$1.6M in expenses

Multidisciplinary Operating Grant:The Foundation provides grant support for the operations of the Multidisciplinary Treatment and Nurse Navigation Program of the Thompson Cancer Survival Center ("TCSC"). Multidisciplinary Treatment is a process of individual patient consultation with members of the patient's oncology care team, where treatment options are discussed based on that individual's circumstances. This approach gives the physician the opportunity to relate one-on-one with the oncology patient and explain treatment choices in layperson's language. Patients needing care coordination come from various Covenant Health organizations and other facilities. The program currently consists of 14 nurses, one department assistant and one conference and patient housing coordinator to support oncology patients throughout the Covenant Health system.Nurse navigators and a department assistant currently organize, oversee, summarize, and provide follow-up for four to five multidisciplinary cancer conferences per week. In 2024, 1,165 patients were presented at multidisciplinary conferences, with 140 of those patients seen in our multidisciplinary clinics where a nurse navigator attends with each patient to take notes, educate, offer support to patients and families, and become their liaison between all physicians and services. TCSC's nurse navigators assist oncology patients according to their needs and help them overcome multiple barriers to healthcare. Common barriers include financial, educational, transportation, logistical, linguistic, cultural, and emotional factors, as well as the complicated health care system in general. Navigators guide patients to sources of financial support, help complete paperwork, educate patients on diagnoses and medical procedures, arrange and coordinate appointments with multiple providers, help with transportation, assist with housing, communicate with providers about unique patient needs, ensure medical records arrive at scheduled appointments, direct patients to support groups or counseling services, and attend patient appointments for support. There were 27,121 oncology patient education encounters in 2024, and 3,371 patients were assisted by navigators to address complicated issues. For those patients that have curative treatment options, 126 Survivorship Care Plans were completed by nurse navigators and discussed with patients in 2024.

$757K in expenses

Social Services Operating Grant:The Foundation provides grant support for the operations of the Social Services Department of TCSC. The Social Services Department receives referrals from Covenant Health facilities when oncology patients are identified that could benefit from the services provided by this department. In 2024, Social Services supported 2,118 new patient referrals and 6,254 follow-up patients. Additionally, there were 2,763 new patients referred for nutritional counseling and education in 2024 with 4,019 follow-up assessments and 3,254 educational encounters to support those patients. The Social Services Department also offers genetic counseling services including breast cancer and hereditary cancer risk assessments. In 2024, the Genetics Clinic provided services for 1,098 new patients who were in need of genetic counseling. Of those patients, 748 were scheduled, 522 completed genetic counseling, and 412 elected to pursue genetic testing. All patients were able to receive full personal and family history reviews, allowing for a thorough risk assessment for the potential of a hereditary cancer syndrome or other familial risk factors possibly not accounted for through genetic testing. The patients received education and counseling regarding their pursuit of genetic testing. When appropriate, patients received information about support resources for individuals in similar circumstances. Finally, all patients received recommendations for risk-reduction strategies personalized for their individual health history, family history, and genetic test results when available.

$386K in expenses

Clinical Trials Operating Grant:The Foundation provides a grant to TCSC for the operation of its Clinical Trials program. Since the opening of TCSC in 1988, the Clinical Trials Department has enrolled 2,772 patients in clinical trials. In 2024, the TCSC Clinical Trials Department had 7 active treatment patients and 94 patients in follow-up studies. Due to the excellent research reputation of the program's medical director and research team, TCSC continues to have new clinical trial opportunities offered to its research team on a weekly basis. To help with screening efforts for potential clinical trial participants, Research Nurse Coordinators are assigned to specific physician schedules for screening and to specific locations for coverage, including Thompson Oncology Group's Oak Ridge, Sevierville, West Knoxville, Downtown Knoxville, and Lenoir City. Opening new studies increases referrals locally and regionally and gives current patients the ability to be treated with state-of-the-art care in their own community. Involvement in prevention, treatment, and data and specimen collection trials offers an improved means of health strategies for individuals at risk for certain cancers, as well as access to proven standard cancer treatments and new, developing cutting edge therapies for those diagnosed with cancer.

$178K in expenses

In addition to the program services detailed above, funding was also provided in 2024 for patient assistance, cancer outreach services, and colon cancer/ostomy education:Patient Assistance:The Thompson Cares Fund, supported by employee and community donations, provides emergency assistance for cancer patients in times of crisis. In 2024, 1,210 patients received assistance with such needs as housing, transportation, utilities, food/nutritional supplements, medical supplies and medications.Cancer Outreach:Thompson Cancer Survival Center Foundation supports the work of TCSC's cancer outreach department that provides free and reduced-cost cancer screenings in the East Tennessee area. In addition to outreach efforts at community health fairs/free clinics, the department provides no-cost mammograms and smoking/vaping cessation education. Early detection and prevention efforts are the first step to help patients be diagnosed quickly or, if possible, never have to battle the disease at all. Colon Cancer/Ostomy Education:In 2022, the foundation began funding a new patient education program focused on colon cancer and ostomy care. Patients benefit from the classes taught both in advance of the following colostomy surgery to prepare patients and their families for successfully living with a colostomy. The classes are taught by a registered nurse and there is no charge to patients.