Ballad Health stresses 'commitment' for Kingsport's hospitals

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen heard an update on the city’s two hospitals from Lindy White, vice president and CEO of Kingsport Market Operations and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Herb Ladley. The two Ballad Health officials gave an hourlong presentation Tuesday night.

Apr 17, 2019 at 9:00 AM

Federal court

Conflict of interest: Ballad Health facing anti-trust lawsuit

The plaintiffs argue that the Certificate of Public Advantage (COPA) for Ballad does not provide for active state supervision of the composition of Ballad’s board of directors, noting that three members of the board are essentially “serving two masters.”

Apr 12, 2019 at 5:15 PM

Cherokee High School

Cherokee cadets deliver 'the gift of play' to Niswonger Children’s Hospital

A Jared box is a small plastic container holding a variety of small toys that a child might enjoy. Including: small games, toys, coloring supplies, etc. Cherokee's cadets have created 940 Jared Boxes over the last 7 years.

Apr 10, 2019 at 6:30 PM

University of California at San Francisco Professor Laura Schmidt talks about the 2015 halt of sugar-added drink sales at the university, its medical school and its hospital.

Sugar-added soft drinks

Should sugar-added drink sales be halted at colleges and hospitals?

KINGSPORT — Imagine an entire university, its medical school and its hospital where no sugar-added drinks are sold or otherwise commercially distributed. The University of California at San Francisco halted sales of such products in 2015, and professor Laura Schmidt told a Healthy Kingsport meeting all about it at two meetings Tuesday.

Apr 10, 2019 at 1:21 PM

School tobacco policy

Kingsport BOE to General Assembly: Give locals control of tobacco-use policy

INGSPORT — Tennessee General Assembly members, Kingsport’s school board isn’t very happy with your tobacco law. The board disagrees with the lack of local control on tobacco use on school campuses, as well as on pending voucher legislation getting traction among lawmakers that would allow public money to be used for private education.

Apr 10, 2019 at 8:57 AM

Adams Elementary fifth grade teacher Beth Ward, who administered two EpiPens to school nurse Stephanie Maynard March 22.

Adams Elementary School

Epic EpiPen turn about: Teacher gives school nurse anti-allergy injection

Kingsport’s Adams Elementary School nurse Stephanie Maynard received a life-saving EpiPen injection from fifth grade teacher Beth Ward.

Apr 10, 2019 at 12:30 AM

State Farm

Please remember - all dogs can bite

KINGSPORT — Tennessee ranked 21st in the United States last year with dog bite claims, according to State Farm. The insurance giant says it paid more than $1.7 million toward 60 dog bite claims in 2018, with the average claim being more than $28,000.

Apr 9, 2019 at 9:02 AM

Rebekah and Kevin Harris with their son Desmond.

Kingsport family chosen as March of Dimes ambassadors

The Harrises say their lives changed forever during their high-risk pregnancy experience and subsequent premature delivery of their son, Desmond.

Apr 6, 2019 at 10:30 PM

Sherry McGee is given a Hepatitis A vaccine by Health Department Melissa Barnett, RN.

photos

Health department flooded after Kingsport hepatitis A case

At about 11 a.m. Wednesday, approximately 75 people were at the Sullivan County Health Department on East Sullivan Street in Kingsport. The line to receive a Hepatitis A vaccine began outside and circled around a pair of separate waiting rooms.

Updated Apr 4, 2019 at 9:11 AM

Ballad Health

Mayor defends himself, Ballad at spirited BMA meeting

During a two-plus-hour Kingsport BMA meeting Tuesday night, elected officials and members of the public went back and forth about proposed changes at Holston Valley Medical Center, whether the city will issue a resolution in opposition and what might be the path forward.

Apr 3, 2019 at 8:57 AM

Paticipants begin the race in this file photo.

Make a difference by participating in this year's Race for the Cure

Susan G. Komen East Tennessee has funded more than $10.3 million across our 24 county region, helping countless women and men to be diagnosed and help them stay in treatment. The remaining 25 percent goes to national research to find the cures for breast cancer.

Mar 28, 2019 at 9:00 PM

Hawkins County Public Safety Committee

Hawkins may seek EMS franchise solution from panel of experts

With and EMS franchise decision looming, Hawkins County’s Public Safety Committee recommended that the commission appoint an EMS Exploratory Committee, preferably comprised of the same medial professionals who sat on a similar committee in 2016.

Mar 28, 2019 at 2:00 PM

William Austin, principal of the Wise County Career-Technical Center, and the school's certified nursing assistant class. The center will expand its medical-related curriculum in August with a new pharmacy technician program.

Wise County Career-Technical Center expanding its medical curriculum

Wise County Career-Technical Center Principal William Austin says his school aims to produce students ready to make a living or continue their education. The center’s newest program, for pharmacy technicians, set for rollout in August, continues that philosophy.

Mar 27, 2019 at 3:17 PM

Dr. Jeremy Meyer says surgery offers the opportunity to fix a problem for patients during critical times in their lives.

Sunday Stories

Medical mission trips leads local doctor to choose surgery

When he sewed up a deep cut to the bone in the jungle of Nicaragua on a mission trip shortly after he graduated from college, Dr. Jeremy Meyer was convinced of the critical importance of surgery.

Mar 23, 2019 at 10:30 AM

Kristie Jones wears her new eSight magnification glasses. While out in public, Jones said some people have mistaken the glasses for spy goggles or a virtual reality headset, but she's happy to explain to people what they really do and how they work.

Kingsport

Community support enables legally blind Kingsport woman to buy eSight glasses

When the Times News first spoke with Kristie Jones last summer, she was seeking donations for a pair of eSight magnification glasses, which help legally blind individuals – like herself – see. Thanks to community support, Jones was finally able to purchase the $10,000 glasses earlier this year.

Mar 21, 2019 at 12:54 PM