Mountain States Health Alliance team members reach out

Breaking News!
MSHA receives
2005 Excellence Award
Page 7
2005 Annual Report
What’s Inside
JCMC brings new
breast cancer treatment
to region . . . . . . . . . . 2
Tasty food options
excite diners at
Mountain States Health
Alliance facilities . . . . 3
Sycamore Shoals
Hospital first in
southern U.S. with new
surgery for women . . 6
Fast emergency care at
Indian Path Medical
Center . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Woodridge Hospital
joins MSHA . . . . . . . 6
Year filled with awards
and recognition . . . . . 7
Johnson County Home
Health wins quality
award . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Mountain States Health Alliance team members reach out
with contributions - from hurricane relief to United Way
Showing their caring goes
well beyond hospital walls, the
Mountain States Health Alliance
(MSHA) team members
reached deep into their pockets
for monetary contributions
this past year. During the past
fiscal year, team members gave
approximately $1 million to
different charitable efforts,
including hurricane relief, the
Mountain States Foundation
(MSF) capital campaign for
building a new home for The
Children’s Hospital and the
United Way campaigns in the
region.
One event which surprised
everyone involved was the First
Annual Children’s Hospital
Classic Softball Tournament,
which was expected to raise
a few thousand dollars but
actually brought in $35,000
toward the construction of a
new home for The Children’s
Hospital at Johnson City
Medical Center (JCMC)
MSHA team members
reacted emotionally and with
energy in the wake of the
Hurricane Katrina tragedy by
October was a big month at
the Wissert home in Kingsport.
On Sept. 21, Laura Wissert
gave birth to the first set of
quadruplets born in our region
in more than 25 years. In the
following three weeks, Laura,
her husband, Robert, and
their 17-month-old son,
George,
Salvation Army Major Daphne Vick, left, MSHA President and CEO Dennis
Vonderfecht, and American Red Cross official Shounde Sevenson with check
from MSHA and its employees. The final total collected was $290,000.
raising $290,000 while other
team members traveled to
the area to provide voluntary
medical care.
“These are incredible
results and there is no
doubt that team members’
generous donations are greatly
appreciated by those in need,”
said Ed Herbert, MSHA Vice
President/Marketing and
Communications.
Herbert said the final MSHA
total contribution to the United
Way campaigns, at $215,681,
represents outstanding
welcomed home three of the
quads: brothers, Emmett James
and Michael Olmstead, along
with their sister, Flora - Florence
O’Bryan. The fourth quad,
“Charlie-bug” Wissert - Charles
Robert - was the holdout. With
Charlie’s arrival home from
his first home in the
performance by team members
at all 10 facilities in the MSHA
family.
“All the agencies supported
by the United Way were
monetarily touched, thanks to
the support from MSHA team
members. Johnson City Medical
Center, Indian Path Medical
Center, and especially Johnson
County Health Center, with
90 percent participation from
its full-time team members,
as well as Sycamore Shoals,
Woodridge Hospital, MSHA
Corporate, Home Health and
First quadruplets born at Johnson City Medical Center
Neonatal Intensive Care
(NICU) Unit at The Children’s
Hospital at Johnson City
Medical Center (JCMC), the
Wissert quadruplets are together
again and snug in their new
family of seven.
The quadruplets’ birth was
a first for JCMC’s
Center for
Women’s
Health
and the
first
Quillen Rehabilitation Hospital
all hit their goals,” he added. In
total, MSHA surpassed its goal,
reaching a 113.2 percent level of
giving.
“I’m not surprised that our
team members rallied in the
spirit of giving to contribute
to these worthy efforts,” said
Dennis Vonderfecht, MSHA
President and CEO. “It is our
nature to follow the MSHA
focus of bringing loving care to
health care throughout our daily
lives. MSHA team members
are the first to give, the first to
respond in many areas of the
region.”
The Team Member
Campaign, which is an inhouse
effort to raise money to
support the Mountain States
Foundation, brought in nearly
$400,000. While much of that
funding will be focused on
the construction of the new
Children’s Hospital home, other
support goes toward programs
such as Parish Nursing, breast
care and other philanthropic
efforts.
multiple births in the immediate
Trabue/Wissert families.
The Wisserts were referred
to JCMC Center for Women’s
Health because of the risk factor
of multiple births. “MSHA
has perinatologists, which we
needed due to high risk,” said
Laura Wissert. From day one of
her arrival at the hospital, her
doctor and nurse teams became
enamored with the Wissert
family and their impending
arrivals.
“We’ve had such a
tremendous response,” said
Laura Wissert, the 37-yearold
mom of five. “The
generosity has been
overwhelming,” she said.
It’s been a love fest from
the beginning for the
family - from caregivers
at JCMC, where Laura
arrived on Aug. 4 for
bed rest, until the
See Quads Page 2
From left, Charlie, Emmett, Flora and Michael dressed up for Halloween
www.msha.com

A Message from President and CEO
Dennis Vonderfecht
Dennis Vonderfecht, President & CEO
Mountain States Health Alliance
Mountain States Health
Alliance (MSHA) is the largest
provider of healthcare and
wellness services in Northeast
Tennessee and Southwest
Virginia. Formed in 1998,
MSHA has grown to ten
hospitals in 2005 with the
addition of Woodridge Hospital.
Our volumes of inpatients and
outpatients in 2005 grew to
record levels, far above any other
healthcare system in the region.
When one compares the
number of lives touched by
MSHA in 1997 and today, the
results are incredible. One will
find in this report that during
our Fiscal Year 2005, MSHA
generated just over $1.3-billion
dollars of patient revenue,
including $862 million of care
for which we were not paid;
more than 40,000 admissions
and 788,000 outpatient visits;
more than 142,000 visits to our
Emergency Departments; and
421,286 calls through our Call
Center (Ask-A-Nurse). Those
numbers can be staggering to
the mind; however, they do not
reflect the heart and soul of our
more than 5,400 team members
at Mountain States Health
Alliance.
Our team members and
dedicated physicians are
committed to our Mission of
Bringing Loving Care To Health
Care. To make this a reality,
the Patient-Centered Care
philosophy guides Mountain
States Health Alliance each
day. MSHA is committed to
bringing the best to your health
care when you are a patient with
us. Is it working Our patients
and their loved ones think so.
