Cancer Outreach Program

The Cancer Outreach Service Division (COS) works closely with many organizations and agencies in East Tennessee to provide diagnostic services to the medically underserved. Logging more than 30,000 miles a year, COS provides nearly 4000 mobile mammograms and breast exams every year to those who might not otherwise have access to these potentially life-saving screenings.

Learn more about the Cancer Outreach Program

Patient and Family Services

The Patient and Family Services Department is a multidisciplinary team of professionals dedicated to providing a continum of supportive oncology care to patients and family members of Thompson Cancer Survival Center and Covenant Health. This team augments and supports the patient's medical treatment at Thompson Cancer Survival Center.

Patient and family services provides ancillary supportive care such as information and referrals to the community and national resources, individual and family counseling, support groups, psychosocial and nutritional assessments, assistance with special dietary needs during and after treatment, general and specific information about coping with emotonal, nutritional and practical concerns. Addressing these and other issues we impact cancer and its treatment at many levels. we are providing a holistic approach to the treatment of cancer.

Learn more about Patient and Family Services

Nutrition

Medical nutrition therapy is provided by a registered dietitian/licensed nutritionist. The clinical dietitian provides quality medical nutrition therapy for cancer patients within Covenant Health and contributes to educating the public on the role of nutrition in cancer prevention and treatment. Nutrition screening ensures early identification and intervention of patients at risk for nutritional complications. Assessment and counseling is provided to those patients who are potentially at risk or who are showing signs of inadequate nutrition.

Chaplaincy Program

Chaplains are available throughout Covenant Health. The Hospice Chaplain has special training in pastoral care and family counseling. The pastor plans and implements spiritual services. An initial spiritual assessment of all Hospice patients and families in keeping with the patients' beliefs opens the lines of communication, consultation and education.

Laser Center

The Laser Center at Thompson Cancer Survival Center is internationally recognized for research and development of a new class of cancer treatment called Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). Thompson Cancer Survival Center hosts training programs on this technique for physicians from some of the nation's most prestigious cancer centers. For this treatment, the drug Photofrin is injected intravenously. the drug concentrates in the abnormal cells. when the tissue is exposed to the laser light, the cells are destroyed. This procedure holds great promise in treating certain types of cancer and precancerous conditions. PDT is used to treat Barrett's esophagus, esophageal cancer, certain lung cancers, skin cancer, recurrent breast cancer, and Kaposi's sarcoma.

The procedure using PDT for Barrett's esophagus was developed at the Laser Center. Dr Bergein Overholt and Dr. Masoud Panjehpour are considered pioneers in this field. The Laser Center in 2001 has treated patients from 39 states and 3 foreign countries. The Laser Center works with pharmaceutical companies and with the University Of Tennessee School of Veterinary Medicine in their research efforts.

Learn more about The Laser Center

Pharmacy

The Pharmacy provides safe, effective, individualized services. Drug information on medications is given to members of the cancer care team and education is provided for cancer patients.

Inpatient Program (FSRMC, MMC, FSP)

The inpatient oncology units at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, Fort Sanders Parkwest Medical Center and Methodist Medical Center provide care for adult oncology patients needing a higher level of clinical services. Major diagnoses include lung, breast, and lymph node malignancies. Included in the scope of care are:

• Inpatient and outpatient chemotherapy
• Inpatient and outpatient blood product transfusion
• Terminal care
• Care of the immunosuppressed patient
• Care of the patient receiving radiotherapy
• Pain Management

Specialized treatments include analgesic drips, IV fluid therapy, antibiotic therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and comfort care. The services provided meet the acute care needs of the patient and prepare them for discharge to a lower level of care setting. The service includes education of the patient and family as based upon an assessment of their abilities, needs, and wishes.

The nursing staff is composed of Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Certified Nursing Assistants, all of whom have received extensive orientation to prepare them for the case demands of the oncology patient. Certification for RN's by the Oncology Nursing Society is encouraged. All inpatient units employ several Certified Oncology Nurses.

