MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — While many doctors’ offices and urgent care clinics across Rutherford County are closed today, Monday, January 26, 2026, due to inclement weather, local hospital emergency rooms remain open and fully operational.
WGNS spoke with Daphne David, President and CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, who emphasized that emergency care continues despite hazardous road conditions... David confirmed that the Emergency Room on Medical Center Parkway and the Emergency Room at the Westlawn Campus are both open, staffed, and actively treating patients.
For any patient that may require orthopedic surgery after a fall, surgeons are on hand or on stand-by to move forward with emergency surgical procedures...
Meanwhile, many previously scheduled appointments have either been converted to telehealth visits or are being rescheduled as a result of the weather...
To ensure continuity of care, some doctors, nurses, and hospital staff chose to stay overnight at the hospital, rather than risk traveling on ice-covered roads. The hospital CEO explained the steps taken to keep staff and patients safe during the storm...
Once again, both the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Emergency Room and the Westlawn Emergency Room are open in Murfreesboro. In Smyrna, the StoneCrest Emergency Room is also open and seeing patients.
Officials remind residents across Middle Tennessee that, regardless of where a medical appointment is scheduled this week, it is important to call ahead to confirm whether offices are open and seeing patients. Many clinics have elected to close temporarily due to icy and hazardous travel conditions.
- Hear our interview with Daphne David, CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford HERE.

