Ballad, ETSU partner to create Highlands Sports Medicine

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – Ballad Health and East Tennessee State University announced Thursday that they have partnered to improve sports medicine in the region.

According to a news release from Ballad Health, Highlands Sports Medicine will be a member of the hospital system’s medical associates and will be powered by ETSU Health. The current BucSports Medicine clinic will be added to Ballad’s network of sports medicine care facilities.

Ballad currently operates sports medicine practices in Johnson City and Big Stone Gap.

The clinicians at BucSports Medicine will remain in their positions as the clinic joins Ballad’s network of care and will still be considered ETSU faculty.

“Patients will continue receiving the high-quality care from the same dedicated team they’ve grown to know and trust – and now, through a network that will give them access to an even greater breadth and reach of services,” Jay Johnston, MD, a sports medicine physician and ETSU Quillen College of Medicine faculty member who practices at BucSports Medicine, stated in the release. “We also strive to continue growing and improving our service, so the possibilities through this partnership are truly exciting.”

Both Ballad and ETSU Health hope that through Highlands Sports Medicine, services in the area will be expanded and enhanced.

President of Ballad Health Medical Associates Mark Patterson, MD, told News Channel 11 that the partnership is beneficial for both Ballad and ETSU Health.

“Sports medicine is a great partnership because not only do we have the experience of these Division 1 sports medicine physicians at ETSU with BucSports, but we also have the network of Ballad Health and Ballad Health Medical Associates to stretch throughout our entire region,” Patterson said. “Sports are involved in all of our schools. They’re also involved in all of our daily lives.”

Patterson said it is crucial that sports medicine care be readily available as a multitude of people get hurt while engaging in physical activity.

“Many of us seek activities outside, and frankly, we get injured,” Patterson said. “When we do those activities, whether it’s mountain biking or pickleball, we have opportunities for injury and we need to get that best care that we can for that injury. Remember, orthopedic injuries are not always surgical and many of these non-operative injuries, nonsurgical injuries, need to be treated in a sports medicine clinic where they can achieve that best expertise.”

Patterson told News Channel 11 that Ballad and ETSU are already working to recruit more physicians for the expansion of Highlands Sports Medicine and to develop academic opportunities.