Williamson Medical Center has been a pillar of our region for over sixty years, with an impressive tradition and commitment to providing exceptional healthcare services to hundreds of thousands of patients and an overall dedication to the wellbeing of our community.

 

As our once rural community has grown and evolved into the burgeoning region it is today, so too has Williamson Medical Center developed and advanced its services to meet the needs of the area it serves.

 

Williamson Medical Center is a sophisticated regional medical center that offers an array of specialized services with the ability to treat and heal the most complex medical conditions.

Blood Assurance Partners with Williamson Medical Center and Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee to Increase Blood Donations Post-Pandemic.

 

On a hot August morning last year, Blood Assurance, a nonprofit, full-service regional blood center, welcomed its first donor to the company’s newest location on Frazier Drive in Cool Springs. The opening of Williamson County’s only brick-and-mortar blood donation center filled a vital need in the community. In the past, Williamson County residents had to travel to Columbia to donate with Blood Assurance. Now, a 3,000-square-foot destination for saving lives is in the heart of one of the county’s most popular areas for shopping and dining. 

 

“We felt a great sense of pride the day we opened that facility,” said Christopher Swafford, chief operating officer for Blood Assurance. “Williamson County has a very altruistic donor base, and it was time to offer residents a convenient location.”

 

About three miles down I-65 from the new donation center, administrators from Williamson Medical Center were elated. Since 2016, Blood Assurance has provided 100% of the blood used at the hospital and in ambulances out in the field. Opening a facility in Williamson County meant more units of blood on hand to save the lives of patients battling debilitating illnesses and traumatic injuries as a blood transfusion occurs every two seconds in the United States. 

 

“We are extremely proud of our partnership with Blood Assurance,” said the hospital’s chief medical officer, Andy Russell, M.D. “Having a trusted and committed supply of blood is critical for caring for our patients.”

 

Yet, even with the opening of the new donation center, large quantities of blood have not always been readily available. Since March 2020, when COVID-19 cases first appeared in the United States, Blood Assurance and other blood banks have faced a major blood shortage. When shortages occur, hospitals are faced with difficult decisions like delaying or rescheduling elective surgeries.

 

“COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the blood supply, and it continues to this day,” said Swafford. “Even now, lots of folks continue working from home, which detrimentally impacts our numbers at mobile blood drives hosted by businesses for their employees.”

 

Fortunately, Williamson Medical Center and Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee have teamed up to help combat the shortage by collecting additional units of blood. The two organizations have partnered with Blood Assurance for a series of mobile blood drives over recent months open to hospital visitors and the community at large. Since January 2022, more than 100 individuals have donated.

 

“This helps us replenish supplies,” according to Russell. “When people donate blood at one of these drives, they know the blood will stay here and benefit their neighbors.” 

 

The people who roll up a sleeve and donate, whether at the hospital’s mobile blood drives or the now year-old Cool Springs facility, should be commended. At a time when blood is needed more than ever, they are helping Blood Assurance with its mission of providing a safe and adequate blood supply to every area of patient in need. Not all heroes wear capes.  

 

Discover the mobile schedule or learn more about how to give blood at bloodassurance.org/schedule.

Since its opening in 1958, Williamson Medical Center (WMC) has long been a cornerstone in the community, committed to providing comprehensive, high-quality care for residents of Williamson County and the surrounding region. 

 

As our community has grown into the bustling region it is today, so too has Williamson Medical Center, with advanced services to meet the needs of its patients. However, some things have not changed; Nearly sixty-five years later, Williamson Medical Center employees still work as a family, and they take care of their patients like family.

 

These team members work every day to provide the highest level of care for everyone who walks through the doors of WMC. The hospital is recognized nationally and trusted locally for its quality performance and patient satisfaction. 

 

Laying the Foundation

WMC offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services. More than 825 providers represent over seventy medical specialties and sub-specialties. These providers can help treat and heal the most complex medical conditions– close to home.

 

“Our most critical asset – our people – is unrivaled,” said Phil Mazzuca, CEO of Williamson Medical Center. He oversees more than 1,900 team members for a health system that is one of the largest employers in Williamson County.

 

Mazzuca named numerous points of pride for WMC, including state-of-the-art advanced surgical technologies; the accredited Turner-Dugas Breast Health Center; an award-winning obstetrics and NICU; The Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital Vanderbilt at Williamson Medical Center; comprehensive emergency services for both adult and pediatric patients; the Joint and Spine Center; cardiology services; outpatient imaging; the orthopedic center of excellence at the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee and much more.

 

Not only does WMC invest its profits back into the hospital to fund advanced technologies, higher acuity services and facility improvements, but it also gives back to the community it serves.

