AGP Executive Report

Community Health: A free Senior Health Fair for adults 50+ is set for Sept. 11 at the Roby Adult Center in Greeneville, with 30+ vendors, giveaways, and door prizes from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Public Health Watch: Memphis-area doctors say respiratory viruses are already rising ahead of fall and winter, with flu still low but common cold viruses and COVID-19 cases showing up more. Cancer Care & Support: Ballad Health is offering free first-time low-dose CT lung cancer screenings in Northeast Tennessee from Sept. 1, 2026, through Jan. 29, 2027. Workplace Safety: A Frito-Lay employee, Paris Carlock, 55, was killed after a stray bullet pierced a Sam’s Club wall in southeast Nashville while he was stocking shelves. Sports Health: Titans linebacker Cedric Gray entered the NFL concussion protocol after a UTV accident; his Week 1 status vs. the Jets is uncertain. Cancer Fundraising: Tennessee Vols linebacker Arion Carter plans to donate $427 per tackle to cancer research after turning an NCAA suspension into a pledge. Health & Wellness Event: UT Gardens in Knoxville hosts the Smart Yards and Friends Festival Sept. 12, focused on pollinator-friendly landscaping, composting, and stormwater help.

Patient Experience Watch: A new analysis of CMS HCAHPS data finds Wisconsin leads the nation in hospital patient experience (4.06/5), while Florida, New Jersey, and New York land at the bottom—useful context for Tennessee patients comparing care quality. Local Sports-to-Health Philanthropy: Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter is donating to cancer-care charities based on his on-field stats after an NCAA suspension, including $427 per tackle and additional amounts for sacks, interceptions/forced fumbles, and defensive TDs. Community Health & Access: ETSU is hosting a community health fair with free screenings and activities, and St. Bernards is highlighted for providing 24/7 stroke care coverage. Food & Nutrition Policy: South Carolina is delaying SNAP “healthy food” restrictions until Nov. 1 while federal legal review continues, a reminder that nutrition access rules can shift quickly. Health Tech for Kids: A Nashville student’s “Allergy Spoon” aims to detect allergens and change color as a warning, reaching national science finalists. Public Safety & Health Impact: Metro Nashville is investigating multiple violent incidents, including a fatal body found near I-65 Exit 92 and a recent Antioch stabbing.

Community Health Access: ETSU Health’s Johnson City Community Health Center is hosting a free Community Health Fair Sept. 12 with screenings, flu shots, kids’ activities, and free haircuts, aiming to connect residents to primary and prenatal care. Public Health & Safety: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an Amber Alert for 2-year-old Atreus Johann Bird missing from Greene County; officials say he has a medical condition that could affect his safe return. Care for Families Facing Serious Illness: In Paducah, Book for Hope’s 11th annual Just Imagine Walk raises awareness of childhood cancer and supports families financially and emotionally, with the event shortened due to heat. Health-Related Community Support: A Rose Watkins ALS Tour of Dreams is bringing VIP stadium experiences to ALS patients, with a stop planned at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Life Insurance Planning: Gov. Bill Lee proclaimed September as Life Insurance Awareness Month, urging Tennesseans to review coverage and use a policy locator service to find benefits. Local Medical Milestone: A local boy in Tennessee celebrated after treatment led to the complete removal of his brain tumor at St. Jude’s in Memphis. Violence With Health Impact: Memphis police are investigating a shooting outside the Austin Peay precinct that left a man in critical condition and a woman detained.

Community Health Access: A free pop-up clinic is returning to Fairbanks Sept. 12–13 with dental, vision, and medical services offered on a first-come basis—no ID or insurance required. Public Health & Safety: Tennessee’s 340B debate is back in the spotlight, with a new op-ed questioning how the federal drug discount program is being used and whether taxpayers know where the money goes. Health Data Privacy: A consumer-rights law firm says it’s investigating claims tied to the Berkeley Research Group data breach, alleging stolen personal data that may include medical and health insurance information. Campus & Youth Health: Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Health Foundation awarded $106,481 to Austin Peay State University to expand sexual assault prevention, student nurse camps, and rural health literacy. Violence & Emergency Care: Metro Nashville police are investigating a fatal gunshot wound death on Antioch Pike; in Memphis, a man died and a woman was critically hurt in a Southeast Memphis shooting. Drug Safety: Greenbrier police seized 350+ packages and reported preliminary testing found a suspected fentanyl analogue, including p-fluorofentanyl.