We have seen patient satisfaction
scores at MSHA facilities
increase, and some actually are
among the best in the nation.
Johnson City Specialty Hospital
is THE benchmark for high
patient satisfaction scores for
JCMC brings new breast
cancer treatment to region
For women suffering from
breast cancer, a new treatment
now being offered at Johnson
City Medical Center (JCMC)
could offer a dramatic change in
the amount of radiation patients
must undergo while also easing
side effects.
“Traditionally, for women
with breast cancer, there have
only been two options: a
mastectomy that removes the
Dr. Kyle Colvett
entire breast or a lumpectomy,
which removes only the infected
area but requires six weeks
of radiation,” said Dr. Kyle
Colvett, Medical Director of
the Regional Cancer Center.
“Now, recently approved
technology can help change that
by significantly lowering the
number of radiation treatments
a lumpectomy patient must
undergo.”
The procedure is called
mammosite radiation therapy,
and it lowers the number of
radiation treatments from
nearly 40 to just 10 by working
from inside the breast. When
a cancerous lump is removed,
a pocket of fluid develops in
the site area. Traditionally,
doctors have moved straight
to exterior radiation on this
area after the surgery, but
mammosite radiation therapy
takes advantage of this pocket
by using it as an entry point
for interior treatment. The
technique uses a balloon catheter
which is placed at the site of
the lumpectomy. The catheter
is hooked up to a machine
which injects a radioactive
item through the catheter and
into the balloon. Patients can
complete their treatments in just
one week as compared to the
normal six weeks.
“It gives radiation from the
inside out rather than from the
outside in,” said Colvett, adding
this is a real advantage for
patients living in more remote
areas served by the Center or
for professional women who are
unable to undergo six weeks of
treatment. “Each treatment only
takes a few minutes. The patient
is in and out of the office in just
10 or 15 minutes.”
hospitals of its size. This past
year, two other Mountain
States Health Alliance facilities
received national recognition for
great patient satisfaction. The
James H. and Cecile C. Quillen
Rehabilitation Hospital and
Indian Path Medical Center
(IPMC) both were recognized
nationally by Press Ganey with
its Compass Award. IPMC
actually received two national
Compass Awards, one for
its inpatient satisfaction and
the second for its outpatient
satisfaction scores.
Our clinical quality is also
being recognized nationally.
Johnson City Medical Center
was the first hospital in the
region to receive the recognition
as a Top 100 Heart Hospital,
this past year. JCMC is the
region’s Top Heart Hospital as
more people trust their heart
care to the tremendous team
at JCMC. JCMC also became
the first hospital in the State
of Tennessee to be nationally
recognized as a Magnet Hospital
for nursing excellence. Then
in the spring of 2005, an
independent survey found that
JCMC was the Consumer’s #1
Choice in our region, with the
See CEO Message Page 8
Laura Wissert with her husband, Robert, right, and the quadruplets, from left, Charlie, Emmett, Flora and Michael
Quads
Continued from Page
babies’ birth when she was 31
weeks and four days pregnant,
to the neighborhood welcome
they received as the babies came
home.
The parents, both physical
therapists at Wellmont Holston
Valley Medical Center in
Kingsport, are clockwork in
action. They have learned to
carry two babies at once even
while helping George put on
a sweater. Feedings, diaper
changings and entertaining an
additional active toddler are
becoming routine in the Wissert
household - and, oh yes, Robert
redesigned the kitchen out of
necessity, said Laura with a
laugh. Robert was busy at home
with redesign work while Laura
was resting in the hospital.
No one is prouder of the
Wissert quads’ birth than Lisa
www.msha.com
Serving the thousands of Children from
our 24 county region since 1992!
• Is our region’s only nationally
accredited children’s hospital.
• Cared for close to 20,000
children last year alone
from Johnson City, Bristol,
Kingsport and other
communities in Northeast
Tennessee, Southwest
Virginia, Western North
Carolina and Southeastern
Kentucky.
• Is designated by the State as
our region’s only perinatal
center, offering the largest and
most comprehensive neonatal
intensive care unit with 32
beds.
• Is home to one of only four
St. Jude Children’s Affiliate
Clinics in the United States
so children can receive their
cancer treatments close to
home.
• 50 pediatricians and 24
pediatric sub-specialists
serving this 24 county region.
Smithgall, Vice President of
Women’s and Children’s Services
at JCMC.
“It was a new experience
for us, but we were up to the
challenge. We prepared for the
children’s arrival as we would
for a single birth - but we added
nurses and additional staff to the
labor and delivery circle,” said
Smithgall. In all, 27 members
comprised the medical team
that helped with details of the
quadruplets’ delivery. “There
were preparation meetings
attended by all involved prior
to the Sept. 21 event, as well as
team members being on standby
call for weeks so they could
come in and help with these
births, whenever they happened,
day or night,” Smithgall added.
As it was, the births occurred
at 9:50, 9:52, 9:53 and 9:54
p.m. Charles Robert weighed 4
pounds; Emmett James weighed
4 pounds, 2 ounces; Florence
O’Bryan weighed 3 pounds,
With Tennessee’s approval
of a Certificate of Need,
construction on the new home
for the Regional Children’s
Hospital is expected to start
in mid-2006. One of the first
priorities in the project will
be the creation of a Pediatric
Emergency Department at
JCMC, the first and only of its
kind in the region.
In it’s new home, The
Children’s Hospital at JCMC
will have larger rooms,
a family-centered caring
environment and the region’s
first Pediatric Emergency
Department.
Help make this dream a
reality. Call the Mountain
States Foundation for more
information at
(423) 952-3110.
13 ounces; Michael Olmstead
weighed 4 pounds, 4 ounces.
Laura Wissert, beaming,
said the journey through the
pregnancy and delivery was one
of faith and hope. In fact, Laura,
her mother and her motherin-law
wore bracelets engraved
with “Expect Miracles,” bought
by Laura’s mother when the
pregnancy was announced to
family members. After her new
grandchildren were born, Mrs.
Trabue passed her bracelet on to
an expectant mom at JCMC.
