November 19, 2020
Dear Tennessee residents:
The past several months have taken a toll on all of us, as we cope with the stress of quarantines, social distancing and other public health measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We miss our friends and family, we miss concerts and other events, we miss seeing smiles that are hidden by masks when we are at the grocery store, and we are heartbroken to have lost so many to this horrible disease.
As clinicians in Tennessee hospitals, we feel it too. However, we are also impacted for other reasons. We are worried for our patients who were perfectly healthy just a week ago and are now dependent on a ventilator to breathe, saddened as we hold the phone while family members say their final goodbyes on FaceTime, and frustrated that simple steps that could greatly reduce the loss of life are not being embraced by all Tennesseans.
We, the Chief Medical Officers and Chief Nursing Officers across the state of Tennessee, are banding together in one unified voice to say masking makes a difference. While nothing short of total isolation completely eliminates the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19, we, as medical professionals, know that wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing does greatly reduce the risk. A cloth or surgical mask traps droplets that are released when the wearer talks, coughs or sneezes. These droplets are what spreads the virus between people. Containing the droplets helps stop the spread of COVID-19. More recent evidence further indicates that wearing a mask also protects the wearer by reducing the number of infectious droplets inhaled by the wearer. In other words, wearing a mask protects both you and those around you. As clinicians in hospitals throughout the state, our goal is to be here when you need us, regardless of the type of care you are seeking. Unfortunately, COVID-19 hospitalizations in Tennessee are escalating at a rate that threatens to overwhelm the healthcare system and compromise our ability to do just that. We all need to do our part to make sure that doesn’t happen, by wearing a mask and social distancing. Together, we can protect our neighbors and ourselves and ensure healthcare services continue to be available when and where we need them. Sincerely, Tennessee Hospital CMOs and CNOs
5201 Virginia Way | Brentwood, Tennessee 37027 | 615.256.8240 | www.tha.com Masking Makes a Difference CMO CNO Letter, page 2
Ascension Saint Thomas, Nashville Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West, Greg James, MD Nashville Chief Clinical Officer Mark Marsden, MD Chief Medical Officer Michelle Robertson Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operating Officer Sam Straton Chief Nursing Officer
Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown, Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, Nashville Murfreesboro Nicole Schlechter Julian Yang, MD Chief Medical Officer Chief Medical Officer
Marco Fernandez-Schklar Teresa Collins Chief Nursing Officer Chief Nursing Officer Ascension Saint Thomas River Park, DeKalb, Ascension Saint Thomas Hickman, Dickson Highlands, Stones River, Hickman Neal Kelley John Beuerlein Regional President Chief Medical Officer
Bob Peglow Chief Nursing Officer
Ballad Health, Johnson City Ballad Health, Johnson City Mark Wilkinson, MD Clay Runnels, MD Vice President, Chief Medical Officer Executive Vice President, Chief Physician Executive
Lisa Smithgall, PhD, RNC-NIC, CPNP, NEA-BC Senior Vice President, Chief Nursing Executive
Ballad Health, Johnson City Ballad Health, Johnson City Amit Vashist, MD Danny Lewis, MD Senior Vice President, Chief Clinical Officer Vice President/Chief Medical Officer, SE Market
Ballad Health, Johnson City Ballad Health, Johnson City Brian Dawson, MD Chad Couch, MD Vice President/Chief Medical Officer, SW Market Vice President/Chief Medical Officer, NE Market
Ballad Health, Johnson City Ballad Health, Johnson City Mhroos Peters, MD Beth Jackson, MD Vice President/Chief Medical Officer, Johnston Chief Medical Officer, NW Market Memorial Hospital
Ballad Health, Johnson City Ballad Health, Johnson City Matt Loos, MD Shari Rajoo, MD Vice President/Chief Academic Officer Vice President/Chief Medical Officer, Population Health Masking Makes a Difference CMO CNO Letter, page 3
