Covenant Health // 2021-2022 Annual Report

Menu

A moment
25 years
in the making.

Built on a not-for-profit mission of community service, the hospitals, clinics, and other member organizations of Covenant Health are working together to be the first and best choice in East Tennessee.

Scroll Down

Facts and stats for 2021

2200000

patient encounters at our hospitals, clinics, and medical practices

Download a copy of the annual report to read more.

6M

sq. ft across 100+ locations

1300+

affiliated physicians

10000+

employees

The Covenant Health Pledge of Excellence

  • The patient always comes first.
  • Excellence in everything I do.
  • We will be the first and best choice for our communities.
swirl
person riding a bike

Our Mission

We serve the community by improving the quality of life through better health.

Our Vision

Covenant Health is committed to being the region's premier healthcare network by providing patient-centered care that inspires clinical and service excellence, making us the first and best choice for our patients, employees, physicians, employers, volunteers and communities.

person sitting at a desk
cowboy riding horse

Our Values

In service to God and community, we value:

integrity

integrity

quality

quality

developing

developing people

service

service

caring

caring

stewardship

stewardship

holding hands graphic detailing the types and amount of services we carry

“As we worked to fulfill that mission over the years, a vision evolved to make Covenant Health the first and best choice for health care.”

Jim VanderSteeg, CEO

Access to Care Wherever You Are

We now offer convenient, safe access to healthcare services via computer or mobile device. Covenant Health offers scheduled appointments with physicians, and virtual urgent care with emergency-trained physicians available anywhere in East Tennessee.

24/7
365

days a year

16871

acute care virtual visits

Virtual Care in the Hospital

Virtual services at our hospitals offer advanced care for complex medical conditions, and help smaller communities through remote access to specialized Covenant Health resources. Our physicians use telehealth technology to remotely monitor a patient's condition or consult with other medical professionals. Covenant Health is the first healthcare system in East Tennessee to provide tele-ICU as an extra layer of care for critically ill patients at all our hospitals, and in 2021, we saw 3,884 tele-ICU admissions.

Facts and stats for 2021

70117

Admissions across Covenant Health

Download a copy of the annual report to read more.

Awards and Recognitions in 2021

Covenant Health has received regional and national accolades for excellence in quality, patient safety and advanced medical care. Here are a few of our 2021 recognitions:

American College of Radiology

Accreditations in various specialty areas such as imaging, mammography, ultrasound, MRI, nuclear medicine and others

American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living Commitment to Quality Award — Bronze

Claiborne Health and Rehabilitation Center

Cardiology and Stroke Recognitions from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center

LeConte Medical Center

Methodist Medical Center

Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System

Parkwest Medical Center

Roane Medical Center

Fortune / IBM Watson Health,
Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals

Parkwest Medical Center, 2021

Previous years: Fort Sanders Regional, Parkwest

and Methodist Medical Centers

Best Employer, Forbes Magazine

Covenant Health (seventh time)

BEST for Babies Award

Cumberland Medical Center

stairwell
The Leapfrog Group,
“A” Safety Grade

Claiborne Medical Center

Fort Loudoun Medical Center

LeConte Medical Center

Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System

The Leapfrog Group,
Top Rural Hospital Designation

LeConte Medical Center

“Most Wired” Designation for Effective Use of Computer Technology

Covenant Health — Acute category

Covenant Medical Group — Ambulatory category

National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), Recognition as Patient-Centered Medical Homes

Covenant Medical Group — 24 practices

marathon starting line

Going the Distance

With over 105,766 participants in 17 years, the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon includes a Kids Run, 5K, 2- and 4-person relays, a half marathon, and a full marathon.

Our Foundations

Supporting the health system's facilities, programs and patient care:

  • $167,000+ for free outpatient lodging for patients traveling long distances for care
  • $333,000 in emergency assistance to patients and employees
  • $89,000+ for patients' physical and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
  • $150,000 for staffing/services at Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM)
  • $1.9 million for cancer-related clinical trials, outreach and education, and patient support

By The Numbers

In 2021, six foundations and 5,500+ donors raised over

$2.6 million

Education Partnerships

Training tomorrow's healthcare professionals through partnerships with postsecondary schools

1,000+ students from 20+ schools, including:

  • Lincoln Memorial University
    — DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Tennessee Wesleyan University
    — Fort Sanders Nursing Department
  • New construction underway: Training center for Roane State Community College and Tennessee College of Applied Technology
  • Developing medical residency program with Lincoln Memorial University

Facts and stats for 2021

1102779

Outpatient visits across Covenant Health

Download a copy of the annual report to read more.

East Tennessee Behavioral Health:
Specialized Services in a Holistic Environment

To address the growing need for mental health services in our region, Covenant Health partnered with Acadia Healthcare to construct a new 90-bed behavioral health hospital. The facility continues our legacy of behavioral services and will treat adolescents, adults and seniors with mental health and co-occurring disorders.

Acadia Healthcare logo

New and Renovated Facilities for Rehabilitation
51 new inpatient beds with Encompass and Patricia Neal

As part of a joint venture with Encompass Health, construction is underway to modernize the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. Progress also continued in 2021 on a new 51-bed inpatient Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Hospital in West Knoxville, with a planned opening in early 2023. The hospital will serve patients recovering from strokes and other neurological disorders, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions.

photo of parking lot and building diagram

Looking to the Future

Proton therapy added to comprehensive cancer services

Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy that uses beams of high-energy protons to treat various forms of cancer, while protecting nearby healthy tissue and vital organs from unnecessary radiation.

