Emergency System Updates for Oct. 3, 2024

HURRICANE HELENE UPDATES

Find the latest information about hospital and clinic closures, modified hours, elective surgery status, classes, events, and more.

Ballad Health’s Corporate Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) remains active due to ongoing issues caused by severe weather throughout the region. Flooding, high winds and power outages continue to create problems throughout the Appalachian Highlands.

New/Updated Information

Water line break in Kingsport

Due to a water line break affecting a large part of the city of Kingsport early Wednesday morning, Holston Valley Medical Center and Indian Path Community Hospital have suspended elective surgeries through Thursday, Oct. 3.

• Dialysis at both facilities was temporarily paused on Wednesday but has resumed.
• The city is making emergency repairs and has announced the waterline is fixed, and they are working to restore service.
• With water pressure below optimal levels at Holston Valley and Indian Path, water conservation measures are being taken at both facilities.
• Otherwise, both hospitals are functioning with full services, including full operation of the emergency departments.

Sycamore Shoals Hospital resumes services

• Inpatient services resumed on Wednesday, Oct. 2.
• Surgeries will resume on Thursday, Oct. 3.

Flood recovery safety guidelines

Anyone involved in disaster cleanup should check their tetanus vaccine status. Team members 
who are not up to date on their tetanus vaccine may present to any Team Member Health 
office and receive a TdaP vaccines free of charge. 

• If working in muddy areas should wear a mask or respirator as there is a possibility toxins, 
  irritants, chemicals and bacteria have settled into the mud and could be released as a 
  microscopic airborne dust. 
• If you or your family have a bee allergy, please be aware the flooding has disturbed bee hives so 
  please have all need supplies on hand— EpiPens and Benadryl as prescribed by your healthcare 
  provider. 

Prior to the floods, there was already an increase in West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine 
Encephalitis, diseases spread by mosquitos. If working outside, please:

• Use insect repellent
• Wear loose-fitting long sleeve shirts and pants to cover all exposed skin 
• Additional tips can be found here: Preventing Mosquito Bites | Mosquitoes | CDC
• Vaccine considerations - Hepatitis A vaccine is a routinely recommended vaccine for adults and
  children. Being exposed to floodwater is not a recommendation for this vaccine, but it’s still
  important to ensure you are up to date with all routinely recommended vaccines.

Support through Ballad Health Foundation

Multiple assistance funds have been established:

• Disaster Relief Fund – Helps allocate resources for the greatest needs among our patients, team members or our communities.
• Ballad Health Patient Assistance Funds – Support patients in need through navigators and resource specialists.
• Ballad Health Team Member Emergency Fund – Assist team members with food, housing, and transportation needs, administered through local HR offices.

To donate to any of these funds, visit the Ballad Health Foundation Disaster page.

Ballad Health Foundation has set up a new text option. Text “disasterrelief” to 44834 to
make a gift.

Donation bins

Donation bins are available outside of hospital gift shops. Requested items:

• Baby formula, diapers and wipes
• Bottled water
• Cleaning supplies
• Feminine hygiene products
• New bedding, clothing, socks and shoes
• Nonperishable food

Donations will support our team members, STRONG families, home health and hospice patients.

Medical Response Unit operations continue in Erwin, TN

Located in the auditorium parking lot of Unicoi County High School in Erwin, the site provides 24/7 first aid, triage for minor illnesses and injuries and stabilization, including: 

• Basic treatment of infections 
• Stabilization and transfer for trauma and serious conditions
• Respiratory infections
• Skin infections

Located at 700 S. Mohawk Drive in Erwin, Tenn. Unicoi County Hospital team members will be staffing the unit around the clock until further notice. 

Greeneville, Lebanon Centers for Early Learning (CEL) update

• The Center for Early Learning in Lebanon has resumed operations.
• The Center for Early Learning in Greeneville’s operations will remain suspended until water supply stabilizes in the town.

Reminders

Canceled classes 

All classes scheduled for the week of Sept. 29 will be canceled, including:

• AHA
• Clinical Education
• CPR
• Epic Education
• Organizational Development
• New team member onboarding classes will continue as scheduled
• Questions should be directed to management

Greeneville Community Hospital services to remain suspended

• Inpatient transfers to Holston Valley Medical Center have been completed.
• All services remain suspended at Greeneville Community Hospital except for those provided in the emergency department.
• Emergency obstetric (OB) services are still being provided for patients in active labor or have an emergent situation. OB patients with a scheduled induction at Greeneville Community Hospital should call their physician to receive care at another hospital.
• Patients experiencing an emergency may still come to the hospital’s emergency department.

Laughlin Healthcare Center evacuated residents 

• Thirty-three patients were successfully evacuated from Laughlin Healthcare Center in Greeneville to Wexford House in Kingsport.
• Patients’ families have been notified. 
• Laughlin Healthcare Center will remain closed until utilities and the Greeneville water supply stabilize

Questions

For questions, please contact the Ballad Health Corporate Emergency Operations Center at BalladHealthCorporateEOC@BalladHealth.org.