 

Some of these ways include providing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for the entire county; supplying dedicated athletic trainers for each Williamson County high school; and providing free mammograms and discounted services to underserved populations throughout the region. Finally, WMC annually sponsors many different local organizations and community events.

 

Mazzuca emphasized that WMC operations are completely self-sustaining. Hospital revenue funds its local operations, and the hospital receives no taxpayer dollars or other help from the county, with the exception of a partnership with Williamson County on EMS services. 

 

Building for Tomorrow

WMC is dedicated to keeping its commitment to the community long into the future, thanks to an extensive expansion and renovation project launched in April 2022. 

 

“We live in one of the greatest counties in the country, and the explosive growth our region has experienced in the past few years is evidence of our appeal,” Mazzuca said.

 

Some estimates have Williamson County’s population more than doubling by 2040. Mazzuca said the expansion is an important step for WMC to continue providing the high-quality, comprehensive service its patients deserve.

 

The ambitious project, which is expected to be complete in 2025, touches nearly every department, with improvements to Labor and Delivery, NICU, Emergency Room, ICU and more. Some of the highlights include:

 

Growing adult emergency room capacity from twenty-eight beds to forty-three, including a secure eight bed behavioral health pod.

Expanding obstetrics from twenty-eight beds to thirty-three, which includes separate rooms for labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum patients, adding an additional operating room for C-sections and reconfiguring the NICU to include nine private bays.

Adding additional floors and a north wing to the West Tower and renovating current floors to add a twenty-two-bed observation unit as well as increased capacity in other units.

Renovating patient rooms in the existing facility to create more space for patients and their families.

 

“We recognize our position as the premier provider of healthcare in this area,” Mazzuca said. “Once completed, we will have world-class facilities that match the expertise of our providers.”

 

Constructing Community

The three-year project is firmly rooted in Williamson Medical Center’s deep commitment to the community, but its charitable arm also recruited local friends for its biggest fundraiser to date.

 

The WMC Foundation calls its capital campaign “More for You. Close to Home.” and will contribute at least $25 million to the cost of the $200-million project. The capital campaign will help supplement the $150 million in bond financing secured from Williamson County to fund the project.

 

“We are grateful that the Williamson Medical Center Foundation has stepped up to help us fill the project funding gap,” Mazzuca said. 

 

Mazzuca was thrilled to announce the addition of Vicki McNamara and Caroline Bryan as co-chairs of the campaign, along with Luke Bryan as honorary co-chair.

 

“We are blessed to live in such a giving community,” said McNamara. “Anytime our Foundation has made an ask, whether it be for crutches to help fill a supply chain shortage or for dollars to support new technology and equipment, the community has answered the call.”

 

Caroline is excited to add her and Luke’s voice to expanding care for their growing community.

 

“When we moved to Franklin, being close to a hospital was one of our priorities for location, and we ended up less than five minutes from Williamson Medical Center,” Caroline Bryan said. 

 

“Since then, we’ve had two children born there, made multiple trips to the ER and have established relationships with doctors and other staff. Having the best possible healthcare close by is important for our entire community. Luke and I are proud to team up with Vicki and the Williamson Medical Center Foundation to lend a hand,” she said.

 

Details of the “More for You. Close to Home.” campaign and opportunities to make a gift in support can be found at WMCFoundation.com.

 

Williamson Medical Center stands ready to make history and fulfill its vision as the preferred provider of healthcare services for the residents of Williamson County, and the acute care center of excellence for the surrounding region. Learn more at WilliamsonMedicalCenter.org.

As Williamson County and the surrounding communities continue to grow and evolve, Williamson Medical Center (WMC) and Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee (BJIT) strive to meet the demand and offer their patients the highest quality medical care across all departments. 

 

This includes staying on top of advanced surgical technologies—such as computer navigation assistance, robotics and more—that can benefit their patients. Robotic surgery and navigation systems give a more detailed view of the patient’s anatomy and may be used in a variety of surgical applications.

 

“Patients should feel confident in our elite team of surgeons, many of whom are considered experts in these technologies and teach other physicians worldwide about how to use these tools effectively. We are proud of our team and the surgical investments we have made to ensure the best surgery experiences and outcomes for the patients we serve,” said Phil Mazzuca, WMC CEO. 

 

For more than fifteen years, WMC has been leading the way with robotic surgery and other groundbreaking technologies that create better patient outcomes. These technologies offer patients a faster recovery, less pain and reduced risk of infection than with the larger open incisions that are common in traditional surgeries. 

 

“Williamson Medical Center was early in the adoption of robotics,” said Brian Perkinson, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon. “That’s very important because that means Williamson Medical Center is investing in patient care.”

