Our Owner and Founder
Tammy Francis, RN, CDE, started Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice in 1982 literally out of the trunk of her car. After completing nursing school, she soon realized that many frail, elderly and home-bound people really want to stay at home in their later years to receive health care services. At that point, there were not many options for in-home care services in rural communities like Newport, Tennessee, much less female-owned small businesses.
Since 1982, Ms. Francis has continued to manage the agency on a daily basis and as an on-call nurse continues to be accessible to patients and their families. Tammy is married to Don “Jabo” Francis, who owns Jabo’s Pharmacy in Newport. They are very active in the community and their church.
Our Team
Our team includes a physician, a nurse practitioner, registered nurse, medical social worker, chaplain, home health aide, volunteer, and other specialists if necessary.
Together, the team addresses the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the patient and their family.
What is is like to be a hospice nurse with us?
The hospice nurse is a vital part of the Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice team.
Hospice care is often called end-of-life care, and hospice nurses are tasked with keeping patients comfortable instead of providing treatments that extend their lives. A hospice nurse is assigned to patients who typically have six months or less to live and have chosen hospice care at the end of life. As part of the hospice philosophy of care, a hospice nurse focuses on comfort and quality of life. They provide individualized care based on each person’s unique needs.
