Care Coordination
Care Coordination provides all patients with safe, appropriate, and effective care by organizing patient care activities and facilitating effective communication and information sharing between all involved parties.
- The Care Coordinators at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital are an important part of your interdisciplinary healthcare team.
- This team of specialists includes Masters' Level social workers, RN case managers and Spanish interpreters. They work together to find out what you and your family might need and how they can offer support.
- Our social workers help patients, and their families address and resolve the social, financial, and psychological problems related to their health condition. This could include emotional support, also help with things such as transportation, rehabilitation services, clothing, and helping the family cope with the impact of their child’s illness. They also can assist families with advocating with medical team to better understand their child’s medical needs when making decisions regarding their child's care.
- Case management ensures all families have what they need to safely meet the child’s medical care after discharge and coordinates the initiation of post-discharge health services to ensure continuity of care.
Helpful ETCH Resources
Helpful ETCH Resources
- Family Needs Attorney
The Family Legal Services Program offers pro bono services for any qualifying health-affecting legal need our families may face. Whether it be custody, conservatorships, powers of attorney, or social security, the Family Legal Services Program is ready to speak to you about your legal need today
- Child Life Services
Our team of Certified Child Life Specialist help our young patients develop ways to cope with the anxiety, fear and separation that often accompany a hospital experience. They are trained professionals that give special consideration to each child including their family, culture, and stage of development.
- Financial Resources
East Tennessee Children's Hospital recognizes that medical problems can sometimes create financial problems. Our staff is here to assist you in finding resources that may help cover your medical expenses. There are options for every family.
- East Tennessee Children's Hospital Pediatric Physiatry
Physiatry help patients maximize function to help them lead the best lives. Our physiatry team is committed to providing high-quality, custom care for each patient and their family.
Helpful Community Resources
Helpful Community Resources
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Children (ssa.gov)
SSI provides monthly cash payments to help meet the basic needs of children who have a physical or mental disability or who are blind. If you care for a child or teenager with a disability, and have limited income and savings or other resources, your child may be eligible for SSI.
- Community Health Access and Navigation in Tennessee (CHANT) (tn.gov)
CHANT is an integrated model of care coordination provided through the local health departments. The program provides enhanced patient-centered engagement, assistance with navigating complex systems, and care coordination of medical and social service needs. Families and individuals are connected to available resources which may include reimbursement for medical services and assistance with co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance for children and youth with physical disabilities.
- Tennessee's Early Intervention System (TEIS) (kidcentraltn.com)
Tennessee's Early Intervention System is a voluntary educational program for families with children through age 2 with disabilities or developmental delays. Early Intervention supports families in helping their child's development, helps the child participate in family and community activities and encourages the active participation of the whole family in the child’s development.
- The TennCare Katie Beckett Program
The TennCare Katie Beckett Program is for children under 18 with disabilities or complex medical needs who are not Medicaid eligible because of their parent’s income or assets. It helps to provide care for the child’s medical needs or disability that private insurance does not cover. The care is provided in the child’s home or in the community.
- Child Abuse Hotline (tn.gov) - 877-237-0004
Call the Child Abuse Hotline to report child abuse or neglect in the State of Tennessee. Reports also can be made online on their secure site at https://apps.tn.gov/carat/. Trained case managers will guide Hotline callers through a series of questions. Callers do not have to know all the details of the abuse or neglect. The Hotline case managers use the information you provide to determine the severity of the situation and how best to intervene.
- Ronald McDonald House
Tennessee’s first Ronald McDonald House opened in Knoxville on March 8, 1985. Since opening their doors, they have provided a home for over 57,000 people. Families have come from 41 states, 10 foreign countries, and virtually every medical facility that treats pediatric patients.
- SPARK
Spark (formerly known as East Tennessee Technology Access Center) is an organization that uses assistive technology to help people with disabilities to live, work and play more fully and independently.
- Helen Ross McNabb walk in center
The first of its kind in Tennessee, this pediatric CSU will serve children in need of behavioral health treatments, including therapy, medication and other services to help them work through a mental health crisis.
- Mobile Crisis
You are able to access this services without even coming to ETCH emergency room. This is a resource in your community and the great part is you have direct access to these services
- CSU Information for Families
- Charlie Health
Patient and Family Education
Patient and Family Education
- Behavioral Health Safety Checklist (keeping an at-risk person safe)
Hematology/Oncology Resources
Hematology/Oncology Resources
- ETCH Hematology/Oncology
- The National Children's Cancer Society
The National Children's Cancer Society provides emotional, financial, and educational support to children with cancer, their families, and survivors. NO ONE SHOULD GO THROUGH CHILDHOOD CANCER ALONE.
- Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) is changing the lives of children with cancer by funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families and empowering everyone to help cure childhood cancer.
- American Childhood Cancer Organization
The American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO) was founded in 1970 by parents of children diagnosed with cancer. Formerly known as Candlelighters, ACCO is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated to childhood cancer.
Oncology Parent Support Group
For parents of children facing a cancer diagnosis, this Support Group meets the 2nd Thursday of every month from 5:30 – 7:00pm in the Discovery Innovation and Simulation Center in South Tower, Level 1 and East Tennessee Children's Hospital. For more details, click the link above or send an email to Mia Tyler at mmtyler@etch.com or Lisa Mink at lamink@etch.com
- The Caring Plate: Food Assistance for Pediatric Cancer Patients and Their Families
The Caring Plate assures cancer patients currently receiving treatment or recovering have access to healthy nutritious meals.
Recommended Reading and Other Resources
Recommended Reading and Other Resources
Helpful Websites