Ballad Health Medical Associates, Johnson Ballad Health Medical Associates, Johnson City City Mark Patterson, MD Stephen Combs, MD Senior Vice President/Chief Executive Officer Vice President/Chief Medical Officer
Baptist Hospital for Women, Memphis Kevin Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, Hammeran Memphis Chief Executive Officer Henry P. Sullivant Vice President, Chief Medical Officer Carol Thetford Chief Nursing Officer Susan P. Ferguson Vice President, Chief Nurse Executive
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville, Collierville Carrol County Denise Ferguson Lee Carter, MD Chief Nursing Officer Chief Medical Officer
Kim Sanders Chief Nursing Officer
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton, Tipton Memphis Jimmy Beasley, MD William G Cloud, MD Medical Staff President/Chief of Staff Chief Medical Officer Jackie Barton Ashley W. Harris, MD Chief Nursing Officer Associate Chief Medical Officer Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City, Union Behavioral Health of Rocky Top, Rocky Top City Paul Warrick Miller, MD Lori Brown Chief Medical Officer Chief Nursing Officer Meredith A. Howard MHA, BSN, CCM Chief Nursing Officer Blount Memorial Hospital Harold Naramore, MD Chief Medical Officer CHI Memorial Health Care System, Chattanooga Matthew Kodsi, MD, PhD Joseph Newsome Vice President, Medical Affairs Chief Nursing Officer Rhonda Hatfield Chief Nursing Officer/Vice President, Clinical Bristol Regional Medical Center, Bristol Operations Bobby Murphy Cookeville Regional Medical Center, Cookeville Chief Nursing Officer Lee Taylor, MD Chief Medical Officer
Community Health Systems, Inc., Clarksville Scott Lethi Laura Franklin Chief Nursing Officer Assistant Chief Nursing Officer Masking Makes a Difference CMO CNO Letter, page 4
Covenant Health System, Knoxville East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Knoxville Mark Browne Joe Childs, MD Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Chief Medical Officer
Debra Honey Ron Phillips Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Chief Nursing Officer
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital, Chattanooga Franklin Amjad Munir, MD Scott Craig, MD Chief Medical Officer Medical Director
Trish Hollifield, CRRN Valerie Shoulders Chief Nursing Officer Chief Nursing Officer
Erlanger Baroness Hospital, Chattanooga Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital, Donald Barker, MD Chattanooga Interim Chief Medical Officer Jennie Mahaffey, MD Chief Medical Officer
Rich Smith, MSN, MBA, DNP, RN Chief Nursing Officer
Erlanger Health System, Chattanooga Franklin Woods Community Hospital, Johnson Rachel Harris, BSN, RN City Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive Stephanie Cook Chief Nursing Officer
Greeneville Community Hospital, Greeneville Hawkins County Memorial Hospital and Hancock Daniel Lewis, MD, CPE, CAQSM, FAAFP Community Hospital, Rogersville Chief Medical Officer Hunter Hamilton Chief Nursing Officer Robin Roberts, MSN, MBA Chief Nursing Officer
Henry County Medical Center, Paris Holston Valley Medical Center and Indian Path Neely Ashby Community Hospital, Kingsport Chief Nursing Officer Theresa Trivette Chief Nursing Officer
Johnson City Medical Center, Johnson City Lauderdale Community Hospital, Ripley Morgan May James Caylor, MD Chief Nursing Officer Chief Medical Officer
Cassandra Williams Chief Nursing Officer Masking Makes a Difference CMO CNO Letter, page 5
Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis Lincoln Health System, Fayetteville Barry Gilmore, MD, MBA, FAAP Chief Medical Officer Carrie Rogers, MSN, RN Chief Nursing Officer Karen Howard Interim, Chief Nursing Officer
Livingston Regional Hospital, Livingston Maury Regional Health, Columbia Dawn Barlow, MD Martin Chaney, MD Chief of Staff Chief Medical Officer
Penny Kirby Deborah Lumpkins, DNP, RN, NEA-BC Chief Nursing Officer Chief Nursing Officer
Methodist Germantown Hospital, Memphis Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis Cassandra Howard, MD, MBA Nikki S. Polis Vice President, Chief Medical Officer Chief Nurse Executive
Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital, Methodist North Hospital, Memphis Memphis Deborah Esmon Katherine Barnes Chief Nursing Officer Chief Nursing Officer
Methodist Olive Branch Hospital, Memphis Methodist South Hospital, Memphis Annelise Jensen Robert Flores Chief Nursing Officer Chief Nursing Officer