The children change
daily now and they’re “so
entertaining,” to say the least,
their mom said. Laura Wissert
said, “Just knowing that I
carried them…just to think
that they are here and healthy”
is wonderful. Robert Wissert
added, “We had faith that they’d
be here and be healthy and just
look,” as his smile spread over
his children.

Mountain States Health Alliance family fills year with anniversaries
During the last year, many
members of the Mountain States
Health Alliance (MSHA) family
celebrated milestones of service
to the community.
This past year, Johnson
City Medical Center (JCMC)
celebrated its 25th anniversary,
Indian Path Medical Center
(IPMC) celebrated 20 years of
childbirthing services, North
Side Hospital (NSH) celebrated
its 30th year, WINGS air rescue
celebrated 10 years of service
and MSHA President and CEO
Dennis Vonderfecht celebrated
15 years of service in Johnson
City to MSHA and its facilities.
JCMC: Music-filled
picnics, candle-lit dinners
and conversations loaded
with memories were a part of
celebration of JCMC’s 25th
anniversary. The flagship
hospital for MSHA, the facility
moved to its current site 25
years ago on Sept. 1, 1980. The
old Memorial Hospital, located
on Boone Street, had outgrown
its quarters, but the site for the
new hospital was deemed to be
“way out there” by some civic
and community leaders.
Since its opening, JCMC
has enjoyed constant growth,
including the addition of two
more levels, surrounding office
buildings and a Same Day
Surgery facility and the recent
completion of a new Intensive
Care Unit.
IPMC: The Family
Childbirth Center (FCBC)
at IPMC
brought a
new level
of care to
families in
Sullivan County
while also celebrating 20 years of
service to the region. “We have
14 labor and delivery rooms
now. That’s four additional
from what we had,” Clinical
Leader Rosalie Robinson said
of the $3.6 million expansion
and renovation in the FCBC.
Several of the nurses working
at the newly renovated Center
were also on hand when it first
opened in 1985.
Along with the renovations,
the physician staff at the Center
has increased and the FCBC is
now seeing more than 1,000
births a month, which is more
than any other Hospital in
Sullivan County.
NSH: North Side Hospital
celebrated its 30th anniversary
year in June with a celebration
that resembled a 150-member
family reunion rather than a
simple gathering of current and
former hospital team members.
North Side opened in April
1975 with 40 beds and 105
team members. Currently,
there are 119 beds. NSH went
through various ownerships,
including its opening through
the joint efforts of 11
Johnson City physicians
and a small Nashvillebased
hospital
company, General Care
Corp. Today, NSH
offers a skilled nursing
facility, 24/7 emergency
service and a wide array of
convenient outpatient diagnostic
and lab services.
WINGS: Marking 10 years
of service and more than 8,000
flights, WINGS Air Rescue
celebrated with a party, hosting
guests from its past, present and
future.
“When WINGS first went
into service in March 1995, it
was not only a great day for the
hospital, it was a great day for
the region,” said Vonderfecht.
“We have continued to surpass
our expectations and after
10 years, we have proven this
service is needed and vital to the
people who live in and around
our region.”
With scores of fans,
supporters and crew members
– both past and present – in
attendance, a ribbon cutting
was also held to officially open
the new helicopter hangar at
JCMC as part of the celebration.
Housed in two bases, one in
Johnson City and the other in
Morristown, WINGS serves
the four-state area of Tennessee,
North Carolina, Virginia and
Kentucky. Each base works in
a 125-mile service area radius.
One of the most active air
rescue services in the country,
approximately 40 percent of
WINGS trips are scene calls
with Emergency Medical
Services and the remaining 60
percent are interfacility transfers.
CEO: It was dark by the time
Dennis Vonderfecht, a native
of Kearney, Neb., and his older
daughter, fourth-grader Jennifer,
drove into Johnson City on Dec.
31, 1989. His wife Peggy and
their younger daughter, Kristen,
had flown in the previous day.
“I still remember driving in and
seeing the Medical Center at
MSHA celebrated a variety
of anniversaries, milestones
and special birthdays this
year. Such events as Johnson
City Specialty Hospital
welcoming its ,000th baby,
above left or, at left, Johnson
City Medical Center’s 25th
anniversary, at which a cache
of treasures was unveiled, as
well as priceless momentos,
such as the nurse’s cap
held by Kathryn Wilhoit.
Above, WINGS Air Rescue
celebrated 0 years of service
at JCMC and more than
8,000 flights. The crew was
commended and recognized
at a gala party held in the
new hangar.
night,” he recalled.
Although not unfamiliar with
Tennessee - Vonderfecht had
held the position of Associate
Administrator at Gibson General
in Trenton, Tenn., from 1978-
80 - this would be his first time
as Chief Executive Officer of a
healthcare facility, which started
at JCMC on Jan. 8, 1990. That
first year, Dr. Paul Stanton,
then Dean of Quillen College
of Medicine at ETSU, worked
with JCMC on the transplant
program; the next year, the
Children’s Hospital was created.
Fifteen years later, as President
and Chief Executive Officer
of Mountain States Health
Alliance (MSHA) – and proud
owner of a herd of miniature
donkeys – he can’t imagine
enjoying life more. Vonderfecht
said, “I was so impressed by the
beautiful country here – and I’m
glad I was open to this grand
opportunity. It brought with it a
lot of cultural change. We call it
home now.”
Vonderfecht has also served
as a state leader in health care,
including his recent position
as chairman of the Tennessee
Hospital Association. He also
serves on numerous other
regional and state-affiliated
boards. He holds membership
in community and civic groups,
as well, and has served as a
board member for Hands On!
Regional Museum, Rocky
Mount Historical Museum,
United Way of Johnson City,
the Chamber of Commerce and
others. He is a deacon at Central
Church of Christ.
Tasty food options excite diners at Mountain States Health Alliance facilities
Changing the conception of
hospital food, Mountain States
Health Alliance (MSHA) has
started providing more and
better options with an emphasis
on patient control.
The Spice of Life cafeteria at
Johnson City Medical Center
(JCMC) opened this year
offering an unexpected level
of dining inside the healthcare
facility.
“In its continuing journey
to improve the experience for
all at MSHA, we have initiated
a monumental change in the
patient meal delivery system
and now have a premium
dining venue for visitors and
team members,” said Tom Tull,
MSHA Senior Director of Guest
Services.
