Ascension Saint Thomas received approval from the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission on May 27 to proceed with construction of Fairview’s first freestanding emergency department. The new facility will be part of a coordinated healthcare campus that includes a Dickson Medical Associates physician-led outpatient center, aimed at meeting the growing needs of the Fairview community.
The development represents an investment of $20.6 million by Ascension Saint Thomas to build the freestanding emergency department. The planned campus is expected to bring hospital-level emergency care and physician-led outpatient services together in one location for residents, many of whom currently travel outside Fairview for medical care.
Fairview has experienced population growth exceeding 36% since 2010, increasing demand for local emergency and outpatient services. “We appreciate the support of our Fairview leaders, elected officials, and the community’s passionate participation as we together celebrate the state Certificate of Need approval,” said Fahad Tahir, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas. “We look forward to joining Dickson Medical Associates as we move ahead with plans to bring the first emergency room to the area with coordinated outpatient care closer to home for the families we serve.”
Dickson Medical Associates has served Fairview, Dickson, and surrounding communities since 1940. Its expanded location on this new campus will offer primary care, express care, behavioral health services, as well as medical and surgical subspecialties alongside on-site emergency services. “We are proud to continue investing in the Fairview community through this partnership with Ascension Saint Thomas,” said Dr. Daniel Sherwood, family physician at Dickson Medical Associates-Fairview. “This new healthcare campus will make it easier for patients to access coordinated care close to home, from routine office visits to emergency treatment when it is needed most.”
The collaborative project between two established healthcare providers aims to expand access near the intersection of Fairview Boulevard and Audubon Cove. The upcoming freestanding emergency department—affiliated with Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West—will provide around-the-clock hospital-level services in an 11,345-square-foot facility featuring ten treatment rooms, two triage rooms, one trauma room; on-site CT scan capabilities; X-ray and ultrasound imaging; a full-service laboratory; and clinical teams led by experienced physicians.