Extreme Heat & Safety: A bomb threat at Carter Middle School in Strawberry Plains led to a schoolwide evacuation and 21 students treated for heat-related illness, including three in critical condition, after students waited outside in high humidity. Child Health & Public Safety: In Chattanooga, former America’s Got Talent contestant Deshundre Vinson was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse after his 4-year-old nephew drowned in an apartment pool; investigators allege the child was underwater for about nine minutes. Community Wellness: Knox County Master Gardeners and UT/TSU Extension are hosting the free Smart Yards and Friends Festival Sept. 12 at UT Gardens, with tips on composting, stormwater, native plants, and wildlife-friendly landscaping. Healthcare & Access Story: A 9/11-era healthcare worker who helped secure a liver transplant flight clearance for a baby is finally meeting the recipient 25 years later. Local Health Events: Healthier 901 Fest returns to Shelby Farms with community wellness activities and free screenings. Health-Related Crime Update: Memphis police reported a man dead and a woman critically injured after a southeast Memphis shooting, with no suspect information yet.

Community Health: ETSU Health’s Johnson City Community Health Center is hosting a free Community Health Fair Sept. 12 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.) with screenings, flu shots, kids’ activities, and free haircuts. Suicide Prevention: Trousdale County’s Remembrance Wall is up for September to support suicide awareness and reduce stigma, with a candlelight vigil planned for Sept. 24. Hearing & Access to Care: An Arnold Memorial Elementary student’s hearing loss was identified through school screening, leading to a long, coordinated path to audiology care and hearing aids. Public Health Events: Memphis’ Healthier 901 Fest returns Sept. 5 at Shelby Farms Park with wellness resources, fitness activities, and healthy food. Food Safety & Nutrition: A report highlights a resurgence of interest in traditional, smaller-scale milling and “clean food” options in Appalachia. Health in the News: A Nashville pedestrian death is reported after a man was struck while reportedly lying in the road.

Rural Health Funding: Tennessee’s Department of Health announced first recipients of the Rural Health Transformation Program, awarding 53 projects across 44 counties, including Dayton’s “Active Living” initiative, with grants aimed at expanding access and strengthening rural care. Heat & Safety: Mid-South families are being warned that extreme heat can still harm people even if they’re used to summer, with local schools and sports adjusting practices and kickoff times under heat rules. Hospital Deal Scrutiny: Williamson County leaders are weighing a letter of intent that could move Williamson Health’s sale to Ascension St. Thomas forward, even after a medication mix-up left patients paralyzed—safety is now the top question. Food Safety Watch: An E. coli risk has expanded a frozen berry recall tied to Great Value products sold in 16 states, adding more shoppers to the list of places to check packages. Public Health in the Community: Le Bonheur’s pediatric fundraiser topped $35,000 in a single night, blending hospital playtime with a benefit concert for kids’ care. Workforce & Industry: A Bradley County Wacker polysilicon plant faces uncertainty after new trade measures reportedly cost it key customers, though the company says it has no plans to close. Local Justice: Clarksville fired an officer after an investigation into the death of inmate Darius Chappell following a use-of-force incident involving a police canine, with TBI involved.

Rural Health Funding: Tennessee Department of Health announced initial Rural Health Transformation Program awards, including four Putnam County recipients aimed at expanding access and improving outcomes through community-driven projects. Long-Term Care Recognition: NHC Healthcare’s Rita Durbin won the Tennessee Health Care Association’s 2026 Nurse of the Year Award, spotlighting resident-centered leadership in nursing homes. Heat & Health Safety: Knoxville Vols home opener plans include a heat index near 105; officials advise protective clothing, sunscreen, and limited sun exposure. Public Health Alert: A frozen berry recall was expanded over potential E. coli contamination, with affected products sold in multiple states including Tennessee. Telehealth & Emerging Therapies: Bowery Clinic expanded its physician-led Selank peptide program, offering an educational overview for eligible patients interested in stress and anxiety-focused peptide care. Community Care: Heaven’s Cradle in West Tennessee announced its Oct. 15 remembrance fundraiser for families facing pregnancy and infant loss, offering support beyond the event. Injury & Safety: Memphis police arrested a suspect accused of throwing boiling water at a 14-year-old, who suffered critical burns.

