Update, 11:25 a.m.: The location that Ascension Saint Thomas has secured for the hospital is just northeast of Exit 11, David Leverson, AST spokesman, told Clarksville Now. The nearly 100-acre site is on the north side of Highway 76, next to Tennova ER-Sango and across from Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance, he said.

The location and additional details are contained in the Letter of Intent, obtained by Clarksville Now. It includes stated plans for diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac catheterization services, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services, and a Level II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Previously:

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Ascension Saint Thomas has announced it plans to build a new, full-service hospital, with an ER, at Exit 11 in Clarksville.

The Nashville faith-based, nonprofit hospital system announced the plan Thursday morning. The facility, located on 96 acres at the intersection of MLK Jr. Parkway and Interstate 24, will include 44 inpatient beds, with the ability to expand to 132 beds in the future, according to a news release.

Currently, the only full-service hospitals in Clarksville are the for-profit Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville and the military Blanchfield Army Community Hospital at Fort Campbell.

The Ascension Saint Thomas project represents a $148.5 million investment in the community and is expected to create approximately 250 healthcare jobs.

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The hospital and health campus will include:

  • Emergency care, inpatient surgery, cardiology, oncology, women’s health, neonatal intensive care (NICU), orthopaedics, and other key specialties.
  • Outpatient surgery, advanced imaging, and other ambulatory and outpatient services to support seamless care coordination.
  • Space to grow as the community’s needs evolve.

Data shows many residents in Montgomery County travel as far as 50 miles for surgical and obstetric care, the release said.

“Our commitment to Clarksville and Montgomery County supports our vision to answer God’s call to bring health, healing, and hope to all,” said Fahad Tahir, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas, in the release. “We believe in access to high-quality healthcare, and this new health system ensures our neighbors in Clarksville have a future choice of healthcare providers in the community to receive the care they need.”

Growing with Clarksville

Ascension Saint Thomas has served the Clarksville community since 2005, with the establishment of Saint Thomas Heart. Since then, this has grown to 14 care locations and a number of affiliated physicians throughout the area.

“As a longtime physician serving the Clarksville community, I’m thrilled that patients and families in Clarksville and the surrounding areas will have more options to receive quality care that truly reflects the needs and values of the community,” said W. Cooper Beazley, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance (TOA). “Ascension Saint Thomas is a trusted healthcare provider that in my experience is focused on delivering compassionate, patient-centered care to every person who walks through their doors. Their investment in this community will be a good thing for the future of healthcare here in Montgomery County.”

Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council CEO Buck Dellinger welcomed the announcement.

“Clarksville is a healthy, thriving market, and this project reflects the strength of our regional growth and the increasing demand for competitive, comprehensive, and accessible care. We are proud to have strong healthcare partners in our community, and Ascension Saint Thomas’s expansion could further enhance our ability to serve residents locally,” he said.

“If approved, this development will likely improve healthcare access and strengthen our economic landscape, attracting talent and supporting long-term prosperity. We look forward to the positive impact this facility could have on our growing community.”

What comes next

Ascension Saint Thomas recently secured land for the new campus and officially began the formal state process by submitting a Letter of Intent to apply for a Certificate of Need. The application will enter a formal review period with the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission, which will include a public hearing on July 23, where local residents can share comments and support.

About Ascension Saint Thomas

Ascension Saint Thomas is the only faith-based, non profit health system in Middle Tennessee. Today, the health system offers more than 320 sites of care that cover a 45-county area in Tennessee consisting of 18 hospitals and a network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and specialty facilities. Across the state, Ascension Saint Thomas and its partner organizations employ more than 13,000 associates who care for millions of patients each year.

Ascension Saint Thomas is part of Ascension, one of the nation’s largest faith-based healthcare organizations committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension includes approximately 134,000 associates, 35,000 affiliated providers and 140 hospitals, serving communities in 19 states and the District of Columbia.

Correction: The state hearing will be July 23. The article has been updated. 

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