In mid-2022, Covenant Health announced the addition of proton therapy to Thompson Cancer Survival Center, the health system's robust oncology service line. Thompson Proton Center is one of just 40 proton therapy centers in the U.S.

Thompson Center Building
Building plan diagram
Building plan diagram

Serving Growing Communities

New Outpatient Facilities Underway in South Knoxville and Morristown

Construction began on a $20 million outpatient facility in South Knoxville. With more than 36,000 square feet, the facility is scheduled to open in 2023 and will include:

  • an urgent care area with extended hours
  • a clinic for primary care and other medical subspecialties
  • a diagnostic center with laboratory and imaging services
  • areas for physical rehabilitation and education

One of Covenant Health's member hospitals, Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System, began building a $37 million outpatient facility near Interstate 81. With 50,000 square feet, Morristown-Hamblen West is scheduled for completion in 2023 and will include a free-standing emergency department, diagnostic center, and physician offices.

Financials

As a not-for-profit health system, Covenant Health reinvests excess revenues after expenses in programs, services, technologies and facilities to improve patient care.

Capital Investments

2021

$82,568,000

2017-2021

$631,290,000

Total Operating Revenue

Total Liabilities

Total Assets

Net Assets

As a not-for-profit health system, Covenant Health provides significant contributions to our communities through charity care and uncompensated care, and by meeting local health needs through specialized medical services. In addition, we contribute to charitable organizations and provide educational programs for health professionals. Our salaries and tax contributions support local economies in the communities we serve.

Caring for
Those in Need

Charity Care
2021 $70,738,000
2017-2021 $333,080,000
Uncompensated Care

Care which costs more to provide than reimbursements from state and national programs cover

2021 $181,265,000
2017-2021 $875,709,000
Subsidized Care

Clinical services provided to meet community needs despite financial loss

2021 $48,432,667
2017-2021 $232,248,974

Investing in Our Communities

Contributions to Community Organizations

Donations to health-related organizations; community needs and outreach programs; programs for children and youth; economic/community leadership development; and recreation/quality of life

2021 $474,407
2017-2021 $2,645,652
Health Professionals' Education
2021 $1,587,250
2017-2021 $9,290,758
Employees, Salaries, and Benefits

Number of employees as of 12/2021: 9,982

2021 $770,052,848
2017-2021 $3,490,667,383
Real Property Taxes - Knox County
2021 $2,723,788
2017-2021 $12,854,608
Real Property Taxes

All Counties (including Knox)

2021 $3,978,680
2017-2021 $19,425,633

“Our past achievements and our future initiatives are possible because of the contributions of those who came before us, and because of our dedicated volunteer Board, our health system leaders, employees, physicians, volunteers and donors.”

Jim VanderSteeg, CEO

Facts and stats for 2021

710278

Physician office visits across Covenant Health

Download a copy of the annual report to read more.

2022 Board of Directors

Gerald Boyd

Senior Advisor, BJB & Associates,
Senior Advisor, RSI
Oak Ridge

Willard Campbell, MD

General/Vascular Surgeon,
Parkwest Medical Center

Michael Casey, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon,
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center

Ronni Chandler

Executive Director,
Project GRAD

Mitch Dickson, MD

Anesthesiologist,
Parkwest Medical Center

Stephanie Flood

Chief Information Officer,
Clayton
Maryville

James Gibson

Chairman of the Board,
Accurus Aerospace Corporation
Irving, Texas (Retired)

Edgar Gray

Stewart Lumber Company
Morristown (Retired)

Leslye Hartsell

Director, Community Relations
and External Engagement,
Knoxville Utilities Board

G. Donald Hickman

Federal Government Service,
Federal Bureau of Investigation,
Tennessee Valley Authority
(Retired)

Timothy Matthews

President and CEO,
Jewelry Television

Janice McKinley

Senior Vice President
and Chief Nursing Officer,
Covenant Health (Retired)

Dave Miller

East Region President,
First Tennessee Bank

Bill Myers

President and Managing Member,
Wagner, Myers and Sanger, PC (Retired)

Alvin Nance

CEO of Development, LHP Development

Linda Ogle

Properties Owner and
Sevier County Community Leader
Sevierville

King Purnell

Chairman, Knoxville Board
Capstar Bank

Jorge Sanabria

Owner/President,
Expoquip, Inc.

William Seale

Chief Strategy Officer,
KaTom Restaurant Supply, Inc

Cosby Stone

CEO & Chairman,
The Cosby Harrison Company (previously TAPPCO)
GMedia and Information Services
Crossville (Retired)

Joseph E. Sutter

Colonel, USAF (Retired)

James Tramontana, MD

Radiologist,
Chief of Radiology Dept.
and President of Group
Methodist Medical Center

Executive Leaders

Jim VanderSteeg

President and Chief Executive Officer

Mike Belbeck

Executive Vice President of Operations

John Geppi

Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

Luke Johnson

Executive Vice President
Physician Enterprise/Ambulatory Services

Doug Campbell

General Counsel

Chiefs of Staff

Richard Bremer, MD

Hospitalist, Internal Medicine
Methodist Medical Center

Edgar Diaz, MD

Hospitalist, Internal Medicine
Roane Medical Center

Philip Meyette, MD

Hospitalist, Family Practice
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center

 

Jeffrey Roesch, MD

Radiologist
Parkwest Medical Center

George Sawabini, DO

Hospitalist, Internal Medicine
Fort Loudoun Medical Center

Allen Smith, MD

Pulmonary Disease/Critical Care
LeConte Medical Center