The new Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital Vanderbilt at Williamson Medical Center will officially open for business July 1.
Leaders from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Children’s Hospital and Williamson Medical Center (WMC), along with children and families, gathered Wednesday to mark the historic milestone in the institutions’ growing partnership.
Hundreds of adults and children turned out for a ribbon-cutting celebration and to tour the new 70,000-square-foot facility, which will provide dedicated pediatric emergency and inpatient services. The three-story pediatric tower on the campus of Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, Tennessee, features a children’s emergency department, 12 inpatient beds and four observation beds.
As a result of the strategic affiliation agreement signed in September 2011 between VUMC and WMC, the new pediatric tower provides a collaborative approach to care between WMC and Vanderbilt physicians and staff. Vanderbilt Children’s at Williamson will be staffed by board-certified Vanderbilt pediatric physicians and WMC clinical staff.
“We are proud to partner with Williamson Medical Center colleagues to play an active role in the health and well-being of the citizens of this community, and we look forward to being able to better serve the children and families who will be helped by the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital Vanderbilt at Williamson Medical Center,” said C. Wright Pinson, MBA, M.D., deputy vice chancellor for Health Affairs for Vanderbilt University and CEO of the Vanderbilt Health System.
“This new facility will be a healing place for children and it will be a healing place for their families. The new services that will be right here should provide added piece of mind for the parents and grandparents of this community through the knowledge that pediatric emergency and inpatient services are now available closer to home.”
Vanderbilt Children’s at Williamson has characteristics similar to the Children’s Hospital in Nashville. Child-sized amenities let children know it’s their facility. Colorful murals and paintings hang on the walls throughout the tower. Neon lights illuminate the children’s inpatient rooms on the third floor.
On hand to help kick off the festivities and grand opening celebration were country music star Brad Paisley and his wife, actress Kimberly Williams Paisley. They have two sons and are residents of Williamson County.
Don Webb, F.H.F.M.A., WMC chief executive officer, said the opening of the facility was a proud day for him, the community and staff.
“As you tour the facility today take time to view the artwork all which is done by Williamson County artists with a Franklin and Williamson County theme,” Webb said at the ribbon cutting. “After so much time and effort we are so pleased to be able to open Williamson County’s first children’s hospital, a week from today, on July 1. I know you will be as proud as we are once you see inside.”