Spice of Life was created
through a partnership with
MSHA and Morrison Food
Services, which is in charge of
the hospital’s food service and its
renovation.
The Spice of Life program
features an integrated
retail theme with popular,
contemporary recipes, menus
and venues that reflect dining
options in the finest cafes and
restaurants. All staff members
of the cafeteria learned new
techniques, ways of preparing
foods and new recipes for
presentation to not only team
members but visitors to JCMC.
Each distinctive venue features
traditionally popular items,
new cuisine or a combination
of both. Venues at JCMC
include the Allspice,
the Peppercorn, the
Spice Event, Curry
Out, the Wild Sage,
the Caraway Deli and
Basil’s Pizza & Pasta.
At North Side
Hospital (NSH),
The Terracotta Café
recently opened to give patients
and team members more options
while at the healthcare facility.
The café has daily offering for
1-800-888-5551
Spice of Life
team members
(above)
Terracotta Café
team members
(left)
lunch and is stocked with items
chosen by those working inside
the hospital.
“Families and friends are
considered an essential part
of the care team,” said NSH
Assistant Administrator Melanie
Stanton. “The Terracotta
Café now provides a peaceful
environment for them while
visiting patients as well as a place
for team members.”
3

Mountain States Health Alliance Mission, Vision & Values
Mission
Mountain States Health Alliance is committed to Bringing Loving Care to Health Care. We exist to
identify and respond to the healthcare needs of individuals and communities in our region and to assist them in
attaining their highest possible level of health.
Vision
We passionately pursue healing of the mind, body and spirit as we create a world-class
healthcare system.
Values
Integrity… honesty in everything we do
Service… with caring and compassion
Leadership… with creativity and innovation
Excellence… always pursuing a higher standard
Mou
• Alzheimers Association
• American Cancer Society
• American Diabetes
Association
• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross
• Appalachian Regional
Coalition
• Boundless Playground
• Boys and Girls Clubs
• Boy Scouts
• Centre at Millennium Park
• Chambers of Commerce
• Coalition for Kids
• The Crumley House
Contributions to Our Communities
• Dawn of Hope
• Dollywood Imagination
Library
• Downtown Clinic
• East Tennessee State
University
• ETSU Fit Kids
• Funfest
• Friends of Olde Downtowne
(JC)
• Fraternal Order of Police
• Girls, Inc.
• Hands On! Regional
Children’s Museum
• HOSA program in schools
• Johnson City Fire Department
• Johnson City Public Library
• Johnson City Parks &
Recreation
• Johnson City Symphony
• Junior Achievement
• Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation
• Keystone Dental Clinic
• Kingsport Tomorrow
• March of Dimes
• Med Tech Park
• Milligan College
(Nursing Program)
... And many more last year totaling more than $3,000,000
• Northeast State Technical
Community College
• Northeast Tennessee
Technology Council
• Partners in Education Sponsor
• Salvation Army
• Southern Appalachian Ronald
McDonald House
• Washington Co. Dept. of
Education
• Washington Co./Johnson City
EMS
• YMCA (Bristol)
2005 Team Member Campaign by County
Washington County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 133,864
Sullivan County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 57,316
Carter County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 17,190
Johnson County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 7,312
TOTAL FOR UNITED WAY $215,682
Health Knowledge Made Easy for You
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A powerful, FREE and confidential online
resource to find and deliver the health
information you’re looking for. Only from
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To get started,
visit www.msha.com
today and click on
My Health News.
Financials:
Patient Services Revenue........................$1,328,173,817
Less: Uncompensated Care.......................$862,102,262
Net Patient Revenue.................................$466,071,555
Nonoperating Income ................................$34,388,055
& Other Revenue
Total Revenue...........................................$500,459,610
Total Operating Expenses.........................$470,821,020
Surplus for Reinvestment............................$29,638,589
Statistics:
Licensed Beds........................................................1,199
Team Members......................................................5,416
Admissions..........................................................40,150
Patient Days.......................................................208,822
Outpatient Visits ..............................................788,488
(includes Home Health and Hospice)
Emergency Department (ED) Visits..................142,520
MSHA Call Center Total Calls..........................421,286
(Ask-A-Nurse)
www.msha.com

ntain States Health Alliance
Distribution of Wages
Indian Path Medical Center
Licensed Beds........................................... 330
Patient Days of Service......................... 41,266
Average Length of Stay (days).................. 5.13
Inpatient Daily Census............................. 113
Admissions............................................ 8,048
Babies Born........................................... 1,019
Full-Time Equivalent Team Members....... 765
Emergency Visits................................. 34,365
Inpatient Surgeries................................. 1,175
Same Day Ambulatory........................... 2,385
Total Outpatient Visits...................... 167,411
North Side Hospital
Licensed Beds........................................... 119
Patient Days of Service......................... 15,488
Average Length of Stay (days).................. 8.98
Inpatient Daily Census............................... 42
Admissions............................................ 1,725
Full-Time Equivalent Team Members....... 212
Emergency Visits................................. 26,243
Inpatient Surgeries........................................ 0
Same Day Ambulatory.................................. 0
Total Outpatient Visits........................ 43,287
Taxes Paid to Cities and Counties
Johnson City Medical Center
Licensed Beds........................................... 578
Patient Days of Service....................... 132,772
Average Length of Stay (days).................. 5.35
Inpatient Daily Census............................. 365
Admissions.......................................... 24,833
Babies Born........................................... 1,243
Full-Time Equivalent Team Members.... 2,423
Emergency Visits................................. 48,874
Inpatient Surgeries................................. 7,549
Same Day Ambulatory........................... 6,268
Total Outpatient Visits...................... 220,713
James H. & Cecile C. Quillen
Rehabilitation Hospital *
Licensed Beds............................................. 60
Patient Days of Service......................... 12,771
Average Length of Stay (days)................ 12.55
Inpatient Daily Census............................... 35
Admissions............................................ 1,021
Full-Time Equivalent Team Members......... 99
Total Outpatient Visits........................ 20,879
* Included in Johnson City Medical Center
Sycamore Shoals Hospital
The Children’s Hospital *
