text:
View Mobile Site
Browse All News
Monday, December 15, 2014
Blood Assurance is proud to be the blood provider for the littlest patients in our area at Niswonger Children's Hospital. But we need your help!
We are facing an increased need for blood with an unfortunate decrease in donations. To ensure we have an adequate supply, we need you to give blood this week! Right now, your donation will go even further:
For every blood donation we receive from Dec. 15-19, Blood Assurance will donate $1 to Niswonger Children's Hospital! Not only will your blood donation save up to three lives, it will also mean a generous holiday gift to this amazing institution. Schedule your appointment online or find your nearest blood drive and give this week!
Monday, December 8, 2014
Do you have friends and family looking for entry-level job opportunities within the MSHA Revenue Cycle? Please help spread the word about our Career Expo, coming up Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Mountain States CBO (Corporate Business Office), Plaza II, from 3-7 p.m.
There will be a variety of opportunities within Health Information Management, Medical Billing, Scheduling, Customer Service, Coding and Patient Registration, with interviews being held on-site with the possibility of offers being made on-the-spot.
Applicants will need to bring a copy of their resume and they must be a high school graduate with PC skills and be self-motivated, detail-oriented and have strong customer service skills.
Monday, December 1, 2014
CrestPoint Health's sales director, MJ Zibdeh, has been recognized as part of the 2014 Class of 40 Under Forty by The Business Journal of Tri-Cities, TN/VA. Zibdeh was honored at the 22nd annual celebration of rising stars in the business community, held at The Millennium Centre.
The chosen 40 – all under 40 years old – exhibit "drive, ambition, dedication and a desire to bring the community along as they grow their careers," according to The Business Journal. Zibdeh is part of the team that created CrestPoint Health, the area's only homegrown, locally owned insurance company. CrestPoint provides health insurance for Mountain States team members and offers Medicare Advantage plans for people in the region.
"He was," wrote one nominator, "the most passionate, driven intern I had ever encountered." Within six months he had a marketing position in Russell County, Va. From there he worked his way into the administration team. From there he was offered the sales director position at CrestPoint, where he is excelling today."
In one of his nomination letters, it stated, "He has truly arrived as a community steward and a leading health care professional."
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- Niswonger Children's Hospital will continue its tradition of lighting up the Christmas tree in the hospital lobby, and team members are invited.
The celebration will take place Thursday, Dec. 4, at 5:30 p.m. and will include Christmas carols and cookies as well as the lighting of the tree by one of the young patients. If you're in the neighborhood, please attend and catch a little bit of the Christmas spirit!
Saturday, November 22, 2014
KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Blood Assurance will have an "Eat Wings, Raise Funds" event at the Kingsport Buffalo Wild Wings, 1721 E. Stone Drive, on Monday, Nov. 24, from 5 p.m.-midnight.
The Kingsport restaurant is in the East Stone Commons shopping plaza. Ten percent of receipt sales during the "Eat Wings, Raise Funds" event will be donated to the nonprofit. To support Blood Assurance, let your server know or present an "Eat Wings, Raise Funds" ticket when you dine.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Left to right: Tim Mullins and Greg McCollum of Walgreens; Pat Holtsclaw, Mountain States Foundation president; and Steven Godbold, CEO of Niswonger Children's Hospital.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Walgreens and Pepsi recently presented the Niswonger Children's Hospital with a $2,296 donation from a promotion they did in the spring to support children's hospitals across the state. A portion of Pepsi sales at Walgreens went toward the campaign, and for this region the money went to Niswonger Children's Hospital.
Walgreens has been a loyal supporter of Niswonger, raising more than $25,000 for the children's hospital during the annual Niswonger Children's Hospital Radiothon the last two years by selling Scrubs the Bear stickers at their stores in the region. They will again be selling Scrubs stickers from mid-December through January in support of the radiothon, which takes place March 2-3, 2015. The stickers are $1.00 each.
Monday, November 17, 2014
The WJHL Surprise Squad visited Niswonger Children's Hospital last week and brought a couple of celebrities to visit and pose for pictures with patients, families and even with team members.
Check out some great photos here!
Friday, November 7, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- Do you have questions about Enterovirus D68, RSV, flu? Then we have just the thing for you on Thursday, Nov. 13, at HospiTOTS, 1719 W. Market St., from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Bring the family. Parents will be able to hear from MSHA's own Infection Prevention practitioners and have a chance to ask questions, while the children will be busy enjoying some activities to help them learn healthy habits.
To register or to get more information, contact Ms. Laurie at 423-431-6971 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Blood Assurance Regional Blood Center will conduct public blood drives at the following locations:
(***Free Pizza Buffet or $10 Gift Card to Beef 'O' Brady's***)
All blood types are needed. Donors with O-negative blood type are especially encouraged to donate as O-negative is the universal blood type, given to patients in an emergency situation when their own blood type is unknown.
Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. The process usually takes about 30 minutes and includes a complimentary snack and t-shirt. Donors should eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of fluids -avoiding caffeine- prior to giving blood.
To schedule a blood drive at a local business, school, church or civic/community organization, please contact:
In Tennessee, Mike Patterson, 423-298-4335, firstname.lastname@example.com
In Virginia, Whit Morison, 276-525-4273, firstname.lastname@example.com
The Mountain States Employee Assistance Program (EAP) doesn't just help team members; they're doing a couple of charitable drives – one to help pregnant women in need, and the other to aid animals in the Kingsport Animal Shelter.
Diaper Drive
Indian Path Medical Center and the EAP have joined together to sponsor a Diaper Drive from Nov. 10-21 to benefit Hope House Center for Women in Kingsport. Items needed are diapers of any size, formula and wipes. Items can be dropped off at the Indian Path Medical Center HR office.
Hope House, 1567 N. Eastman Rd., Suite 7, Kingsport, is a division of United Way and is a faith-based, nonprofit, ministry committed to supporting "life" in a hands-on way by extending grace and encouragement to pregnant women and their families in crisis situations. For more information, call (423) 247-7994 or visit www.hopehouse.us.
At the end of the collection drive, a drawing will be held among team members who participated, with the winner receiving a gift card to Carrabba's Italian Grill.
Animal Shelter Drive
The EAP is also doing a collection drive for food and supplies for the Kingsport Animal Shelter to help them get through the winter months. The drive will last through Friday, Nov. 21. EAP will be collecting the following items for the local shelters in our area.
People can drop off these donated items at the Employee Assistance office, 508 Princeton Road, Suite 403, Johnson City, or call the EAP office at 423-302-3481 and they will arrange a pickup time in your area.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Recently the Internal Revenue Service released the new 2015 limits for retirement plans. Please note that if you intend to contribute the maximum amount allowed, you should review your elections to determine if an adjustment needs to be made:
¨ 2015 Deferral Limit = $18,000
¨ 2015 Age 50+ Catch up Contribution = $6,000
You can contact your Lincoln reps to enroll in the retirement plan, increase your deferral, or have a full retirement plan review: (423) 431-1615 or (800) 234-3500 or
Mickey Byrd — firstname.lastname@example.com
Lisa Franklin — firstname.lastname@example.com
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Pediatric Therapy Services at Quillen Rehabilitation Hospital is moving to Mountain States Rehabilitation, 415 N. State of Franklin Road, across the street from JCMC and next door to Fresh Market.
The last day of treatment at the current facility on Wesley Street is Tuesday, Oct. 28, and service will start at the new location on Monday, Nov. 3.
For questions about the location or appointments, call 423-952-1765.
Monday, October 20, 2014
Friday, October 17, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Would you like a Jason Witten-autographed football, a helicopter ride with Wings Air Rescue or race tickets to Bristol Motor Speedway?
Those are some of the items up for auction as part of the Children's Hospital Softball Tournament, which is set for Oct. 20-21 at Winged Deer Park. Proceeds will go to Niswonger Children's Hospital.
The auction lasts from Friday, Oct. 17, through Friday, Oct. 24, ending at 4:30 p.m. Click here to see more on the auction items or to make a bid that supports the region's only children's hospital!
Dear team members:
As we continue to prepare our team members in the event of a suspected Ebola case in our region, we want to ensure we are providing all the appropriate training and communication that you need. To ensure we are properly protecting all our team members as well as our patients and visitors, Mountain States Health Alliance is implementing a travel notification procedure for staff. Any team member who has travelled outside the United States to Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, or any country where Ebola is occurring, MUST notify Team Member Health BEFORE returning to work at any Mountain States location. If you have any questions about this process, please contact your facility Team Member Health individual.
Thank you,
Jamie Parsons, VP/Chief HR Officer
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Bart Hove, interim CEO at Wellmont Health Systems, and Alan Levine, Mountain States CEO, today issued the following statement related to public concerns about the national news related to the potential spread of the Ebola virus:
"We are aware of the public concern related to the potential spread of the Ebola Virus. We share those concerns, and while we cannot control national events, Wellmont and Mountain States are working closely together to ensure we protect our employees and caregivers while also ensuring we do everything possible to identify potential cases when they may present, and isolate them while we commence appropriate treatment. At this point, there have been no cases. We certainly pray that remains the case, but we are working closely together to ensure all points of entry into the local health care system have protocols for identification of symptoms and risk factors for the potential diagnosis of Ebola. Our protocols are designed to ensure swift, immediate isolation of the patients and contact with state health officials for proper containment of the cases, should they present. We are engaging in training of our staffs to ensure that we:
Our objective is to get it right if a case should present itself and to provide comfort to our employees and caregivers that their safety is of critical importance.
