Scott County Behavioral Health Services Opens New Location

   “You have a good reputation across the state,” said Delegate Terry Kilgore, Rep., speaking about the care provided by Frontier Health and Planning District One Behavioral Health Services 33-year partnership.

   The new location on U.S. Highway 23 North in Weber City will help centralize services. The move and name change from Scott County Mental Health will help improve access to care in the PD1 area.

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Frontier Health Nominees Win TAMHO Frank Clement Award

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations honored Judges James Nidiffer and Robert Lincoln, Washington County General Sessions Court, Jonesborough, with the TAMHO Frank G. Clement Community Service Award for developing and serving the Mental Health Court in Washington County.
   The TAMHO Frank Clement Award recognizes outstanding volunteer service, effective community-wide leadership and responsibility and positively impacting the community.

   Regardless of their already extended hours in court, both judges volunteer and contribute their time weekly to mental health consumers in the operation of the Washington County Mental Health Court.

Farah Williams, Ph.D., Joins Frontier Health

   Frontier Health welcomes clinical psychologist Farah Williams, Ph.D., to Scott County Behavioral Health. Williams, a native of Gate City, Va., specializes in child and adolescent psychotherapy and psychological assessments.
   “We’re pleased Dr. Williams has decided to join us,” said E. Douglas Varney, President and CEO. “Dr. Williams’s experience, skills, and capabilities are an asset to Frontier Health and she shares our vision to provide quality services that help people achieve their full potential.”

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Frontier Health Nominees Win TAMHO Media Award

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations honored Larry Harris, Sales Manager, Citadel Broadcasting, Gray, Tennessee and Mike Padgett, Account Executive, Holston Valley Broadcasting, Kingsport, Tennessee with the TAMHO Media Award during the TAMHO 2009 Annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.
   The TAMHO Media Award recognizes members of the electronic or print media who have made outstanding contributions through their professional activities to Tennessee’s behavioral health system and the people it serves.

Frontier Health's Perry to Serve on Federal Advisory Committee

  Timothy A. Perry, LPC-MHSP, was nominated by Gov. Phil Bredesen to serve on a Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice. Jeff Slowikowski, acting administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, officially appointed Perry and Chattanooga’s Beverly Cosley to serve on the committee. Both Perry, Frontier Health’s coordinator Children and Youth Outpatient Services for Bristol Regional and Johnson County counseling centers, and Cosley serve on the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, the agency responsible for administration of federal funding from the Office of Juvenile Justice.

Frontier Health Announces New CFO, Senior Vice President

  Frontier Health’s new Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Fiscal Services is long-time employee David McKee. McKee oversees a $49.8 million budget for the agency that served nearly 78,000 individuals during the last fiscal year.
“We are very pleased to have David McKee as our new CFO,” said E. Douglas Varney, President and CEO. “David has a long relationship with Frontier Health, serving as our Controller since 1992 where he has assisted with two of the mergers that led to the establishment of Frontier Health.”

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Erwin Mental Health Earns Star of Excellence

  Frontier Health awarded a Star of Excellence to Erwin Mental Health for outstanding Consumer Satisfaction results based on a survey by the Mental Health Corporations of America.
     The results are compared to outpatient and case management client response in the MHCA national database. The provided areas are: Personal Therapy, Physical Environment, Client/Staff Interaction, and Overall Outcome and Reputation.

     Erwin Mental Health exceeded the MHCA benchmark in all four areas. MHCA is an alliance of behavioral health organizations that work to strengthen its members.

      MHCA member organizations are encouraged to learn best practices from each other and are introduced to top-notch, nationally recognized leaders in management reform and healthcare delivery. Members regularly examine their corporate vision and are given tools that help them prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.
     The Star of Excellence award is given to Frontier Health programs for excellence in the area of Performance Improvement, exceeding in efforts to improve the quality of care that consumers receive.

Crisis Stabilization Unit Opens in Region

Crisis Stabilization Unit to Provide Short-Term Services for Mental Health Crises

  Frontier Health opened its Crisis Stabilization Unit to provide a critical resource in Northeast Tennessee.

   The 24/7 Crisis Stabilization Unit opened in late April, providing short-term stabilization services for individuals with mental health issues.
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Kelly Haught Becomes Division Director  

  Frontier Health announces the appointment of Kelly S. Haught, LPC-MHSP, as the Division Director of Specialty Services. Haught will oversee the new Crisis Stabilization Unit, Mobile Crisis Response, Magnolia Ridge Alcohol & Drug Residential Treatment Center, and Willow Ridge that serves individuals in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

  “I am very pleased to have Kelly as the new division director of Specialty Services,” said Randy Jessee, Senior Vice President of Specialty Services. “She has proven herself to be a fine leader and representative of Frontier Health values. I look forward to continuing our work together.”

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Frontier Health Welcomes New Physician

  Maria Liquete, M.D., recently joined Frontier Health as a general psychiatrist practicing at Ridgeview Psychiatric Hospital and Wellmont Bristol Medical Center’s medical psychiatric unit, Five East, as part of a management partnership between Frontier Health and Wellmont Health System.

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Trauma-Focused Treatment Nets Star of Excellence  

  Frontier Health awarded a Star of Excellence its new intervention learning collaborative Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The program involves the Centers of Excellence in Tennessee and the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress at Duke University.

  To address their needs, Frontier Health is participating a in this model program by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The intervention program helps children, youth, and their parents overcome traumatic life events such as child sexual abuse; traumatic loss of a loved one; domestic, school, or community violence.

   Through individual and family therapy, children and parents learn skills to help them process trauma; mange distressing thoughts, feelings and behaviors; and enhances safety, parenting skills and family communication.

