Murfreesboro Hospital Expansion Approved

State officials gave Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro the go ahead on Wednesday to expand and relocate its hospital.

The deal has been in the works for seven years. Hospital CEO Gordon Ferguson says the current facility is now in a hard to find location and it’s not able to keep up with patient demand. He also says that a newer, bigger hospital will attract other businesses to either move or stay in Rutherford County.

“One of the things that we keep hearing is that when new companies are looking at places to relocate, they’re looking at things such education and healthcare. And I believe, very strongly, that with the new facility you’re going to have a higher level of care provided here and prevent people from feeling that they have to travel to Nashville. So I think it’s just a big plus to take care of this growing population.”

The new hospital will almost double in size – expanding to 600-thousand square feet with 286-hospital beds, medical office buildings and outpatient facilities. The first phase of construction begins next year in the Rutherford County’s new major Gateway development. Construction on the actual hospital will begin in 2008.