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Mountain States Health Alliance recently took employees of Unicoi County Memorial Hospital
and members of its community on a tour of their green facilities. Hi, I'm Dennis Vonderfecht,
president of Mountain States Health Alliance. I really, again, appreciate the time that
people took to take a look at our facilities, and I know they got a lot out of it as we
look to the future for the new Unicoi County Memorial Hospital. My name is Kelly Clapp,
I'm the owner of Appletown Bagels. Just generally, the aesthetics of the entire hospital were
incredible. I like the fact that there's real stone, lots of glass, natural light abounds
all over the place. My name is Chris Peterson. I'm the director of marketing and safety with
Unicoi County Memorial Hospital. I especially like the water flow into the chapel. It is
very nice, and it does promote the healing environment that we've talked about today.
It's just -- when patients and family come in, it makes for a really nice view, a nice
environment to be in. Amanda Delp. I work for Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce and
I am the executive director. Well, I think obviously, seeing the size of the patient
rooms, seeing the emphasis on having the family there with the patient, I think that's phenomenal,
especially in healing of the patient, to be able to have their family there with them,
I think that is phenomenal. Hi, I'm Laurie Turpin and I'm representing Nuclear Fuel Services,
which is located in Erwin. Well, I love, of course, the way that they have used the natural
landscape when designing the facilities, the outdoor spaces, the water features. I think
all of that adds to a more pleasant experience and the way you react to your environment
impacts your health, I think in everyday life. So I think it's important in the way the hospitals
are designed. I'm Larry Dison, and I'm director of the emergency department at Unicoi county.
The quietness of the hospital has probably been the most impressive thing of all of them.
Each facility has been full, has had patient care going on, nurses and doctors working,
but it still has a very quiet feel to all of them. My name is Michael Slimp, and I am
a Unicoi county memorial hospital employee. I'm director of radiology and of food service.
I've witnessed the commitment of patient-care in both the diagnostic imaging department,
with the latest of technology forwarded to the community, also, the dietary services,
the quality of the food. One thing that has definitely stood out is the team member aspect
of the organizations and how the employees are working together, looking for better processes
to improve patient health in their area. Jim Crawford, president of WEMB Incorporated.
I think one thing that we would look forward to at Unicoi county memorial hospital is integrating
newest technology, newest equipment, equipment that not necessarily has to be leased or borrowed,
but the latest equipment bought in to serve the people of Erwin, Unicoi county and surrounding
areas. So, that, to me, in looking at whether it be radiology, whether it be ct scans, the
cancer unit we've visited at these different facilities, it's nice to know Unicoi county
will have an opportunity not only to a beautiful facility, but one that is functional with
some of the latest equipment that is state of the art. Decent imaging facilities. I've
seen some pretty impressive equipment while I was here today and I'm hoping some of that
makes it into Erwin. My name is Susan Broyles, I'm the director of human resources for Unicoi
county memorial hospital. I've been with the system-with the hospital for about eight years.
The team members were asked "what do you want in your departments to make your job easier
?" They've provided the resources that each department needs by listening to team members.
My name is Randy Trivette, and I'm the city administrator for the town of Erwin. Well,
there was a lot of mention about the different aspects of building and design and the strategic
planning that went into the construction of Smyth County Hospital. That's very impressive
to me from the town of erwin's viewpoint, because it was designed and built to fit into
the community that it's located. I'm very happy to see that mountain states is going
to work with our local people and community leaders and healthcare leaders to come up
with a design and a strategic plan to construct a new hospital in Erwin that will fit into
our community and we will be able to put our signature on it, be able to be proud of it
and have some ownership into it. Daphna B. Linville from Erwin. Well, I just think everyone's
going to be very pleased with everything -- the friendliness, the hospital itself, and I can't
wait. Russell D. Brackens and I'm a member of board of control at Unicoi county memorial
hospital. I was already sure we made the right decision, but seeing some of the facilities,
I was greatly impressed. But more than impressed by the facilities, but the people, the way
they react to the patients and they care so much for them. But, I'm absolutely certain
that we made the right decision and I wish the majority of the people in Unicoi county
could experience the same thing that we have today. Hello, I'm todd love. I'm a long-time
resident of Unicoi county -- born and raised there. I'm a member of the board of control
at Unicoi county memorial hospital. Part of my decision was made by coming and looking
at the facilities -- both Wellmont and Mountain States. And the night before the vote I came
to smyth county and was greeted very openly by the CEO at 7:00 at night and I was unannounced,
and I felt like that was really, really amazing. She took us all over the hospital and that
just put icing on the cake for me. My name's Eva Hubbard and I work with the center on
aging and health and their in-home services. I'm an LPN, and also, I am the office manager
for the in-home service. As evidenced by the facilities that we have seen, by the employees,
their actions, their reactions to our questions, and also just the flow of everything. Mountain
States will follow through with everything they have stated. The team members that we
met today, they focused on their fears in the beginning, the struggles that we had on
making the decisions between the two systems, and of course, the big fear is "are they going
to fulfill their promises that they made for the community and to the team members?" because
as a human resources director, a lot of employees talked with me about their fear of having
a job in the future and the team members that we saw at all three of the facilities today
have confirmed that Mountain States is going to fulfill their promises. So, that has been
a good experience for us today to see that and to hear the team members talk about it.