About Us
Get to know what (and who’s) behind our mission.
Empowering each patient to restore their quality of life
Healing Hands Health provides affordable, community-supported care that allows individuals with limited insurance coverage to restore their quality of life. Qualified residents of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia can receive medical, behavioral health, dental, vision, and supportive care - typically for $50 or less at each routine visit, including diagnostic testing.
Our Bristol, TN care campus
Our campus is comprised of two (soon to be three) separate facilities. Signage will guide you where you need to go, but our medical and dental care is provided in the building pictured here, located at 245 Midway Medical Park, Bristol, TN.
The heart behind our efforts
Our mission is to glorify Christ by providing quality, community-supported, comprehensive care to individuals who are underserved in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
The values that guide us
Our service is purposeful, guided by our Christian beliefs, and emphasizing compassionate care that empowers individuals in our region to restore their quality of life.
HEALTH
We know that community health starts with individual health, so we believe everyone, no matter what their situation is, should have what they need to stay healthy.
COMPASSION
We collaborate with patients to meet their comprehensive health needs and goals with the understanding that every human has unique experiences that lead to health challenges.
COMMUNITY
We know it’s important to partner with people and organizations who have a shared goal of promoting the long-term well-being of our region while stewarding resources responsibly.
SERVICE
We offer care with a servant's heart that accepts all backgrounds and beliefs, instills hope, and treats others with the same kindness and respect we would desire to receive in return.
QUALITY
We are dedicated to improving patient outcomes by recruiting qualified professionals, ensuring accurate service delivery, and embracing new technologies.
The people who care for you
Our compassionate team — which includes care providers, nurses, staff, volunteers, and leaders — really cares about the well-being of our community. They excel in upholding our mission and ensuring we always stay true to our values.
The history of Healing Hands Health
Healing Hands Health has been dedicated to affordable, community-supported care since 1997. Six compassionate women from the mission committee of First Presbyterian Church in Bristol read an article in Parade Magazine about the growing numbers of people without health insurance and how to start a free clinic in your community. Jean Ferguson Poole became the driving force behind founding Healing Hands. What started as a small clinic operating primarily with volunteers and donated medical and dental equipment is now a community-supported care campus that has provided much needed health care to 15,000 patients. We remain steadfast in our commitment to continually expand our services in response to community needs and our internal capacity, ensuring we serve our community for years to come.
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1995
The mission committee from First Presbyterian Church in Bristol, TN read a Parade Magazine article that inspired them to form a committee and initiate key discussions about the region’s need for an organization like Healing Hands.
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1997
Healing Hands Health Center served our first patient at First Presbyterian Church in Bristol, TN.
An essential partnership with Bristol Memorial Hospital was established, evolving into Bristol Regional Medical Center.
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1998
We relocated to 104 Memorial Drive, Bristol, TN, securing a lease from Bristol Memorial Hospital at the cost of $1/year.
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1999
Healing Hands Health Center moved to 210 Memorial Drive, Bristol, TN, facilitated by the generous donation of the building by Dr. Fred Greear Vance, Jr., and Dr. Ben Cowan, Sr.
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2002
We began our partnership with the ETSU Dental Hygiene program.
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2003
We initiated a partnership with ETSU Quillen College of Medicine that includes our community health fair initiative.
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2014
We launched our pediatric dental outreach program.
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2015
We moved to 245 Midway Medical Park, funded through a Capital Campaign.
We established our partnership with UT College of Dentistry, with students initially residing in a house purchased by HHH.
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2017
We forged a partnership with Appalachian College of Pharmacy.
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2018
We joined the Northeast Tennessee Accountable Care Community, later becoming the Strong ACC in 2021.
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2021
We hired our first Community Health Worker, and we collaborated with Ballad Health to place one of their navigators in our clinic, providing additional community health worker support.
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2022
We completed construction and opened the J.D. and Lorraine Nicewonder Education Center, funded through a Capital Campaign.
We hired our first-ever full-time dentist, and we completed a dental expansion to serve more patients in our region.
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2023
We completed a rebranding initiative made possible by Tennessee Charitable Care Network and the Tennessee Department of Health, resulting in a name transition to Healing Hands Health.
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2023
We purchased 225 Midway Medical Park to expand services and integrate behavioral health with medical services.
“When Jesus was here, he helped so many people with physical problems. Because he was healing their physical needs, he was really healing their hearts - all their worry and discouragement and despair. This is exactly what Healing Hands does. They reach out their hands to heal our bodies so God can heal our hearts.”
Tammy
Shady Valley, TN
Patient
Our transformational partnerships
Through these regional partnerships and the support of many donors and friends, we not only improve the lives of individuals and families but also strengthen the fabric of our community. It's a testament to the collective power of compassionate hearts and dedicated minds working together to make a lasting difference.
Our valued memberships
Our memberships are a testament to our commitment to collaboration, learning, and collective impact. Being part of these networks allows us to connect with like-minded organizations, share knowledge, and stay at the forefront of industry best practices. These memberships provide us with valuable opportunities to engage in dialogue, forge partnerships, and access resources that strengthen our ability to serve our community effectively.
News and updates from Healing Hands Health
Interested in becoming a patient?
Understand your eligibility and options so you can take charge of your healthcare journey and begin to restore your quality of life.
Ready to get involved?
Join a network of compassionate individuals, collectively forging a path toward restoring the quality of life for our community members.