Methodist University Hospital, Memphis Nashville General Hospital, Nashville Robin J. Womeodu, MD DeAnn Bullock, MD Vice President, Chief Medical Officer Chief Medical Officer
Jennifer Nitschmann Veronica Elders Chief Nursing Officer Chief Nursing Officer
Niswonger Children’s Hospital, Johnson City NorthCrest Medical Center, Springfield Patricia Chambers, MD Angie Beard, RN, MSN, CCRN Vice President/Chief Medical Officer Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Clinical Officer
Holly Rinehart Chief Nursing Officer Masking Makes a Difference CMO CNO Letter, page 6
Parkridge Health System, Chattanooga Pathways of Tennessee, Jackson Timothy Grant, MD Kevin Turner, MD Chief Medical Officer Chief Medical Officer
Deborah Deal Chief Nursing Officer
Quillen Rehabilitation Hospital, Johnson City Regional One Health, Memphis Neha Barakam, MD Martin Croce, MD, FACS Medical Director Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
Lynn Langan, MBA, BSN, RN, CRRN Linda Hughlett Chief Nursing Officer Chief Nursing Officer
Rhea Medical Center, Dayton, Dayton Ridgeview Psychiatric Hospital & Center, Oak Mark Pollard, MD Ridge Chief of Staff Renu Bhateja, MD Chief Medical Officer Samantha Bryant, RN, MSN Chief Nursing Officer
Riverview Regional Medical Center, Carthage Saint Francis Hospital, Memphis Patricia Anderson, BSN MBA David Schwartz Chief Nursing Officer Chief Medical Officer
Saint Francis Hospital, Bartlett Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation, Jacquelyn Whobrey MSN, RN, CMSRN, NEA- Chattanooga BC Chief Nursing Officer Tracy Collings Reed, DNP, MBA, RN, CRRN, LSSBB Vice President, Patient Care Services, CNO
Southern Tennessee Regional Health System, Southern Tennessee Regional Health System, Lawrenceburg Pulaski Marcia Patterson, MSN, RN Michael Windland, MD Chief Nursing Officer Chief Medical Officer
Libby Ferguson, MSN, RN Chief Nursing Officer Starr Regional Medical Center, Athens Sumner Regional Medical Center, Gallatin Ronald Hall, RN Geoffrey Lifferth, MD, FAAEM Chief Nursing Officer Chief Medical Officer
Isabelle Garibaldi, RN, DNP Chief Nursing Officer Masking Makes a Difference CMO CNO Letter, page 7
Sweetwater Hospital Association, Sweetwater Sycamore Shoals Hospital, Elizabethton Andrea Henry RN, BSN Cindy Verzi, MSN, RN, NE-BC Director of Nursing Associate Administrator, CNO
Tennova Healthcare, Cleveland Three Rivers Hospital, Waverly William F. Johnson, MD George Mathai, MD Chief Medical Officer Chief Medical Officer
Kristina Cherry, PhD, RN, NEA-BC Alana Peters, RN Chief Nursing Officer Chief Nursing Officer
TriStar Health, Nashville TriStar Ashland City Medical Center, Ashland Tama Van Decar, MD City Chief Medical Officer Darrell White, MBA, RN Chief Nursing Officer Bryan Sisk Chief Nursing Executive
TriStar Centennial Medical Center, Nashville Trousdale Medical Center, Hartsville Divya Shroff, MD, FHM Jennifer Holder, RN, BSN, MBA, CPPS Chief Medical Officer Chief Nursing Officer
Cyndi Lockyear Chief Nursing Officer
Unicoi Community Hospital, Erwin Unity Psychiatric Care, Martin Marie Timlin Neil Bomar, MD Chief Nursing Officer Medical Director
Jessica Eaton, RN Director of Nursing
Unity Psychiatric Care, Memphis Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville Robert Edwards Paul Sternberg, Jr., MD Administrator/Division Leader/Telehealth and Chief Medical Officer EMR Marilyn Dubree, MSN, RN, NE-BC Executive Chief Nursing Officer
Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital, Nashville Nashville Nathaniel Clark, MD Jeffery Johns, MD Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry Chief Chief Medical Officer Medical Officer
Cynthia Childress Avni Cirpili, DNP, RN, NEA-BC Chief Nursing Officer Chief Nursing Officer Masking Makes a Difference CMO CNO Letter, page 8
West Tennessee Healthcare, Jackson West Tennessee Healthcare, Bolivar Hospital, Jackie Taylor, MD Bolivar Chief Physician Executive Samuel Johnson, Jr., MD Chief Medical Officer Teresa Freeman Chief Nursing Officer Erica Johnson Lockett Chief Nursing Officer West Tennessee Healthcare Milan Hospital, West Tennessee Healthcare Rehabilitation Milan Hospital Cane Creek, Martin Misty Allen, MD Jay Shires, MD Chief Medical Officer Medical Director
Lori Wood Kristin Skinner Chief Nursing Officer Chief Nursing Officer
Williamson Medical Center, Franklin Woodridge Hospital, Gray Andy Russell, MD, MBA Nikki Vanburen Chief Medical Officer Chief Nursing Officer
Lori Orme Chief Nursing Officer