Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Virginia

At this location

Overview

Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Va., is a not-for-profit, 116-bed modern medical facility dedicated to bringing quality healthcare to the residents of this region.

Johnston Memorial is equipped to provide you with the advanced technology and specialty care you need — right here, close to home.

Heart and Vascular Center

Johnston Memorial Hospital’s Heart and Vascular Center offers comprehensive, specialized care in one convenient location. Our skilled, highly-trained staff works as a team to provide full-service care for a wide range of heart and vascular conditions.

Cancer Care

In the fight against cancer, Ballad Health Cancer Care – Abingdon is on the front lines, right here at home. With our exceptional physicians, team members and advanced technology, cancer has met its match.

Surgical Care

When you need surgery, Johnston Memorial Hospital has you covered. From cataracts to appendectomies and everything in between, we take care of your surgical needs.

Orthopedic Care

If pain is preventing you from moving freely and enjoying life, Johnston Memorial Hospital can help. Our specialty team provides expert treatment for hip, knee, shoulder, hand, feet and ankle conditions.

Family Birth Center

Johnston Memorial Hospital’s Family Birth Center delivers the optimal environment and one-on-one attention you and your newborn deserve. We offer the latest advances in maternity care and an exceptional team of nurses, OB physicians, pediatric hospitalists and staff, as well as lactation consultants and a wide range of education resources.

Rehabilitation Services

Our caring therapists are trained, experienced, certified and completely dedicated to each patient’s full recovery. We provide a wide range of occupational, physical and speech therapy services–the most comprehensive in the area–for adults and pediatrics.

Pediatrics

While at Johnston Memorial Hospital, babies and children are cared for by our pediatric hospitalist team. These trained pediatricians work exclusively in the inpatient setting, communicating regularly with your child’s primary pediatrician to ensure continuity of care.

Like your primary pediatrician, pediatric hospitalists have expertise in a wide range of pediatric medical conditions, so their constant presence in the hospital and familiarity with your child’s condition can help relieve any stress or anxiety that may accompany a hospital stay. Pediatric hospitalists are also onsite during delivery to help provide care for your newborn. They are dedicated to creating a smooth transition from the hospital to your home and the care of your primary pediatrician.

Robotic-assisted surgery

Johnston Memorial Hospital offers robotic-assisted surgery with the Mako SmartRobotics™ robotic system for total and partial knee replacement and hip replacement surgery. This less invasive surgical system significantly reduces the recovery time and pain for patients.

Learn more about robotic-assisted surgery.

Stroke

Johnston Memorial Hospital provides our patients with a multidisciplinary team to direct treatment using evidence-based protocols for the care and management of our stroke patients.

Emergency Care

Highly trained physicians and nurses offer quick assessment/treatment in the 29-bed unit 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Residency programs at Johnston Memorial Hospital

The general dentristry, family medicine and internal medicine residency programs at Johnston Memorial Hospital are committed to providing advanced, innovative and specialized training in general dentistry, osteopathic family medicine and internal medicine.

Medical care and community impact reports

Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)

Johnston Memorial Hospital CHNA [PDF – opens in new window]

CMS price transparency

Johnston Memorial Hospital Standard Charges [TXT file, 86.9 MB]

Standard Charges file last updated Feb. 23, 2022.

You can learn more about pre-visit coordination and registration here and about payment options here.

Metrics by MS-DRG*

Johnston Memorial MS-DRG metrics [PDF, 247KB], fiscal year 2022

View more Ballad Health MS-DRG metrics here.

*MS-DRGs are Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Groups.

Learn more

Expand a section below to learn more about Johnston Memorial Hospital and our community.

CEO Message and Leadership

photo: John Jeter portrait, head and shoulders Physician founded over 100 years ago, with the responsibility to provide for the health of the residents of Southwest Virginia, Johnston Memorial Hospital is a community hospital at its very core. We've grown and changed in order to meet that need in more advanced ways, but our commitment to that initial mission is as strong as ever. Over the last decade, we've opened a brand-new facility and added several key specialty services, including cardiac and cancer care. Most recently, we opened the Children's Resource Center at Johnston Memorial in partnership with Ballad Health's Niswonger Children's Network.

