THIS IS IMPORTANT TO THE RIVERVIEW COMMUNITY -- LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD
On Monday, August 18 at 5:00 p.m. there will be a community forum concerning the future of our area hospitals. This important meeting will be held at the Kingsport Center for Higher Education auditorium, 300 W. Market Street, downtown Kingsport.Please plan to attend. Our medical profession has been our employment growth leader for the past several years and the loss of any or both of our hospitals would be very critical to our City. The Wellmont Board of Directors intend to make a decision on the future of Holston Valley and Bristol Medical Center by December. They need to hear your comments and concerns. If we do nothing, there is, in my opinion, a very good chance that both Wellmont and Mountain States will look at out-of-area mergers, acquisitions or outright sell.
It is imperative that the industry leaders, business people, civic groups and all citizens learn as much as possible concerning the current Wellmont situation. There would appear to be three options for Wellmont.
a. Remain independent as they are now (the board does not feel this is a possibility).
b. Merge Wellmont and Mountain States in order to become a larger (approximately $2 billion) medical facility.
c. Merge / sell to an out-of-area large medical facility where local control would be in question. This action would be permanent and irreversible.
We all know there will be changes within the medical profession caused by several factors including Obama Care. For the sake of our City, County, and Northeast Tennessee, we must insure that we get this decision right. Your input matters.
WHEN: Monday, August 18 at 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Kingsport Center for Higher Education Auditorium, 300 W. Market Street Kingsport, TN 37660
(signed)
Dennis Phillips, Mayor
City of Kingsport