   The Star of Excellence award is given to Frontier Health programs for excellence in the area of Performance Improvement, exceeding in efforts to improve the quality of care that consumers receive.

Hancock County Earns Frontier Star of Excellence  

  Frontier Health awarded a Star of Excellence to Hancock County Mental Health Center for the outstanding results they received from the Mental Health Corporations of America Consumer Satisfaction Survey.

   The results, provided in four cluster areas, are compared to outpatient and case management client response in the MHCA national database. The MHCA divisions are: Personal Therapy, Physical Environment, Client/Staff Interaction, and Overall Outcome and Reputation. Hancock County exceeded the MHCA benchmark in all four cluster areas.
    MHCA is an alliance of behavioral health organizations that work to strengthen their members’ competitive position, enhance leadership capabilities, and facilitate strategic networking opportunities.
    The Star of Excellence award is given to Frontier Health programs for excellence in the area of Performance Improvement, exceeding in efforts to improve the quality of care that consumers receive.

CareSpark Goes ‘Live’ in Tri-Cities Region

  CareSpark, along with leaders from Frontier Health, Holston Medical Group, Mountain States Health Alliance, and Wellmont Health System, announced the CareSpark system is live and ready to receive data. Healthcare providers will be able to share electronic information regarding medications, lab and radiology results, and preventative services such as immunizations and screenings.

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Misunderstanding Can Prevent People from Seeking Help for Mental Illness  

By: Teresa Kidd, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President

of Tennessee Outpatient Services
All Rights Reserved

  One in four adults, or 57.7 million Americans, suffer from a diagnosable mental illness each year and one in 10 children has a serious mental, emotional or behavioral disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
   Although millions are affected, fewer than one-third receive any services. As with any illness, misunderstanding can prevent people from seeking help. Misunderstanding of mental illness, however leads to stigma, discrimination, fear, embarrassment, guilt, and even shame for those with a very treatable illness.

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Frontier Health Nets American Graphic Design Award

   Frontier Health received an Award of Excellence from Graphic Design USA in their annual American Graphic Design Awards for Frontier Health’s Fiscal 2008 annual report "Renewing Hope" and previously for 2007 annual report, “Building on a Half Century of Service.”

   Only 15 percent of the more than 10,000 entries were recognized for their excellence. Winners are eligible for reproduction in Graphic Design’s yearly 300-page publication.
    This nearly four decades-old competition is open to advertising agencies, graphic design firms, corporate, institutional and publishing in-house departments, and more. It honors outstanding new work of all kinds across all media: print and collateral, advertising and sales promotion, packaging and point-of-purchase, internet and interactive design, broadcast and motion graphics, corporate identity and logos. The 2008 awards are sponsored by NewPage.

Tennessee Division of Developmental Disabilities is Four-Star Agency

 Frontier Health’s Tennessee Division of Developmental Disabilities services received a Four-Star Agency designation for 2008-‘09 by the Tennessee Division of Mental Retardation Services for the agency’s excellent performance regarding quality management of services and client support.
  The award recognizes Frontier Health’s role in helping people with developmental disabilities achieve healthy, secure, and meaningful lives. “The staff at Frontier Health should feel a much deserved sense of accomplishment,” said Deputy Commission Stephen H. Norris.

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Frontier Health Receives TECHMED Award

  Frontier Health's medical services and electronic medical record was recognized for, "Outstanding Use of Technology in Patient Care," with the first TECHMED Award sponsored for 15 or more physicians. The award was presented by Saratoga Technologies and East Tennessee Medical News and independently judged by the Northeast Tennessee Technology Council.

   "With the advent of the Electronic Medical Record, physicians have immediate access to every episode of care to help make informed, appropriate decisions," said E. Douglas Varney, President and CEO of Frontier Health. "This includes prompts that alert the clinician regarding missed or upcoming appointments, reactions to medications, or other important information. The physicians and clinicians enter the new client information and it is immediately part of the client's electronic record."
    Varney said this is especially important because clients may visit multiple locations including Frontier Health's 18 outpatient sites, Magnolia Ridge Residential Alcohol & Drug Treatment, or one of its 50 other facilities.
    Frontier Health's Electronic Medical Record, implemented in 2004, continues to evolve as it embraces new technology and software modules to assure the highest standards in quality, accessible care.

East Tennessee Medical News: A Conversation with E. Douglas Varney

By CINDY SANDERS

   E. Douglas Varney, president and CEO of Frontier Health, knows Northeast Tennessee well. After all, other than a three-year stint with the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne, he has called the region home his entire life.
    Born in Southwest Virginia, Varney moved to Kingsport before attending East Tennessee State University, where he received bachelor's and master's degrees in clinical psychology. He completed postgraduate work at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
    Varney said his roots provide an important insight into the culture of the 12 counties Frontier Health covers as the region's premier provider of behavioral health, substance abuse and developmental disability services. Part of that culture, he said, includes "taking care of our own."

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Musil Now Senior VP of Medical Services

  Frontier Health Psychiatrist C. Allen Musil Jr., M.D., was recently appointed Senior Vice President of Medical Services for the corporation.

   "We're pleased to make this announcement," said E. Douglas Varney, President and CEO of Frontier Health. "Dr. Musil is an outstanding physician and has the leadership and organizational skills necessary to help Frontier Health continue its mission and role as the region's premier provider of behavioral health, substance abuse, developmental disabilities, and vocational rehabilitation services."

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Frontier Health Celebrating 50 Years of Service

   Celebrating more than 50 years of service, Frontier Health is the leading provider of mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities services in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. As a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 organization, Frontier Health's leadership continues its community founders' earliest vision from 1951 to establish accessible and quality services within the region.

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