Smoky Mountain Hospice Knoxville office employees attending a recent celebration in Newport honoring Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice agency’s 30 year anniversary. Present were: (Back row) Ralph Ozmun, CE; Michelle Stooksbury, LCSW; David Holt, Chaplain; (Front row) Jamye Ray, HHA; Trish Buckner, HHA; Pearl Marion, RN; and Cynthia Finch, LMSW/Office Manager.
Since 1982, Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice has been serving thousands of East Tennessee residents in their home, nursing home, or place of residence.
Now, thirty years later, Tammy Francis, RN, CDE, administrator and owner, still manages the agency on that she started literally out of the trunk of her car. She realized after nursing school that many frail, elderly and homebound people really wanted to stay home in their later years to receive health care services. At that time, there were not many options available for in-home care services in rural communities.
Today, the business now maintains four branch offices in Greeneville, Morristown, Kingsport and Knoxville that provides hospice care only. The corporate office still remains in Newport and the agency is now licensed to provide care in 13 East Tennessee counties and has grown to employ over 150 people in the various communities where they have offices.
The company actively supports the counties in which there are offices through community events and outreach programs as well as provides jobs in these communities.
Not many home care agencies have full time Medical Directors on their staff who interacts daily with staff and patients. Dr. James Williams of Newport and Dr. Evelyne Davidson of Knoxville, both make house calls to patients homes, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes.
One of the benefits of end-of-life care is the extra assurance to the family that their loved one will be kept pain free and as comfortable as possible. Dr. Davidson and Dr. Williams’ expertise are valued at team meetings as they both consult with the professional team as well as the family throughout the care of the patient.
Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice has won several prestigious awards throughout the years and continues to be recognized as one of the leading home care agencies in Tennessee. In 2009, Ms. Francis was honored by Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich as an American Solutions Entrepreneur of the year dinner in Washington, D. C. Ms. Francis was also awarded the prestigious Home Care Leadership award by the Tennessee Association of Home Care.
