Ballad Health to rebuild hospital in Unicoi

Ballad Health has announced plans to rebuild Unicoi County Hospital, which was deemed unsafe after it was inundated with floodwaters during Hurricane Helene. The former hospital was located in the town of Erwin while the new hospital will be located in town of Unicoi. The new location was chosen to improve access to emergency services, floodplain concerns, and to align with the growing local economy. Construction of the new hospital is expected to begin in the spring with a two-year timeline to completion. The new hospital will have 10 beds with both inpatient and outpatient services and is expected to cost $44 million. An urgent care facility will remain open in Erwin throughout the construction of the new hospital.