Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Expands Labor and Delivery Unit to Enhance Patient Experience

MURFREESBORO, Tenn., (Oct. 8, 2024) - Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital is excited to announce the expansion of its labor and delivery unit. To accommodate the growing population while enhancing patient comfort, the hospital has invested more than $9 million, with a major donation from the Christy-Houston Foundation, to expand services for families in Rutherford County and surrounding areas.

According to research from the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Tennessee, Rutherford County's population is growing by 2.2 percent annually, making it one of the fastest-growing regions in the state. The area's population is projected to exceed 380,000 by 2025 and 500,000 by 2040.

In response to this growth, the hospital is adding 12,000 square feet to its Women's Services inpatient unit. The expansion includes four new labor and delivery rooms, nine additional postpartum rooms, and an additional nursery, providing a state-of-the-art environment for expecting families. The new unit is expected to open by fall 2025.

"We care for thousands of growing families each year, including more than 3,600 births last year alone," said Gordon B. Ferguson, CEO and president of Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital. "This expansion ensures we can continue providing the best possible experience for parents and newborns. We are deeply grateful to the Christy-Houston Foundation for their generous support of this important project, which includes preparing an additional fourth floor to accommodate future growth above the labor and delivery project."

Despite national trends showing stagnation or declines in birth rates, Rutherford County continues to experience significant population growth, particularly among young families. With this expansion, the hospital anticipates supporting over 550 additional births annually within the next decade.

"Expecting parents have a choice in where they deliver their newborns, and we are committed to offering a welcoming, comfortable environment," Ferguson added. "We understand how important those first moments are for new families, and we are dedicated to offering the best healthcare experience possible. This expansion is part of our ongoing commitment to the community."

Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital offers a variety of services for growing families, including a team of OB-GYNs, neonatal nurses, and other specialists; 24/7 obstetrics emergency care; neonatal intensive care; breastfeeding support; childbirth classes; postpartum care; and labor, delivery, and recovery suites with comfortable accommodations for families.

About Ascension Saint Thomas

Ascension Saint Thomas is a leading health care system with a 125-year history of providing care to the community, and is the only faith-based, non profit health system in Middle Tennessee. Today, the health system offers a highly comprehensive system of care, with more than 250 sites of care that cover a 45-county area in Tennessee consisting of 16 hospitals and a network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and specialty facilities. Across the state, Ascension Saint Thomas and its partner organizations employ more than 13,000 dedicated associates who care for millions of patients each year. Ascension Saint Thomas is part of Ascension, one of the nation's largest faith-based healthcare organizations committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension includes approximately 134,000 associates, 35,000 affiliated providers and 140 hospitals, serving communities in 19 states and the District of Columbia. Visitwww.ascension.org.