Cooperation between Wellmont and Mountain States is occurring at the highest levels, with communications between the CEOs as well as our infection prevention experts. There is no greater priority to us than the safety and security of our region, and our goal is to ensure a swift and medically appropriate response should this horrible virus make its way into our region."
Sunday, October 12, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Mountain States will be collecting bras to give to breast cancer patients. Drop-off boxes are at the Regional Cancer Center at Johnson City Medical Center and at the Women's Center at Med Tech Park, located on the bottom floor of The Wellness Center.
"It seems like almost everyone has been affected by breast cancer, either directly or through a friend or family member," said Karen Hampton, site supervisor at the Regional Cancer Center at JCMC. "People like to help out when they see a need, and donating bras is such a small thing to do but it will help out so many patients who've been diagnosed with breast cancer."
Bras with tags on them will be donated to cancer patients; those without a tag will be donated to local women's shelters.
For more information, call Karen at 423-232-6904 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Friday, October 10, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Due to the rainy weather, the Niswonger Children's Hospital Softball Tournament has been postponed until Oct. 20-21, a Monday and Tuesday. The tournament was originally scheduled for Oct. 9-10.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
We have lots of local discounts for our team members across our region, and you can access all our discounts here.
Our newest discount is for Bright's Zoo in Limestone, Tenn., where you and your family can receive a 10-percent discount when you show your Mountain States ID badge. For more information about Bright's Zoo, visit www.brightszoo.com.
Jamie Parsons, VP for Human Resources
Monday, October 6, 2014
Oct. 5-11 is Mental Illness Awareness Week, also known as Mental Health Awareness Week. It was established to recognize efforts by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to educate and increase awareness about mental illness. It takes place every year during the first full week of October.
An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older – about one in four adults – suffer from a diagnosable mental illness in any given year. However, stigma surrounding mental illness is a major barrier that prevents people from seeking the mental health treatment that they need. Programs during Mental Illness Awareness Week are designed to create community awareness and discussion in an effort to put an end to stigma and advocate for treatment and recovery.
During this week, mental health advocates and organizations across the U.S. join together to sponsor a variety of events to promote community outreach and public education concerning mental illnesses such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. At Woodridge Psychiatric Hospital, team members are participating in various activities including wearing green (the official color) ribbons all week, doing a scavenger hunt, educational quizzes, contests and a green walk to earn money for activities for our patients.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Megan Johnson, MD, will be joining Mountain States Medical Group Family Medicine – Elizabethton in September. Dr. Johnson has a special interest in preventative medicine and enjoys treating patients with diabetes, high blood pressure and other chronic diseases.
The West Virginia native earned her medical degree at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington. She completed her residency at East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City.
Dr. Johnson will practice at Mountain States Medical Group Family Medicine - Elizabethton at 1497 W. Elk Ave., Suite 21, where she is accepting new patients of all ages. For more information call 423-542-7420.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Along with three other local organizations, CrestPoint Health is hosting "Health – It's a Family Affair" Saturday, Sept. 27, from 7 a.m.-noon at Carver Recreation Center, 322 W. Watauga Ave. The health fair will offer free education along with health screenings to community members.
CrestPoint and the Northeast Tennessee Minority Resource Network, in partnership with the health ministries of Friendship Baptist & Grace Temple Churches, have come together to host the event.
"Promoting good health and well-being is something we strive toward," said Jim Hunter, senior business development consultant for CrestPoint. "This health fair is intended to help the people in our region who need it the most."
Anyone who would like free tests (including blood and urine screenings) and education about various health-related topics is encouraged to attend. Attendees can receive screenings for blood pressure, mental health, cholesterol, glucose and more.
There will also be a variety of educational topics discussed, such as diabetes management, senior adult resources, medication management, heart health, emergency preparedness and nutrition.
"The information gained from these community health fairs can literally save lives," said Margaret Davis with the Northeast Tennessee Minority Resource Network. "There are many people who have specific diseases or illnesses that they were unaware of and through these screenings, we've been able to help people discover them, and then provide resources beyond the health fair."
Davis expects over 100 community members will attend the health fair. A healthy breakfast and lunch will be provided at no charge to everyone at the event. There will also be door prizes awarded and activities for children.
Anyone who wants the free blood work needs to fast the night before beginning at midnight (no food or drink). Please arrive no later than 10:30 a.m. to have your blood drawn. Preregistration isn't required but is encouraged. For more information or to preregister, call Margaret Davis at 423-341-5653 or Thurman Walters at 423-741-3926.
Monday, September 22, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Grant's Lemonade Stand will be open for business again on Saturday, Sept. 27, raising money for Niswonger Children's Hospital.
The lemonade stand will be set up at 706 Hillrise Boulevard in the Gump Addition neighborhood from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Lemonade will be served and donations accepted.
Cookie McKinney from Mountain States Foundation will be manning the stand, along with 6-year-old Grant Stout. Grant spent several months in Niswonger Children's Hospital right after he was born, and has made it a habit of raising money for the hospital through his lemonade stand. This is the third year he has done so, and has raised more than $2,200 for the hospital.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – A fundraiser to support the American Heart Association's Tri-Cities Heart Walk will be held on Friday, Sept. 26, from 5-8 p.m. at the Chick-fil-A on West Market Street near JCMC.
Anyone presenting a promotion flyer at the restaurant will have a portion of their purchase go to the AHA Heart Walk. This will help in the fight to prevent heart disease.
Friday, September 19, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – "Alive & Well," a documentary about living with Huntington's disease, will be shown on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 7:30 p.m. at Johnson City Carmike Cinema 14, 1805 N. Roan St.
This showing is sponsored by Appalachian Christian Village and the cost is $11.
The film follows seven resilient characters coming to terms with the reality of living with Huntington's disease, a hereditary, degenerative neurological illness that is considered among the most devastating diseases known to man. After adult onset, 15 to 20 years of slow, painful mental and physical deterioration occur. For children who have the juvenile form of Huntington's, the decline is severely accelerated.
Far from giving us a hopeless glimpse into life with terminal illness, "Alive & Well" reminds us of our ability to persevere with strength, despite life's most difficult challenges.
For more information, visit https://gathr.us/screening/8654 or www.aliveandwellthefilm.com.
A Fit4Life presentation will be given on Wednesday, Sept. 24, called "Preventing Childhood Obesity." The presentation at 11 a.m. will be made via Lync so team members can access it at their desks.
Participating is worth 25 Fit4Life points. Contact your HR representative to participate.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
J OHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- Woodridge Hospital's Handerson Bennah, a behavioral health tech, is holding a fundraiser car wash at Bojangles near East Tennessee State University on Saturday, Sept. 20, to help pay for shipping costs for medical supplies he is sending to Liberia. The supplies were donated by Mountain States Health Alliance to help combat the Ebola virus.
The car wash will take place from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The wash is free but people are asked to make a donation.
Bennah is from Liberia and helps sponsor an elementary school in Kingsville, near the Liberian capital of Monrovia. The Ebola virus is a huge health hazard in West Africa and has killed more than 1,200 people in Liberia alone.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- The We Have Heart team, from JCMC Non-Invasive Cardiology and the JCMC Outpatient Observation Center, will have a fundraising promotion at Sweet Frog Yogurt, 3101 W. Market St., on Sept. 19 from 5-10 p.m.
If you present a flyer for the promotion or just tell the cashier that you support the We Have Heart team on Sept. 19, they'll donate 15 percent of your purchase to the team, to go toward the American Heart Association's Tri-Cities Heart Walk.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
A Fit4Life presentation on "Emotional Eating" will be given by Marsha Litton-Baker on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at noon via Lync. Marsha is Mountain States' Employee Assistance Program Manager and a licensed psychotherapist. You can attend at your desk through Lync, and it is worth 25 Fit4Life points. Contact your HR representative for more information or to get a Lync invitation so you can attend the presentation.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Sept. 14-20 is National Healthcare Environmental Services & Housekeeping Week. We appreciate all our EVS and Housekeeping staff does on behalf of our patients, families, and team members. They are an integral part of our care team, and we couldn't give good medical care without their efforts. Thanks to our EVS and Housekeeping team members for all the hard work!
Friday, September 12, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – A fundraising project to support the We Have Heart team in the Tri-Cities Heart Walk will be held at Ultimate Shine Express Car Wash, 3105 W. Market St., from Sept. 3-Oct. 10.
For anyone who uses the car wash and enters the Fundraiser Code 135 before paying, 30 percent of their sale will automatically be donated to the 2014 Tri-Cities Heart Walk to support the American Heart Association.
This car wash is friendlier on the environment than a driveway or parking lot car wash. Customers can wash as many times as they want using the Fundraiser Code 135.
The Tri-Cities Heart Walk is set for Oct. 12 at the Veterans' Administration and Johnson City Medical Center.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Have you ever had to create or revise a Mountain States form, and found the process to be a little complicated?
If so, take heart because things have improved. Revenue Cycle VOS (Value Optimization System) recently took on the challenge of redoing the entire approval process and the form itself, and the new and improved Forms Approval Process became available late last month. Here's a look at what changes have been made:
"We're hopeful that this change will streamline the process and improve satisfaction while still allowing us to standardize and ensure our Legal Health Record is complete," said Melissa Johnson, Mountain States' director for HIM/Medical Records.
The new contact for forms design is Brandi Clark at email@example.com or 423-302-6302.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Fit4Life will sponsor an online presentation via Lync on Wednesday, Sept. 24, to provide information related to suicide. It will be from noon-12:30, accessed via your desk. Contact your HR representative to attend so you can receive the Lync calendar invitation.
