Blogs

LPC or LCSW in Madisonville, TN

By Susan Swartz posted 20 hours ago
LPC or LCSW in Madisonville, TN Provides diagnosis and treatment of mental or emotional disorders of individuals, couples, families, and groups in an outpatient setting. Role and Responsibilities: As a condition of employment, the healthcare provider will undertake to provide covered services, including emergency treatment, to a health center patient within the approved scope of project of Chota Community Health Services (CCHS), and to any individual who is not a patient of CCHS when asked, called upon, or undertakes, at or near any CCHS location and as a result of a non-CCHS patient's emergency situation, to temporarily treat ...

Behavioral Health Consultant in Franklin, TN

By Susan Swartz posted 02-17-2026
Behavioral Health Consultant in Franklin, TN Mercy Community Healthcare has a position open for a full-time Behavioral Health Consultant at our Franklin location. Applicants must be a licensed LMFT, LPC-MHSP or LCSW. We are looking for a therapist with a passion for making a difference in the lives of those we serve in our community and upholding our faith-based mission. The Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) is a key member of the primary care delivery team at Mercy Community Healthcare. The BHC serves an essential function of the Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH), and practices using the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model. Embedded and fully ...

Physician in Franklin, TN

By Susan Swartz posted 02-16-2026
Physician in Franklin, TN Mercy Community Healthcare has an opening for a full-time MD/DO board certified or eligible to be board certified in family medicine in the state of Tennessee. We are looking for enthusiastic people with a passion for making a difference in the lives of those we serve in our community. Key Responsibilities: Obtain health histories and perform comprehensive physical examinations, including psychosocial, functional and development assessment for children and adults. Order and interpret lab results and other diagnostic studies. Develop differential diagnoses. Develop/order therapeutic plan of care. Maintain ...

Family Medicine Physician or Internal Medicine Physician in Madisonville, TN

By Susan Swartz posted 02-05-2026
Family Medicine Physician or Internal Medicine Physician in Madisonville, TN A licensed physician who will function in a role of providing primary health care including preventive, diagnostic, treatment, and referral care under approved medical protocols. Key Responsibilities: As a condition of employment, the healthcare provider will undertake to provide covered services, including emergency treatment, to a health center patient within the approved scope of project of Chota Community Health Services (CCHS), and to any individual who is not a patient of CCHS when asked, called upon, or undertakes, at or near any CCHS location and as ...

Building the Healthcare Workforce of the Future: Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center’s Approach to Retention and Growth

By Jayda Morse posted 01-28-2026
At Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center (MWCHC) , investing in people isn’t just a strategy, it’s part of the mission. With an innovative approach to workforce development, MWCHC has built a strong pipeline that not only attracts talent but inspires them to stay and grow within the organization. A Commitment to Learning and Opportunity MWCHC has long been committed to training the healthcare professionals of tomorrow. Their programs reach a broad range of learners—from high school students exploring healthcare careers to postgraduate residents ready to serve their communities. Each year, MWCHC hosts student interns and trainees ...

Staff Accountant at Lifespan Health

By Susan Swartz posted 12-09-2025
Staff Accountant in Savannah, TN Lifespan Health is looking for a Staff Accountant who e nsures the integrity of accounting information by recording, verifying, reconciling, consolidating, and entering transactions to include accruals, prepayments and maintain supporting schedules. Assist the Accounting Department with timely production of financial statements, prepare general journal entries and account reconciliations, and reconcile general ledger accounts to sub-ledgers. Account for fixed assets and its associated depreciation and record accruals, expense allocations, and month end true ups. Assists CFO with month-end, quarter-end, and year-end financial ...

CEO at Mercy Community Healthcare

By Susan Swartz posted 12-04-2025
Chief Executive Officer in Franklin, TN Mercy Community Healthcare is looking for a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is responsible for exemplifying Mercy’s Christian mission and corporate values while leading the organization as both a ministry and a healthcare provider. The CEO provides overall management, strategic direction, and operational oversight to ensure fulfillment of Mercy’s mission, vision, and goals. This includes leading the Executive Strategy Team (EST), overseeing financial stewardship, cultivating organizational growth, and building strong community partnerships that enhance awareness, collaboration, and support across the state of Tennessee. ...

