Barbara Humphreys Birthing Center relocates
Published 4:23 pm Wednesday, April 22, 2020
KINGSPORT – The Barbara Humphreys Birthing Center – first christened at Holston Valley Medical Center in 2016 in honor of a local family’s legacy of healthcare support in the Appalachian Highlands – has now moved to Indian Path Community Hospital.
The name change took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22, as all labor and delivery and pediatric services in Kingsport fully transitioned to Indian Path. These changes align with longer-term preliminary recommendations by the Visioning Committee in Kingsport to enhance service offerings for women and newborns.
“The family of Barbara Humphreys has been incredibly generous with their support of the Kingsport community and extremely gracious when we relocated the birthing center to better serve Kingsport,” said Jack Simpson, president of Ballad Health Foundation. “By carrying their name to this new unit, we’re bringing with it that legacy of compassion and sustained care for women, children and their families – it’s a tradition that makes us all very proud.”
Ballad Health previously announced changes that will lead to a dedicated women’s and newborn facility in Kingsport – the first of its kind in the region. The changes will help with near-term efforts to enhance capacity for responding to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, while also leading towards the establishment of a dedicated women’s and newborn hospital linked with regional high-acuity children’s services.
“We are creating a new model of care for the Appalachian Highlands, one that meets the needs of our patients and the region as a whole,” said Lindy White, president of Ballad Health’s Northwest Market, which includes Holston Valley and Indian Path. “This new approach with our women’s and children’s health program will position our hospitals and the community well for long-term success.
“Plus, as we bring the Barbara Humphreys Birthing Center name to this new operation, we hope our communities know the high-level obstetrics, gynecology and pediatric care they’ve always expected from Ballad Health will continue. Our commitment to them is unwavering.”
Once the immediate threat of COVID-19 surge has passed, Indian Path will embark on a phased renovation and cosmetic update plan to create an ideal care environment for women and newborns – still under the Barbara Humphreys name.
Currently, Indian Path’s emergency department remains open, and Ballad Health will continue operating drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the hospital. Patients who require inpatient treatment for COVID-19, or any other high-acuity condition, will be admitted to Holston Valley.
Anyone who is experiencing symptoms and believes they might have been exposed to COVID-19 is advised to call Ballad Health Nurse Connect at 833-822-5523.
More information about Ballad Health’s services in Kingsport is available at www.balladhealth.org. For additional information regarding Ballad Health’s COVID-19 efforts, please visit www.balladhealth.org/COVID19.
