TOS Member Spotlight: Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence with Watauga Orthopaedics, PLC
As Watauga Orthopaedics, PLC, approaches its 75th anniversary next year, this TOS member spotlight helps Watauga Orthopedics to celebrate a remarkable journey of providing high-quality, accessible care to the Tri-Cities region. Founded in 1950 by Dr. Howell Sherrod, Watauga Orthopedics has grown from a single physician practice into an independent, multi-specialty group with 22 esteemed doctors, serving Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol.
A Legacy of Innovation and Commitment
Dr. Howell Sherrod, the visionary founder of Watauga Orthopaedics, was a pioneer in the field of orthopedics. His commitment to innovative treatments in sports medicine, physical therapy, and rehabilitation set a strong foundation for the practice. In 1950, Dr. Sherrod also became the team physician for East Tennessee State University, marking the beginning of a long-standing tradition of providing exceptional sports medicine care.
Over the decades, Watauga Orthopaedics has expanded its sports medicine staff, enabling the practice to offer comprehensive services to a variety of athletic teams. The providers proudly serve as team physicians for many high schools in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia, continuing Dr. Sherrod’s legacy of community engagement and excellence in sports medicine.
Expanding Access to High-Quality Care
Watauga Orthopaedics is dedicated to delivering high-quality, cost-effective care while ensuring accessibility for our patients.
“We recognize that emergency department visits can be financially burdensome, often involving facility fees and additional charges for evaluations, imaging, and laboratory studies. With the high cost of emergency care, many patients delay treatment due to financial constraints. In fact, nearly half of U.S. adults have delayed care due to costs, and about one in ten Americans carry medical debt,” said Watauga CEO, Kim Wishon Marden.
To address these challenges, Watauga Orthopaedics has implemented several initiatives aimed at keeping patients out of emergency rooms and reducing their financial burden. The practice has expanded office hours and established walk-in clinics at all three of their locations, ensuring that patients receive timely and effective care without the need for costly emergency visits. Our clinics are designed to provide immediate attention, often eliminating the long wait times and uncertainty associated with emergency departments.
Innovative Solutions for Better Health Outcomes
In addition to expanding physical locations, Watauga Orthopaedics have also embraced technology to enhance patient care. A user-friendly app allows patients to easily schedule appointments, access their medical records, and communicate with their healthcare providers. This commitment to innovation ensures that our patients have the tools they need to manage their health effectively.
By focusing on preventive care and early intervention, Watauga Orthopaedics aims to reduce the overall cost of healthcare for our patients. We believe that accessible, high-quality care should be the standard, not the exception.
“This approach helps patients avoid the high costs associated with emergency department visits, which often include substantial facility fees. These fees can constitute up to 80% of the total cost of an emergency visit, presenting a significant financial burden on top of already high insurance premiums,” said Marden.
Looking Ahead: A Vision for the Future
As we celebrate 75 years of service, Watauga Orthopaedics remains committed to continuous improvement and innovation and working with the Tennesee Orthopaedic Society. The Tennessee Orthopaedic Society has created a network for Tennessee groups to collaborate on addressing state-wide concerns. Additionally, it facilitates a unified approach to legislative matters affecting our businesses by coordinating with a lobbyist, ensuring we have a collective voice on these issues.
Watauga Orthopaedics will remain dedicated to serving Tennessee’s rural communities with the compassionate care and support they need. Recognizing the financial burdens faced by many in the region, Watauga has chosen to partner with Project Access, which aims to improve access to medical care for low-income and uninsured individuals and accepts most Medicare and Medicaid plans; while offering hardship applications and flexible self-pay options to ensure that financial barriers do not hinder access to necessary treatments.
“Prioritizing making access to care more convenient for everyone is key to the community,” Marden said. “Our goals in serving the community are multifaceted. At Watauga Orthopaedics, we are committed to delivering high-quality care that is more affordable and easily accessible."
Here's to 75 years of our valued TOS member, Watauga Orthopaedics —and many more to come!