Staying Safe Online: Celebrating Cybersecurity Awareness Month

By Jayda Morse posted 10-09-2025
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month , and the Tennessee Primary Care Association (TPCA) is proud to join the national effort to promote safe and secure online practices. Led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA), Cybersecurity Awareness Month is now in its 22nd year. Each October, organizations across the country come together to highlight the shared responsibility we all have in protecting our digital lives—whether at work, at home, or in our communities. This year’s theme, “Stay Safe Online,” focuses on making cybersecurity approachable and achievable for everyone. ...

Combatting Substance Use Disorders in Primary Care

By Jacqueline Bascom posted 09-15-2025
The Train New Trainers Primary Care - Training and Education in Addiction Medicine (PC-TEAM) Fellowship focuses on equipping primary care providers with the skills to effectively manage substance use disorders. This program is vital for enhancing the capacity of healthcare professionals to address addiction issues within primary care settings. Key Learnings Substance Use Screening: Participants learn how to conduct evidence-based screenings for substance use in busy medical environments, ensuring early detection of potential issues. This proactive approach is crucial for managing addiction effectively. Diagnosis and Treatment of Substance ...

Expanding Pediatric Psychiatric Expertise

By Jayda Morse posted 08-20-2025
The Train New Trainers (TNT) Primary Care – Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship focuses on empowering primary care providers with specialized knowledge in child and adolescent mental health. This program is crucial for equipping healthcare professionals with the skills needed to address psychiatric needs in younger populations. Key Learnings Conducting Psychiatric Interviews for Youth: Participants are trained to perform evidence-informed psychiatric evaluations tailored for children and adolescents. This skill is essential for accurately diagnosing mental health conditions in a demographic with distinct developmental and psychological ...

A Conversation with Dr. Brad Carter, Vice President of Primary Care Services for River Valley Health

By Jayda Morse posted 08-18-2025
Each year in East Tennessee, River Valley Health ensures that nearly 70,000 community members receive compassionate, high-quality healthcare—regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Originally founded in 1960 as a mental health clinic, the organization—formerly known as Cherokee Health Systems—has grown steadily to meet the evolving needs of its patients. Today, as a Federally Qualified Health Center , River Valley Health offers a full scope of services, including primary care, while also staying true to its roots in behavioral health. For the past fifteen years, Dr. Brad Carter has played a key role in shaping that vision. ...

Gen Z, Meet CHCs: Why Our Generation Should Be Paying Attention

By Jayda Morse posted 08-08-2025
National Health Center Week 2025 | “Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future” Gen Z is known for caring deeply about healthcare access, community resources, and mental health—but many don’t know that community health centers (CHCs) are already doing the work. To briefly introduce myself, my name is Jayda Morse, and I’m a Gen Z professional working as the Health Communications Coordinator at the Tennessee Primary Care Association (TPCA). Our mission is to improve access to primary care through leadership, advocacy, and support as the collective voice of Tennessee’s CHCs. CHCs are one of the most impactful—and too often overlooked—parts ...

Celebrating Whole-Child Health at Memphis Health Center’s New Children’s Wellness Clinic

By Jayda Morse posted 08-06-2025
National Health Center Week 2025 | “Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future” At Memphis Health Center (MHC) , caring for children goes beyond treating symptoms—it’s about nurturing the whole child and supporting the whole family. In the spirit of National Health Center Week and its theme of honoring six decades of community health impact, TPCA is proud to feature MHC’s Children’s Wellness Clinic (CWC) , a new initiative focused on long-term wellness and whole-person care. Led by Dr. Sachin Jogal, a full-time pediatrician at MHC, the Children’s Wellness Clinic is redefining pediatric care in Memphis by integrating medical, behavioral, ...

Powering Communities Through Caring: The Past, Present, and Future

By Jayda Morse posted 08-04-2025
Featuring Libby Thurman & Sade' Sleet of the Tennessee Primary Care Association As we celebrate National Health Center Week 2025 and reflect on the legacy of community health in Tennessee, we’re taking a moment to honor two team members whose stories show how the past, present, and future of this work continue to power communities through caring. In this special conversation-style blog, we hear from Libby Thurman, TPCA’s Chief Executive Officer and longest-serving staff member, and Sade' Sleet, TPCA’s newest addition and Workforce Program Manager. Their perspectives reflect different points in their journeys—but a shared passion for ...