Topics covered include:
For more information, call 423-431-HR4U (4748) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., or email email@example.com.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Dear Colleague:
One of the great things about Mountain States Health Alliance is the profound spirit of community that we all see from each other every day. Whether it's our volunteer time with youth sports or our church, or the financial support we individually offer to organizations, we know provide important value to our community, the spirit of giving is alive and well here!
Each year, as an organization, we support the efforts of the United Way as they seek to provide financial resources to organizations throughout our communities who serve others. The support we provide to the United Way each year is hugely impactful, and something our team members have always been committed to.
The 2014 United Way campaign is about to kick off in our region, and our internal campaign here at Mountain States is kicking off Sept. 8. The campaign ends Sept. 22, so there are a few weeks where we have the opportunity to commit ourselves to giving.
Keep in mind, the decision to donate is yours and yours alone. Many people choose to give either an hour of pay each month or 1% of their annual pay, and that seems to be a recommendation for those who ask. But any amount is appreciated...believe me!
This year, we will inject some new fun into our efforts to support United Way. I know we have a few football fans throughout our system, myself included. So here's an offer:
Let's make each Friday a Football Friday! If you want to wear your football attire to support your favorite team, do it! I plan to wear mine! Football jerseys are fine if you are not in a clinical area with direct patient contact. If you are in a position that has direct patient contact, I'd recommend a golf-shirt or button down.... or scrubs that have your favorite team. We need to be mindful of patients and their particular situations. Remember we do want to look our best, so let's keep it appropriate, no blue jeans! But let's also have some fun.
Here's where it helps the United Way. If you want to do this, for each Friday you participate, donate $2 to the United Way. Two dollars to participate in Football Friday! Not a bad deal if you want to support your team and help the important community organizations at the same time!
I've asked our CEOs and VPs to have someone in each business unit take lead to ensure you know who to contact if you want to participate and donate. We are on the honor system here, so remember why we are doing this!! This is an opportunity to show our loyalty to our favorite football teams (college or pro), and support an important community partner in the process!
Please do make a commitment to the United Way. You can get more information on the campaign by going to our United Way SharePoint Site http://pulse.msha-inc.com/info/HR/Pages/United-Way-2014.aspx
Your local Human Resources departments are leading the campaign again this year, so if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Thank you, as always, for your community spirit!!
Alan Levine
President & CEO, MSHA
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – A fundraising project to support the We Have Heart team in the Tri-Cities Heart Walk will be held at Ultimate Shine Express Car Wash, 3105 W. Market St., from Sept. 3-Oct. 10.
The Tri-Cities Heart Walk is set for Oct. 12 at the Veterans' Administration and Johnson City Medical Center.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
The 10th annual Children's Hospital Softball Tournament is coming up Oct. 9-11 at Winged Deer Park in Johnson City, and we want you!
This is a team member-driven fundraiser for Niswonger Children's Hospital. Last year more than $10,000 was raised and we would like to double that. It's a fun, family-friendly event. All skill levels welcome. Please urge your fellow team members to form a team and come out and compete with other departments throughout Mountain States. If you don't want to participate on a team but would like to donate, all the information can be found on the link below.
Please feel free to contact myself or Lucas Penix if you have any questions. Thanks!
Cathi Snodgrass: 423-302-3349 or firstname.lastname@example.com
Lucas Penix: 423-302-3445 or email@example.com
Mountain Star article: http://www.mshanews.org/news/article.aspx?id=1950
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. – The fourth annual Surviving the Snake 100K/50K Bicycle Ride is set for Sept. 13, giving riders a scenic, challenging ride while helping support the Johnson County Community Hospital Foundation.
The 100-kilometer ride will start at Ralph Stout Park near downtown and take cyclists on some of the legendary motorcycle route known as "The Snake" along U.S. Highway 421 from Mountain City to the quaint community of Shady Valley. The 100K route includes a pass by Watauga Lake, a mountain climb with almost 1,500 feet of elevation gain over four miles, and a visit to Damascus, Va., known as Trail Town USA.
Proceeds go to the JCCH Foundation for a Cardiac Exercise Stress System which is used to diagnose heart disease. Last year's ride raised about $15,000 to help the hospital finish upgrading its mammography exam and waiting rooms.
"This is a gorgeous ride that benefits a great cause," said Karen Clark of the Mountain States Foundation. "Riders can have the full 'metric century' experience or do the 50K that doesn't include the mountain ascent.
"It's challenging, but it's a fun, friendly event and the people who've done the ride have really enjoyed it."
All pre-registered riders get a race T-shirt with their name on it, and a full lunch will be provided after the ride.
"This is no doubt the best-kept secret of a bike ride, just 15 minutes from Boone N.C.," said Jim Marler, one of the race organizers and a past ride participant. "It's extremely well-organized with scenery ranging from the Blue Ridge Mountains to riding beside whitewater streams.
"This ride also has some of the smoothest roads of any event anywhere. No matter if you choose the metric or half metric route, the good SAG, rest stops and delicious food afterward makes this one a great, memorable biking event."
Bikes hit the road at 8:30 a.m. Both rides start and finish at Ralph Stout Park near downtown Mountain City, located at 465 N. Shady St. on U.S. 421. Registration is $40 in advance, $50 on ride day. There is a 250-rider limit.
Surviving the Snake is a timed ride rather than a race and will be held on an open course. Aid stations will be provided. Event-day registration will start at 6:30 a.m.
For more information or to register online, visit www.mshafoundation.org/snake or call Mountain States Foundation at 423-302-3131.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- A cancer support group meeting for all cancer patients, caregivers and related health care professionals will be held on Thursday, Sept. 4, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Johnson City Regional Cancer Center 1 Professional Park Drive Suite 21. This is the first meeting, and any interested Mountain States team members are invited to attend.
For more information, email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Friday, August 29, 2014
Blood Assurance, the non-profit regional blood center, is in critical need of type O negative blood. Currently level 1 trauma centers are using 20 percent more O negative blood than last year. Typically, 275 units of O negative type blood are sent weekly to area hospitals, but the demand has surpassed the number of donations by 18 percent in the last two months.
To meet the need of local hospitals, over 440 blood donors are needed every day. Blood Assurance serves 70 healthcare facilities in a 47 county region. Patients in these area hospitals depend on Blood Assurance's volunteer donors for life-saving blood and blood components. One donation can save three lives
To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. The process usually takes about 30 minutes and includes a complimentary snack and t-shirt. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids - avoiding caffeine - and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating.
For more information about donating blood, blood center locations or blood drives, please call Blood Assurance at 1-800-962-0628 or go to www.BloodAssurance.org.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – East Tennessee State University recently began its management of the newly relocated and renamed ETSU Charitable Pharmacy, formerly known as the Northeast Tennessee Dispensary of Hope. It is now operated by ETSU through a partnership between the College of Nursing's Johnson City Community Health Center (JCCHC) and the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy.
ETSU has been involved with the Northeast Tennessee Dispensary of Hope since it was founded by Mountain States Health Alliance in 2009 as the local affiliate of the national Dispensary of Hope, which is based in Nashville. Mountain States handed over management of the charitable pharmacy for underserved residents to ETSU on Aug. 4.
The pharmacy moved from its old location at Elm Street to the JCCHC at 2151 Century Lane. The facility operation is managed by faculty from the College of Pharmacy. Mountain States will continue to offer financial support for the needs-based pharmacy for the next two years.
The ETSU Charitable Pharmacy will continue to partner with the Dispensary of Hope in Nashville, a national non-profit organization, to distribute medications at no cost to qualifying patients. The national organization receives the medications through donations from pharmaceutical companies and doctors' offices and then sends them out to their affiliate pharmacies and clinic sites to be dispensed.
Northeast Tennessee Dispensary of Hope will be able access their prescriptions from the ETSU Charitable Pharmacy without any interruption in service. Of those, approximately 60 percent are also patients of the JCCHC or another ETSU-affiliated community health center.
All JCCHC patients will be able to fill their prescriptions at the location if they meet the designated qualifications. The pharmacy will not carry any controlled substances, which includes narcotic pain medications.
Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For more information, call the JCCHC at 423-929-6916.
Monday, August 18, 2014
Members of the 2015 Radiothon organizing committee are (front row, left to right) Don Raines, Duffy Carmack, Joe Grandy, David Widener; (back row) Pat Holtsclaw, Tiffany Willis, Juanita Vaughn, Cookie McKinney, Leisa Welcher, Tiffany Hickman
Johnson City, Tenn., businessman and Washington County (Tenn.) Commissioner Joe Grandy is the new chairman of the The Niswonger Children's Hospital Radiothon, taking over for Don Raines, who stepped down after serving as chairman for two years. Duffy Carmack of Abingdon, Va., will be co-chair, overseeing Radiothon activities in Southwest Virginia.
The Radiothon, which has raised more than $265,000 for Niswonger Children's Hospital during its first two years under Raines, will be held March 2, 2015. It is the culmination of a year-long community fundraising effort involving individuals, schools, small businesses and corporations, as well as other groups.
Grandy is general manager of Ferguson Enterprises. Carmack is CFO of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, and serves in the management of Eye Physicians of Southwest Virginia.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Mountain States' Shay Rankhorn was recently recognized by the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) of the American Hospital Association for attaining senior status (SASHE) within the organization.
The SASHE designation is bestowed on those who have been ASHE members in good standing for at least five years and have supported the organization in terms of education, leadership and speaking contributions.
