After plans were approved at the last meeting of the University Health

System Board of Directors, the University of Tennessee Medical Center has

announced plans to construct a new Heart, Lung and Vascular

Institute.

The new facility, costing approximately $16 million, will be completed by

late 2003.

Vascular and cardiothoracic surgeons, pulmonologists, cardiologists,

interventional radiologists and technology and support services will all be

brought together by the institute in one central location.

“UT Medical Center and its affiliated physicians intend to develop a

premier heart, lung and vascular institute in East Tennessee through a

coordinated and comprehensive program,” Mickey Billbrey, president and CEO

of University Health System, said. “An institute, by its very nature,

combines clinical services, education, training and research.”

As the area’s only teaching hospital, the UT Medical Center has a

responsibility to provide the most comprehensive approach to care, said

Jack Lacey, chief medical officer.

“As a tertiary referral center for East Tennessee, Southeastern Kentucky,

Western North Carolina and Southwestern Virginia, it makes perfect sense

for UT Medical Center to establish this institute,” Lacey said.

The medical center is using the current Vascular Center as a model for the

construction of the institute. The Vascular Center allows vascular

surgeons, cardiologists and fellowship trained interventional radiologists

to coordinate and collaborate on treatment and diagnostic options

available. It also operates a research laboratory that is currently

participating in clinical trials for devices that treat aneurysms and the

growing of cells to be used for patients that have no viable veins. The

center provides a telephone number to patients who want to be screened and

referred to the appropriate specialist.

The 68,000-square-foot, five-floor facility will be constructed next to the

medical center, adjacent to the South Pavilion patient tower. It will house

the Knoxville Pulmonary Group, University Vascular Surgeons, Knoxville

Cardiovascular Group, Outpatient Cardiovascular Diagnostics, University

Cardiovascular Surgeons, Cardiovascular Pulmonary Rehabilitation and the

Cardiac Catheterization Lab.