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Who We Are
Our Physicians
How We Can Help You
Specialized Care for You
How We Care for You
A Team Working for You
What This Means to You
Contact
Who We Are
The University of Tennessee Medical Center Chest Service provides a unique specialty service for patients with suspected or known lung disease, including chest malignances. Through the Chest Service, coordination of care between specialists is maximized to provide quality comprehensive, cost-effective care.
One phone call to the Chest Service from a patient or physician initiates a prompt evaluation to determine the diagnosis and appropriate intervention for diseases of the chest, including lung cancer and esophagus cancer. The Chest Service’s aim is to reduce patient/family anxieties while providing timely comprehensive care.
The Chest Service will work in partnership with the referring physician to develop a plan of care, including follow up. At every phase of care, a detailed summary and update is promptly sent to the referring physician.
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Our Physicians
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Raymond A. Dieter, III, MD
Thomas E. Gaines, MD
John W. Mack, Jr., MD
Pulmonary Medicine
Paul R. Branca, MD
Michael T. McCormack, MD
Chest Service Coordinator
Elaine Rector, RN, BSN
Clinical Nurse
Mack McNeilly, RN
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How We Can Help You
The Chest Service is designed to evaluate and manage patients with the following.
- An abnormal chest X-ray showing a nodule, mass or unresolved pneumonia.
- Suspected or known lung cancer or esophageal cancer and the related secondary effects
- A request for second opinion related to suspected or known lung cancer or esophageal cancer.
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Specialized Care for You 
We offer specialized diagnostic testing and unique interventions for your care.
- CT/PET and other radionucleide scanning
- Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)
- Minimally invasive lung surgery
- Therapeutic bronchoscopy
- Tumor destruction using thermal ablation, cautery and cryotherapy
- Tracheobronchial dilation and stenting
- Brachytherapy
- CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery
- CT-guided Radio Frequency Ablation
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How We Care for You
Patient management services will guide you through your care by doing the following.
- Testing and physician consultations scheduled within one week of referral to expedite diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care.
- Comprehensive evaluation including history, physical exam, laboratory testing and diagnostic studies (radiograph, needle biopsies and other procedures as appropriate) leading to diagnosis and a plan of care.
- Therapy options provided include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or other treatments as appropriate.
- Access to National Cancer Institute-funded and industry-sponsored clinical trials.
- Smoking cessation services are offered through a cooperative coordination with Smoke-Free Knoxville at 215.QUIT or the UT Medical Center Cancer Institute at 865.305.8577.
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A Team Working for You 
You can have better peace of mind knowing we are working for you.
- Cases are presented weekly at a multidisciplinary conference. Specialists in the field of radiology, pathology, pulmonology, cardiothoracic surgery, radiation therapy and medical oncology are present for case-by-case consultations.
- Pulmonary conference recommendations are promptly sent to the referring physician. Follow up is arranged through the coordinator of the service.
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What This Means to You
How all of this comes together to benefit the patient
- Patients are followed by lung specialists, surgeons, physician assistants and nurse specialists.
- Improved quality of life for patients through timely access for diagnosis and treatment.
- Coordinated and comprehensive evaluation and case management will decrease patient/family anxiety, improve compliance and facilitate maintenance of the highest possible quality of life during patient’s subsequent clinical course.
- Improved access to community services and home care for patients and their families.
- Lifelong data follow up of patient’s clinical status, response to treatment and outcome.
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Contact Information
1924 Alcoa Highway
Suite E-180
Knoxville, TN 37920
865.305.6955
Fax 865.305.8238
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