Vascular Access Center

The Heart Lung Vascular Institute at UT Medical Center is excited and proud to announce that UT vascular surgeons and the Vascular Access Center have well exceeded the National Goal for the Fistula First Initiative. The goal of the Fistula First Initiative was developed to increase the appropriate use of AV fistulas for hemodialysis access. The Fistula First rate for the first and second quarter 2009 was 92%, surpassing the national goal of 66%. The Vascular Access Center is dedicated to insuring that every end stage renal disease patient receives the full benefits of its program and is committed to providing outstanding patient care at every level.

The Vascular Access Center at the University of Tennessee Medical Center provides comprehensive vascular access care to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients throughout the region.

What is the Vascular Access Center?
When do I call the Vascular Access Center?
Where do I go when I get to the hospital?
Staff
Office Information

What is the Vascular Access Center?

The Vascular Access Center's focus is to provide you a Five Star Experience by creating a virtually seamless flow through the medical center.
Its goal is to provide you with a quality functional vascular access, as well as keeping you from missing dialysis treatments and having unnecessary hospitalizations. This will be achieved through a team approach between the vascular access coordinator, your dialysis clinic, your nephrologist and your vascular surgeon.

The center is committed to offer you the advances being made in the vascular access field and to provide these services to you as they become available.

When do I call the Vascular Access Center?

• If your vascular access is red, swollen and/or warm to touch.
• If you have drainage coming from your vascular access.
• If you have a fever for an unknown reason.
• If the thrill or “buzzing” of your fistula or graft has stopped or is not as strong.
• If you have bleeding from your dialysis access that does not stop with direct pressure after 30 minutes.
• If you are told by your dialysis nurse that your dialysis is not adequate.
• If you have any other problems with your vascular access.

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Where do I go when I get to the hospital?

You may park in the Heart Lung Vascular Institute parking garage. You will take the crossover to the Heart Lung Vascular Institute and go to the Outpatient Registration in the Heart Lung Vascular Institute Suite 150. From there you will be taken to the UT Medical Center Vascular Access Center located in the Cardiovascular and Interventional Center.

One call does it all for your vascular access needs. For more information about the University of Tennessee Medical Center Vascular Access Center or to schedule an appointment, please call 865.305.6655.

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Staff

Vascular Access Coordinator
Rebecca Jarvis, RN, CCTC
Tamsen Smith, RN

Vascular Surgeons

Alex Cantafio, MD
Michael Freeman, MD
Mitchell Goldman, MD
Oscar Grandas, MD, Medical Director
Scott Stevens, MD

Office Information

Hours
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. 5 p.m.

Contact

865.305.6655

For after-hours vascular access issues, please call your vascular surgeon’s office. For other emergencies please call 911 or your nephrologist.

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