Nashville’s Medtech Industry Is Revolutionizing Health Care
The future of health care continues to take shape in the Nashville Region.
At Belmont University’s Center for Interprofessional Engagement & Simulation, you’ll find students practicing with automated medication dispensing systems that they will encounter in hospitals. Plus, in major medical facilities, patients navigate their stays with digital signage and hospital-grade entertainment systems. These examples are not isolated. They are glimpses of how the Nashville Region’s medtech sector is revolutionizing health care while providing training for the next generation of providers.
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Building on a Foundation: Nashville’s Medtech Ecosystem
The Nashville Region’s medtech industry didn’t take shape overnight.
According to the Nashville Health Care Council, the formation of its health care community began in the 1960s after Medicare and Medicaid were established, along with three big health care companies – Hospital Corp. of America, General Care Corp. and Hospital Affiliates International. Mergers and ventures fueled expansion, and now, a new generation of companies is building on that foundation, reimagining how health care works from classroom to bedside.
“The Nashville region is quickly establishing itself as a dynamic hub for medtech innovation,” says Eller Kelliher, chief financial officer of Nashville-based Launch Tennessee, a nonprofit supporting tech-based economic growth alongside the Tennessee Department of Community & Economic Development. “With the local region seeing 76% year-over-year growth in 2024 in medtech investment, it’s clear confidence in this sector is strong.”
3AM Technologies: Training Tomorrow’s Healthcare Providers
One company bridging education and innovation is Joelton’s 3AM Technologies, which provides software and hardware for patient care and provider training. Its automated medication dispensing systems – the same ones used in hospitals – help students at Belmont University’s Center for Interprofessional Engagement & Simulation master hospital tech before they use it on the job.
“Our university partnerships are important,” says CEO Kevin Bracey. “Without this early exposure, students would encounter this critical technology for the first time on the job. When lives depend on precise medication delivery, hands-on training eliminates the anxiety of unfamiliar equipment.”
Remar Technologies Group (RTG): Rethinking the Patient Experience
While 3AM focuses on providers, Mt. Juliet-based Remar Technologies Group (RTG) addresses the patient experience. RTG delivers customizable AV and entertainment systems, including hospital-grade TVs, Internet Protocol television systems, digital signage, and intuitive control interfaces.
By overseeing the systems that support comfort and communication, RTG ensures patients and families have a better experience between care, allowing staff to stay focused on clinical priorities.
“We take care of things people don’t think about but notice quickly,” says Lee Clark, RTG president. “We are excited about the tech we can offer and how it supports hospitals. It can help distract patients from what they are having to deal with.”
A malfunctioning TV affects patient satisfaction, while properly integrated systems can display care plans, menus and educational content. RTG handles this precise coordination, so hospitals can focus on medical care.
Manufacturing and Development Resources are Supporting Innovation
What connects companies like 3AM and RTG is more than just geography; both recognize that excellent health care depends on seamless technology integration throughout the patient journey. They’re part of a broader ecosystem spanning education, development and patient experience.
In Gallatin, KX Medical operates a registered medical device manufacturing facility, while Berry Hill’s Merge Medical Device Studio helps early-stage companies design, prototype and test breakthrough technologies.
While the Nashville Region has long been known as a health care hub, something bigger is happening. The region is becoming a place where traditional health care is rethought – a place where university classrooms, simulation suites, manufacturing facilities, and hospital rooms serve as testing grounds for tomorrow’s medical care.
Whether it starts with a nursing student learning to get the hang of dispensing technology, a hospital patient using smart room systems, or an entrepreneur building the next breakthrough device, the Nashville Region’s medtech industry is ready to deliver innovations in health care everywhere.
The momentum happening in the region is also attracting international attention. Scottish biotech firm Dxcover plans to establish its first U.S. headquarters in Williamson County, bringing its early cancer detection platform to the region.
“Medtech momentum is being fueled by a mix of established companies and emerging startups,” Kelliher says. “These startups are driving real progress in addressing health care’s most critical challenges.”
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