Here are four things to know:
1. Ballad Health was formed by the merger of Kingsport, Tenn.-based Wellmont Health System and Johnson City, Tenn.-based Mountain States Health Alliance. Takoma Regional was formerly owned by Wellmont, and Laughlin was formerly owned by Mountain States.
2. Ballad Health will keep both hospitals open with a unified approach to reduce any duplicate services.
3. In early 2019, Takoma Regional will transition to an advanced outpatient, nonacute inpatient facility. Laughlin will provide acute inpatient services, according to a WJHL news report.
4. Both hospitals, due for a name change, will operate as one entity with two campuses. The new names will be revealed later.
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