• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News
  • Subscribe

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds




Covenant Health, other hospitals stop non-essential adult procedures

Posted at 3:21 pm March 22, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

This tent outside the emergency department at Methodist Medical Center is not being used as of Sunday, March 22, 2020, but it is set up in case the hospital has to expand services for a surge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Covenant Health and other Knoxville-area hospitals will temporarily stop non-essential adult procedures starting Monday, March 23.

Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge is part of Covenant Health.

In Knoxville, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital will limit certain non-essential pediatric procedures.

“Ultimately, hospitals will rely on providers to use clinical judgement and standards of care in determining when to complete a procedure,” area hospitals said in a press release Friday.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, COVID-19, Front Page News, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: Covenant Health, COVID-19, Knox County Health Department, Methodist Medical Center, non-essential adult procedures, non-essential pediatric procedures, Tennova Healthcare, University of Tennessee Medical Center

Governor declares state of emergency; first COVID-19 case diagnosed in Knox

Posted at 4:11 pm March 12, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Note: This story was last updated at 7:10 p.m.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee declared a state of emergency to help treat and contain COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus, and the first case has been diagnosed in Knox County.

The Knox County patient was exposed overseas and is an isolated case. The person has been in isolation and has not required hospitalization, according to the Knox County Health Department.

It’s a presumptive positive case, and local and state officials are waiting for confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Following standard public health protocols for infectious disease response, Knox County Health Department said its epidemiologists will work with the Tennessee Department of Health and follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to contact and monitor anyone who may have been exposed to this isolated case. Eighteen cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Department of Health, but it is not currently widespread in Knox County or the state.

“We understand the concern surrounding COVID-19, but we hope Knox County citizens can take some comfort in the fact that we were expecting a case, and that we routinely utilize extensive plans and national best practice to respond to all reportable infectious diseases in Knox County,” said KCHD Senior Director Dr. Martha Buchanan. “The most important thing the public can do is to follow the CDC guidance, which includes the standard hygiene practices we recommend to prevent the spread of flu and other viruses.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: COVID-19, Front Page News, Government, Health, Health, Slider, State Tagged With: Bill Lee, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, coronavirus, COVID-19, Knox County, Knox County Health Department, Martha Buchanan, state of emergency, Tennessee Department of Health

Alexander to visit Oak Ridge, Knoxville, Johnson City this week

Posted at 2:23 pm August 31, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander will visit Oak Ridge, Knoxville, and Johnson City this week. The senator’s stops on Thursday include the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Manufacturing Demonstration Facility on Cherahala Boulevard in Knoxville and the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge.

The visits start at the Johnson City on Wednesday, where Alexander will deliver remarks at the Upper East Tennessee Chamber Luncheon and will be presented with the Spirit of Enterprise Award, which recognizes members of Congress who consistently cast votes that help businesses create jobs, a press release said.

Also Wednesday, the senator will visit Rocky Fork to commemorate the completion of efforts to protect the largest unprotected tract of land in the Southern Appalachians, the press release said. The Conservation Fund, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation will host the event to celebrate the final transfer of land for inclusion into the Cherokee National Forest. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Clubs, Community, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Health, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cherokee National Forest, David Reagan, Johnson City, Knox County Health Department, Lamar Alexander, Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, Martha Buchanan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Rotary Club, Randal Dabbs, Rocky Fork, Rotary Club of Oak Ridge, Tennessee Department of Health, Tom Frieden, Upper East Tennessee Chamber Luncheon

Local organization to sponsor class, Q&A on vaccinations

Posted at 12:37 pm April 10, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

TLA Vaccination Decision Meeting

Image by Tennessee Liberty Alliance

 

Submitted

When it comes to childhood vaccines these days, it is hard to escape the near-constant media coverage and public debate that surrounds this highly controversial topic. One of the most “hot-button” issues regarding medical care in our country today, many people find that—after the dust of hysteria settles—they are left confused and unsure about how to gather real information that can be used to make educated, informed decisions about the care of themselves and their children. It begs the question: Can one truly give informed consent if one isn’t truly, fully informed?