Rankhorn, SASHE, CHFM, CHSP, CHEP, LLE, serves as Multi Facilities Director for Engineering Services in Washington County, Tenn., covering Franklin Woods Community Hospital and Washington County Medical Office Buildings. He is on the American Society for Healthcare Engineering Board of Directors and is the 2014-15 Region 3 director. Rankhorn is also president of the American Hospital Association Certification Center Board of Directors
The awards were presented during the 51st annual ASHE Conference earlier this month in Chicago.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Mountain States Home Care and Hospice will be participating in some community events and would love to have any team member join with us! We will participate Sept. 20 in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. The event will be at Unicoi County High School in Erwin, Tenn., at noon. If anyone would like to participate or hang out with us at our booth, we would love to have you!
We are also participating in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at ETSU on Oct. 26 at 3 p.m. and the Walk to Cure Alzheimer's at Bristol Motor Speedway on Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. If you want to walk with us or just join us at our booth and be part of the MSHA team, email Sidney at firstname.lastname@example.com.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Want to eat some delicious wings and know that you're supporting a great cause? Here's your chance! Anyone who eats at Buffalo Wild Wings in Johnson City on Monday, Aug. 18, between 4-10 p.m. can show a printed coupon (see above) that will contribute 10 percent of your meal cost to the "Oar We There Yet" Dragon Boat team from Mountain States.
The Dragon Boat Festival is Sept. 6 at Boone Lake at Winged Deer Park and will help Niswonger Children's Hospital provide new epilepsy treatment and services to kids in our region. Print the flyer and show at the restaurant for your money to go for this cause.
The "Oar We There Yet" team is still looking for paddlers to fill out its roster. If you're interested in paddling for their team, contact Kevin Brooks at 423-431-7797 or email@example.com.
Buffalo Wild Wings is located at 2035 Hamilton Place Drive.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The Revenue Cycle Dragon Boat teams' fundraising yard sale has been rescheduled for Aug. 30 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.This year's Dragon Boat Festival supports Niswonger Children's Hospital.
The sale will take place, rain or shine, in the parking lot of Plaza 2 at the CBO building, 1725 W. Market St. It will include various rummage sale items such as clothes and household items. There will also be a local food truck vendor, Foodie Fiction, selling lunch.
For more information, email email@example.com.
Friday, August 8, 2014
The Team Member Parking Garage will be closed from Friday, Aug. 22, at 8 p.m. until Sunday, Aug. 24, at 8 p.m. for restriping. The following areas can be utilized for team member parking during this time:
Additional information will follow.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Topics to Include:
• Trauma resuscitation
• Surgical critical care
• Emergency trauma/ general surgery
• Evidence based standards for surgery in the trauma patient
• Sports medicine
• Trauma and the field of public health
• Special populations in trauma – pediatric and geriatric
• Resource preparedness and utilization in rural trauma
• Research and trauma
• Skills sessions
This conference is designed to encompass the full-trauma system from pre-hospital to rehab. Tracks are planned to meet the needs of multiple specialty certifications and various continuing educational requirements.
For registration or further information click here or contact Carol Jones, Trauma Program Manager, at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Monday, August 4, 2014
The need for blood in the area served by Blood Assurance has reached critically low levels. All blood types are needed. Blood Assurance has experienced a 16-percent decrease in donations while hospital usage has increased by 25 percent.
Blood Assurance Regional Blood Center will conduct public blood drives at the following locations in our region:
Friday, August 1, 2014
NORTON, Va. – Norton Community Hospital's Internal Medicine Residency Program held its graduation ceremony at the Holiday Inn on June 27. Four residents completed the Internal Medicine three-year training program. There was a wonderful turnout for the celebration ceremony with 110 people in attendance.
The graduates were (left to right in photo): Brian K. Stiltner, DO; Chief Resident Robert L. Flowers, DO; Jill K. Couch, DO; and Joshua Morris, DO. Dr. Morris will be practicing as a hospitalist at JCMC, Indian Path and Franklin Woods.
Dr. Chris Morris, rheumatologist, was the keynote speaker for the ceremony. Attending physician Dr. Bernie Sergent was presented with the Preceptor of the Year award (inset photo). The recipient is selected by the residents for serving as an outstanding role model, providing excellent clinical education and demonstrating professionalism in the art and science of medicine.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Mountain States has been named a 2014 Healthier Tennessee Workplace by Healthier Tennessee, which is part of The Governor's Foundation for Health & Wellness.
Healthier Tennessee provides a list of Small Starts – easy, low-cost ways to make the workplace healthier right now. Mountain States has enough Small Starts in place to qualify as a Healthier Tennessee Workplace.
"We work hard to promote wellness and create a healthier workforce, and it's nice to see that we meet the criteria for a Healthier Tennessee Workplace," said Jamie Parsons, VP and Chief Human Resources Officer for Mountain States. "A healthier workforce makes for happier, more productive team members, which is good for our people and also good for Mountain States as an organization."
Among the things Mountain States has in place to promote wellness are its Fit4Life and Keas programs, which encourage and track healthy habits, and reward and recognize people for completing wellness activities or achieving fitness goals. MSHA has a Wellness Committee, and Human Resources communicates regularly with the workforce about healthy habits and wellness resources and events.
The Healthier Tennessee Workplace effort is led by Gov. Bill Haslam and made possible by The Governor's Foundation for Health and Wellness, a non-profit corporation dedicated to enabling and encouraging Tennesseans to lead healthier lives. The Foundation is funded through a combination of public and private-sector sources, and is guided by an independent Board of Directors.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
CLINTWOOD, Va. – The inaugural DCH Foundation Freedom 5K on July 4 was a success as part of the opening events for the Town of Clintwood Independence Day celebration.
More than 50 runners, walkers and kids participated. Runners completed a 5K loop while walkers enjoyed a two-mile route. There was also a Kids' 1-Mile Fun Run on the track.
The event raised money for the Dickenson Community Hospital Foundation, which was created five years ago and has benefited various hospital causes. Last year the Foundation helped with the installation of an automatic door at the Emergency Room, replaced the TV in the ER waiting area and replaced the Bi-Pap machine and defibrillator in the ER. The Foundation also raised money to provide new furniture and new flooring in the waiting area for Dickenson Medical Arts Building.
"While the run primarily helped raise awareness for the foundation, we expect it to grow and become a major run in Southwest Virginia, providing funding for Dickenson Community Hospital projects," said Bill Farthing, who serves as the support person for the five Virginia hospital foundations. "The enthusiasm of the runners and volunteers was phenomenal and that will help grow the event."
The overall 5K winner was Tom Benoit in 20:12, with Katie Dunn taking the women's title with a time of 22:46. As part of the race package, all racers enjoyed a free pancake breakfast from the Clintwood Kiwanis Club.
T-shirts and medals for the event sported a red-white-and-blue theme. Approximately 15 DCH team members and DCH Foundation members volunteered to ensure that the registration process, race and award presentations went smoothly.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Any time you donate whole blood, your one blood donation could save up to three lives. Blood Assurance, your regional blood center, would like to help you Save 3 on the Fourth. The Johnson City Blood Assurance location will be open on Friday, July 4, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Laboratory and shipping departments are always open in order to get life-saving blood and blood components to patients in need at our area hospitals. Blood Assurance serves 47 counties in a five-state region, and is the sole provider of blood and blood components for more than 70 health care facilities.
These public blood drives are also being held this week:
The summer months tend to bring more motor vehicle and boating accidents to our area.Plus, firework accidents occur during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, leading to a rise in the need for blood. When a typical automobile accident occurs, the victim, if he or she needs blood, can use more than 50 units, and a burn patient can need plasma, which is a blood component, in order to heal. Summer months and holidays also have lower blood donation collections mainly because schools are out, and people are vacationing away from home.
To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. The process usually takes about 30 minutes and includes a complimentary snack and t-shirt. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids - avoiding caffeine - and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating.
For more information about donating blood, blood drives or donor centers, call Blood Assurance at 1-800-962-0628 or go to www.BloodAssurance.org.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Do you know a great nurse? You can nominate someone for the new Press Ganey Nurse of the Year Award.
This award highlights the important contributions of nursing to the overall patient experience and demonstrates Press Ganey's enhanced focus on nurses. The award honors a direct care nurse who has gone above and beyond in his/her role to demonstrate care innovation, transformation and collaboration that supports an exceptional patient experience.
Click here to fill out the nomination application.
The award is given annually, and Press Ganey will recognize the 2014 winner at the National Client Conference.
Nurse of the Year Award Criteria
The Press Ganey Nurse of the Year Award will be given annually to recognize the contributions of an outstanding direct care nurse. The annual recipient of the award will be a nurse who has gone above and beyond in his/her role and demonstrated care innovation, transformation and collaboration that supports an exceptional patient experience.
Applications are due by Friday, June 27, 2014.
Click here to fill out the nomination application.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The Johnson City Health Resources Center (HRC) will remain in its current location inside The Mall at Johnson City with no interruption in service, Mountain States Health Alliance officials announced Friday.
"After further review, we believe it's in the best interest of the community to keep our current services, classes and support groups in one place and remain committed to our current locations at The Mall at Johnson City," said Grace Pereira, vice president of post-acute care services for Mountain States.
There will be no interruption in the HRC class schedule or for the health-related support groups that meet at the HRC and the HRC Annex.
A number of health-related support groups currently meet at the HRC, and Pereira said Mountain States officials are also interested in providing meeting space for others that may be looking for a home.
"We have a lot to offer with two locations inside the mall – the HRC and HRC Annex – and there is room on the calendar for new support groups and new classes to meet the needs of our patients," Pereira said.
Monday, June 16, 2014
You are invited to participate in a four-part series of Lync seminars offered by Marsha Litton-Baker with the Mountain States Health Alliance Employee Assistance Program. Contact your HR representative by phone or email if you would like the Lync information to participate in any of these sessions.