While all of these things help to demonstrate our dedication to providing specialized, high-quality care to those we serve, I'm also incredibly proud of the way we do it. I know without a doubt, that none of our accomplishments could happen without an extraordinary team that is committed to bring their best to the job every day. It takes compassionate caregivers, exceptional medical staff and dedicated volunteers and board members – all of which you will find here at Johnston Memorial.

I've been fortunate to serve in Southwest Virginia for over a decade, and I'm pleased to be a part of the ongoing vision here at Johnston Memorial and in our community. I look forward to all we can accomplish together to help improve the health of our region and thank you for continuing to choose Johnston Memorial Hospital for your care.

Sincerely,

John L. Jeter, CPA, MBA
Vice President/Chief Executive Officer
Johnston Memorial Hospital

Leadership

Chad Couch, MD – President, Northern Region
John Jeter – VP, Chief Executive Officer
Bryan Mullins – VP, Pulmonary/Critical Care, Ballad Health; Administrator/Chief Operating Officer, Johnston Memorial
Bob Bender – VP, Chief Financial Officer
Mhroos Peters, MD – VP, Chief Medical Officer
Melissa Whited, RN – Associate Administrator/Chief Nursing Officer
Jackie Phipps – Director, Human Resources

History

1905

First hospital in Abingdon established
Dr. E.T. Brady, a leading Abingdon physician, established the first hospital on Court Street in December 1905. The small wooden structure had a 12-bed capacity and was a private endeavor. Dr. Brady served as Chief of Staff with two physicians and four resident nurses.

1910

Hospital changes ownership
Because of insufficient patronage, the hospital was forced to close its doors in 1910. Community leaders ventured to Richmond and convinced George Ben Johnston, MD, and Amis Willis, MD, to buy controlling interest in the hospital. They chose F.H. Smith, MD, as the administrator.

Surgical conditions
F.H. Smith, MD, noted the primitive surgical conditions he found at the early hospital. "We had no sterilizing plant. The surgeons brought with them a trunk full of sterile supplies, and took back other material for sterilization. Yet, there were only four deaths in the first year."

1917

Incorporation
The hospital became incorporated.

1919

New 40-bed hospital opens
In July 1919, the doors of a new 40-bed George Ben Johnston Memorial Hospital opened with over 500 people attending the formal opening. The hospital was built with community support and dedicated to the memory of its founder, who died in 1916. The original 1919 building is still used by several departments at Johnston Memorial Hospital. The well-constructed wing houses administrative offices, the endoscopy suite, and health information management departments. The original structure has undergone several massive renovations during its many years of service.

Laboratory services
The 1919 structure brought modern laboratory services to Johnston Memorial Hospital. When the hospital first opened, physicians conducted many of the diagnostic tests in what were described as a "scant laboratory," with minimal equipment and technology. The JMH laboratory of today is a state-of-the-art facility under the direction of pathologists. The laboratory has contained a chemistry lab, hematology lab and an independent blood bank.

1920s

Radiology services
During the 1920s, a Radiology Department was added to Johnston Memorial Hospital, helping make the hospital one of the leading diagnostic facilities in the region. The Radiology Department came under the administration of the hospital chief of staff.

1920s–1930s

Obstetric physician
During the 1920s and 1930s, the first physician specializing in obstetrics joined the medical staff. A Children's and Baby Ward were opened and furnished by contributions from the Johnston Memorial Hospital Ladies Auxiliary and the Hospital Club of Abingdon.

1940s

Cadet nursing corp
During World War II, several nurses and physicians were called into military service. This decade saw the advent of the Cadet Nursing Corp, a group of nurses' aides, who served on the floors in many capacities.

Surgical and delivery room construction
In the late 1940s, construction began on a new wing for modern surgical and delivery rooms.

