Medical Services Keep Pace with Rutherford County Growth
Rutherford County’s health-care services – from top-ranked hospitals to speciality clinics – continues to expand as the community grows.
From top-ranked hospitals to specialty clinics and longtime care providers to newer arrivals, Rutherford County’s array of health-care services continues to expand as the community grows. Saint Thomas Health (STH), a Middle Tennessee stalwart, maintains a vibrant presence in Rutherford County. Its Murfreesboro-based Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital is part of a network whose specialty care includes cancer, cardiac, neurosciences, orthopedics and women’s health services.
Through its Saint Louise Clinic, STH has partnered with the University of Tennessee College of Medicine to launch a Family Medicine residency program. Recognized by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the program has begun training physicians in Murfreesboro. Having recently moved into a larger facility to accommodate growth, the Saint Louise Clinic boasts four full-time faculty, 24 residents, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and 18 exam rooms.
TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center, a 109-bed hospital in Smyrna, is another key provider tracking with the county’s growth curve. StoneCrest’s recent additions include a new specialty care suite in Murfreesboro; a new Women’s Health & Wellness program, complete with a health navigator for oncology services in the hospital; and a new radiation oncologist on the medical staff. StoneCrest is “committed to the care and improvement of human life,” says Louis Caputo, FACHE, the hospital’s CEO. “In recognition of this commitment, we strive to deliver high-quality, cost-effective health care in the community we serve.” Like its cohorts in the county, StoneCrest is working hard to enhance quality of life through a multifaceted menu of health services.
“We consider it a privilege to care for Rutherford County, and take very seriously the responsibility to meet the health-care needs of such a vibrant, fast-growing community,” Caputo says. “As our area grows, we’ll continuously strive to be the medical center of choice for patients, physicians and caregivers.”
Spectrum of Care
Among the county’s oldest providers is Murfreesboro Medical Clinic & SurgiCenter (MMC), which recently celebrated its 65th year. Despite its longevity in the county, MMC is continuously taking steps to raise its level of care. MMC’s menu of multispecialty services includes allergy/ immunology, a comprehensive breast center now offering 3D mammography, dermatology – featuring Murfreesboro’s only dermatologist-guided U MediSpa, a full-service medical spa and boutique—endocrinology, gastroenterology, general surgery, infusion, internal and family medicine, a full lab group, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopaedic and sports medicine, pediatrics, plastic surgery, podiatry, radiology, rheumatology, urology, a vascular and vein center, weight loss and wellness clinic, and a spine-joint-pain center. Continued growth is part of MMC’s story; it recently opened a third satellite MMC NOW Family Walk-In Clinic, in Smyrna, where patients can find relief from most minor injuries and illnesses, along with screenings and physicals.
Beyond acute and clinical care, Rutherford County is graced with a number of specialty providers. These include TrustPoint Hospital, which provides physical rehabilitation and psychiatric care; Tennessee Rehabilitation Center (TRC) at Smyrna, one of eight state-operated facilities in the U.S. offering comprehensive rehab services; and AdamsPlace, an assisted-living campus operated by Murfreesboro-based National HealthCare Corp.
What’s more, nonprofit providers continue to spring up, providing much-needed care to residents across the economic spectrum. Two leaders in this category are Primary Care and Hope Clinic, which serves some 7,000 patients each year, and Interfaith Dental Clinic, part of a two-location Middle Tennessee agency whose 35 employees provide dental care for 1,200 patients annually.
Care for Veterans
Excellent health care draws not only patients, but also their loved ones. This is especially true for the Alvin C. York campus of the Veterans Administration Tennessee Valley Healthcare System in Murfreesboro. To provide support for family members of veterans who travel from as far away as California, the Tennessee Fisher House Foundation opened this Fisher House in 2013. The home makes 12 bedroom/bath suites available to veterans’ families, free of charge, thanks to a combination of private and public funding. Guests stay an average of 10 days, but longer visits are an option if necessary. The house aims to provide “a home-like environment that promotes respite and healing,” says Becky Wood, manager, adding that local businesses, churches and other organizations frequently chip in donations of cash, meals, food pantry goods, clothing and more.
“The community has really rallied around us,” Wood says. “Our guests are overwhelmed by the hospitality they experience in Rutherford County, and our local residents take pride in making sure the families of those who’ve sacrificed so much for our nation have a caring place to stay.”
Learn more about health care in Rutherford County, TN.
