Ballad Health, a new health system formed by the merger of Kingsport, Tenn.-based Wellmont Health System and Johnson City, Tenn.-based Mountain States Health Alliance, will close four urgent care clinics over the next several months as part of a consolidation effort, reports the Johnson City Press.
As a result of the merger, Ballad Health owns two urgent care clinics in each of the following four cities: Johnson City, Kingsport, Abingdon, Va., and Greeneville, Tenn. Ballad Health will close one urgent care facility in each of the four cities.
The health system's decision to consolidate walk-in clinic services was to better utilize its resources.
"A process was put in place to determine which locations would offer optimal flow for patient care, visibility and expansion capabilities," Ballad Health officials told the Johnson City Press. "Because the consolidation is only in areas where the service was duplicated, patients will still have ready access to urgent care clinics close to home."
About 42 employees will be laid off as a result of the clinics being consolidated. The eliminated positions make up part of the 150 layoffs Ballad Health announced April 17, according to health system officials.