 

Get to Know the Technology

The da Vinci Robotic Surgical System is one of the advanced surgical technologies WMC surgeons have been utilizing for more than fifteen years. A minimally invasive surgical approach, the da Vinci system uses tiny instruments that move like a human hand but with a far greater range of motion, allowing surgeons to operate through very small incisions. The system can be used for a wide variety of surgeries, including complex conditions in gynecology, urogynecology, gynecologic oncology and urology, as well as general surgeries. 

 

Since 2015, surgeons at BJIT have also worked with Mako SmartRobotics. Using a CT scan, the system creates a 3-D image of the patient’s joint, giving BJIT’s orthopaedic surgeons a state-of-the-art detailed view as they perform total hip and knee replacements and partial knee replacements. 

 

“Very similar to a GPS map app on your phone that can tell you exactly where you are on Earth, robotics can tell us exactly where we are and where we want to be in surgery,” said Dr. Perkinson. “When patients are intimidated about robotic surgery, I remind them that robotics is a tool that augments or enhances the surgeon’s capabilities.”   

 

“We have a very successful orthopaedic surgery program here, so having a piece of technology like this helps solidify Bone and Joint Institute as the place to come for these types of surgeries,” said Darren Harris, CEO. “We are proud to have performed the first total hip replacement in Middle Tennessee and the first total knee replacement in an Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) in the state of Tennessee that utilized this technology.”

 

Designed to provide the best possible outcomes for shoulder replacements and reverse total shoulder replacements, the Exactech Equinoxe Planning App and GPS Shoulder Technology also helps BJIT’s orthopaedic surgeons stay at the forefront while providing exceptional care. This technology allows surgeons to personalize a surgical plan with a preoperative CT scan, giving them more accurate implant placement and alignment.

 

Leaders in the Field

The physicians at WMC and BJIT are considered leaders in their respective fields. Many actively work with surgical manufacturers in the development process of new technologies and often host visiting physicians to provide insight and training. 

 

“One of the benefits of being a pioneer in the field is being able to help my colleagues understand this technology,” said Ian Byram, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon at BJIT. “At the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), I lead a course every year on advancements in surgical technology and how to use it.”

 

With advanced surgical technologies like these and a passion for helping patients achieve the best possible outcomes, WMC and BJIT physicians plan to stay at the forefront long into the future. 

 

“Medicine and technology are continuously evolving, so that means we will too,” said Tina Jeter, RN, BSN, director of surgical services at WMC. 

 

For more information about advanced surgical technologies available at WMC and BJIT, visit williamsonmedicalcenter.health/advanced-surgical-technologies.

When Williamson Medical Center (WMC) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was approved to carry and administer blood products in the field last fall, paramedic McKenna Dubbert knew the move would save lives. 

 

She just did not know that one of them would be her own father. 

 

“We had just dropped off a patient at Williamson and were returning to our zone in Nolensville when I got a call from my mother,” McKenna recalled. “We showed up at the house and verified that my dad’s blood pressure was very low. He was definitely in shock.” 

 

Once McKenna and her fellow paramedics loaded Dubbert’s father, Bruce, onto the ambulance and assessed his condition, they determined they needed to administer blood. Almost immediately, Bruce’s condition improved. 

 

WMC EMS is the first and only 911 ground EMS provider in the state approved by the Tennessee Department of Health EMS Board to carry and administer blood products in the field. Furthermore, WMC EMS is one of only seven across the country authorized to give blood to patients before arrival at the hospital.

 

“Being able to administer blood in the field can truly be the difference between life and death,” said Michael Wallace, Williamson Medical Center EMS Director.  

 

While air medical transports have routinely carried blood products for years, it is not a common practice for ground-based community ambulances. To obtain approval, the WMC EMS team first completed a pilot project with the state EMS board before being granted permanent approval. Paramedics also took part in rigorous training focused on blood products.

 

“Detailed procedures have been put into place to make sure that we are administering the product under the right circumstances,” Wallace said. 

 

WMC EMS celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year, having answered the community’s calls for lifesaving care since 1972. It is the county’s primary 911 emergency medical provider. Today, WMC EMS employs more than 150 Advanced EMTs, paramedics, critical care paramedics and support personnel.

 

“About a third of our EMS team are licensed critical care paramedics, which is remarkable,” said WMC CEO, Phil Mazzuca. “Fifty years of providing service to this community is amazing to me.”