Part 1: Positive Parenting – Monday, June 16, at noon
Part 2: Self Esteem in Parenting – Monday, June 23, at noon
Part 3: Facing Fears of Parenting – Monday, June 30, at noon
Part 4: Fun interactive activities and resources for kids locally – Monday, July 7, at noon
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Good morning!
We take seriously the input we receive from our colleagues throughout Mountain States Health Alliance, and I wanted to share with you a decision made this week that was a direct result of feedback we have received from our team members.
Effective July 1, 2014, there will no longer be a premium differential between part-time and full-time team members. Part-time team members will now pay the lower premium that full-time team members enjoy. We know this is an important issue, given the changes that have been made in eligibility, and we agree this is an issue that needed to be addressed.
On behalf of the entire leadership team at Mountain States, I want to thank you for your suggestions, and to let you know we do, indeed, take them seriously. Keep the suggestions coming!
Team members will not have to do anything to receive this benefit. Human Resources will process the premium changes.
Thank you for all you do to put our patients first.
Jamie Parsons
MSHA Vice President/Chief Human Resources Officer
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
In Tennessee, Mike Patterson, 423-298-4335, firstname.lastname@example.com
In Virginia, Whit Morison, 276-525-4273, email@example.com
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The Run for Ron Fourth of July Race will be held July 4 starting at The Wellness Center at 9 a.m.
The race supports the fight against colon cancer by benefiting Wellness Center employee Ron Renfro, who recently was diagnosed with cancer.
Race-day registration is from 7-8 a.m. The pre-registration fee is $25; race-day registration is $30. Register at The Wellness Center, 200 Med Tech Parkway, or at Foot Rx, 3135 Peoples St. All registered runners get a free race T-shirt.
For more information, call Steve Pastorek at 423-431-5542.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Thursday, May 29, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – When a child loses a loved one, the grieving process can be complex and sometimes very different from the way adults cope. To help children and teens who have recently lost a loved one, Mountain States Hospice will offer a free one-day camp at Munsey United Methodist Church on July 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Camp Courage uses storytelling, games, art and relaxation to help kids work through their feelings. There is no cost, but pre-registration is required. Registrations must be received by June 10.
"Grief is a difficult process for anyone, including children," said April Collins, social worker for Mountain States Hospice. "Children go through the stages of grief just like adults do, but they act out their grief in a completely different way. It's not always obvious that certain behaviors are part of the grieving process."
It's difficult for children to put their feelings into words, so the counselors at Camp Courage will help campers express their emotions through drawings and other expressive media. Parents will receive a take-home packet with a letter describing what their child experienced that day and contact information for various resources that can help with ongoing counseling if necessary.
Being with peers who are going through the same thing can be extremely beneficial, Collins said.
"Sometimes children hold back when their parents are around, and they don't interact and express what they want to," she said. "It's important to let them have their own identity and deal with this process in their own way."
Camp Courage is led by professional grief counselors and trained professionals including social workers, teachers and spiritual counselors. These volunteers have experience working with children in hospice, school and individual counseling settings.
Camp Courage is for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. The program is sponsored by Mountain States Hospice and underwritten by Morris-Baker Funeral Home.
Munsey Church is located at 201 E. Market St., in downtown Johnson City. For more information, call 423-431-6146 or email April Collins, Bereavement Coordinator, at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Fit4Life will be sponsoring an online presentation via Lync on Thursday, June 26, to provide information on "Skin Cancer Prevention." This will be presented by Dr. Timothy Gardner with Tri-Cities Skin and Cancer from noon-12:30 p.m.
You can view via Lync from your computer. Contact your facility HR representative if you want to attend so a Lync calendar invitation can be sent to you.
For HR questions, call 423-431-HR4U (4748) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., or email email@example.com.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Do you like kickball? The East Tennessee Adult Kickball Association (ETAKA) starts play in June and is offering a discount to Mountain States team members.
Games take place at Indian Trail Middle School on the football field. The next Coed League starts on June 4, ending on July 30.
For more information, visit www.johnsoncitykickball.com. Normal registration fee is $55 per player, although by using a special discount code on the website, Mountain States team members can register for only $20. Type in the discount code word "employee" to get the special rate.
As the ETAKA says, "Keep calm and play kickball."
Saturday, May 24, 2014
BLUFF CITY, Tenn. -- Grant's Lemonade Stand, the fundraiser for Niswonger Children's Hospital, will be back in business on Saturday, May 31, at Kiser Supply, 4183 Bluff City Highway, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Drew and Lauren Ledford will be hosting the stand.
The lemonade stand was created by Grant Stout, the son of Clayton and Erica Stout. Grant is a former patient at JCMC's Children's Hospital in the neonatal intensive care unit (before Niswonger Children's Hospital was open).
Saturday, May 17, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- The Wellness Center is hosting JA Family Day 2014 on Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. It's for families impacted by juvenile arthritis and rheumatic diseases.
This free event will include fun activities, educational speakers and a chance to connect with other families going through some of the same things in their battle with these conditions. Space is limited and advance registration is required.
Click here to register.
For more information, contact Katie Christian at firstname.lastname@example.com or call 615-806-8538 or 866-227-3850. The Wellness Center is located at 200 MedTech Park.
Friday, May 16, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- Anyone who eats dinner on May 27 at Buffalo Wild Wings, 2035 Hamilton Place Drive, from 4 p.m. to close can have 15 percent of their bill donated to the Hope on Wheels motorcycle ride, which benefits cancer patients.
Make sure to tell your server when you're being seated that you are there to support the Mountain States Foundation. The server will log your bill into the system.
Be sure to tell your friends, co-workers and family about this promotion! The Hope on Wheels Motorcycle Ride, which takes place May 31, is a fundraiser for Mountain States Cancer Care to benefit cancer patients. Many thanks to Buffalo Wild Wings of Johnson City for doing this!
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Financial fitness is important just like physical fitness. That's why The Wellness Center is hosting a free financial fitness seminar, "Managing Your Money," presented by Regions Bank, on May 28 at 10 a.m.
The seminar will be given by Sarah Davis, Regions Financial Service Specialist. Register at the Wellness Center Front Desk or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
The Wellness Center is located at 200 Med Tech Parkway.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Everybody celebrate! It's National Hospital Week!
That's right, May 11-17 is National Hospital Week, when we celebrate hospitals and the men and women who, day in and day out, support the health of their communities through compassionate care, constant innovation and unwavering, unmatched dedication.
Now more than ever, hospitals play a vital role in improving community health across the nation – extending far beyond strictly providing medical care. Take this year's National Hospital Week as an opportunity to thank all of the dedicated individuals – physicians, nurses, therapists, engineers, food service workers, volunteers, administrators and so many more – for their commitment.
Hospitals may be buildings, but they're not truly without all the hard-working team members who staff them. Mountain States salutes everyone who makes our hospitals run smoothly so we can serve our communities!
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Many thanks to those of you who donated to our annual Team Member Campaign. Through your generosity this year's campaign raised $204,512. As our slogan states, "Together We Can Make A Difference," and together we have!
The facility with the highest percentage increase of participation from last year's Team Member Campaign and the winner of $3,000 for their facility is Sycamore Shoals Hospital. Congratulations to everyone as the competition was fierce this year!
Over the past two weeks drawings have been held at our various facilities and below are the winners for the final drawing:
Carla Cox, RN from SCCH, Tessa Malone, executive assistant at IPMC, and Betty Schwartz, physical therapist from SCCH, are winners of a customized T-shirt for your facility. Please email Karen Clark at email@example.com with your shirt size and facility.
McKinsey Hicks, EKG Technician at JCMC, is the winner of a $50 gift card.
Pat Holtsclaw
President, Mountain States Foundation
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
A message from Mountain States President & CEO Alan Levine:
As we take this week to celebrate the incredible contributions the nursing profession makes in our lives, I'm reminded of how many of us think back to our childhood – to the times when we were sick, hurt or scared. When we think of the comfort we received from a mom or dad whom we trusted had our best interest at heart, and made us feel more comfortable. When our parents seemed to know what we needed and instinctively made sure it happened.
I remember that feeling, and I think of it with the same warmth and appreciation that I hold for the nursing profession. Every single day, nurses have the opportunity to bring that feeling of comfort and safety to someone who is hurting or afraid. Whether in the hospital, in an office, or in someone's home, our patients always are comforted by the confident and reassuring smile of a nurse – competent in her or his field and loving at the same time.
This week is National Nurses Week, and it holds a special meaning for me because my wife Laura is not only a terrific mom, but she's also a nurse. Her license to practice nursing is one of the things she is most proud of – besides her kids, for certain. She earned it through hard work, and she works hard all the time to bring even more value to the profession she loves. And I see that same determination every day with every new nurse I meet. Holding a license to do what they do is special. But working every day to advance the profession while never forgetting the compassion that is the building block of that profession is what makes it so unique.
We all choose a profession, and no doubt we all made our choices for our own reasons. But when you talk to a nurse and ask them why they chose nursing, the common theme is a desire to serve others who are vulnerable, while also being challenged to think critically and to be a trusted professional capable of making life and death decisions for others. It is not easy to get there, and once there, it is a difficult journey indeed to retain the expertise and to continue to advance the knowledge. But yet, our nurses do it.
And one thing nurses do that is most amazing to me is... they advocate not only for their patients, but also for the other folks on the health care team they rely upon to help them do their important work. When I visit patient care units, no one highlights the great work of our environmental services team members more than our nurses do! Our nurses know they can't do it alone, and the great ones love to deflect the credit for their work to the many other people on our teams who make their job easier. I'm amazed by the humility of a nurse who takes the time to recognize the other folks who contribute to serving the patients.
