• Healing Environment

  • Wellmont Health System offers expert treatment from many of our region’s top physicians, nurses and caregivers. Their roles involve curing diseases using some of the most modern methods available. They have a desire to cure, and they are among the best at what they do.

    Wellmont’s Healing Environment introduces Shepherds, specially trained and empowered caregivers who exhibit a passion for helping patients heal – physically, mentally and spiritually. These Shepherds are dedicated to creating healing spaces around us, healing attitudes within us and healing relationships between us.

    The Healing Environment focuses as much energy on healing patients as it does on curing diseases. In a Healing Environment, patients are the focal points. Decisions are made and actions are taken with our patients first and foremost in mind.

    The Healing Environment is not a new concept. Its principles are rooted in the basic concepts of medicine and in the idea that we are each capable of being a Good Samaritan. At times, that may involve the simple offering of a kind word or a compassionate heart. And the Healing Environment acknowledges that sometimes, when that is all we have to give, it is also what is most needed.

    The Healing Environment is more than a program or a set of guidelines for care. It is a concept that takes care to another level and a set of principles that promotes true healing. It is the right thing to do for our patients.

  • What does the Healing Environment symbol represent?

    The Healing Environment symbol represents the Good Samaritan and shepherding abilities we all embody.

    • The Shepherd’s open arms are an expression of welcome and represent a place of comfort and help in difficult times.
    • The Shepherd’s face – a face without distinct features – is symbolic of all people and the Good Samaritan in us all.
    • The Shepherd’s flowing robe is symbolic of times past and our heritage of healing body, mind and spirit.

    Wellmont employees who wear a pin with this symbol are actively involved and serve as Shepherds for the Healing Environment.

    Shepherd

  • Healing Environment projects at Holston Valley

    These recent Shepherd-led projects have been developed and are being implemented to improve the environment of healing at Holston Valley Medical Center.

    • Empowering co-workers to better address concerns of patients and visitors
    • Adding affordable new menu options and better menu signage
    • Improving patient experiences by sharing best practices in patient satisfaction
    • Making resources available to ease concerns for families waiting in the emergency department
    • Announcing new births with a lullaby for co-workers and visitors
    • Providing better resources and a resource center for families and visitors
    • Addressing proper techniques for phone communications and overhead paging
    • Enhancing options for alternative and complementary medicine
    • Improving hospital wayfinding by offering guide services
    • Piloting a ceiling art program to help brighten patients' rooms

    Healing Environment projects at Bristol Regional

    These recent Shepherd-led projects have been developed and are being implemented to improve the environment of healing at Bristol Regional Medical Center.

    • Introducing daily spiritual time-outs to create a moment of pause in the day
    • Improving communications in the surgery waiting areas
    • Streamlining the flow of admissions paperwork
    • Offering activities for patients and families to pass the time
    • Enhancing waiting areas and making them more friendly for families
    • Ensuring availability of food for patients and visitors after normal cafeteria hours
    • Improving the physical environment to create a more pleasant atmosphere
    • Creating resources for out-of-town visitors
    • Updating the mother's room for co-workers who are nursing
    • Implementing new tools to make hospital wayfinding easier