Maryville vs. Johnson City area (Knoxville, Franklin: 2013, homes, job market)

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by DaveinMtAiry

Yes this is very troubling. But let's say I live in Maryville and have an emergency. How do I get out of the local hospital and transferred to Knoxville once I am stabalized? How exactly do you go about doing that?

That is the subject for another thread and one that really isn't a local forum topic. There are protocols in place for what you describe.

By and large, hospitals in both areas do work together to treat what is in their scope and transfer out what is not.

[Serious Conversation]

I don't understand the constant back and forth on the health point.

If you're looking at county or community hospitals, I don't know why someone would expect extremely sophisticated treatment to be available at a local hospital in an outlying, sparsely populated county. I would not move to, say, Fentress County, and expect a specialized cancer treatment facility. You're not going to get that there. There are multiple issues at play - payments back to providers, ability to attract and retain talent, pay for the talent, how often/much the facility gets utilized, the ability of the hospital to simply break even, regulatory issues, bureaucratic bloat, etc. I see the business side of this every day and it is a real hornet's nest.

Here's a nugget for those not familiar with east TN healthcare. The majority of the hospitals in east TN are not even breaking even. I doubt the dynamics are much different for the Knoxville based health systems - there will be a few profitable hospitals in the urban core, affluent areas, and the flagships. The rest of the hospitals, mostly smaller community hospitals in poor areas, a numerical majority, will lose money. I'm not going to go into detail beyond that, but it's safe to say that small, community hospitals are basically being kept afloat by profitable hospitals in the population centers. You might have one profitable hospital in a city keeping three community hospitals in outlying areas going. I'd say you'll find the same scenario around the country.

You can also have extremely variable outcomes within the same system - whether by speciality or by facility. My girlfriend has received poor care at one local hospital. I've had other situations personally with that hospital where I wouldn't send a dog to it. However, I've had family and friends receive great care at a hospital in the same system, one town over. Cardiology is well-represented here in the Sri-Cities. Rheumatology - not so much.

You also need to compare apples to apples. It is not fair to compare Johnson City - a relatively isolated metro of <200,000, with no major teaching/university hospital, to metro Knoxville, which is close to four times the population of Johnson City, with the state flagship university. I'm far from happy with the healthcare here, but I don't think it's going to be a lot better in metros of comparable dynamics.

If you're a transplant looking at any given area and you have a medical concern, the best thing you can do is to contact the medical systems in that local area and explain your needs and concerns.

[Beretta]

SC - you don't have to understand it. This is a relocation forum and people can ask what they want about an area. People come as they are and it is all ok. We are here to help everyone understand the lay of the land. Thanks for your help, and for everyones posts, in assisting everyone in learning more about the area.

[gonegirl49]

Actually, as usual, I thought Serious did an excellent job, describing the health care industry in East TN.
At his age, I doubt very much if health care concerns and questions are very high on his life list,[well, at least not where it might pertain directly to him anyway] I'm sure when I was in my early 30's it wasn't on my top 10 list of things to be concerned about either, which is normal at that age.
So, at his age, I can definitely also understand why he might feel a bit perplexed over the seemingly constant concern over health care issues, that folks relocating to the area might have.

Years ago someone told me, "you know, some folks you come across, just require an extra measure of mercy"..................
And to that, I say, Amen & Amen !!!!!

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by gonegirl49

Actually, as usual, I thought Serious did an excellent job, describing the health care industry in East TN.
At his age, I doubt very much if health care concerns and questions are very high on his life list,[well, at least not where it might pertain directly to him anyway] I'm sure when I was in my early 30's it wasn't on my top 10 list of things to be concerned about either, which is normal at that age.
So, at his age, I can definitely also understand why he might feel a bit perplexed over the seemingly constant concern over health care issues, that folks relocating to the area might have.

Years ago someone told me, "you know, some folks you come across, just require an extra measure of mercy"..................
And to that, I say, Amen & Amen !!!!!

Gone girl, are you still entertaining a move to TN? I looked at your other posts and it seems that KY might be on your radar now.

[QuilterChick]

Take a look at Maryville, with the Univ. of TN Medical Center. A level one Trauma Center.


I'd also be looking into areas near Winston-Salem, NC if healthcare is of primary importance.


If you love mountains, then investigate Hendersonville, NC -- excellent healthcare centers.

[gonegirl49]

Originally Posted by Beretta

Gone girl, are you still entertaining a move to TN? I looked at your other posts and it seems that KY might be on your radar now.

Nope, still movin to TN . I really wanted JC, but houses in my price range are few and far between there, so settled on Knoxville or Maryville, but, not a lot in my range in Maryville either, so it'll probably be Knoxville after all.

[DaveinMtAiry]

Originally Posted by QuilterChick

Take a look at Maryville, with the Univ. of TN Medical Center. A level one Trauma Center.


I'd also be looking into areas near Winston-Salem, NC if healthcare is of primary importance.


If you love mountains, then investigate Hendersonville, NC -- excellent healthcare centers.

Hey there QC, remember me?

gonegirl: I'm sorry if I missed it but are you saying housing prices are higher in JC than Knox/Maryville? I sure didn't see that in the price range we are looking at ($140-$165,000)

[gonegirl49]

Originally Posted by DaveinMtAiry

Hey there QC, remember me?

gonegirl: I'm sorry if I missed it but are you saying housing prices are higher in JC than Knox/Maryville? I sure didn't see that in the price range we are looking at ($140-$165,000)

Hi Dave,
When I was looking in JC at $140,000 I really couldn't find any decent housing for that price, and what was there was very limited. And, I didn't want to go to a condo there, which may have been the route I would have had to go in JC.
Many more options for me, price-wise in Knoxville. Than of course there is the health care issue, being better in Knoxville [shhhh, don't let SC know I brought "health-care up" that up !!!] for those of us with existing conditions.
With 100 being average in the US:
JC = 73, or !3.3% higher than Knoxville, which comes in at 63
Maryville = 83 or 12.5% higher then JC
Maryville housing costs are 23% higher than Knoxville

[DaveinMtAiry]

Interesting. When I looked at JC a few years ago I seem to recall seeing several good homes in that price range. Also not happy to see the difference between Maryville and Knoxville. We're off for our first visit in a few weeks and anticipate Maryville as being our first choice. I did find housing and property taxes in Oak Ridge to be high.