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Contributed commentary by Erin Yow on proposed hospitals in Clarksville:

I am writing as a concerned citizen of Montgomery County in response to Tennova’s opposition to new hospitals proposed by Saint Thomas Ascension and TriStar. Their recent claims imply that they alone can meet the healthcare needs of our rapidly growing community. The facts say otherwise.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Montgomery County has over 220,000 residents. Using a modest national benchmark of 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 people, we need at least 620 beds. If we follow the Hill-Burton Act’s recommended goal of 4.5 beds per 1,000, we need nearly 1,000 beds. Tennova, 207 beds doesn’t come close.

Tennova argues against expanding healthcare options. Their stated justification includes the assertion that Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH) is available for military members and their families, but that’s a very misleading claim. BACH has only 47 inpatient beds and it serves a very specific population: active-duty military personnel, their families, TRICARE beneficiaries, and certain veterans. Civilians not affiliated with the Department of Defense are ineligible to receive BACH services. Even honorably discharged veterans must be independently enrolled in VA care, which only provides access to outpatient services and only through separate registration and authorization. BACH is not open to the public. It is not a substitute for a functioning civilian hospital system.

Why are we blocking a critical need for hospital beds? Our community’s young median age (about 31) and rising population drive substantial demand for maternal/infant, pediatric, mental health and emergency services. According to the 2024 County Data Package written by the Tennessee Department of Health, we have higher rates of infant mortality, mental distress and obesity in Montgomery County, which further confirms a need for accessible, staffed inpatient beds.

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Clarksville’s Industrial Park is home to major manufacturing facilities that employ thousands of workers across multiple shifts, 24 hours a day. These aren’t small businesses, they are large-scale operations essential to our local economy. When a medical emergency or workplace injury occurs, access to immediate, high-quality care is non-negotiable. Yet our current hospital infrastructure doesn’t have the capacity to meet that need. Tennova alone cannot support the demands of this workforce or the rapid pace of our county’s growth. Failing to expand hospital access not only puts workers at risk, but it also undermines the very infrastructure that supports economic development in Montgomery County.

Our community is growing rapidly. Pretending that current capacity is sufficient while relying on a military hospital with limited access is not just inaccurate, it’s dangerous. Clarksville deserves an accessible and expanded healthcare system that meets the real needs of all its residents. Let’s stop pretending that one hospital system can serve our growing community. Let’s expand. Let’s plan for our future. And let’s put our community first.

This Wednesday, the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission will hold a public hearing to decide whether Saint Thomas Ascension and TriStar will be allowed to build hospitals here in Montgomery County. It is a critical moment, one that could shape the future of healthcare in our community for decades.

I cannot stress this enough: Your presence matters! There is opposition. This is our chance to be seen, to be heard, to tell the truth: We are not OK. There simply aren’t enough beds, doctors or choices in Clarksville. Tell them what it’s like to live here. Tell them what you or your loved ones have experienced. Tell them we need and deserve better.

Erin Yow

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