CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – With the news that Vanderbilt University Medical Center plans to acquire the Tennova hospital, Clarksville will, in just a couple of years, go from having one for-profit hospital with a damaged reputation to having three hospitals with stellar reputations – one for-profit (TriStar) and two non-profit (Ascension and Vanderbilt).
The news was met with excitement from Clarksville and Montgomery County leadership.
“The Vanderbilt University Medical Center name, and supreme reputation, are certainly well-known already to Clarksville and our entire region, and we warmly welcome this nationally heralded healthcare institution to our city,” said Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts.
Expectations for Vanderbilt in Clarksville will be high
VUMC, a 20% owner of Tennova-Clarksville, plans to acquire full ownership of the 270-bed hospital by early 2026, making it the fourth community hospital in Vanderbilt Health’s network of regional medical centers, all closely tied to VUMC in Nashville.
“The expectations for them to deliver in our community – as Vanderbilt has long been known to do in Nashville – will undoubtedly be high. In our own conversations with some of Vanderbilt’s executives, we have been repeatedly assured that they plan to bring to Clarksville the same level of excellence that they provide in Nashville,” Pitts said. “The convenience and peace-of-mind of having that in our rapidly growing city is sure to be a source of great excitement.”
Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden echoed those sentiments. “We welcome the expansion of Vanderbilt Health in Montgomery County and are excited that our residents will have even more options for their healthcare, and we are grateful to CHS and Tennova Hospital for the many years they’ve invested in serving our community,” Golden said.
Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council CEO Buck Dellinger was also thrilled by the news. The EDC’s long-planned convention center and VA Clinic site is sandwiched between the upcoming Freedom Farms development and the Tennova hospital campus.
“Vanderbilt’s large investment in our community speaks to the confidence they have in this market while also providing a strong network of care for our residents,” Dellinger said.
New hospitals to move forward with plans
Officials for both TriStar Health and Ascension Saint Thomas provided responses to Clarksville Now saying their plans to build in Clarksville will not change in the wake of Vanderbilt’s announcement. Both hospitals are expected to open in 2028.
TriStar Health plans to build 68-bed hospital, expandable to 224 beds, on the south side of Tiny Town Road. The $286 million investment will create more than 200 healthcare jobs.
“TriStar Health is grateful for the immense support we’ve received from the residents and leaders in Clarksville,” they said in a statement on Friday. “We are thrilled to move forward with a hospital designed to meet the evolving needs of this vibrant community.”
Ascension Saint Thomas plans to build a 44-bed hospital, expandable to 132 beds, on a 98-acre campus just east of Exit 11. The $148.5 million investment will create approximately 250 healthcare jobs.
“Ascension Saint Thomas is deeply grateful for the tremendous support from the Clarksville-Montgomery County community as we move forward with plans for a new, state-of-the-art hospital and innovative health campus that expands access through inpatient care and emergency services, surgery, advanced imaging, oncology care, orthopedic care, and other specialty services,” officials said Friday. “Together with our physicians and community partners, we remain dedicated to shaping a healthier future for all.”
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