Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford has completed a significant expansion of its Critical Care Unit (CCU) and added a new ambulance bay to enhance emergency services. This expansion increases the CCU’s capacity by 18 beds, addressing the growing healthcare needs of Rutherford County and surrounding areas.
To celebrate the completion of the expansion, a ribbon cutting and blessing ceremony was held in January. The project raises the number of adult critical care beds from 32 to 50, bringing the hospital’s total licensed bed count to 418.
“This expansion addresses the growing demand for critical care in the rapidly expanding communities around Rutherford County,” said Gordon Ferguson, president and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford. “It ensures that our residents have greater access to high-quality acute healthcare services right here at home.”
The $42 million expansion is part of a broader $600 million investment in Rutherford County over the past 15 years, following the hospital's relocation from Highland Avenue in downtown Murfreesboro to its current location on Medical Center Parkway in 2010.
The expansion is in direct response to Rutherford County’s population growth, now the fourth most populous county in Tennessee. In 2024, the county’s population grew by 9,300, reaching 388,900.
Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford employs 1,800 staff members and more than 350 physicians. With the addition of critical care beds, the hospital expects to hire additional nursing staff to meet the growing demand for services.
The hospital serves patients from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County, as well as surrounding counties, including Bedford, Coffee, and Warren.