Licensed Beds ............................................ 62
Patient Days of Service ........................ 15,165
Average Length of Stay (days).................. 7.10
Inpatient Daily Census............................ 41.6
Admissions ........................................... 2,015
Full-Time Equivalent Team Members......... 99
* Included in Johnson City Medical Center
Licensed Beds........................................... 121
Patient Days of Service......................... 13,475
Average Length of Stay (days).................. 3.82
Inpatient Daily Census............................... 37
Admissions............................................ 3,525
Babies Born.............................................. 461
Full-Time Equivalent Team Members....... 341
Emergency Visits................................. 23,674
Inpatient Surgeries.................................... 847
Same Day Ambulatory........................... 1,477
Total Outpatient Visits........................ 68,681
Where Our Team Members Live
Johnson City Specialty Hospital
Licensed Beds............................................. 49
Patient Days of Service........................... 3,426
Average Length of Stay (days).................. 2.21
Inpatient Daily Census............................ 9.00
Admissions............................................ 1,550
Babies Born........................................... 1,019
Full-Time Equivalent Team Members....... 125
Emergency Visits.......................................... 0
Inpatient Surgeries.................................... 637
Same Day Ambulatory........................... 2,006
Total Outpatient Visits........................ 10,694
Johnson County Health Center
Licensed Beds............................................... 2
Patient Days of Service................................ 53
Average Length of Stay (days).................. 2.12
Inpatient Daily Census................................. 0
Admissions................................................. 25
Full-Time Equivalent Team Members......... 67
Emergency Visits................................... 9,364
Same Day Ambulatory.................................. 0
Total Outpatient Visits........................ 40,197
Woodridge Psychiatric Hospital *
Licensed Beds............................................. 75
Patient Days of Service........................... 2,402
Average Length of Stay (days).................. 5.41
Inpatient Daily Census............................... 39
Admissions............................................... 444
Full-Time Equivalent Team Members....... 148
Blue Ridge Medical Management
Corporation
Full-Time Equivalent Team Members....... 253
Total Outpatient Visits...................... 155,114
1-800-888-5551

Fast emergency care at Indian Path Medical Center
Working to provide the best
possible medical care to patients in
Sullivan County, Indian Path Medical
Center (IPMC) announced in
September 2005 the “15/30 Pledge” in
the Emergency Department.
“It is our goal at Indian Path
Medical Center to have every patient
who comes to our Emergency
Department be seen by a nurse within
15 minutes of arrival and to be seen by
a doctor or have their treatment started
within 30 minutes after arrival,”
said IPMC CEO Monty McLaurin.
“Of course, the most severe cases
coming into our hospital will receive
immediate attention, but this endeavor
will help us strive to make sure each
person is able to be treated without a
lengthy wait.”
IPMC was the first hospital in the
region to have made such a pledge to
the community.
While these time frames are goals,
Emergency Department staff will still
focus primarily on the quality of care
and will not rush patients as part of
this program. These times also reflect
when treatments begin, not when a
patient will be released. Depending on
the nature of the illness or injury, the
duration of visits will vary.
“There may be times when we
cannot meet this pledge due to
unforeseen circumstances outside of
our control,” McLaurin said. “We will
keep those affected informed when this
happens. We take our Pledge seriously
at Indian Path Medical Center because
our community deserves the best
possible medical care and they deserve
it in a timely manner.”
6 www.msha.com
IPMC provides the best possible medical care in a timely manner
with the “15/30 Pledge.” Left, all MSHA Emergency Department
wait times are available at the Web site www.msha.com.
Sycamore Shoals Hospital first in southern U.S. with new surgery for women
Changing how women can
be treated for pelvic organ
prolapse, Dr. Brent D. Laing
of First Medical OB/GYN in
Elizabethton has performed the
first Prolift pelvic floor repair
system surgery in the southern
United States at Sycamore
Shoals Hospital (SSH).
“This is a dramatic change
in treatment,” Laing said of the
new surgery procedure approved
in April by the Federal Drug
Administration (FDA). Only a
very limited number of surgeons
in the nation have been given
approval to perform this surgery.
The surgery is performed
Construction ongoing at new Wellness Center
Ground has been broken and
construction is continuing on
the region’s premier health and
wellness center being built by
Mountain States Health Alliance
(MSHA).
“Wellness has been part of the
Johnson City Medical Center
and MSHA for more than 15
years,” said MSHA President
and CEO Dennis Vonderfecht.
“Part of the hospital’s mission
of community health is not just
treating illness, but preventing
it.”
Vonderfecht and other
MSHA officials kicked off
construction of the new
facility with a celebratory
groundbreaking ceremony. The
new Wellness Center is expected
From left, patient Devonna Coleman
and Dr. Brent D. Laing
on women who are suffering
from a major weakening of the
tissue floor of their pelvis. This
can cause the bladder and other
lower abdominal organs to
The new Wellness Center will feature an outdoor as well as indoor lap pool for
swimmers and a wide assortment of new exercise equipment for almost all needs.
to be completed in 2006.
The 41,500 square-foot
fitness facility, overlooks State
of Franklin Road, will feature a
large cardiovascular and strength
training area, two group exercise
rooms, a basketball/volleyball
court, a warm water therapy
pool, both indoor and outdoor
4-lane 25-yard lap pools, a
children’s play area, large upscale
locker-rooms, massage therapy,
Jacuzzi, sauna and continued
towel service.
In addition, the project
will include a 30,000 squarefoot
medical office building
attached to the center which
will incorporate rehabilitation
services as well as other medical
specialties.
prolapse from the body. Laing
said such a condition creates
a major issue for women both
medically and functionally in
their daily lives.
“This is really a common
problem for older women,”
Laing said. The main cause
of the condition is delivering
a child. During childbirth,
the tissue floor of the pelvis is
stretched and often ripped. This
creates a weakness that over time
can lead to a complete failure of
the tissue floor structure. Earlier
surgical methods have focused
on repairing the rips by sewing
the tissue back together.
“The clinical component
of helping patients is unique
in this community. With our
breadth of healthcare experience
combined with this setting, we
know that we will improve the
health of many in our area,”
said MSHA Assistant Vice
President John Turner, who
has administrative duties over
MSHA’s rehabilitation and
wellness programs.