A multidisciplinary patient care team created of representatives from Pharmacy, Nutritional Services, Respiratory Therapy, Rehab Services, Social Services, Chaplaincy, and Discharge Planning works closely with the nursing staff to provide additional resources to meet the highly specialized needs of oncology patients.

East Tennessee Cancer Registry

The East Tennessee Cancer Registry has been providing cancer management and abstracting services throughout surrounding counties since 1991.

Currently 27 hospitals covering 18 counties are participating in this cancer network. Four hospitals depend on the East Tennessee Cancer Registry for approval by the Commission on Cancer. One hospital is pending approval next year by the Commission on Cancer. The other facilities meet all State of Tennessee requirements for cancer data collection. State-of-the-art computer equipment makes it possible for all cancer data to be sent to the state and national cancer databases electronically.

The East Tennessee Cancer Registry includes:

• Thompson Cancer Survival Center, Knoxville
• Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, Knoxville
• Fort Sanders Parkwest Medical Center, Knoxville
• Methodist Medical Center, Oak Ridge
• Athens Regional Medical Center, Athens
• Blount Memorial Hospital, Maryville
• East Tennessee Childrens Hospital, Knoxville
• Fort Sanders Loudon Medical Center, Loudon
• Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center, Sevierville
• Bradley County Memorial Hospital, Cleveland
• Cleveland Community Hospital, Cleveland
• Fentress County General Hospital, Jamestown
• Fort Sanders West, Knoxville
• Hawkins County Memorial Hospital, Rogersville
• Indian Path Medical Center, Kingsport
• Johnson City Specialty Hospital
• Lakeway Regional Hospital, Morristown
• Jellico community Hospital, Jellico
• Laughlin Memorial Hospital, Greeneville
• Morristown-Hamblen Hospital, Morristown
• Northside Hospital, Johnson City
• Roane Medical Center, Rockwood
• Scott County Hospital, Oneida
• Sweetwater Hospital, Sweetwater
• Sycamore Shoals Hospital, Elizabethton
• Takoma Adventist Hospital, Greeneville
• Unicoi County Memorial Hospital, Erwin

The East Tennessee Cancer Registry employs 6 staff members. The staff travels to rural areas to retrieve cancer data. ETCR has been successful in developing a cancer network of outlying communities.

In 2001 5,100 cases were abstracted. Lifetime follow-up is being completed on approximately 20,000 patients. Three certified cancer registrars as well as three qualified cancer registry staff members complete all requirements of the Commission on Cancer. Covenant Health has 44,849 cases with a reference date of January 1, 1979. 152 general cancer conferences and 88 breast conferences were held in 2001.

Followup % by hospital:

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center - 100%
Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge - 100%
Fort Sanders Parkwest Medical Center - 100%
Thompson Cancer Survival Center - 100%

Abstracted new cancer cases by hospital:

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center - 914
Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge - 677
Fort Sanders Parkwest Medical Center - 624
Thompson Cancer Survival Center - 957

Total Cases In Each Registry
Since Reference Date:

YEAR	FACILITY	#OF CASES
1989	THOMPSON CANCER SURVIVAL CENTER	9542
1979	FORT SANDERS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER	20219
1991	FORT SANDERS PARKWEST MEDICAL CENTER	6457
1989	METHODIST MEDICAL CENTER	8611

Cancer Resource Line

The Cancer Resource Line, a local information and education network, is a free public service of Covenant Health, the area's premier system for cancer treatment and research. This program is the source of the latest, most accurate information for patients, their families, general public, and health professionals. This service covers cancer related resources in the community, state and nationally. The cancer resource line can be reached by calling 1-888-768-TCSC (8272). The patient and family services department of the Thompson Cancer Survival Center will answer the call.

The Cancer Resource Line is a toll-free telephone service that provides the most comprehensive and up to date information to callers about cancer programs, resources and services in the community and the East Tennessee area as well as across the country. The cancer resource line provides educational materials related to cancer and information on such resources as support groups, financial assistance related to medication assistance, prostheses information, transportation, health insurance and much more.

By providing the public with up-to-date information the Cancer Resource Line supports Covenant Health's commitment to cancer treatment and helps people become active participants in their own healthcare.