From Grassroots to Guiding Force: 60 Years of Community Health Centers in Tennessee

By Emily Waitt Hise posted 08-01-2025
National Health Center Week 2025 | Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future Each August, National Health Center Week honors the vital role community health centers play in strengthening public health and expanding access to care. This year, as we commemorate 60 years of the health center movement , we’re taking time to reflect on Tennessee’s journey—from a network of disconnected clinics to a unified force shaping the future of healthcare across the state. When Unity Became Urgency By the 1970s, Tennessee’s rural and urban health centers were quietly doing the work—providing care in some of the state’s most medically underserved ...

One Big Beautiful Bill Act – Medicaid and ACA Marketplace Changes

By Emily Waitt Hise posted 07-30-2025
President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), or H.R. 1, into law on July 4, 2025. The bill makes significant changes to key health care programs including Medicaid, known as TennCare in our state, and the ACA Marketplace. While many of the Medicaid-related provisions impact Medicaid expansion states (states that have expanded eligibility to cover adults with incomes between 100-138% of the Federal Poverty Level), folks covered by TennCare and the ACA Marketplace will still experience impacts. These changes will leave an estimated 290,000 Tennesseans uninsured by 2034 , according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. ...

Enhancing Primary Care with Psychiatry Training

By Jacqueline Bascom posted 07-28-2025
The Train New Trainers (TNT) Primary Care Psychiatry Fellowship stands out for its comprehensive approach to integrating psychiatric training into primary care. By emphasizing practical, evidence-based methodologies, this program equips healthcare providers with the skills necessary to conduct thorough psychiatric evaluations efficiently. Key Learnings: Conducting Psychiatric Interviews: The fellowship teaches primary care providers how to perform effective psychiatric interviews, crucial for diagnosing a variety of mental health conditions. This skill ensures that providers can address mental health issues promptly within the primary care ...

A Conversation with Teresa Dabney, CEO of Community Health of East Tennessee, Inc.

By Jayda Morse posted 07-17-2025
In Campbell County, Tennessee, where winding roads meet mountain views, Community Health of East Tennessee (CHET) is more than a clinic—it’s a lifeline for thousands. What began as a Black Lung Clinic in 1980 has grown into a full-fledged Federally Qualified Health Center serving nearly 5,000 patients a year. CHET now operates a behavioral health clinic, a medical clinic with thirteen providers, two domestic violence shelters, and a free clothing thrift store—meeting a wide range of needs for a community with limited resources.¹ Teresa Dabney, CHET’s CEO, has been there since the beginning. “Our mission statement is ‘Answering the Need,’ ...

Open Position at Memphis Health Center

By Susan Swartz posted 06-30-2025
OB/GYN (Obstetrician/Gynecologist) in Memphis, TN Memphis Health Center is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Obstetrician/Gynecologist (OB/GYN) to join their team of healthcare professionals. This is a full-time, on-site position serving a diverse patient population in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) setting. The ideal candidate will be committed to providing high-quality, patient-centered care and have a passion for working in underserved communities. Key Responsibilities: Deliver comprehensive OB/GYN services including prenatal, postnatal, and general gynecological care Perform deliveries and gynecological surgeries as required ...

When Mental Health Becomes a Primary Care Problem, and What to Do About It

By Dr. Virmarie Diaz-Fernandez posted 06-25-2025
This guest post was contributed by Dr. Virmarie Diaz-Fernandez, Clinical Advisor of Peregrine Health —a TPCA Partner. In most communities, especially rural and underserved ones, primary care providers (PCPs) are the de facto mental health system. Not because they’re trained to be, but because they have to be. With a national shortage of behavioral health (BH) providers, limited referral options, and persistent stigma around mental illness, patients often turn to their PCP for help. The problem? Most PCPs are stretched thin, appointments are short, and they often lack the time and confidence to fully assess mental health concerns. ...