Williamson Medical Center’s (WMC), longstanding neighbor and community partner, Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group has signed on as the Williamson Medical Center Foundation’s first capital campaign corporate donor. The announcement was revealed during the WMC groundbreaking and celebration by Caroline Bryan and Vicki McNamara who serve as co-chairs for the foundation’s “More for You. Close to Home.” capital campaign which will help fund the largest renovation project in the hospital’s history.

The recent event marked the beginning of construction for the expansion project. “One of the most important things we do at Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group is help where we can in our community,” said John Gallagher, Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group’s vice president and executive general manager. “Investing in this expansion is a great way for us to support Williamson Medical Center and the services they provide for our community and beyond.”

In addition to the capital campaign, Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group has been a valued and constant supporter of the hospital and foundation for many years. “They stand ready to help in any way they possibly can,” said Leigh Williams, the foundation’s director of development. “Over the years, Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group has partnered with us on mask and crutch collections, and helps support our We Care Fund, which replaces car seats involved in an accident and assists new families in providing a good foundational beginning with a car seat, clothing, supplies, and more.”

Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group has also hosted car seat safety awareness campaigns, holiday events at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital Vanderbilt at Williamson Medical Center, has recognized exemplary hospital team members through their Hometown Heroes events, and has selected the foundation as beneficiary of several of their community giving campaigns.

“When we opened the Honda store in 1986 it was on the wrong side of the interstate. Once you crossed over 65, we were alone over here all by ourselves in the middle of a corn field,” said Darrell Waltrip, president, Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group. “Eventually Williamson Medical Center became our neighbor and it’s been fun to see how things have grown from there. I’m proud of what they’ve done with the hospital, where it’s going, and their vision.”

With a projected cost of $200 million, the first phase of primary construction for the hospital’s renovation and expansion is expected to be completed by the spring of 2024. The Foundation’s capital campaign will help supplement the $150 million in bond financing secured from Williamson County to fund the project.

Touching nearly every department, the project includes improvements to Labor and Delivery, Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU), Cardiology, Emergency Room, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and more. Expected renovations include:

• Expanding capacity in WMC’s Adult ER from 28 beds to 43 including a secure 8-bed behavioral health pod;
• Expanding Obstetrics from 28 beds to 33, which includes creating separate rooms for labor/delivery and postpartum patients, adding an additional operating room for C-sections and reconfiguring the neonatal intensive care unit to include 9 private bays;
• Adding additional floors and a north wing to the West Tower and renovating current floors to add a 22-bed observation unit as well as increased capacity in ICU/Stepdown and Medical/Surgical units;
• Renovating patient rooms in the existing facility to create more space for patients and their families.

For more information about the “More for You. Close to Home.” capital campaign including ways to get involved and become a sponsor, visit wmcfoundation.com.

WMC funds its operations entirely through hospital revenue, with the exception of a partnership with the county on EMS services, and receives no taxpayer dollars. Profits are invested back into the hospital and community and are used to fund advanced technologies, higher acuity services, facility improvements and much more.

WMC remains dedicated to serving Williamson and surrounding counties in many ways. Some additional community benefits include operating the county’s only EMS service, providing staff for county health departments, offering community health education and supporting area schools and organizations. The hospital is also one of the county’s largest employers, with more than 1,900 employees.

ABOUT WILLIAMSON MEDICAL CENTER | Williamson Medical Center offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services, 24-hour emergency care, preventive health screenings and wellness activities. Services offered by Williamson Medical Center are developed to provide the most cost-effective, convenient and accessible healthcare possible. More than 825 providers represent over 70 medical specialties and sub-specialties. The caliber of physicians and care at Williamson Medical Center continues to advance the way healthcare is delivered to our region with compassion and convenience unique to WMC. Our campus also houses Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital Vanderbilt at Williamson Medical Center, which provides pediatric emergent and inpatient care, and the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee – the region’s premiere destination for orthopaedic excellence. In addition, WMC’s Williamson Medical Group includes more than 40 providers offering everything from primary care to surgery to pulmonary and sleep medicine.

ABOUT WILLIAMSON MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | The Williamson Medical Center Foundation, Inc., serves as the charitable and development arm that supports Williamson Medical Center, the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital Vanderbilt at Williamson Medical Center and Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee in providing best-in-class healthcare services to the families of our community. The Foundation oversees capital projects and health outreach programs, seeking charitable gifts of all types to provide ways to continuously improve the quality of patient care.

ABOUT THE DARRELL WALTRIP AUTOMOTIVE GROUP | The Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group is a premier Honda, Subaru, Buick and GMC dealership, near Nashville in Franklin, Tennessee (TN). Specializing in Honda, Subaru, Buick and GMC Sales, Finance, Service, and Parts, Darrell Waltrip Automotive provides high quality service to its customers.  Located at 1430 Murfreesboro Road in Franklin TN, Darrell Waltrip Automotive extends its service to nearby areas throughout Middle Tennessee. Visit their website, www.darrellwaltrip.com.