Other Areas of Nursing Practice

The following are other areas of nursing practice within UT Medical Center.

Aeromedical Transport

LIFESTAR is a program started in 1984 to provide rapid transportation and quality medical care to patients via helicopter. It provides aeromedical services within a 150-mile radius of UT Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. LIFESTAR responds to on-scene calls and also provides inter-facility transportation to medical or trauma patients, which may include vascular, neuro, cardiac or pediatric patients.

Each flight is staffed with a registered nurse, paramedic and pilot. The paramedics and nurses work side by side to provide exceptional care for patients during their flight. Nurses and paramedics working at the bases in Sweetwater, Tennessee, and Morristown, Tennessee, work 24-hour shifts, and at the Severville, TN, and Norris, TN, bases they work 12-hour shifts. The pilots at all four bases work in 12-hour shifts. LIFESTAR is notified of request for rapid transport by LIFESTAR dispatch, which is located at UT Medical Center. All calls are received through LIFESTAR dispatch, which then determines which of the four aircrafts are available and closest to the patient in need of transportation. Dispatch will then notify the appropriate helicopter crew via telephone or radio.

LIFESTAR nurses are required to have three years of critical care experience, critical care certification and an EMT license. They also must be up to date with ACLS, PALS and either BTLS or PHTLS.

Radiation Oncology

Manager - Terri McDonald, RN

Radiation oncology nurses (RNs) work with the radiation team to care for patients during the course of treatment. They help evaluate the patient before therapy begins and weekly while under treatment to assess problems and concerns. Nurses play a key role in educating the patients about radiation and side effects, etc., as well as providing emotional support for cancer patients and their families. They also coordinate patient care with other hospital departments or physician offices.

Modern radiation therapy modalities are increasingly complex with such treatment options as CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery, Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy or high-dose rate brachytherapy, thus expanding the nurse’s responsibility in the care of the patient.

At UT Medical Center, radiation oncology is fortunate to have two full-time nurses, one part-time nurse and one prn oncology nurse to meet its patients’ needs.

Patient Advocate

Patient Advocate - Pam Michelson, MSN, RN

The patient advocate is available to assist patients with a variety of concerns. These include assisting and investigating patient complaints, facilitating special requests and completion of advance directives.

The patient advocate meets with patients and/or their families upon their request to provide clarification, intervention and any necessary follow-up regarding discussed issues.

Additionally patients wishing to file a grievance regarding their care should contact 865.305.9812. The patient advocate is available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Holidays and off shifts are covered by the nursing supervisor.