Jerry Qualls suffered a heart attack in 2022 and was hospitalized at Holston Valley Medical Center, part of the Ballad Health system. His wife, Katherine Qualls, was told he would not qualify for a heart transplant. She insisted on transferring him to a hospital in Nashville, where he ultimately received a lifesaving heart transplant. Ballad Health, created by a merger to prevent hospital closures in Tennessee and Virginia, has faced criticism for quality-of-care issues and monopolizing hospital services in the region. Some residents are wary of seeking care at Ballad hospitals, leading to concerns and complaints to state officials.
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Six Years Into an Appalachia Hospital Monopoly, Patients Are Fearful and Furious
