Centennial Medical Center’s $143 Million Expansion Plan Approved

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 23, 2008 – Centennial Medical Center, part of the TriStar Health System, received approval today from the Tennessee Health Services Development Agency for a $143 million campus expansion project that includes the addition of 51 licensed beds and major medical equipment at its main campus.

“Today’s approval of Centennial’s bed expansion paves the way for us to implement a comprehensive plan to create additional capacity to serve the growing needs of our community,” said Tom Herron, CEO of Centennial Medical Center. “Centennial Medical Center has a long and proud history of providing the highest quality patient care possible, and as a result, more physicians and their patients are choosing Centennial Medical Center for their healthcare needs. Our plans to expand and consolidate services into dedicated, patient-focused space will allow us to continue our tradition of providing the quality care our patients have come to expect.”

Herron said Centennial Medical Center has begun experiencing significant capacity challenges due in large part to the success of its heart and cancer programs, as well as the growing needs of the area’s aging population. 

The project will break ground in 2008 and completion is scheduled for 2010. Major components of the project, include:

• A dedicated Cancer Center that will integrate inpatient nursing units, radiation oncology, operating rooms, a new comprehensive cancer imaging center, outpatient services and laboratory services. The Cancer Center will have specific units for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Hematological Malignancy, Medical Oncology and Surgical Oncology with Middle Tennessee’s first dedicated stereotactic radiosurgery system, an Accuray Cyberknife.
• Phase I of a dedicated Heart and Vascular Center that will begin to integrate all cardiovascular services, including inpatient nursing units, surgical/procedural areas, outpatient diagnostics and new cardiac state-of-the-art technologies, including hybrid OR capabilities that integrate advanced imaging technologies into the surgical arena.
• An expanded dedicated Neuro ICU and additional Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery post surgical beds to accommodate our increasing volumes in these service lines.

Earl Swenson Associates, Inc. of Nashville will be the architect for the project. The architectural firm has designed over 8,500 projects throughout the United States and abroad.  Herron said he expects the project to be complete in 2010.

Centennial Medical Center, part of the TriStar Family of Hospitals, is a 614-bed tertiary facility accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Centennial Medical Center has been recognized as one of the country's 100 Top Hospitals in cardiovascular medicine, stroke service, orthopaedics, and breast cancer management. For more information, call TriStar MedLine at 615-342-1919 or 800-242-5662.