With more than 2,500
members in MSHA’s wellness
system, the new $14-million
facility will have the ability to
handle new growth.
“A unique component of our
membership is that it will offer
monthly memberships only,” he
said. “This means we must earn
your business each and every
month.”
By providing a fitness
center offering clinical staff
and specialized programs to
help both in wellness and
rehabilitation, the new center
sets itself apart from other
facilities.
“It will be the only medically
based health and fitness center
in this area,” said Turner. “Our
center will go beyond traditional
fitness by helping you achieve an
optimal state of mind, body and
spirit.”
The older traditional
procedures had approximately
a 40 percent failure rate as the
repaired area would eventually
tear again. The new procedure,
which utilizes the Prolift Pelvic
Mesh System, uses a strong
mesh inserted inside the body
to support the pelvic floor,
thus resolving the problems of
weakened tissue.
“After the mesh is placed,
it actually becomes part of the
tissue,” Laing said, adding tests
have shown this procedure to
have approximately a 97 percent
success rate. “The surgery is no
more involved and the recovery
Woodridge Hospital joins MSHA
Continuing to provide
inpatient behavioral health
services to all individuals
regardless of age was at the
forefront of the purchase
of Woodridge Hospital by
Mountain States Health
Alliance (MSHA). Without
the sale, adults between the
ages of 22 and 64 years old
needing inpatient mental health
assistance would have been
excluded from coverage under
changes to the Medicaid system.
MSHA purchased the facility
from Frontier Health. The
changes to Medicaid prevented
“freestanding” psychiatric
rate is much faster.”
Patients generally go home
the day after this surgery, versus
several days’ stay with the earlier
procedure. Most patients are also
able to return to work within
days rather than weeks, as was
also the case prior to the use of
the mesh.
Dr Laing was chosen by his
peers to join a select handful
of other pelvic reconstructive
surgeons in Belgium earlier
this year to study the mesh
technique while working to
become proficient in this new
procedure.
facilities of 16 beds or more
from receiving federal Medicaid
payments for individuals
between the ages of 22 and 64.
By making Woodridge a part
of MSHA, all individuals with
Medicaid will continue to be
served.
Woodridge has been a safetynet,
inpatient psychiatric facility
for 20 years, including service to
more than 3,500 individuals in
Fiscal 2004.
“We at MSHA are extremely
pleased to have Woodridge
joining our healthcare system,”
said Dennis Vonderfecht.
MSHA President and CEO.
The answer to the following 4 questions can be found in this MSHA Annual
Report. Answer the questions correctly for the chance to win $1,000.
1. How many counties does The Children’s Hospital serve
2. What is the mission statement of MSHA
3. How much money was contributed to the 2005 United Way
campaign by MSHA team members
4. What is the telephone number for Ask-A-Nurse
You may answer the questions online at www. msha.com, email your
answers to reportquiz@msha.com or mail your answers on a 3x5 card to:
MSHA Communications & Marketing
1021 West Oakland Ave.
Suite 200
Johnson City, TN 37604
Entries must be received by January 15, 2006.
Winning Entry will be drawn on January 31, 2006
In the event of a tie the winner will be determined by random drawing of all correct entries.

Breaking
News!
MSHA receives
2005 Excellence Award
Tennessee Center for
Performance Excellence
granted Mountain States
Health Alliance the prestigious
Tennessee Excellence Award in
December. This is the highest
quality award granted by the
state.
“Our organization has
always been committed
to excellence,” Dennis
Vonderfecht, President and
CEO of MSHA said. “To
put action behind this
commitment, we adopted the
Baldrige/TNCPE framework
as our business model a few
years ago. Participating in
the TNCPE award process
has given us the opportunity
to conduct detailed self
assessments, host site visits
for teams of examiners, and
benefit from their feedback.
Recognition as an Excellence
Award winner confirms that
MSHA is progressing on its
journey to excellence.”
The Excellence Award is
the highest level of recognition
Mountain States Health
Alliance team members as
caregivers create relationships,
environments and service
delivery centered on the patient
through a holistic approach to
healing that ministers to the
mind, body and spirit. MSHA
caregivers believe that healing
can exist without curing, but
healing cannot exist without
caring.
Contact our recruiters,
Kellee (423) 431-1011
Hollie (423) 431-1624
Rachel (423) 431-1004
For a full listing of our current
positions please visit us on the
web at:
www.msha.com
presented to organizations
that have demonstrated
management excellence
through their practices and
achievements. Winners at this
advanced level are outstanding
examples of high performance
organizations, exhibiting
world-class processes that
serve as role models for others.
The program uses the Criteria
for Performance Excellence
established by the Baldrige
National Quality Program as
the evaluation tool.
Mountain States Health
Alliance is the first Excellence
Award winner since 2002.
“Winners of the Tennessee
Excellence Award not only
reach the highest national and
international performance
standards in their industries
year after year – they set
them,” Tennessee Governor
Phil Bredesen said. “This
year’s excellence winner
– Mountain States Health
Alliance – is a prime example
of the best of Tennessee.”
Benefits include:
• 21 days of paid time off
• 8 days of major medical leave
accrued annually as a new team
member
• tuition reimbursement
• vision plan
• employee referral bonus
• life insurance equal to 1 x annual
salary paid 100 percent by MSHA
• short term disability and long term
disability insurance
• retirement planning ( 401k and
403b)
• on-site child care
• three medical dental and
prescription plans
• additional life insurance, spouse
and dependent life insurance
available at discounted rates
• employee assistance counseling at
no cost
• defined contribution pension plan
a 4 percent of base annual wages
• discounted movie tickets and
Biltmore Estate tickets available
• many reward and recognition
programs
• classes and programs through our
“MSHA University”
• ask about our Varsity and
Newcomers Clubs
Year filled with awards and recognition
It has been a gold star year
for Mountain States Health
Alliance as it received numerous
awards throughout its facilities
for quality healthcare and
dedication to patients’ well
being.
JCMC
The Johnson City Medical
Center (JCMC) was recognized
nationally for its cardiovascular
services by being named both
a Solucient Top 100 Heart
Hospital and being placed on
the Data Advantage list of the
Top 100 Heart Hospitals in
the nation for highest volumes
with low cost. For 18 different
cardiac procedures, JCMC was
ranked among the lowest cost
hospitals in the nation.
