Chattanooga government does not reflect the city's diversity, new data show
New data from the city of Chattanooga reveals large gender and racial disparities in portions of local government tasked with making key decisions on how the c…
Stories by Elizabeth Fite
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A year of 'liquid gold': The ups and downs of the vaccine rollout in Hamilton County
COVID-19 vaccines were called "liquid gold" when the first shipment arrived in Chattanooga a year ago.
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Health officials: Omicron variant now in Hamilton County
The omicron variant of the coronavirus has been reported in Hamilton County, health department officials confirmed Thursday, though it's likely been spreading …
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Tennessee medical board drops COVID-19 misinformation policy from website
The state board that oversees licensed Tennessee physicians voted during a special session Tuesday to remove a policy from its website stating that physicians …
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Antiviral COVID-19 pills could reach Tennessee next week
Long-awaited oral antiviral pills to combat mild to moderate COVID-19 at home could be available in Tennessee as soon as next week, according to the state's to…
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Tennessee's COVID-19 variant testing lags as omicron cases grow
Tennessee's ability to detect the presence of coronavirus variants remains extremely limited as the new variant omicron draws worldwide attention, leaving publ…
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COVID-19 cases on the upswing in the Chattanooga area after two months of decline
After over two months of steady improvement, key metrics used to track the Chattanooga region's COVID-19 outbreak have risen slightly over the past week.
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Erlanger's chief-of-staff ouster draws concern from doctors elsewhere
The Erlanger Board of Trustees' decision last month to remove the hospital's chief of staff is drawing concern from physicians even outside the health system. …
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COVID-19 vaccine rates for children vary around Southeast Tennessee
Dora Rangel, a mother living in Murray County, Georgia, said she never questioned her choice to get her children vaccinated against COVID-19. She also said it …
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Erlanger Health System's pension fund jumps from 36% to 50% funding
Erlanger Health System's pension fund - which just over a year ago sat critically underfunded at 36% - is now more than 50% funded thanks to a strong year of e…
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Hamilton County Schools says it can't enforce COVID-19 quarantines of individuals as a result of new state laws
Hamilton County Schools and other public school districts in Tennessee can no longer stop students who are exposed to or who test positive for COVID-19 from at…
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Coleman selected to replace Mines as chair of Erlanger Board of Trustees
Erlanger Health System's 11-member board of trustees has voted to move its budget and finance committee chair Jim Coleman into the board's top position.
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Erlanger physicians still reeling over chief of staff removal
Medical staff officers at Erlanger Health System are frustrated by what they believe was a lack of due process and transparency behind the public hospital boar…
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Following CHI Memorial's lead, more Chattanooga area hospitals are moving to require employee COVID-19 vaccinations
Three months after CHI Memorial announced it would require workforce COVID-19 vaccinations, Chattanooga's other two major hospital systems are quietly moving a…
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UTC drops mask mandate despite exemption from new Tennessee law reining in COVID-19 restrictions
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will stand by its move to not require face masks on campus, despite the state granting the university system the abi…
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5% of Hamilton County children aged 5-11 vaccinated in first week of eligibility
At least 1,459 Hamilton County children ages 5 to 11 have rolled up their sleeves and received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine since becoming eligible t…
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Tennessee law would allow COVID-19 patients one visitor, but some hospitals are concerned
Tennessee hospitals may soon be forced to allow visitors for coronavirus patients pending Gov. Bill Lee signing a bill passed by the Tennessee General Assembly…
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Hamilton County mayor decries state stripping of local public health powers
Measures passed in Nashville late last month during a special legislative session would revoke many of Hamilton County's rights to make its own decisions about…
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Where to get free, drive-through flu shots in Southeast Tennessee on Tuesday
The Hamilton County Health Department and other health departments across Southeastern Tennessee will offer free, drive-through flu shots on Tuesday as part of…
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Tennessee's new COVID-19 law bans mask mandates except when pandemic is at deadliest levels
A provision in a bill awaiting Gov. Bill Lee's signature would bar localities from implementing mask mandates unless local COVID-19 caseloads reach a level Ham…
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Sabrina Novak named administrator of Hamilton County Health Department
Sabrina Novak, who became interim administrator for the Hamilton County Health Department in September, has officially taken over as Hamilton County's top publ…
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Erlanger approves bonuses for 'very financially rewarding' year
Erlanger Health System's leadership team and staff will receive bonuses not to exceed a combined $4.23 million in light of what they describe as strong fiscal …
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Erlanger board removes chief of staff over 'breach in confidence' allegations
Erlanger Health System's Board of Trustees voted 6-3 Thursday to remove chief of staff and fellow trustee Dr. Chris Young from those roles over allegations tha…
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Less than 1% of CHI Memorial employees quit over COVID-19 vaccine mandate
With the deadline three days away, less than 1% of CHI Memorial employees have resigned so far as a result of the health system's COVID-19 vaccine requirement,…
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Tennessee's COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough case percentage remains stable
After increasing each month since May, updated state data shows the proportion of serious and fatal COVID-19 infections among vaccinated Tennesseans fell sligh…
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In 'daunting' health care environment, Erlanger ekes out positive net income
Erlanger Health System managed to finish the first quarter of the new fiscal year with $8.3 million net income from operations despite treating a record 862 CO…
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Clinica Medicos works to close gaps in maternal care for Hispanic women
Pregnancy can be a daunting process for any woman.
