Emergency System Updates for Oct. 4, 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

Surgeries resuming at Kingsport hospitals

The boil water notice in Kingsport has been lifted, so Holston Valley Medical Center and Indian Path Community Hospital will resume elective surgeries beginning Friday, Oct. 4.

Canceled/resumed classes

• All classes (AHA, Clinical Education, CPR, Epic Education, Organizational Development) for the week of Sept. 29 were canceled, but beginning Monday, Oct. 7, classes will resume on regular schedule.
• Mandatory licensed nursing skills fairs scheduled in October have been canceled.

Support through the 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:

• Adult diapers and pads
• Baby formula, diapers and wipes
• Bottled water
• Cleaning supplies
• Feminine hygiene products
• Personal hygiene products (soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc.)
• New bedding, clothing, socks and shoes
• Nonperishable food
• Manual can openers

Donations will support our team members, vulnerable children and families through Strong Starts, Strong Futures, and Strong Families, low-income participants in Appalachian Highlands Care Network, and patients with emergency needs.

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, TN. Unicoi County Hospital team members will be staffing the unit around the clock until further notice. 

Flood recovery safety guidelines

Anyone involved in disaster cleanup should check their tetanus vaccine status.

• 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.

For health and safety questions or concerns related to flooding or power outages due to the hurricane, call the Northeast Regional Health Office’s Citizen Information Line at 423-979-4689, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sycamore Shoals Hospital resumes all services

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

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.