Overview
Johnson City Medical Center is a 445-bed regional tertiary referral center for the entire service area and one of five Level 1 Trauma Centers in the state of Tennessee. Since 1911, Johnson City Medical Center has been dedicated to helping the people of our region attain their highest possible level of health.
The second hospital built in Tennessee, Johnson City Medical Center is a comprehensive, acute-care teaching hospital affiliated with East Tennessee State University. JCMC is a major medical referral center and home to Highlands Emergency Air Rescue and Transport (HEART), the region’s largest fleet of dedicated emergency medical air ambulances with bases in Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky.
We offer advanced surgical services, including orthopedics, vascular, cardiovascular thoracic and neurosurgery and general surgery, including minimally invasive options. To support these services, we have a 43-bed intensive care unit with specialized care for our cardiac, neurological, medical/surgical and trauma patients. Johnson City Medical Center also offers a leading cancer center, a specialized heart center, and advanced diagnostic imaging services.
A full range of specialty and subspecialty care services and some of the most advanced diagnostic and surgical techniques are available here. We provide private patient rooms and have separate specialized units for newborn, pediatric, medical and surgical intensive care.
Johnson City Medical Center is accredited by The Joint Commission and the American College of Surgeons American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Services we offer
A full range of specialty and subspecialty care services and some of the most advanced diagnostic and surgical techniques are available here.
Birthing center
Cancer care
Heart care services
Orthopedic services
Outpatient imaging center
Stroke care
Surgical services
Level 1 Trauma Center
Vascular care
Women’s Health and Imaging Center
Robotic-assisted surgery
Johnson City Medical Center offers robotic-assisted surgery with the Mako SmartRobotics™ and Mazor X Stealth™ robotic systems. These less invasive surgical systems significantly reduce the recovery time and pain for patients.
Learn more about robotic-assisted surgery.
High quality, nationally recognized care
Johnson City Medical Center continues to be recognized among the best hospitals, being recognized by CareChex with a Patient Safety Award as one of the Top 10% of Hospitals in the Nation for Overall Medical Care for 2023.
Along with the Top 10% in Patient Safety recognition, the hospital holds many accolades and recognitions, including:
Top 10% Hospital in the Nation in Medical Excellence and Top 10% in Patient Safety for Hip Fracture Care from CareChex (2023)- Top 10% Hospital in the Nation in Patient Safety for Trauma Care from CareChex (2023)
- Top 10% Hospital in the South in Patient Safety for Stroke Care from CareChex (2023)
Learn more about other Johnson City Medical Center and Ballad Health's awards and recognitions.
Safe Sleep Certification

Cribs for Kids has awarded Ballad Health’s Birthing Center at the Johnson City Medical Center their Gold Tier Safe Sleep Hospital Certification. This means that we’ve shown outstanding commitment in reducing the risk of:
- Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID)
- Accidental Suffocation and Strangulation in Bed (ASSB)
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
- Unsafe sleep injuries
Our Birthing Centers provide safe sleep education to our staff caring for infants, their family and caregivers. In addition to this, we identify at-risk family/caregivers in need of safe sleep spaces and ensure they have what they need before they’re discharged.
Learn more about Cribs for Kids and their Safe Sleep Hospital Certification.
Medical care and community impact reports
Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)
Johnson City Medical Center CHNA [PDF, 2.2 MB]
CMS price transparency
Johnson City Medical Center Standard Charges, including Woodridge Hospital and Niswonger Children’s Hospital [CSV file, 33 MB] – updated 9/8/2023
You can learn more about pre-visit coordination and registration here and about payment options here.
Metrics by MS-DRG*
Johnson City Medical Center MS-DRG metrics [PDF, 394KB], fiscal year 2023
View more Ballad Health MS-DRG metrics here.
*MS-DRGs are Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Groups.
Cancer care quality
Ballad Health Cancer Care 2018 Annual Report [PDF]
Learn more
Expand a section below to learn more about Johnson City Medical Center and our community.
Leadership
Leadership
Lisa Carter – President, Southern Region
Kenny Shafer – Chief Executive Officer , Johnson City Medical Center
David Wild, MD – Chief Medical Officer, Southern Region
Frank Canova – Chief Financial Officer, Southern Region
Alison Johnson, MSN – VP/Chief Nursing Officer, Johnson City Medical Center
Rhonda Reeves – Senior Director, Human Resources, Southern Region
Emily Murr – Market Director, Marketing and Communications, Southern Region
Our Community
Johnson City
Bustling with a population of more than 60,000, Johnson City lies just west of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Northeast Tennessee. The rugged beauty of the Appalachians surrounds the thriving city that encompasses all of Washington County and parts of Carter and Sullivan counties.
It is known for its rich history (Daniel Boone, Al Capone and railroads), cultural heritage (bluegrass music, quilts and storytelling), outdoor adventure area (hiking, whitewater rafting, rock climbing) and beautiful lakes and mountain vistas. Yet, the eighth largest city in Tennessee also boasts diverse economic and educational opportunities and has become a regional hub for health care, including medical and pharmacy schools associated with East Tennessee State University. The city is also home to a beautiful and historic Veterans Administration campus and hospital.
Food, crafts, music and other entertainment abound at the area’s many annual events such as the Blue Plum Festival (June), Pepsi Independence Day Celebration (July 4), Umoja Festival (August), the Taste of Johnson City (September), the Storytelling Festival (October). Local bands bring the nights alive at popular downtown locations. Exciting day trips to Asheville, Knoxville, Gatlinburg and the ski areas of North Carolina are about an hour away.
All this, an excellent economy and one of the lowest costs of living in the U.S. led Forbes magazine to list Johnson City as one of the “Best Small Cities for Business and Careers.” Kiplinger’s named it one of the “10 Least Expensive Cities for Living in the U.S.A.” Residents and visitors alike are drawn to the big city opportunities and small-town atmosphere of Johnson City, a one-of-a-kind town. For more information about the area go to visitjohnsoncitytn.com.