1950s

Operating and delivery rooms construction complete
The decade of the 1950s was a time of major expansion at the Abingdon hospital. A new wing housing modern operating and delivery rooms was opened. Renovation projects included a modern kitchen and dietary department.

1958

Pediatric and physical therapy wing added

1960s

Johnston Memorial Hospital School of Nursing
The 1960s was the last full decade in operations of Johnston Memorial Hospital's School of Nursing. Since its beginning, JMH had served as a training residence for nursing students from throughout the region.

1967

New wing added
Construction on a new wing began in 1967 and was completed in the 1970s.This addition increased the hospital's bed capacity to 154 with 12 newborn bassinets. New services offered during this decade include surgical intensive care and outpatient surgery.

1971

Johnston Memorial Hospital Nursing School graduates last class

1985

Construction on new wing begins
Construction beings for a new wing, which included a state-of-the-art emergency department and new facilities for radiology, respiratory care, and outpatient ssurgery.

1989

Non-invasive cardiology department added

1994

Renovations completed
A number of changes occurred during the 1990s including completion of a multi-floor parking facility, new entrance and lobby area, and renovation of the first floor.

1998

Open MRI
In September of 1998, Johnston Memorial Hospital added the region's first and only open MRI to its Radiology Department.

1999

ER renovations completed
In February 1999, a complete renovation and expansion project was completed in the Emergency Department.

2001

Endoscopy and surgical suite renovations
Renovation of the second floor of the 1919 building was completed in April to house expanded endoscopy services. Also, a sixth operating room, additional storage space and new locker rooms for surgeons and nursing staff were added.

2002

PET scanning services
A Mobile Diagnostic Pad added for the implementation of mobile Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scanning Services.

Sleep lab
Johnston Memorial Hospital added Sleep Medicine services including a state-of-the-art sleep lab.

2003

Central energy plant
A central energy plant was constructed which combined hospital heating, cooling and emergency power generation into a separate facility.

Women’s imaging center
Johnston Memorial Hospital Women's Imaging Center was established and located in Glenrochie Professional Building.

2004

Second MRI installed
Second MRI unit was installed in the new radiology facility attached to the hospital.

Rehabilitation services
Outpatient Physical and Occupational Therapy clinic opened off-site.

2006

Diagnostic imaging center
Johnston Memorial Hospital opened a diagnostic center in the Urgent Care Center to perform X-rays, and lab draws outside the hospital.

Outpatient surgery waiting area renovation
Renovations were completed in the waiting area to provide additional comfort to patients and their families.

2007

Cancer center
Johnston Memorial Hospital opened a new cancer center, located at Johnston Meadows, to provide comprehensive care to cancer patients.

Bristol East Diagnostic Center
To provide additional imaging services to the community, Johnston Memorial Hospital opened a diagnostic imaging center in Bristol, Va., just off Exit 7.

Joint Trails program
Joint Trails, a progressive knee and hip joint replacement program, opened on the 3rd floor of Johnston Memorial Hospital.

2008

Urgent care center
Johnston Memorial Hospital opened the Urgent Care Center to provide convenient and timely treatment for cases that don't require emergency room care.

Diabetes care center
The Diabetes Care Center was opened to provide the latest in diabetes care, treatment and education.

2009

Surgery center
The outpatient surgery center opened to provide same day surgical procedures in a comfortable, healing environment.

Johnston Memorial and Mountain States Health partnership
The partnership between Mountain States Health and Johnston Memorial Hospital was made official in April 2009, ushering in a new era of health care for the residents of Southwest Virginia.

2010

Comprehensive wound care
The Center for Comprehensive Wound Care specializes in addressing the underlying cause of difficult-to heal wounds and treating them to control infection and improve the overall health of patients.

2011

New Johnston Memorial Hospital built
Johnston Memorial Hospital achieves Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) GOLD certification.

2014

Johnston Memorial Hospital launches first 24/7 cardiac cath lab in Southwest Virginia

Johnston Memorial Hospital