Public Safety Tech: Chattanooga Police launched a Drone First Responder pilot, using FAA-authorized drones to send live video to officers during eligible 911 and police calls—aimed at faster, safer responses to violent-crime hotspots. Health Access: Ballad Health is offering free first-time low-dose CT lung cancer screenings for eligible patients from Sept. 1, 2026, through Jan. 29, 2027, with officials urging people to ask their doctor if they qualify. Care Quality & Accountability: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents indicted and arrested a Florida social worker accused of sexually assaulting two patients at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville; investigators say they’re looking for possible additional victims. Local Health Leadership: Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center named Dr. Amanda Logue as CEO, replacing Al Patin. Community Health: Shelby County officials warned that heat illness can hit even after people go indoors, after 321 residents sought emergency care for heat-related illness in August. Child Safety: Smyrna police and Tennessee DHS are investigating the death of a child at an unlicensed child care operation.

Fusion Regulation: Tennessee’s TDEC issued the state’s first commercial fusion-specific byproduct material license to Type One Energy, a first-of-its-kind state framework tied to nuclear fusion oversight. Workforce & Care Access: The College System of Tennessee highlighted major new TCAT and community college expansions, including nursing and allied health training sites. Patient Safety: A new look at states’ death rates from medical and surgical care complications points to wide variation tied to care quality and staffing. Mental Health for First Responders: First Responders Children’s Foundation expanded its free counseling program to Washington, adding another state to its 24/7 support network that already includes Tennessee. Public Health & Food Safety: A rice recall expansion warns shoppers to check affected Lundberg Family Farms white jasmine rice lots for potential foreign material contamination. Local Health System Moves: TriStar Horizon is set to receive a cardiac CT imaging scanner, boosting advanced heart imaging capacity. Care Quality in Focus: Tennessee’s “migraine capital” spotlight renews calls for better headache support and policy action, including the HEADACHE Act.

Drug Safety & Patient Rights: Tennessee lawmakers are limiting damages in the wake of an Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown pharmacy drug mix-up that left multiple patients severely injured, with a state report citing systemic failures. Public Health & Consumer Protection: Consumer Reports testing in Tennessee found prenatal vitamins often miss label potency targets, though it did not find contaminant levels raising safety concerns—urging shoppers to look for third-party verification. Healthcare Innovation: Heartvue.ai won FDA 510(k) clearance for Heartvue.Proton, an AI cardiac MRI analysis tool aimed at speeding quantitative measurements while keeping results under physician review. Child Welfare: Smyrna authorities and the Tennessee Department of Human Services are investigating an unlicensed at-home daycare after a 7-month-old was found dead; a temporary injunction was issued to stop the operator. Mental Health & Public Safety: TBI is investigating a deadly officer-involved shooting in Blount County after deputies responded to a call involving alleged threats with a knife. Healthcare Workforce & Accountability: A former Centennial Medical Center social worker, Robert Bailey, was indicted on rape and sexual battery charges involving two patients, with TBI asking for possible additional victims.

Blood Supply Alert: Lifeline Blood Services says Tennessee blood banks are running dangerously low and is urging donors—especially Type O—during its September drives, with walk-ins welcome at centers in Jackson, Dyersburg, and Paris. Newborn Health: A Reuters report finds a sharp rise in parents refusing the vitamin K shot at birth, with refusals up more than 57% this year, raising risk of life-threatening bleeding. Hospital/Health Policy: The FTC finalized a consent order requiring Ascension to divest seven AmSurg ambulatory surgery centers and add prior-notice rules for future ASC acquisitions, signaling continued scrutiny of healthcare consolidation. Care Access Expansion: Ardent Health marked progress in East Texas by expanding specialty services and physician training in a new UT Tyler School of Medicine building—an example of how health systems are building workforce and access hubs. Community Safety: Murfreesboro police report a 21-year-old pedestrian injured after a vehicle struck her during a left turn; investigators say the driver wasn’t at fault. Local Health & Wellness: Knoxville police are seeking a driver accused of leaving the scene of a crash that killed a woman, underscoring ongoing road-safety concerns.