On Saturday, April 18, the Tennessee Liberty Alliance is sponsoring “The Vaccination Decision—Replacing Fear With Facts to Make Empowered Decisions” to help provide this education with scientific insight and discussion that will help answer many of the concerns and worries created by media hype, social media rhetoric, and political rumors. Presented by Katie Caputo, this presentation is targeted for lay people who need to know more facts before making personal decisions for their individual families when it comes to the very important topic of vaccinations. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Health, Meetings and Events, Top Stories Tagged With: CDC vaccine schedule, immune system, immunology, Katie Caputo, Knox County Health Department, Martha Buchanan, naturopathic medicine, Tennessee Liberty Alliance, The Vaccination Decision—Replacing Fear With Facts to Make Empowered Decisions, vaccination, vaccinations

ET hospitals, health departments sponsor community forum on Ebola

Posted at 1:33 pm October 16, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Ebola Virus

A colorized transmission electron micrograph (TEM) revealing some of the ultrastructural morphology displayed by an Ebola virus virion.
(Photo credit: Frederick A. Murphy/Public Health Image Library (PHIL))

All the hospital systems and facilities in the Knoxville area have joined with the Knox County Health Department to sponsor an unprecedented community forum to educate the public about Ebola and address any questions and concerns about the disease, a press release said.

The East Tennessee Health Forum on Ebola is open to the public and will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 21, in the auditorium on the lower level of the Knoxville Convention Center. Parking will be available in the Poplar Street parking lot across Cumberland Avenue from the center and free in city garages, including nearby Locust Street Garage.

Medical experts from the Knox County Health Department, Blount Memorial Hospital, Covenant Health, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, TeamHealth, Tennova Health System, and the University of Tennessee Medical Center will discuss the disease, its treatment, and the measures being taken to protect the public. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Health, Knox County, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson, Blount, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, community forum, Covenant Health, disease, Ebola, Ebola virus, emergency workers, Hallerin Hilton Hill, health care, health departments, hospitals, Knox County Health Department, Knoxville Academy of Medicine, Knoxville Convention Center, Loudon, MEDIC Regional Blood Bank, physicians, Roane, Sevier, Summit Medical Group, Tony Spezia, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine

Search Oak Ridge Today

Classifieds

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Public notice: Draft environmental assessment for Y-12 Development Organization at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

Recent Posts

  • REAC/TS welcomes new team members: John Crapo, Josh Hayes and David Quillen
  • NASA Postdoctoral Program seeks early career and senior scientists for prestigious fellowships at its locations across the U.S.
  • ORAU names Brandon Criswell associate general counsel
  • Update on downtown Oak Ridge Tuesday
  • TVA has virtual open house for Clinch River Nuclear Site
  • Science and supercomputers at ORNL topic of Mar. 8 talk
  • First Presbyterian offers free meals & groceries on Mar. 10
  • Secret City Academy student charged with terrorism after alleged shooting, bomb threats
  • ORHS Masquers presents ‘Into the Woods’
  • Oak Ridge’s first girl Eagle Scout named a “Scout of the Year”
A Twitter List by OakRidgeToday

Recent Comments

  • Matt Bailey on Dodson also wants to serve as mayor pro tem
  • Mark Caldwell on Dodson also wants to serve as mayor pro tem
  • Matt Bailey on Dodson also wants to serve as mayor pro tem
  • Mark Caldwell on Dodson also wants to serve as mayor pro tem
  • Matt Bailey on Dodson also wants to serve as mayor pro tem
  • Tracy Powers on Planning Commission to consider Main Street apartments, plan revisions
  • johnhuotari on Four incumbents re-elected to Oak Ridge City Council
  • Levi D. Smith on Four incumbents re-elected to Oak Ridge City Council
  • samuel hopwood on Housing: Apartments proposed on former AMSE site
  • Matt Bailey on Robin Smith named Oak Ridge police chief

About Us

About Oak Ridge Today
What We Cover

How To

Advertise
Subscribe

Contact Us

Contact Oak Ridge Today

Copyright © 2022 Oak Ridge Today