
Elizabeth Fite covers health care for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. She joined the paper in 2017 after graduating from the University of Georgia's health and medical journalism master's program. She has written for WebMD, Georgia Health News and UGA's Office of Research, where she covered public health, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, infectious diseases and other sciences. She was the recipient of the 2017 Atlanta Press Club Award of Excellence for investigative reporting. Previously, she interned at the Aiken Standard in South Carolina and graduated from Auburn University.
A group of current and former Erlanger Health System employees who are now unable to take their pension benefits as an up-front lump-sum payment are looking to the courts for possible solutions.
by Elizabeth Fite 5 hours agoErlanger Health System sits nearly $19.5 million in the black halfway through fiscal year 2021, continuing the hospital's recent trend of outperforming its budget despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
by Elizabeth FiteIn 1978, Johnny Hale began honing the skills needed to become a flight nurse and one day land his dream job on the air medical team for Erlanger's Life Force air ambulance program.
by Elizabeth FiteMedical experts and researchers from across the country have applauded Tennessee's COVID-19 vaccination plan, which was among the first in the nation to consider social vulnerability in distribution.
by Elizabeth Fite and Wyatt MasseyAn announcement from the federal government that adults age 65 and up would become newly eligible for COVID-19 vaccines sent shockwaves through an already-taxed public health infrastructure as it struggles to keep up with a raging pandemic.
by Elizabeth Fite and Wyatt MasseyTennessee officials are trying to raise awareness about monoclonal antibodies, a potentially life-saving treatment designed to keep high-risk COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate illness out of the hospital.
by Elizabeth FiteThe next shipment of COVID-19 vaccine is expected to arrive in Hamilton County in time for residents who've gotten their initial vaccination to receive their second dose sometime next week, officials said Wednesday.
by Elizabeth FiteDr. Paul Hendricks will retire from his role as Hamilton County health officer at the end of January - a little over a year since he took over the top medical position at the Hamilton County Health Department.
by Elizabeth FiteThere's a lot to celebrate about having safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines on the ground within less than a year of the pandemic's onset. But now that vaccine is here, much of the public is left wondering why getting doses in arms — which experts say is our ticket out of the pandemic — isn't going smoother and faster.
by Elizabeth FiteCOVID-19 vaccines in Tennessee will no longer be administered on a first-come, first-served basis as the state plans to launch an online scheduling system next week.
by Elizabeth Fite and Wyatt MasseyBaylor School research scientists believe they've identified the new, seemingly more contagious U.K. COVID-19 variant in the Chattanooga region after in-house laboratory testing revealed mutations in two different coronavirus patient samples collected in December.
by Elizabeth FiteDemand for COVID-19 vaccines in Hamilton County outpaced supply again Tuesday, forcing some vaccine seekers to leave empty-handed despite a new alphabetical distribution strategy meant to shorten lines.
by Elizabeth FiteHealth data from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is providing insight into what makes some people more vulnerable to COVID-19 and less likely to accept vaccines.
by Elizabeth FiteThe Hamilton County Health Department was forced to turn people away from its drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination site after a record number of vaccine seekers quickly depleted the county's supply Thursday morning.
by Elizabeth FiteAll Tennesseans age 75 and older are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines in most Southeast Tennessee counties, including Hamilton, based on changes to the state's vaccination plan released Wednesday.
by Elizabeth FiteFrom back-to-back virtual meetings and working from home to cutting travel and juggling family needs, the COVID-19 pandemic has upended how people live and work, leaving many feeling overwhelmed, stressed or burned out.
by Elizabeth FiteOn Nov. 9 — a week before Whitfield County topped the state of Georgia in new COVID-19 cases per capita — Dr. Pablo Perez presented his case for a face mask mandate to the county commission.
by Elizabeth Fite and Patrick FilbinDALTON, Ga. — Stoney Ponders took notice when news broke in March that a funeral nearly 300 miles to the South in Albany, Georgia, sparked what would become one of the nation's first and most noteworthy COVID-19 clusters.
by Elizabeth FiteThis is the first of a three-part series exploring the coronavirus pandemic in the Chattanooga region and Whitfield County.
by Elizabeth FiteErlanger Health System's leadership team and staff will receive bonuses and raises not to exceed a combined $7.65 million in light of the hospital's 2020 performance following approval by the board of trustees on Thursday.
by Elizabeth Fite