Williamson Health Brings World-Class Care Close to Home

Courtesy of Williamson Health

From its beginnings as a small community hospital in 1958, Williamson Health has grown into a regional health system including a 337-licensed-bed acute care hospital, Williamson Medical Center; the renowned orthopaedic practice in Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee; primary and specialty care services through the Williamson Health Medical Group; countywide Emergency Medical Services; and more. With an eye toward the future, it remains dedicated to keeping high-quality, evidence-based care close to home for the Williamson County community.

10 Years of Pediatric Care

Williamson Health boasts Williamson County’s first and only distinct pediatric emergency department and dedicated pediatric inpatient unit. For the past 10 years, the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital Vanderbilt at Williamson Medical Center has made pediatric care accessible for those in Franklin, TN, and surrounding areas.

Courtesy of Williamson Health

“When a child needs care, having that right here in their hometown can make the dynamics of things easier,” says Erin Soto, director of pediatric services. “The timing and proximity are critical, especially with emergencies. Ours is the only emergency department in Williamson County that has specialized pediatric-trained providers and staff, so we are able to stabilize and keep most pediatric patients right here.”

Beyond the pediatric emergency department, patients needing admission can move to the 10-bed pediatric inpatient unit onsite. Both Williamson units have pediatric or pediatric emergency board-certified physicians and other specially trained care team members. If more intensive care is needed, providers here are directly connected to those at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital Vanderbilt in downtown Nashville and can arrange for a smooth and expedited transfer.

Courtesy of Williamson Health

“Pediatric care is fundamentally different,” Soto says, “because it requires a deeper understanding of physical, emotional and developmental needs of children. A two-year-old is going to have different needs than a 12-year-old or a 17-year-old. We’ve really built our services around those needs.”

The care team includes child life specialists, who use play and education to help young patients understand what is happening. This helps them cope better, by making the experience less intimidating and easier to understand. They help the whole family navigate throughout the patient’s stay.

“All our care is patient- and family-centered,” Soto says. “That’s the heart of how we provide care, because we know that when a child is treated, whether as an inpatient or in the ER, it affects the whole family. There may be other children who still need to go to school, or who are worried about their siblings. So, we’ve created special spaces to spread out and do homework, and services that support both the patient and their loved ones.”

Courtesy of Williamson Health

That includes kid-friendly colors and lighting, plus a playroom, library and cafe area modeled on downtown Franklin. The cafe includes space for families to bring and store their own familiar foods. Soto says it’s all designed to promote as much normalcy as possible.

“Our goal is to make every child feel safe, and every parent and family feel supported. We want them to know they are not alone, and whether it’s a minor illness or a more critical condition, we’re here to provide compassionate, expert care in a place designed just for kids,” Soto says.

Growing with Williamson County

Williamson Health is also working to expand access to care throughout the community. Spring Hill, TN, is one area that has seen tremendous growth.

“As Spring Hill has grown, we’ve seen that those residents are making up a growing percentage of our patient population,” says Tim Burton, chief administrative officer of the Williamson Health Medical Group. “So, it makes sense to provide more access points in that part of the county, to make care more available where they work and live. The growing community brings a need for more providers in the area.”

Courtesy of Williamson Health

Williamson’s latest venture in Spring Hill is a new clinic on Port Royal Road that opened in 2024. Besides expanding the capacity of its other clinic on Main Street in Spring Hill, Burton says the new location is near some of the largest residential neighborhoods there, meaning added convenience.

The Port Royal location includes traditional primary care services and a new general health walk-in clinic for more routine issues.

“Our primary care physicians in this location live here – they are part of this community,” Burton says. “In fact, Dr. Paula Dunn had been practicing in Franklin, but when she heard we were opening in Spring Hill, she told us that she’d love to be able to practice where she lives.”

A Williamson Health outpatient lab serves patients at this location, and Burton says other area providers are also sending their patients there.

Courtesy of Williamson Health

“The primary care office and the lab are seeing busy volumes,” Burton says. “Just to get your blood work done closer to home and not have to drive, no matter where your physician is, is so helpful to patients.”

Also a part of the Williamson Health system, Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee operates an orthopaedic practice in this same Spring Hill clinic, including a Bone and Joint Institute physician clinic, urgent care clinic and a large physical therapy space used for both traditional and sports therapy.

“Bone and Joint Institute has several urgent care and physical therapy locations throughout the county,” says John Reynolds, CEO of Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee. “But within just a few weeks, this Port Royal location became our busiest. We do X-rays, casting, injections here – pretty much everything you need other than surgery.”

Courtesy of Williamson Health

If surgery is needed, he says, the providers there perform surgeries in Franklin at the Bone and Joint Institute Surgery Center on the Williamson Health campus.

Burton says Williamson Health plans to bring even more services into Spring Hill, including a new primary care provider, home sleep studies and more, along with expanded walk-in clinic hours. “Williamson Health is known for its high quality and patient satisfaction,” he says. “We’re excited to keep providing these and other new services in Spring Hill.”

Poised for the Future

Williamson Health’s story of growth is a testament to its commitment to the community. By continuously expanding specialized services like pediatric care and establishing new clinics in growing areas of the county, Williamson Health is ready for the future. Its dedication to providing high-quality, patient-centered care ensures that residents of Williamson County and the surrounding communities will continue to have access to excellent health services close to home.

Stay updated on all the exciting developments and new services by following Williamson Health on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.