Our Story: Rooted Here, Caring Forward

State of Franklin Healthcare Associates began the way many good things in this country do—with people willing to take a risk for something they believe in.

SOFHA was built by local physicians who saw a need in their communities and chose to step forward. They rolled up their sleeves, invested their own time and energy, and committed themselves to caring for their neighbors. It wasn’t built by a corporation or backed by outside investors. It was built here, by people who live here.

From the beginning, decisions have been made locally, with physicians leading the organization. Today, SOFHA remains a physician-led, 100% employee-owned healthcare group, a structure that is uncommon in an era of rapid consolidation and corporate ownership across the healthcare industry.  The people who care for patients every day—our physicians, nurses, and team members—are also the people who own this organization. That sense of responsibility has always been at the heart of who we are.

Being physician-led means care decisions are guided by people who practice medicine every day and understand patients not as numbers, but as neighbors. It allows clinical judgment, continuity, and local insight to remain at the center of care—focused on long-term health, trust, and relationships.

The past couple of years have tested our foundation. The healthcare industry has changed rapidly, and like many organizations across the country, SOFHA has had to navigate those changes while also working through leadership transitions. It has been a challenging period.

What has remained constant is our commitment to care.

Even through these challenges, SOFHA continued serving patients across the Tri-Cities. Today, more than 200 providers and over 1,000 employees care for our communities supporting hundreds of patient visits each year.  SOFHA has served these communities for decades and remains nationally recognized for quality and value, including NCQA certification and recognition for delivering high-quality, lower-cost care.

Stabilizing the organization has required thoughtful decisions. In some cases, locations had to be closed because they were unsustainable within SOFHA’s business model. When changes were necessary, we focused on communicating directly with affected patients and helping them transition their care. These decisions were not easy, but they were made with responsibility and long-term patient care in mind.  Change can create uncertainty, and we understand why people have questions during periods like this.

Through all of this, we’ve taken time to reflect on what matters most and how we move forward with intention. The focus now is not on what has changed, but on what continues to guide us.

At the same time, we are strengthening the core of who we are: physician-led care, employee ownership, and a deep commitment to this region.

SOFHA was created to serve this region, and that purpose hasn’t changed. The road forward won’t always be easy, but it will be guided by the same belief that started it all—that healthcare works best when it is personal, local, and accountable.

That’s our story. And we remain committed to patient care.

---

Posted in SOFHA Updates