Palliative Care

Patients with serious and potentially life-threatening illness have a new service to improve their quality of life. The University of Tennessee Medical Center proudly offers a physician referral-based service, University Palliative Care (UPC).

Palliative care is a medical specialty that supports physicians in the care of patients with serious and potentially life-threatening illness. UPC provides consultative expertise in palliative care for UT Medical Center hospitalized patients and families.

UPC staff work to improve the quality of life of patients and families living with potentially life-limiting or chronically debilitating illness by providing care focused on relief of physical, spiritual and psychosocial suffering. Consultation is available for patients in various stages of illness whether the care focus is on recovery or comfort.

As a patient, you will receive the following services from the partnership between University Palliative Care and UT Medical Center physicians.

• Help with comfort care at the end of life.
• Support with time intensive patient/family communication.
• Treatment options for difficult-to-manage symptoms, including the following.
  - Pain
  - Shortness of breath
  - Anxiety
  - Confusion
  - Depression
  - Nausea and vomiting
  - Insomnia
  - Constipation
  - Diarrhea
  - Swallowing difficulties
• Assistance with complex medical decision-making and determination of care goals including family meetings when needed.

University Palliative Care is lead by John D. Cowan, M.D. and Teresa Palmer, APRN, ACHPN, Advanced Practice Nurse. Ronald Lands, M.D. also is part of the University Palliative Care team and is board certified in palliative care.

UPC is available for consultation upon a physician-ordered referral Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. UPC provides daily follow-up after the initial consultation.

For questions, please call Dr. Cowan or Teresa Palmer at 865.305.7255 and talk to your doctor about Palliative Care options at UT Medical Center.