Back for Another Visit, My Take On Johnson City (Kingsport: medical center, best)

[Rangerred]

As NY Annie wrote - "lack of competition which is a result of lack of shoppers" makes sense but it brings me to another question: HOW does Johnson City support all these medical facilities/offices/specialists?!

Johnson City is pretty much the medical hub of a 4 state region. The Tri-Cities CSA itself is over 500,000 and I would guess the "sphere of influence" of the medical facilities in Johnson City approaches 700,000. Kingsport and Bristol have some facilities but most of the specialists are located in Johnson City along with Niswonger Children's Hospital and the VA Medical Center.

I think the number of medical facilities are more noticeable in Johnson City because you basically have a small city serving the same amount of people as Knoxville; things are more concentrated than they would be in a large city.

[DaveinMtAiry]

Since it's my thread I guess I have the power to say don't worry about a hijack, I'd love to learn as much as I can from others.

[Rangerred]

I know there was a thread about this but I was wondering about utility costs. We currently pay, negotiated deal by threatening to move to DirecTV, about $150/month for cable/internet with HD and one DVR. Our electricity rates are around 9 cents per KWH. We have a well/septic so I have no idea what water/swear bills would cost.

Electric rates in JC are around 9 cents per KWH with a base customer charge of $14.51 per month. My water/sewer bill for a two person household runs between $50 and $60 per month. This includes $9 for trash pickup and $3 for the stormwater fee. This fee pays for various stormwater infrastructure improvements throughout the city but is mainly funding the downtown improvements. Founders Park is an example.

[DaveinMtAiry]

Wow $60 a month? I'm sure going to miss our well.

[wombattver]

Thanks, all, for answering my medical questions!

[hagarnt]

Thanks so much for info. We are retired and plan to move to JC before end of 2015.

This is very useful info. My wife and I want to retire to JC if medical care is readily available. We plan to move from California in early December if we can find a nice house or apartment (renting at first) in a good neighborhood.

[donsabi]

I moved to JC from the Cookeville area thinking I would get better medical care. I was wrong. I am on Medicare and it was hard finding a GP that would take me even though I was also BCBS. Finally found a GP who did take me but she has very low review ratings. I also had the misfortune of being hospitalized a Johnson City Medical Ctr. which was the worst experience I ever had in any hospital. The cardio group I use, (not sure if there are any others), have good doctors but getting to see them is very hard. They have nurse practitioners who will screen patients. I would have been far better off staying in the Cookeville are and going to Nashville or Knoxville for the more serious issues.

The VA facilities are very good here however they are one of the most overcrowded in the country.

The Earthfare in J.C. is nothing like Wholefoods. Most of the employees have nasty attitudes. I was told they have fresh fish that was sold with guaranteed satisfaction. I bought some of this so-called fresh fish at a very expensive price. Once I got it home I could see it was anything but fresh. I lived several years on the coast and ate fresh fish almost daily. I know what fresh fish should be. I took the fish back and was treated harshly but finally got my money back. I haven't been in the store since then.

You would be very smart to rent first.

[Ted Bear]

Originally Posted by donsabi

I moved to JC from the Cookeville area thinking I would get better medical care. I was wrong. I am on Medicare and it was hard finding a GP that would take me even though I was also BCBS. Finally found a GP who did take me but she has very low review ratings. I also had the misfortune of being hospitalized a Johnson City Medical Ctr. which was the worst experience I ever had in any hospital. The cardio group I use, (not sure if there are any others), have good doctors but getting to see them is very hard. They have nurse practitioners who will screen patients. I would have been far better off staying in the Cookeville are and going to Nashville or Knoxville for the more serious issues.

The VA facilities are very good here however they are one of the most overcrowded in the country.

The Earthfare in J.C. is nothing like Wholefoods. Most of the employees have nasty attitudes. I was told they have fresh fish that was sold with guaranteed satisfaction. I bought some of this so-called fresh fish at a very expensive price. Once I got it home I could see it was anything but fresh. I lived several years on the coast and ate fresh fish almost daily. I know what fresh fish should be. I took the fish back and was treated harshly but finally got my money back. I haven't been in the store since then.

You would be very smart to rent first.

You might try using some of the medical services in Kingsport. Oddly, while JC has larger and more plentiful facilities, the level of care seems to be higher in Kingsport. There are many stories around about JC Medical Center being a less than ideal place to receive treatment. Long waits and indifference seem to highlight the list of complaints.

Earthfare.....you can get the same fish at Krogers for 25% less money. Most, if not all of the fish at either store, comes in frozen and is thawed prior to public sale. It certainly is not "fresh". As for beef, Krogers has as good or better selection than does Earthfare, and they (Krogers) will cut you a nice Angus NY Strip steak for $3.00 or so less per pound. Only time in my life I ever returned beef was to Earthfare--high price; poor quality (and they did take it back with no questions asked). Not endorsing Krogers by any stretch, but why pay Earthfare prices for the same products?

Now, if we could just find someone to make a decent loaf of bread!

[Rangerred]

You might try using some of the medical services in Kingsport. Oddly, while JC has larger and more plentiful facilities, the level of care seems to be higher in Kingsport. There are many stories around about JC Medical Center being a less than ideal place to receive treatment. Long waits and indifference seem to highlight the list of complaints.

Fortunately I have never had to use any of the hospitals here but what you say doesn't necessarily surprise me regarding JCMC. It is in effect an urban, big city hospital and they see an incredible volume of patients. Not an excuse but perhaps an explanation.

Earthfare.....you can get the same fish at Krogers for 25% less money. Most, if not all of the fish at either store, comes in frozen and is thawed prior to public sale. It certainly is not "fresh". As for beef, Krogers has as good or better selection than does Earthfare, and they (Krogers) will cut you a nice Angus NY Strip steak for $3.00 or so less per pound. Only time in my life I ever returned beef was to Earthfare--high price; poor quality (and they did take it back with no questions asked). Not endorsing Krogers by any stretch, but why pay Earthfare prices for the same products?

I couldn't disagree with you more. I love Earthfare and have always dealt with friendly, helpful employees. Kroger doesn't sell grass-fed beef for $4.99/lb or wild Alaskan Salmon for $9.99/lb (sale prices). Also all of Earthfare's meat is antibiotic/hormone free and responsibly sourced; it's not factory farmed. There prices on organic produce and dairy is often just as good, if not cheaper, than Kroger and is better quality. Don't get me wrong I love Kroger and do all of my general grocery shopping there. I just hop over to Earthfare after my Kroger trip to pick up most of my perishables.

[Ted Bear]

Originally Posted by Rangerred

I couldn't disagree with you more. I love Earthfare and have always dealt with friendly, helpful employees. Kroger doesn't sell grass-fed beef for $4.99/lb or wild Alaskan Salmon for $9.99/lb (sale prices). Also all of Earthfare's meat is antibiotic/hormone free and responsibly sourced; it's not factory farmed. There prices on organic produce and dairy is often just as good, if not cheaper, than Kroger and is better quality. Don't get me wrong I love Kroger and do all of my general grocery shopping there. I just hop over to Earthfare after my Kroger trip to pick up most of my perishables.

My error.....I had Fresh Market on my mind; not Earthfare. I have only ever shopped at Earthfare one time....to buy lemons to go with the gin which I bought next door at One Stop!