“The Top 100 Heart
Hospital status was bestowed
upon us and we are grateful that
national recognition has been
given to JCMC,” said MSHA
President and CEO Dennis
Vonderfecht. He added, “We
have worked closely with our
medical staff in Washington
County over the past several
years to develop a quality heart
program and this recognition
demonstrates that we have met
this goal.”
JCMC also earned
international acclaim by being
named a Magnet Hospital,
which is given to hospitals
which provide elite nursing care.
JCMC is the only hospital in
Tennessee to have earned this
Implementing
quality improvement
practices has been
a long-time focus
of Johnson County
Home Health.
Earlier this year, the
organization’s skills
were recognized
with a Certificate of
Improvement.
The agency’s Outcome-Based
Quality Improvement award
was presented in Nashville
during the Remaking Tennessee
Healthcare conference. The
conference was conducted by
QSource, the Medicare quality
improvement organization for
Tennessee.
QSource honored Johnson
County Home Health
for demonstrating quality
prestigious Magnet award, given
through the American Nurses
Credentialing Center (ANCC),
an arm of the American Nurses
Association. A Magnet Hospital
is the gold standard in patient
care and the highest honor of
excellence.
IPMC
In Sullivan County, Indian
Path Medical Center (IPMC)
received two Compass
Awards from an independent
agency which tracks quality
measurements at healthcare
facilities. Press Ganey Associates
Inc. presented the Compass
Awards recently to recognize
facilities that have shown the
most dramatic improvement
in their overall satisfaction
scores from approximately
1,600 facilities measured by the
organization. IPMC, which won
two of the 45 Compass Awards
presented, was the only multi
award winner. IPMC received
Compass Awards for Inpatient
Johnson County Home Health wins quality award
improvement leadership and
teamwork in developing quality
improvement methods for the
care of home health patients.
Quality improvement efforts are
part of the Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services (CMS), an
agency of the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services
(DHHS), public reporting
initiative in which quality of
care information is posted online
at www.medicare.gov or may be
obtained by calling
Got a health question
Ask A Nurse.
More that ,000,000 people have called for health information,
current emergency room wait times or a free phy si cian
re fer ral. You can talk to a reg is tered nurse 7 days a week.
Get an expert opin ion. Call Ask-A-Nurse ® .
1-800-888-1
Services at a facility with 300-
499 Beds and for Outpatient
Services for a facility with
75,000 or more procedures a
year.
“The receipt of these
two awards this year from
such a nationally-recognized
organization as Press Ganey is
confirmation of the focus Indian
Path Medical Center team
members have had on making
patient satisfaction a top priority
with our hospital,” McLaurin
said. “Specifically, these awards
are given to healthcare facilities
that have demonstrated
Nurses celebrate the announcement of the Magnet award for JCMC
Johnson County Home Health team members
sustained improvement in
patient satisfaction scores over a
two-year period. We are proud
to be one of only three other
hospitals in the inpatient and
outpatient categories nationally
to achieve this distinction and
the only hospital to receive two
awards at the recent Press Ganey
national conference.” IPMC and
all of the facilities in Mountain
See Awards Page 8
1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227).
Johnson County Home
Health received this recognition
based upon its willingness to
embrace continuous quality
improvement as a proven
healthcare improvement
tool, leadership buy-in,
empowerment of the agency’s
quality improvement team and a
willingness to share its successes
and lessons learned with others.
Answering more than two
million calls since 1992
1-800-888-5551
7

FIRST
What is a Magnet Hospital
Did you know there is an international award for hospitals that have
raised the bar for healthcare delivery and excellence in nursing It’s
called a Magnet award. Less than 150 hospitals in the entire United
States have earned this honor. That’s out of more than 6,000 hospitals
in the country!
Tennessee’s FIRST Magnet hospital is right here - Johnson City
Medical Center. When it comes to quality patient care, we’re proud
to say that our nurses and JCMC team members are part of this
respected, elite group. To a nurse, Magnet means visible recognition
of work that nurses do every day. Magnet status is tough to attain and
we’ve done it because our patients deserve only the best.
To all of the nurses and team members who made this honor possible
at Johnson City Medical Center, Mountain States Health Alliance says
Thank You!
Thank you for being Magnet nurses, compassionate caregivers to our
patients and creating a culture of nursing excellence at Johnson City
Medical Center. Mountain States Health Alliance has now applied for
Magnet status at all of our hospitals.
We believe that all of our nurses and caregivers meet the high
standards each and every day throughout MSHA!
JOIN US!
Join Tennessee’s FIRST Magnet Hospital, JOHNSON CITY
MEDICAL CENTER, or any of our other hospitals within Mountain
States Health Alliance from 2 beds to 500 beds in size. Whatever your
calling, MSHA has a facility in beautiful southern Appalachia to meet
your needs.
Call Hollie Vaughan, RN at 423-431-1624 or
visit msha.com for more information.
CEO Message
Continued from Page 2
best doctors, best nurses and
best overall quality. Thank you
for your vote of confidence.
Patient-Centered Care is a
continuous journey; however,
we are much farther along on
that journey than we were just
a few years ago. The entire
MSHA Family is committed
to living our Mission each day.
Our Vision at MSHA is to
passionately pursue healing of
the mind, body and spirit as we
create a world-class healthcare
system for our region. That
is one reason we are building
a new home for our region’s
only Children’s Hospital that
serves 24 counties in a four-state
area. The Children’s Hospital
at JCMC cared for more than
20,000 children alone last year,
and most of the children came
from outside Johnson City and
Washington County. Many
came from Kingsport, Bristol
or other parts of Northeast
Tennessee, Southwest Virginia,
Western North Carolina or
Southeastern Kentucky. This is
a true regional children’s hospital
that needs a larger home to
better serve the region’s pediatric
patients and their families. We
recently received the approval
from the State of Tennessee
to construct a new worldclass
home for The Children’s
Hospital as it continues to serve
all children from our region.
