NOTE: This message was distributed to all Ballad Health team members on Sunday, May 24.   Dear Colleague: Over the past few months, America has witnessed the heroism of our nurses, doctors and all who are caring for and supporting our nation through this pandemic. You know, I am reminded that heroes come in so many forms, and emerge through trying times. As we celebrate Memorial Day this weekend, in the midst of such times, we are reminded of the sacrifice and difficulties so many brave people weathered in service to our great nation. Tomorrow, Monday, is the day we dedicate specifically to those who gave their lives in military service to our nation. Throughout our nation’s history, millions of American military heroes – including some of our own team members – have sacrificed their lives, or have lost loved ones, in the protection of our beloved homeland, leading to the security of our country’s…

NOTE: This email was sent to all Ballad Health team members from our chairman and CEO, Alan Levine, on Sunday, Feb. 2, and we are repeating it here to make sure everyone has a chance to read it. While the message is very long, it contains a lot of important and helpful information, so even if you can’t read it while you’re at work, it’s worth reading whenever you have the time. Dear Colleagues: Last Friday marked the official two-year anniversary of the creation of Ballad Health. I would like to take a moment and reflect on some of the important things that have happened, and also to acknowledge the challenges we have dealt with, many of which remain and lay ahead for us to overcome together. This is a very long email, and I really am sorry about this. But these issues are complex, and frankly, I believe if you want to know the…

Across Ballad Health, we’re recognizing Healthcare Week from May 12 through 18 to show appreciation for all our team members, no matter what your role – from doctors and nurses to lab techs and therapists, engineers and IT workers, volunteers, administrators, coders, dietary staff, those of you who admit or discharge patients, and many more. You may work in a hospital, an urgent care setting, a physician practice or one of our other facilities, but whatever your job, you play a critical role in providing healthcare to the people of our region. Thank you for what you’re doing. There are two things I’ve said before that always bear repeating: No. 1: If you’re in the healthcare field, I believe you’re the type of person who wants to help others. No. 2: Everybody within Ballad Health is a caregiver in one way or another, because all our roles support one another and allow us to provide…

NOTE: This email was sent to all Ballad Health team members on Monday, May 6, the first day of National Nurses Week, from Alan Levine, president and CEO of Ballad Health: Good morning! As we begin the celebration of National Nurses Week this week, we reflect on the birthday of Florence Nightingale – the legendary nurse who was known, in part, for making the rounds at night to treat wounded soldiers, shining her lamplight to see her patients. Today, for reasons I am going to share here, we are taking a moment to re-shine that lamplight on our nurses and those who support them in the provision of patient care. Our nurses and those who work with them in the provision of direct patient care are heroes. Each of us does important work, and that, no doubt, is an important fact. Our amazing nurses would be the first to say they could not do their work without…

Dear Colleague: I want to start by thanking each of you who come to work each day with the purpose of serving others. This calling of ours is special, and I’m truly inspired by the incredible work done each day by all who give so much of themselves. As we approach the one-year anniversary of the creation of Ballad Health, and given much of the public discussion which has occurred over the past few months combined with the changes that have taken place, I wanted to communicate directly with you. Much is changing in the world of hospitals and healthcare, and as we embark upon adapting to these changes, it is not lost on me that we can only be successful if all of us have a clear understanding of the external environment, how we are trying to adapt to it, and how we can each contribute to the success of our mission. No doubt,…

Dear Colleague: Good afternoon. I hope each of you enjoyed a blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving holiday. Personally, this is my favorite time of the year, when the best of humanity can be seen through generosity and love. I hope you experience both in the coming weeks. I have a couple of really great things I want to share with you.   First, I’m pleased to announce that Lindy White, an accomplished healthcare leader with more than 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, is being named today as the president of the Ballad Health’s Kingsport operations. In this role, she will serve as chief executive officer of Holston Valley Medical Center and Indian Path Community Hospital, and all outpatient services. Lindy grew up in our region, having been born in Marion, Virginia. She maintains farms in both Smyth County and Gate City, and absolutely loves this region. She is…