Our patients are vulnerable, and they put their trust in us. So, I'm proud of ALL our team members, from the admitting clerks to the transporters to the doctors and nurses. I'm proud because you've earned that trust. It wasn't given to you. So to each of our fellow members of the team, on behalf of our board of directors and management team, I offer our most genuine and grateful thanks.
And to our nurses, specifically. Thank you for choosing such a noble profession. Thank you for exercising the stressful critical thinking that makes the difference for a patient and doctor. Thank you for your compassion and for your comforting hand. Thank you for leading. Thank you for following. Thank you for holding the care setting together. And thank you for being a friend to so many people. Your gift is our blessing!
Friday, May 2, 2014
Corporate Compliance & Ethics Week is May 4-10. Traditionally held the first full week in May, this national event highlights the importance of ethics and compliance in the workplace.
At Mountain States we rely on our Corporate Audit and Compliance Department to make sure that, as team members, we know the right thing to do and the right way to do it. A solid compliance program lays the foundation for improvement and reduces risk. It helps make sure we meet state and federal regulations and it keeps our funding intact.
But we don't follow rules just to meet legal requirements. We do it because it's best for our patients. Compliance and ethics help protect our patients' safety and privacy. Without good compliance practices we wouldn't be able to provide quality patient care.
Thank you to our Corporate Audit and Compliance Department for the vital work they do!
Monday, April 28, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of Washington County-Johnson City will take place May 3-4 at Indian Trail Middle School, 307 Car Mol Drive, lasting from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.
There are 31 teams and 227 people participating, with nearly $42,000 raised so far.
The event will include laps around the track, with certain celebrations or observances scheduled throughout the day and night, including a Survivors Lap and a Luminaria Ceremony. The Relay For Life raises money and awareness to fight back against cancer.
People can get involved by signing up for a team and walking, by volunteering to help with the event or by making a donation. Among the teams entered is the Mountain States Cancer Care "Relay for the Roses."
For more information, click here.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
CONGRATULATIONS to the 86 MSHA teams who competed in the HealthyWage Team Challenge weight-loss competition. Everyone was a winner!
Although the $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000 winners were not from Mountain States, our teams achieved amazing success! We had 466 individuals participated and 4,500 pounds were lost!
Top MSHA Teams:
Jelly Bean Bellies 14.36%
Flab-U-Less 13.59%
Kathy & the Kangaroos 11.79%
5 Guys Blubber & Thighs 11.53%
Team Alpha Wolf 11.26%
The Biggest Bluesers 10.20%
Pound Strippers 9.83%
The Thinner Winners 9.67%
Ten Geez 8.68%
The Wanting Fed 8.54%
All members of the winning team will receive a VISA gift card from MSHA. Participants reported losing weight was easier as part of a team. The two individual BIGGEST LOSERS lost 32 percent (a family member) and 21 percent (a team member) and the average weight loss was 10 pounds!
Again—CONGRATULATIONS ON A HEALTHIER YOU!
Friday, April 18, 2014
All blood types are needed. Donors with O-negative blood type are especially encouraged to donate as O-negative is the universal blood type, given to patients in an emergency situation when their own blood type is unknown.
Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. The process usually takes about 30 minutes and includes a complimentary snack and t-shirt. Donors should eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of fluids – avoiding caffeine – prior to giving blood.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- East Coast Wings & Grill, a new restaurant coming to Johnson City on April 21, is doing a great promotional deal that can earn patrons a free chip basket and trigger a donation to the Mountain States Foundation. During the first 60 days the store is open, you can get a free chip basket on your first visit – and automatically generate a 50-cent donation to Mountain States Foundation – if you do any of the following:
1) "Like" the new store's page on Facebook.
2) Sign up for rewards.
3) Visit the store and order a meal.
Click here to visit the East Coast Wings Facebook page.
The rewards program can be found at http://eastcoastwings.com/rewards/.
East Coast Wings is a casual, family dining restaurant that offers Buffalo wings, salads, burgers, ribs, fajitas, wraps and more from the menu. The new restaurant is located at 198 Marketplace Blvd, just off North State of Franklin Road and Knob Creek near the Kohl's shopping complex.
Opening day is set for April 21.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
A message from Lynnis Hornsby, MSHA corporate director for Volunteers/Auxiliary Resources:
Dillard's has offered Mountain States Auxiliary a fabulous opportunity to allow us as individuals to purchase Dillard's merchandise with part of the proceeds benefitting our patients and families.
On May 22-24, Dillard's representatives will be in the lobby of JCMC selling merchandise, the same as our other special sales vendors, with payroll deduct available for team members. Prior to the actual sale, Dillard's will provide an assigned website where we can shop -- payroll deduct with no interest or shipping charges -- and pick up our merchandise at our local MSHA hospital. How cool is that? Stay tuned for more information!
As with all Auxiliary sales, proceeds are donated back to our hospitals, ultimately benefiting our patients and their families.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Bettie Wilson, who retired in 2009 after 43 years with Mountain States Health Alliance in the pharmacy department, passed away on March 28 following an extended illness.
Wilson started work at Mountain States in 1966 and rose to the position of System Services Director for all MSHA Hospital Pharmacies. She also served on the Mountain States Foundation Board of Trustees and was a founding member of the Niswonger Children's Hospital Kite Society.
She was a leader of the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy and in 1998 she was named Hospital Pharmacist of the Year by the Tennessee Society of Health System Pharmacists.
Click here to read Bettie Wilson's obituary.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Niswonger Children's Hospital has started its own Facebook page. Click here to visit and be sure to "Like" it! And look forward to plenty of updates on the page about things going on involving our area's only dedicated children's hospital, as well as health tips and other info about the hospital.
Click here to visit the Niswonger Children's Hospital Facebook page.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Please join us in recognizing health care access professionals for their continued accomplishments of service in the health care access continuum by celebrating National Patient Access Personnel Week, March 31-April 6. By supporting National Healthcare Access Personnel Week, you are showing your access team that you appreciate their hard work and encourage their efforts as goodwill ambassadors for the entire hospital.
Patient Access drives health care! We provide quality care in patient registration and all of its support processes to patients, providers, and payors throughout a patient's health care experience. Not only do we represent the first impression, becoming the face for the entire facility, but we also serve as the key component in putting every health care visit in motion. It all starts and ends with patient access management and we truly do pave the road to success for our patients and our facilities!
Friday, March 28, 2014
KINGSPORT, Tenn. – If you received an invitation to the 11th Annual Quality Awards Banquet, remember to give your RSVP for the banquet coming up on Thursday, April 3. The banquet was originally scheduled in February but was postponed due to bad weather, so everyone needs to RSVP again for the new date.
The event Thursday will be held at MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center, located off I-26 at Exit 3. Attendance is limited to people who received invitations and their guests.
The storyboard viewing will start at 4:30 p.m. with dinner at 6 and the banquet starting at 6:45.
RSVP by phone at 423-302-5995 or on the Pulse main page under "In the Spotlight."
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
National Doctors' Day is March 30, when we take a moment to reflect on all the things our physicians do for us – and we say thanks to them.
This holiday was first held in 1933 in Winder, Ga., by the Barrow County Medical Society, and it has grown since then to become a national day, finally being signed into law by President George Bush in 1990. We use the day to show our gratitude for the role of physicians in caring for the sick, advancing medical knowledge and promoting good health.
MSHA will celebrate Doctors' Day in different ways across the system, depending on the facility, and because the day falls on a Sunday it could also be observed leading up to and shortly after March 30.
Any day is a good day to thank our great doctors, so let them know you appreciate their crucial role in bringing loving care to health care.
Monday, March 24, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – People can "go green" to celebrate Earth Day by participating in the second annual Green Mile on Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m.-noon at The Wellness Center, 200 Med Tech Parkway. The event will feature several earth-friendly displays and activities to celebrate Earth Day, which is April 22.
The main event is a one-mile walk/run starting at The Wellness Center at 9 a.m. The route is stroller friendly. The walk/run will take place rain or shine.
People can bring household papers to be shredded by Shred-it. Foot Rx will take used or unwanted shoes to be recycled. Door prizes and free information will be available.
Champion Chevrolet will have its Chevy Volt electric car on display. Bottled water will be provided by Culligan and granola snacks for kids will be provided by Earth Fare.
Other sponsors for the event are Mountain States Health Alliance (MSHA), the City of Johnson City, Johnson City Power Board, Seneca Medical, Stryker Sustainability Solutions and Stericycle.
For more information, contact Mountain States Earth Care at email@example.com, or visit www.msha.com.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Tickets can be purchased at Corporate HR in Johnson City via payroll deduction, exact cash, or check made payable to MSHA.
Adult $41
Children $35.90
Payroll deduction cannot be spread out over multiple pay periods. Tickets are nonrefundable and will expire on Jan. 3, 2015. Tickets may be upgraded to season passes at Dollywood for additional fee.
This is a considerable discount off regular prices of $58 per adult ticket and $46 per child ticket.
For more information, contact Jessica Tankersley at 423-302-3252 or email@example.com.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. – Sycamore Shoals Hospital is hosting Virtual Dementia Tours on March 26 from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The program was intended as an educational exercise for SSH team members but has been opened to the public, as well.
The free tour, presented by Home Instead Senior Care of Jonesborough, is an interactive learning experience designed to help those caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. It helps demonstrate what it is like to have dementia. Each tour takes about 15 minutes.
To sign up in advance, or for more information, contact Cheryl Ewing at 423-542-1441or firstname.lastname@example.com, or Lisa Hayes at 543-1394 or email@example.com.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Blood Assurance Regional Blood Center will conduct public blood drives at the following locations:
Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. The process usually takes about 30 minutes and includes a complimentary snack and t-shirt. Donors should eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of fluids -avoiding caffeine- prior to giving blood.
