On a sweltering day at the end of June, Mark Smith, Caris Representative of our Chattanooga office walked into NHC Healthcare Chattanooga, smiling and greeting each person he saw. Everyone knew him on a first name basis, and a few pulled him aside to talk about patients who needed additional support. 

The Caris Healthcare relationship with NHC facilities is often unseen by families. NHC provides skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation, and long-term care. Their team is the face of day-to-day care which means they know their patients best and have been trained to recognize the signs that additional care is needed. This facility is outstanding. Walking through the halls, the happiness of the staff and patients is seen on their smiling faces. Rooms are glistening. The team is engaged and thinking ahead about patient needs. The maintenance director, George, even retired but decided to come back because he missed the place. 

Mark makes sure to visit every day, checking on patients and meeting with their social workers, nurses, and staff to ensure everyone is kept in the loop on our hospice care while our dedicated RN, Alex Whitener rounds with patients and keeps the in-house nurses and CNAs aware of medication changes and symptom management. Chaplain Jim Hitte sees to the patients’ spiritual needs. Social Worker, Tara Buchard, ensures they have access to additional resources, and Volunteer Coordinator, Rosalyn Dodson leads her team of volunteers to bring activities and companionship to the patients. A great example of that is volunteer, Steve Harmon who plays chess with one of our patients, or volunteer Maggie Murray who reads to a patient who is no longer able. 

Kyle, NHC’s Director of Nursing shares, “Most family members who have a loved one on hospice have many questions, concerns, and often their emotions fluctuate.  The family is better served through our partnership of care because they are getting more information, and Caris has the time to not only communicate with them but also take the time to listen to their concerns.” 

When patients begin losing weight, having continual falls, or their diseases progress to the point that comfort care is appropriate, the NHC team is grateful to know they have a partner to lean on offering support to both the patient and family. 

“I personally know what it feels like to watch a parent decline and to make decisions on how to best care for them. You want to provide everything possible to help them.” shares Mark Smith, Caris Representative. At Caris, we are grateful to provide that support and honored to serve alongside our NHC teams.