Medication Safety Under Scrutiny: Tennessee’s TBI opened an investigation into a Nashville hospital drug mix-up at Ascension St. Thomas Midtown that left four joint-replacement patients seriously harmed, including one paralyzed. Public Health & Food Safety: A Cyclospora outbreak tied to recalled iceberg lettuce continues to grow, with new cases reported as Georgia, Tennessee and Texas were added to the tally. Mental Health Access: Tennessee became the latest state able to grant licensed professional counselors privileges to practice across state lines through the Counseling Compact, aiming to ease provider shortages. Youth Mental Health Funding: Meta agreed to a massive settlement over harm to teens; Tennessee’s share is about $751.9 million for youth mental health and safety programs, alongside limits on teen screen time and new age-verification steps. Care in Crisis: Shelby County Jail officials say repairs have restored all 10 escalators after years of breakdowns, as the facility remains near capacity. Heat Risk: Nashville issued a heat advisory for dangerous triple-digit heat index conditions through at least Friday, warning residents about heat illness.

Tobacco Cessation Training: Tennessee Department of Health is offering no-cost scholarships for Tennesseans who work in (or plan to work in) tobacco cessation, to complete the Duke-UNC Comprehensive Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program, with fall 2026 and spring 2027 sessions available online. Food Safety in Schools: Sequatchie County Schools’ cafeterias earned perfect 100 scores on Tennessee Department of Health food service inspections, highlighting cleanliness, temperature control, and safe food handling. Public Health Alert: A heat advisory is in effect for Putnam County and much of Middle Tennessee through Friday, with heat index values up to 109 and guidance to prevent heat illness. Community Health Support: Lifeline Blood Services is running September blood drives across West Tennessee, including events in Savannah, Paris, Lexington, and McKenzie. Food Recall Watch: Lundberg Organic Jasmine White Rice (2-pound bags) is recalled in multiple states, including Tennessee, due to possible foreign material contamination. Local Safety: A motorcyclist died after a crash on the I-440 exit ramp to I-24 East; the rider was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Health & Wellness Culture: Dolly Parton’s estate announced DollyFest, a two-day festival in Nashville and London in 2027, positioned as a legacy celebration rather than a traditional memorial.

Hospital Safety & Accountability: Tennessee’s state report on an Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown pharmacy mix-up describes “systemic failures” after four joint-replacement patients received potassium phosphate instead of anesthetic, leaving some paralyzed—an attorney calls it a “perfect storm.” Public Health & Food Safety: Lundberg Family Farms updated a recall of 27,000+ bags of jasmine white rice sold in multiple states including Tennessee, due to possible foreign material. Community Health & Harm Reduction: On International Overdose Awareness Day, a Middle Tennessee family shared how fentanyl killed their 20-year-old son, while local events distributed naloxone and held vigils. Injury Prevention: A 5-year-old died after accidentally shooting himself in an Antioch home, renewing urgent calls for secure gun storage. Local Wellness Spotlight: Knox County’s health inspections found 25 restaurants earning perfect 100 scores in August. Mental Health Access: A counseling compact is expanding across states, allowing licensed counselors to practice across state lines—aimed at easing provider shortages.

Public Health & Food Safety: The FDA expanded its white rice recall update, warning consumers about possible contamination tied to Lundberg Family Farms products sold across more states. Foodborne Illness Watch: The cyclospora outbreak tied to lettuce continues to spread, with confirmed cases now reported across multiple states including Tennessee, keeping summer food-safety guidance in focus. Maternal & Child Health: Consumer Reports tested popular baby wipes, lotions, bottles and pacifiers for PFAS and other chemicals, finding no detectable PFAS in wipes and no detectable PFAS or lead in lotions—plus generally reassuring results for regulated contaminants in bottles and pacifiers. Community Wellness: Kroger announced a September “Wellness Tour” with in-store sampling, workshops and pharmacist/dietitian support, including a kickoff in Clarksville, Tennessee. Health Policy & Access: A proposal to cut Medicaid could hit maternal and children’s health care funding, raising stakes for families relying on coverage.