Palliative care services, available at Bristol Regional Medical Center and Holston Valley Medical Center, are devoted to providing specialized medical and advanced practice nursing care for seriously ill patients. The palliative care team is specially trained to provide relief from pain or other uncomfortable symptoms and improve quality of life. An “interdisciplinary team” model is used to provide services from a wide range of providers, including social workers, chaplains, speech therapists, physicians, nurses and others.
The palliative care specialists also provide patient and family an opportunity to take a fresh look at goals, priorities and medical or treatment options. There is a holistic approach to care, including assessment and support for emotional, social and spiritual needs or suffering. The patient’s personal values and priorities are considered, as well as the illness, to help patients make informed decisions. Palliative care complements a patient’s usual medical treatment and can be requested at any time during an illness or its treatment.
Wellmont Health System was the first health system in Northeast Tennessee to offer patients access to a palliative care team.
Please visit our Palliative Care FAQ page for answers to your questions about accessing Wellmont Health System palliative care services. If you have additional questions, please call the Wellmont Nurse Connection at 1-877-230-NURSE.