To schedule a blood drive at a local business, school, church or civic/community organization, please contact:
Friday, March 7, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The Wellness Center will have a 4-on-4 Basketball Tournament on April 7-9.
The tournament is double elimination and cost is $80 per team. Each player will get a team T-shirt.
The Wellness Center will also sponsor a 6-on-6 volleyball tournament May 5-7.
To register for either event, call Steve Pastorek, Head Fitness Coach, at 423-431-5542. Registration deadline for the basketball tournament is March 31.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Members of Eastman Chemical Company recently provided a gracious gift to Niswonger Children's Hospital – toys they helped create themselves, to be given to patients at the hospital.
The toy-building was part of an Eastman leadership conference that included team-building exercises. Rachael Greene, business organization specialist at Eastman, and Eric Ottersbach, business unit manager, presented hospital representatives with the toys: Small cars and stuffed animals put together at The Lollipop Shop in Jonesborough.
"We wanted to bring out the creative side in people, and we're most creative as a kid," said Greene. "So we tied it back to being a kid by making these toys.
"We'd heard that every child here at Niswonger Children's Hospital gets a toy, so we thought this would be the perfect place to donate the toys we made."
"We are always grateful to have such wonderful donations to help the children who come to Niswonger for treatment," said Cookie McKinney, manager for Children's Initiatives at Mountain States Health Alliance (MSHA)."
Thursday, February 27, 2014
KINGSPORT, Tenn. – To help beginning runners work their way up to finishing a 5K run, the Health Resources Center at Indian Path Medical Center is partnering with Fleet Feet Sports to put on a 10-week "No Boundaries Beginners' Couch to 5K" training program.
The program starts Thursday, March 6, and meets every Monday and Thursday at 6 p.m. It culminates with participants doing the AmazinGrace 5K (3.1 miles) on Sunday, May 4, in Kingsport.
Fleet Feet will lead the training runs, while the Indian Path HRC, along with several other departments from Indian Path Medical Center, will provide informational/motivational speakers at each training session. Before or after the scheduled runs, participants will hear a quick talk on various health education and running-related topics from cardiac physicians, physical therapists and other health professionals.
There is an $85 fee to participate in the 20-session training program. Runners can join after the March 6 start date, but the longer they wait, the further behind they'll be in training.
Fleet Feet and the team from Indian Path Medical Center will celebrate with a kick-off session March 6 at Fleet Feet's store, 1880 N. Eastman Road, Suite 205. For more information, call Fleet Feet 423-230-0002 or visit www.fleetfeetkingsport.com, or call the HRC at Indian Path at 423-857-7981.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
As you may already know, the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees released their budget proposals on Sunday, Feb. 16. Both budgets make investments in community hospitals. But only the Senate plan returns to the Commonwealth the nearly $2.9 billion in tax dollars and additional provider cuts we are already paying in order to close the coverage gap for the uninsured.
The House proposal helps to stabilize our health care system in the near term and promotes meaningful reform of our existing Medicaid program. The Senate proposal allows us to reclaim Virginia tax dollars from the federal government and manage these resources in keeping with our long-standing tradition of prudent fiscal stewardship. It builds on Virginia's strengths and experience by relying on private health plans and health systems to assume risk for the newly covered population, coordinate care and manages costs effectively. This is one approach that could address MSHA's top priority of closing the coverage gap and starts a dialogue about charting a path forward.
Mountain States Health Alliance is committed to working with the SWVa Delegation, the House and the Senate, as well as the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association to finalize a budget that is best for Virginia, its economy and the health and well-being of its citizens.
Please contact your legislators and let them know how critically important it is to you that they work together, House and Senate, to find a solution that incorporates the tenets of both the House and Senate budget plans, while responsibly covering the uninsured Virginians and returning our hard-earned tax dollars to the Commonwealth.
Click the link below to log in and send your message:
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Hey MSHA Quality Award team members,
As you know, due to the inclement weather the other week, we elected to reschedule the Quality Awards Banquet. The safety of the people of Mountain States and MeadowView event staff is very important to us, and it is also important that everyone associated with a quality awards project be recognized for their incredible work.
It is for these two important reasons that the decision was made to reschedule our celebration. The new date is April 3 at Marriott MeadowView Resort & Conference Center. The storyboard viewing will open at 4:30 p.m., dinner starting at 6 p.m. and the banquet starting at 6:45 p.m. This is starting 15 minutes earlier in order to get our team members and guests who have to travel farther back home at a decent hour.
If you received an invitation, PLEASE be sure to RSVP no later than MARCH 28. We had several RSVPing up to the last day and this affects our ability to provide an accurate count for tables and food to MeadowView. You can RSVP on the MSHA Pulse page under "In the Spotlight." Click on the "RSVP NOW" below to RSVP immediately. You can also RSVP by calling 423-302-5995.
Thanks and we hope to see at the celebration!
Randy Ball, Corporate Director - Process Management, MSHA
Monday, February 17, 2014
Blood Assurance is holding blood drives in honor of Black History Month and Dr. Charles Drew this month. Dr. Drew was a pioneer in medical science and is known as "the father of blood banking."
You can donate at these drives:
• Monday, Feb. 24 - McKinney Center: Hosted by the City of Jonesborough from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Feb. 26 - MSHA Health Resources Center in The Mall at Johnson City, next to Belk for Her, and the Vein Velocity bloodmobile will also be outside of the mall. Both drives are from noon to 5 p.m.
Blood Assurance serves 46 counties in a five-state region, and is the sole provider of blood and blood components for 70 health care facilities, including Johnson County Community Hospital, Franklin Woods Community Hospital and Johnson City Medical Center. More than 440 blood donors are needed every day in order to adequately supply the region served by Blood Assurance.
To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. The process usually takes about 30 minutes and includes a complimentary snack and t-shirt. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids - avoiding caffeine - and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating.
If you cannot make these blood drives, a donor center is located at 1 Professional Park Drive, Suite 14 in the MedCenter Professional Plaza off State of Franklin Road in Johnson City. For more information, call 423-328-3152 or visit www.BloodAssurance.org.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
NORTON, Va. – The Norton Community Hospital Foundation's 2014 Winter Gala, scheduled for Friday night, Feb. 14, has been canceled due to the weather.
Plans to reschedule the event are yet to be determined. Proceeds from the gala at Mountain Empire Community College were to benefit the NCH Foundation to help purchase additional equipment for the renovated surgical suite and FitOne.
For more information, email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Please see the information below regarding Wednesday and Thursdays weather forecast. We could see 4 to 6 inches of snow or possibly more from this storm before it moves out.
Things to remember during a winter storm:
We will do our best to clear the snow and ice, please use caution when walking from your car to the building. Take your time and use pathways that have already been cleared.
WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING: Hancock, Hawkins, Carter, Sullivan, Washington VA: Bristol City TN: Greene, Greene, Washington, Carter, Johnson VA: Lee, Wise, Norton City, Scott, Russell, Washington, Bristol City.
Thank you.
Nathan Osborne
Engineering Manager & Safety Officer, Facilities and Construction Management, JMH
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – You can help support the Niswonger Children's Hospital Radiothon by dining at Buffalo Wild Wings in Johnson City on Wednesday, Feb. 12, between 4-11 p.m.
The restaurant will donate 15 percent of its sales during that time to the radiothon. All you have to do is mention that you're there for Niswonger Children's Hospital.
"This is a very generous offer and we truly appreciate Buffalo Wild Wings for their willingness to help the children's hospital," said Cookie McKinney, manager of Children's Initiatives at Niswonger Children's Hospital.
The radiothon will be held at the hospital on March 3-4 and broadcast live on the radio by Holston Valley Broadcasting. Several corporate sponsors in the community have done promotions to benefit the cause, and during the live broadcast of the radiothon they will have a chance to present the money they raised. For more information, click here. http://www.mshafoundation.org/events/radiothon
Buffalo Wild Wings is located at 2035 Hamilton Place Drive, just off North State of Franklin Road.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
The days are counting down until the 11th Annual MSHA Quality Awards and the excitement is building! Come be a part of the celebration!
We would like to remind you to RSVP to the banquet to be held on Feb.13 at the Meadowview Resort and Convention Center in Kingsport, Tenn. You can RSVP by calling 423-302-5995 or electronically by going to the MSHA Pulse page and clicking on "Quality Awards Banquet RSVP" under "In the Spotlight." We hope to see you there!
Sandy Lokey
Improvement Advisor, Corporate Quality & Patient Safety
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
ERWIN, Tenn. – Unicoi County Memorial Hospital will host an event to offer information about the federal health insurance marketplace on Thursday, Feb. 20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the hospital's lobby area. Representatives from Project Access will be on hand to answer questions about the marketplace and to offer assistance to individuals who want to sign up for coverage.
The marketplace website, www.healthcare.gov, is up and running, and local groups like Project Access have been working for several weeks to help individuals and families find affordable coverage that meets their health care needs. For more information, contact Tracy Pate at Project Access at 423-232-6700 or visit www.ProjectAccessEastTN.org.
ABINGDON, Va. – Barter Theatre is once again offering some great deals for MSHA team members.
Employee discount – MSHA team members can reserve seats for any Resident Company production at a discount of $5 per ticket off regular admission.
Team Nights – MSHA team members can purchase up to five tickets each for only $12 per ticket for designated performances, based on availability.
Designated productions and dates for Team Nights (all of these are at Barter's Main Stage):
"Man of La Mancha"
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2 p.m.