I would like to thank the
more than 5,400 team members,
as well as the many physicians
and volunteers who helped
make 2005 so successful for
MSHA. Because of their
compassion, their commitment
and their skills, hundreds
of thousands of people in
our region discovered loving
care when they experienced
healthcare services at Mountain
States Health Alliance. Lastly,
I would like to thank you,
our friends and neighbors in
this beautiful region of our
country, for allowing Mountain
States Health Alliance and its
team members the privilege of
“Bringing Loving Care to your
Health Care.” As we live our
mission and vision at Mountain
States Health Alliance, we
pledge to you that we will
continue to pursue excellence
in patient care, because each
and every one of our patients
deserves nothing less.
Sincerely,
Dennis Vonderfecht
President and Chief Executive Officer
Awards
Continued from Page 7
States Health Alliance (MSHA)
use Press Ganey to keep track
of patient satisfaction in various
areas of service.
QRH
The James H. and Cecile C.
Quillen Rehabilitation Hospital
(QRH) in Johnson City was also
an earlier recipient of a Press
Ganey Compass Award. Only
three inpatient rehabilitation
hospitals in the country received
this recognition. Quillen was the
only recipient in Tennessee.
“The results from these
surveys show both patients
and families coming to these
facilities feel they are cared for
and cared about,” said Tom Tull,
MSHA Senior Director of Guest
Services. Tull said patient care
Community Leadership
Fiscal Year 2005
Executive Team
Dennis Vonderfecht
President and CEO
Marvin Eichorn
Senior Vice President/CFO
Ken Marshall, M.D.
Senior Vice President/
Chief Medical Offi cer
John Melton
Senior Vice President/CEO,
Washington County Operations
Ed Herbert
Vice President
Judy Ingala, R.N.
Vice President/CNO,
Washington County Operations
Steve Kilgore
Vice President/
Senior Vice President,
BRMMC/CEO, JCHC
Monty McLaurin
Vice President/CEO
Indian Path Medical Center
June Pieschel
Vice President
Cindy Salyer, R.N.
Vice President
Lisa Smithgall, R.N.
Vice President
Dwayne Taylor
Vice President/CEO, Sycamore
Shoals Hospital
Kerry Vermillion
Vice President/CFO,
Washington County Operations
Larry Warkoczeski
Vice President/
President Mountain States
Foundation
Jeff Whitton
Vice President
Kathryn W. Wilhoit, R.N.
Vice President/CNE
Tim Belisle
Assistant Vice President
Tony Benton
Assistant Vice President
Richard Eshbach
Assistant Vice President
Mark Serago
Assistant Vice President
John Turner
Assistant Vice President
Chris York
Assistant Vice President
procedures have been changed
to allow these facilities and
its team members to become
more sensitive to patient needs
and wants. “We have made
incredible gains in our patients’
perceptions. We are proud of
the external validation from
this organization and of the
strides made in improving the
overall patient care experience.
It supports the Patient-Centered
Care philosophy of Mountain
States Health Alliance.”
Quillen also received
the nation’s highest level of
accreditation this year by the
Commission on Accreditation of
Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
for its Inpatient Rehabilitation
Adult and Inpatient
Rehabilitation Children and
Adolescents programs.
2005 MSHA Board of
Directors
Don Jeanes
Chairperson
Joanne Gilmer
Vice Chairperson
Maureen MacIver
Secretary
Robert Feathers
Treasurer
Clem Wilkes Jr.
Past Chairperson
Thomas “Tommy” Burleson
Jeff Farrow, M.D.
W. E. Hawkins Jr.
Rodney Irvin
Stephen May, M.D.
Cameron Perry
William Walker, M.D.
Dennis Vonderfecht
Washington County Board
Sandra Brooks, M.D.
Chairperson
John Campbell
Vice Chairperson
Ruth Robinson
Secretary
Linda Garceau
Treasurer
Ed Allen, M.D.
Paul E. Brown, M.D.
Ron Franks, M.D.
James R. Hunter
Ralph Lindsey
Angela May, M.D.
Clark Phipps
Newt Raff
Kel Smalley
Pat Wolfe
John Melton
Dennis Vonderfecht
Sullivan County Board
Rick Stapleton
Chair
Jane Crawford
Vice Chair
William Locke, Ed.D.
Secretary
Jeff Bedford
Etta Clark
Michael Dew, M.D.
Marvin Eichorn
Mark Emery, M.D.
Peter Frizzell, M.D.
Ray Griffin
Peg Kuhbander
Robert Lee, M.D.
This is the fifth consecutive
three-year accreditation that
the international accrediting
commission has awarded to
Quillen Rehabilitation Hospital,
which is the only facility in
Northeast Tennessee to receive
this designation.
“Achieving a three-year
accreditation by CARF shows
our commitment to continuous
quality improvement,
continually evaluating our
business practices, our rehab
programs and how we serve
our patients,” said John Turner,
MSHA Assistant Vice President
over QRH. “This award
demonstrates excellence in the
way we do business and the care
we provide to the persons we
serve.”
Joesph Ley, M.D.
Monty McLaurin
Ed Moore
Robert Reiff, M.D.
Rick Russell
Carter County Board
Jennie Hornsby
Chairperson
Joellen Edwards, Ph.D.
Secretary
Greg Bowers
Marvin Eichorn
Shobha Hiremagalur, M.D.
David May, M.D.
Daniel Paul, M.D.
Robert Reedy
Brent Seals
Duncan Street
Norma Tetrick
Robert Walter, M.D.
Ken Wandell
Dwayne Taylor
Johnson County Board
Jim Vincill
Chairperson
Howard Carlton
Vice Chairperson
Emily Millsaps
Secretary
Harvey Burniston
Paul Brown
Jeffrey Fenyves, M.D.
Chris Gillespie, M.D.
Kevin Parsons
Donald Tarr, M.D.
Curtis Sluder
Minnie Miller
Steve Kilgore
Blue Ridge Medical
Management Corp. Board
Craig Denison
Chairman
James W. Gibson, M.D.
Vice Chairman
Steve Goodson
Secretary
Marvin Eichorn
Treasurer
Barbara Allen
Michael T. Christian
Craig Denison
Don Kilday, Pharm.D.
Richard A. Manahan, Ed.D.
Steve Kilgore
Dennis Vonderfecht
8 www.msha.com 1-800-888-5551