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Tennessee may have to repay more than $767 million in Medicaid funds
Tennessee could be forced to repay the federal government $767.5 million in Medicaid funds that auditors said TennCare officials incorrectly claimed between 20…
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Chattanooga region's summer wave of COVID-19 infections crests
New COVID-19 cases across Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama continue to decline - signaling that the record-breaking summer wave is coming to an end.
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Path to financial stability for Erlanger remains unclear a year after private offer rejected
A PBS documentary that aired in May called attention to a long-brewing crisis in American health care brought to the forefront by the COVID-19 pandemic - the f…
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One Chattanooga ZIP code is nearly 90% vaccinated against COVID-19 while others lag far behind
Large disparities in COVID-19 vaccination rates throughout Hamilton County persist despite a boost in the county's overall vaccination rate throughout the summ…
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Ivermectin and outrage: The viral aftermath for a conservative Chattanooga activist who lost his brother to COVID-19
Marlon Hampton was a quiet man, the opposite of his outspoken younger brother.
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Tennessee doctors who spread COVID-19 vaccine misinformation could lose their licenses
Tennessee physicians who create or spread COVID-19 vaccine misinformation or disinformation could now face disciplinary action, including suspension or revocat…
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COVID-19 vaccine demand in Tennessee, Hamilton County wanes along with summer surge
Demand for first-dose COVID-19 vaccinations spiked in August and September during the surge of new infections and hospitalizations caused by the delta variant.
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Hamilton County student survives rare syndrome linked to COVID-19
Ten-year-old Elijah Berestecky's arms are still covered in bruises from the dozens of needle jabs he received during two trips to the pediatrician, three to th…
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Tennessee gives update on monoclonal antibody shortage
Concerns that vaccinated Tennesseans could be denied access to monoclonal antibodies in order to conserve the life-saving drugs for unvaccinated people are sub…
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Chattanooga area's COVID-19 patient surge subsiding, but death toll continues to climb
The Chattanooga area's worst COVID-19 patient surge to date appears to be subsiding, as new cases and hospitalization data show a marked decline since their mi…
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Vaccinated Tennesseans could be denied access to monoclonal antibodies due to demand
Many vaccinated Tennesseans could be denied access to monoclonal antibodies in favor of unvaccinated people as new recommendations aim to conserve the life-sav…
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What Tennessee's latest data on COVID-19 breakthrough infections means
The proportion of serious and fatal COVID-19 infections among vaccinated Tennesseans is growing, but experts caution against using data on "breakthrough" infec…
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Younger Hamilton County residents are dying from COVID-19
An increasing number of younger Hamilton County residents are dying because of COVID-19 as a result of the ongoing summer surge powered by the highly contagiou…
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Hospice of Chattanooga, Alleo Health purchased by for-profit chain Care Hospice
Hospice of Chattanooga and other end-of-life care and support services providers within the Alleo Health System have been purchased by Virginia-based Care Hosp…
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Tennessee leads nation in COVID-19 cases per capita
Tennessee leads the nation in COVID-19 cases per capita since the start of the pandemic - as well as new cases over the past week - placing it at the center of…
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School-aged children make up a quarter of Hamilton County's new COVID-19 cases
Hamilton County school-aged children have accounted for roughly 1 in 4 of the county's new COVID-19 cases in the past month - underscoring that the highly cont…
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National Guard arrives to help Chattanooga's CHI Memorial Hospital give Regeneron COVID-19 treatment
Members of the Tennessee National Guard arrived in Hamilton County on Wednesday to assist with CHI Memorial Health System's monoclonal antibody injection clini…
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Hamilton County names interim health department administrator as pandemic rages on
Sabrina Novak, director of administrative services for the Hamilton County Health Department, will replace outgoing administrator Becky Barnes as interim healt…
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Deadline looms in CHI Memorial, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee contract standoff
Despite ongoing negotiations and aggressive ad campaigns, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and CHI Memorial have been unable to reach a contract agreement - p…
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Chattanooga pastors call on Hamilton County Commission to address racial health disparities
Hamilton County faith and community leaders are urging the Hamilton County Commission to better address racial and ethnic health disparities as the commissione…
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National Guard assists Chattanooga hospitals as record COVID-19 surge forces elective procedure reduction
Members of the Tennessee National Guard will arrive Wednesday at two Erlanger Health System hospitals in Hamilton County while all local hospitals are forced t…
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Champions of Health Care 2021: Dr. Michele Pickett - Physician - Community
For Dr. Michele Pickett, medicine is a calling rooted in faith.
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Chattanooga health care workers feel weight of latest COVID surge: 'I thought we had made it'
The early weeks of 2021 carried a sense of promise for the Chattanooga health care workers who were weathering a devastating winter surge of COVID-19 hospitali…