Thursday, March 6, 7:30 p.m.
"I Do, I Do, I Do"
Tuesday, March 11, 2 p.m.
Thursday, March 27, 7:30 p.m.
"The Wizard of Oz"
(Sponsored by MSHA)
Wednesday, June 11, 2 p.m.
Thursday, July 17, 7:30 p.m.
"Welcome Back to Ivy Gap"
Thursday, July 10, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 23, 2 p.m.
"Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash"
Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 28, 7:30 p.m.
"My Fair Lady"
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m.
"The Crucible"
Thursday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m.
Remember that all reservations must be made with the Barter Box Office at 276-628-3991. For more information, visit bartertheatre.com.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Fit4Life will sponsor an online presentation via Lync on Friday, Feb. 14, on the nutritional value of dark chocolate. Eric Crawford, clinical dietician, will be presenting "The Heart-Healthy Effects of Dark Chocolate."
The presentation will be from noon-12:30 p.m. from your desk via Lync.
Contact your facility HR representative if you plan to attend so a Lync calendar invitation can be sent to you. For more information, call the HR Hotline at 423-431-HR4U (4748) from Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Friday, January 31, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Rhonda Mann has accepted the position of chief nursing officer for Johnson City Medical Center. The announcement came after an extensive search.
"Rhonda has been serving as interim CNO for JCMC since July 2013, and she's made a great impact on several of our key initiatives in her short time with us," said David Nicely, CEO for Washington County Hospitals.
Mann had served as the CNO and assistant administrator for Franklin Woods Community Hospital since its opening, leading FWCH to national recognition for top performance in clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.
"Rhonda has done so much in developing the foundation of Franklin Woods and the Patient-Centered Care culture that is embodied by all of us here, and she will be missed," said Tony Benton, CEO of Franklin Woods. "Fortunately, we'll be retaining her talents within Mountain States and we wish her well in her endeavors at Johnson City Medical Center."
Prior to her role at FWCH, Mann was the CNO and assistant administrator at Johnson City Specialty and NorthSide Hospitals. She has held several other key positions with MSHA since 1995, including ICU charge nurse and house supervisor at JCMC.
Man received her nursing degree from ETSU, MBA for King College, and completed a Fellowship with the Healthcare Advisory Board.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. – Babies born prematurely at Johnson County Community Hospital are the focus of the fundraising goal for this year's Taste of the Mountains event on Saturday, March 8. The event includes a wine tasting, dinner and an auction.
Money raised will go to purchase an infant incubator, which is critical for taking care of preemies who are waiting to be transferred to Niswonger Children's Hospital.
This year's event sponsored by Johnson County Community Hospital Foundation will be held at Red Tail Mountain Golf & Country Club. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a wine tasting and include dinner provided by Red Tail Mountain, desserts donated by local restaurants, and silent and live auctions. Tickets are $50.
To purchase tickets or for more information about this year's Taste of the Mountains, contact Kerry Stout at 423-727-1110 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. -- Chastity Trivette has accepted the position of assistant administrator, director of Ancillary Services, at Johnson County Community Hospital. She will serve as the local leader for Johnson County and report directly to Dwayne Taylor, CEO of JCCH and SSH.
Trivette will continue with most of her radiology responsibilities and assume additional responsibilities as the assistant administrator. Taylor said he will pick up some of the responsibilities previously held by former administrator Lisa Heaton, including Johnson County Medical Group, outpatient psychiatric, medical staff and board.
"I believe Chastity will do a fantastic job and I'm looking forward to working with her and the team," Taylor said.
The third and final youth audition for "{One} Singular Sensational Evening {AGAIN}" will take place Monday, Feb. 3, at 5:30 p.m. at Barter Theatre Stage II in Abingdon, Va.
The Mountain States Foundation and presenting sponsor Consumer Credit Union are putting on the popular, annual evening of Broadway entertainment as a fundraiser for Niswonger Children's Hospital.
Five finalists, including one featured soloist, will be invited to perform with four professional Broadway stars in an evening of entertainment at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center on April 12. A number of extras will also be chosen from among the auditioning performers.
For this year's auditions, children ages 7 to 17 are required to prepare a Broadway song, a country song or a classical song of their choosing. Each vocalist will have a one-minute performance time. A CD player and a piano will be available at each audition, but vocalists will need to bring their own accompanists if desired.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
National Patient Transport Week is Jan. 27-31. The transport team is the hard-working "feet" of our organization. Help celebrate their unique successes in their role in caring for our patients at Mountain States Health Alliance. National Transport Week is recognized by the National Association of Healthcare Transport Management.
Thank your transport team today!
Monday, January 27, 2014
BIG STONE GAP, Va. – The Norton Community Hospital Foundation's 2014 Winter Gala is coming up Friday, Feb. 14, at Mountain Empire Community College, featuring a performance by up-and-coming country singer Kaitlyn Baker.
Tickets for the evening are $50 per person and proceeds support the purchase of additional equipment for the hospital's renovated surgical suite and FitOne.
"We're thrilled to have Kaitlyn Baker, who's originally from Pound, Va., providing the entertainment for us," said Lori Crisp, Norton Community Hospital's director of Marketing & Communications. "She is a truly talented singer with her sights set on Nashville.
"Justin Mullins, our Winter Gala Committee chairperson, has done a fabulous job lining up an evening of wonderful food and exciting entertainment on what could be the biggest date night of the year. And of course this all benefits our patients."
The gala will be held at the MECC's Goodloe Center, 3441 Mountain Empire Road, in Big Stone Gap. It includes dinner at 6:30 p.m. and live entertainment starting at 8. Attire is semi-formal.
The 19-year-old Baker recently signed with Silvercreek Records. To learn more about her music, visit www.kaitlynbaker.com.
RSVP by Thursday, Feb. 6, by calling Crisp at 276-220-2512 or emailing to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Here are Blood Assurance blood drives scheduled at MSHA facilities for late January and February:
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -- The Niswonger Children's Hospital 2014 Radiothon is coming up March 3-4, and corporate sponsors are already in the process of raising money for the event.
Walgreens is partnering with the radiothon by selling bear stickers for $1 each, and Holston Valley Broadcasting, which will air the radiothon, has been doing remote broadcast from area Walgreens stores. Pictured is Walgreens manager Tim Mullins with Scrubs the Bear, who is the Niswonger Children's Hospital mascot.
Anyone interested in raising money for the radiothon can get more information by clicking on Mountain States Foundation's website.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Now more than ever, your voice needs to be heard by lawmakers in Washington, Virginia and Tennessee. By joining MSHA's Advocacy Champion Team (ACT), you will help us demonstrate that there is strength in numbers as we work on the health care issues so critical to our patients, our team members and our communities – issues like Medicare, the expansion of Medicaid in Virginia and TennCare in Tennessee, and the critical funding needed at the state and federal levels to ensure our system remains viable.
If you wish to become a new member of ACT, click on the link below and you, too, can take the pledge to let your voice be heard. Already an ACT member? No need to rejoin. Just know that we appreciate your participation in being an active voice for quality health care.
Link to ACT pledge
When you join ACT, you will receive a flag star pin to display on your name badge. Hopefully, when asked by your fellow team members what your pin means, you can use that as an opportunity to encourage them to join, too! Once you have joined, you will receive an email about where you can pick up your pin!
For additional information on becoming an ACT member, contact the MSHA Community and Government Relations office at (423) 764-1113 or email email@example.com.
Monday, January 13, 2014
The January 2014 Employer Contributions to the Health Savings Accounts have been deposited into the individual Wells Fargo bank accounts. You can access your account through the Wells Fargo portal at: https://healthbenefits.wellsfargo.com, or you can contact Wells Fargo customer service at 1-866-884-7374.
The contribution limits for 2014 are:
Both employer and employee contributions count toward the annual limits. Please remember it is the accountholder's responsibility to track contributions and not go over the IRS limit.
For more information, call the HR Hotline at 423-431-HR4U (4748) or email email@example.com.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Flu season is upon us. We are seeing an increase in the number of cases throughout the region, as well as throughout the U.S. Please review the steps below and follow them to ensure that we are minimizing the risk of infection for our team members/workforce as well as our patients:
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Jamie Swift (contact info below), your facility Infection Prevention Practitioner, or your Team Member Health office.
Jamie Swift, RN, BSN
Corporate Director, Infection Prevention and Inpatient Wound Care
Office 423-302-3303
Cell 423-794-8177
Monday, January 6, 2014
The "Hillbilly Hercules" Aaron Tippin is set to perform at the intimate Niswonger Perfroming Arts Center at 7:30 on January 11. Crestpoint Health, a sponsor of the concert, is giving away two FREE tickets!
Tippin has released a total of nine studio albums and two compilations, with five gold certifications and one platinum certification among them. In addition, he has charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including three Number Ones: "There Ain't Nothin' Wrong with the Radio", "That's as Close as I'll Get to Loving You", and "Kiss This."
Entering the contest is easy!
1. Go to Crestpoint Health's Facebook page and find the post about the concert.
2. Post one of your New Year's Resolutions on our wall and then share the post with your friends.
Once submitted, your name is entered into our Jan. 6 drawing (only one submission per person). Two names will be drawn and two winners will be announced via Facebook Monday, Jan. 6, at 5 p.m. Each winner will receive two tickets for the concert on Jan. 11.
Before you start, you MUST read the submission guidelines below!
To be considered for the drawing, you must comment with your New Year's resolution and share this contest on your Facebook timeline. All submissions must be no more than 50 words. You must also include your name and the town you live in. Submissions that do not follow these guidelines (or that are in poor taste) will not be considered.
The contest begins now!
Back to Top