CLEVELAND, Tenn. — In the past six months, patients who’ve visited Tennova Hospital in Cleveland might have noticed staff members wearing a pin that displays the quote: “Because we’ve always done it that way” — with a bold red line slashing through it.
“Everyone gets one at orientation, and we’re encouraging people to think differently about what could be and problem solve in a different way,” the hospital’s CEO, Jarrett Millsaps, said as he explained the meaning behind the pins in an interview.
Though they’re small, the pins represent a larger effort to change the culture and the narrative of Tennova — which over the years earned a reputation that led many Bradley County residents to forgo their community hospital and drive 30 miles west to seek care in Chattanooga.
Since taking over the helm in January, Millsaps has been working to restore Tennova’s relevance by rebuilding culture, focusing on clinical quality and leveraging the strength of the community.
“We’re large enough to be impactful but small enough to walk down the hall and know people,” he said. “We can use that to our advantage.”