From humble beginnings as the Mental Health Center of Morristown in 1960, Cherokee Health Systems (CHS) has grown to become a comprehensive health services organization touching tens of thousands of lives every year throughout East Tennessee. Over the past 40 years, the need for quality health care in this region has prompted the expansion of Cherokee's scope of services and the range of staff expertise to include not only behavioral health services, but medical and dental programs as well. Today CHS operates more than 20 offices in eleven counties. More than 300 professional and support staff members, including psychologists, physicians, social workers, nurses and sepcialists in public health form the ranks of this health services corporation. A wide array of comprehensive primary care and outpatients mental health programs and services is encompassed beneath a management umbrealla bearing the Cherokee Health System moniker.
The mission of this comprehensive integrated services system is to enhance the quality of life and promote the physical and behavioral health of all area residents by providing collaborative and cooperative clinical, educational, preventive, community, and management services in the context of financial stability and strength. In support of this mission, CHS has a fundamental commitment to assuring access to quality health services; utilizing a comprehensive, integrated approach to health services delivery; assessing community health needs and developing appropriate programs; promoting personal responsibility for health; pursuing organizational excellence through innovation, growth and independence; and providing employees with a work environment conducive to personal and professional growth.
Primary care and outpatient behavioral health services are provided at Union-Grainger Primary Care and Cherokee Health Systems clinics. Union-Grainger has clinics in Maynardville and Washburn. These are staffed by physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, a dental hygienist, behavioral health professionals and support personnel. Services at the Maynardville and Washburn locations include basic healthcare: medical treatment for all ages, routine laboratory testing, and x-ray services. The Cherokee clinics are in Bean Station, Blaine, Lenoir City, Tazewell, Morristown, Newport, Seymour, and Rutledge. They are fully staffed with physicians, nurse practitioners and support personnel. These clinics provide a wide range of primary health care and behavioral health services.
Cherokee Health Systems has offices in eleven East Tennessee counties: Bount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Sevier, and Union. Through these service sites, comprehensive health care is provided for a population exceeding 500,000. All CHS and affiliate organizations provide services regardless of the patient's ability to pay. Fees are adjusted according to household income. In other words, fees are adjusted according to household income. This sliding fee scale makes it possible to care for the insured and uninsured alike. All patients receive the same high quality care regardless of their economic situation.
Cherokee Health Systems' phenomenal growth can be attributed to the work of many caring individuals who are dedicated to helping others. In teh last year alone, over 30,000 individuals were provided a service by Cherokee staff. These numbers indicate community need for quality healthcare in this rural area and Cherokee's response to increasing demand. CHS remains committed to a tradition of providing the residents of the region with the highest quality professional care.
HIGHLIGHTS
In 1993, CHS opened a new outpatient behavioral health facility in Talbott. This expansion allowed for closer integration of services and provides patients easier access to various behavioral health services. It also facilitates frequent interaction and consultation among professional staff.
The facility serving the chronically mentally ill population was completely renovated and wass re-opened in the summer of 1994. The dramatically refurbished facilty houses the Psychosocial Development and support Program for the severly and persistently mentally ill (SPMI).
Cherokee opened its fourth medical clinic in May 1994 in Rutledge. By December of the same year the facility was already inadequate to meet community demand for care. CHS, in cooperation with the city of Rutledge, more than doubled the clinic size in alte 2001 and added space for behavioral health services.
In 1995, Cherokee facilitated the development and operations of the Bean Station Medical Center.
In 1996, additional primary care clinics were opened in New Tazewell and Seymour.
A new comprehensive services facility opened in Maynardville in the spring of 1997. The single facility houses behavioral health, medical and expanded dental programs.
During the dummer of 1999, behavioral health services were expanded at the Morristown office, medical offices were added and a Family Nurse Practitioner joined the staff allowing this office to provide integrated medical and behavioral services.
In the fall of 1999, three family physicians and three behavioral health clinicians began providing services in a new facility in Seymour.
Behavioral health services were expended to Maryville in May, 2000. Plans are underway to construct an integrated facility to be opend in 2002.
The Talbott facility was renovated in July, 2002 to allow for enhanced children's services with the addition of a pediatric practice.
New behavioral health offices opened in Jefferson County adjacent to Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Janaury, 2001.
In March, 2001, a new integrated behavioral health and primary care office opened in Lenoir City,
In July, 2002, a new facility opened in Newport and medical services were added allowing this office to offer an integrated model of care.
The Tazewell and New Tazewell offices were combined into one new facility in October, 2001. Like the facility in Newport, the office offers integrated medical and behavioral services as well as more intensive outpatient programming.