 

Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson recently honored these first responders with a proclamation during national EMS Week in May. The mayor’s announcement brought attention to the twenty-four-hour life-saving care provided throughout Williamson County by these healthcare professionals. Though WMC EMS is the county’s primary ambulance service provider, they are part of a fully integrated emergency response system, collaborating with each city and county fire department, Emergency Management, 911 communications and all area law enforcement partners. It is an expansive group of diverse emergency services team members committed to public safety throughout the community.  Emergency medical services care has dramatically improved the survival and recovery rate of residents who experience sudden illness or injury.

 

Williamson Medical Center EMS has become an extension of the hospital’s emergency room with its seventeen advanced life support ambulances. EMS team members proudly showed off their newest ambulance in the Franklin Rodeo parade earlier this summer, as the unit rolled along behind team members who carried their fiftieth anniversary banner, and at the State of the County address.

 

The redesigned ambulance features curbside seating with a safety chair, allowing paramedics and AEMTs to be safely seated and seat belted at all times but still able to provide life-saving care to patients in transport. In addition, any equipment that could become a projectile in the event of a car accident has been properly restrained within the paramedic’s reach. 

 

Unique kits, named Grayson’s Gadgets after a WMC paramedic’s son, are also carried on board to help calm children who may become overwhelmed or need a distraction during an emergency. 

 

“We spend a lot of time, energy and effort to ensure we deliver best-in-class service to the community at large,” Wallace said. “Our goal is to provide the most exceptional service – the best emergency care that is possible to every person we have the opportunity to serve.” 

 

As a result, WMC EMS is a four-time recipient of the annual “Star of Life” award for Tennessee EMS Region Five, a multi-year recipient of the American Heart Association: Mission Lifeline recognition and was most recently named the Tennessee Ambulance Service Association 2020 ALS Service of the Year.

 

To learn more about WMC EMS, visit WilliamsonMedicalCenter.org.

Whether you are young and active or simply feeling the natural impacts of aging, if joint pain has started to affect your ability to enjoy everyday life, it may be time to consider joint replacement. The highly trained specialists at Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee stand ready to help you live pain-free once again. To determine your needs, here are a few questions to ask. 

 

I am in pain. What should I do first? 

The path to a pain-free future begins with a consultation. “Whether you are unable to complete a round of golf, play with your kids or grandkids, go for a long walk or any other activity because your pain now dominates your decision-making, it is time to discuss your options,” said Brian Perkinson, M.D., hip and knee specialist at Bone and Joint Institute. “Depending on your situation, our team might recommend surgical or non-surgical solutions such as weight loss, icing, rest or injection therapy.”

 

Is joint replacement surgery needed?

If non-surgical methods to provide relief do not work, patients may be evaluated for a joint replacement procedure. The procedure itself, often completed using state-of-the-art robotic technology, allows patients to recover in the comfort of their own homes soon after surgery. 

 

“The robotic technology we use greatly benefits our patients,” said Dr. Perkinson. “It provides more accurate positioning and balancing of the joint replacement, and also allows less soft tissue dissection. All of those benefits provide an earlier functional recovery and more success in the long run.”

 

Are there any options that are less invasive that will get me back on my feet faster? 

Robotics are just one of many ways Bone and Joint Institute remains at the forefront of medical advancements, with other innovative options such as partial knee replacements and anterior approaches to hip replacements available for discussion with physicians. 

 

“Up to 30% of patients may be a candidate for a partial knee replacement, which lends itself to faster recover and better range of motion,” Dr. Perkinson said. “Similarly, approaching a hip replacement anteriorly is much less invasive and does not require muscles to be cut. These are unique surgeries that require specific training, and both options are available to Bone and Joint Institute patients who qualify.” 

 

According to Cory Calendine, M.D., a hip and knee specialist at Bone and Joint Institute, some patients may even be good candidates for outpatient joint replacement surgeries, which not only allow patients to recover at home the same day as surgery, but it also promotes faster healing and less pain overall.

 

“Advancements in technique and technology allow us to cater to the patient,” Dr. Calendine said. “Younger patients with no major heart or lung problems and good support at home would be ideal candidates for outpatient joint replacement.” 

 

Will I regret this? 

Dr. Calendine says the most common complaint from hip or knee replacement patients is, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?” While recovery varies from patient to patient, many can expect to use the assistance of a walker or cane for only a week after surgery and be back to the pain-free life they desire within four to six weeks. 

 

“I meet people in their time of need, not when they are living their best life,” Dr. Calendine said. “It is a privilege to help patients get back to the life they want to live.” 

 

Bone and Joint Institute wants to help you live pain-free. Situated just off Interstate 65 in Franklin, Bone and Joint Institute offers state-of-the-art technology and a superior patient experience close to home. For more information or to schedule a consultation with a Bone and Joint Institute physician, visit 

BoneandJointTN.org.