MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) – TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna is taking steps to expand emergency care access in Rutherford County with plans to build a freestanding emergency department in Murfreesboro. The hospital, owned by HCA Health Services of Tennessee, has filed a certificate of need application with the state to move the project forward.

The proposed location is a nearly 2-acre site at the intersection of South Church Street and Warrior Drive on the south side of Murfreesboro. The main property, formerly home to Eckerds Pharmacy, sits just 1,800 feet from the I-24 / South Church Street interchange (Exit 81), offering convenient access for patients and emergency services. The site is listed in county records as being owned by 2490 Church, LLC. 

If approved, the 11,500-square-foot emergency facility will feature 11 exam rooms, including one trauma room, along with a fully equipped lab and imaging department. Plans also include dual entry points, one of which will be specifically designed for ambulance access.

In addition to the emergency center, TriStar StoneCrest is proposing a 3,400-square-foot ambulance base on the property, which would house three ground transport ambulances. These vehicles would be used to transport patients from the Murfreesboro site to the main hospital in Smyrna, located near I-24 and Sam Ridley Parkway. It appears that the ground transport building would be built on property that sits about 1,700 feet away from the Warrior Drive / S. Church St. intersection.  A second property, owned by 2490 Church, LLC and HCA Healthcare Inc., is on Southgate Blvd. and together with the other property, adds up to almost 3-acres. 

The total estimated cost for the project is nearly $19 million. Chief Executive Officer Louis Caputo made the announcement during a press conference in Smyrna on Thursday morning. 

The freestanding ER is part of a broader trend of expanding localized emergency services to meet rising population and healthcare demands in growing communities like Murfreesboro. If the state approves the certificate of need, the new facility will bring faster emergency response times and increased care access to residents on the city's south side.