reached out to me expressing concerns about their individual vaccination status being exposed. I understand this concern and empathize with those of you who feel this way. As of now, the decision as to whether to vaccinate is an…

   Transcript of the video message: Hello, I’m Alan Levine, chairman and CEO of Ballad Health, and on behalf of the Ballad Health board of directors and our entire leadership team, I want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and happy holidays. I think we can all agree that 2020 is going to go down in history as a year unlike anything we’ve ever seen. And of course a lot of people are going to remember 2020 for COVID-19, this virus which has changed our way of life, probably indefinitely. I know how I’ll remember 2020, though, and it starts with you. I’ll remember the brave and resilient healthcare workers who came to work every day, and cared for our patients, those who are sick, those who are desperate and those who are vulnerable, despite the risk COVID-19 posed to you and to your families. I’ll remember the team members who…

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…