12 Sep Bone and Joint Institute and Williamson Medical Center Creating Greater Access to Care Across Williamson County
Originally published in YOUR Williamson –
For the leaders of Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee and Williamson Medical Center, “More for you. Close to home.” is more than a campaign theme. It’s a principle that guides everything they do. With several satellite locations sprinkled across the county, Bone and Joint Institute and WMC offer comprehensive, exceptional care to Williamson County residents right where they live.
“The greater the access to patient care, the healthier our community will be,” said Tim Burton, WMC’s associate administrator of operations. In the most recent Community Health Needs Assessment for Williamson County, access to healthcare was designated as a need. “For us, community access is a major strategic initiative because if we meet their healthcare needs, the community stays healthy,” he said.
Darren Harris, CEO of BJIT agreed. “As the county grows, we want to provide world-class orthopaedic care to our neighbors and support the communities where our patients live and work,” he said. “We want to provide this access to care to patients seven days a week.”
A Strategic Focus The Williamson 2040 Plan, approved by our county commission, predicts that Williamson County’s population will more than double by the year 2040. And, understanding the appeal of one of the fastest-growing counties in the state, WMC and BJIT leadership is taking strategic steps now to meet current and potential patients where they reside.
Over the past few years, WMC has added several healthcare options across the county. From primary care clinics in Franklin, Cool Springs, Nolensville, Spring Hill and Thompson’s Station; the Turner-Dugas Breast Health Center located in the Carothers Parkway Tower (4601 Carothers Parkway); a wellness clinic in Cool Springs (1909 Mallory Lane, Suite 305); and BJIT orthopaedic urgent care and physical therapy clinics in Brentwood, Nolensville and Spring Hill, the Williamson Medical Center family of services is covering as much of the county as it can.
“We try to look at each community and evaluate what the need is in that community,” Burton said. “We then work to strategically meet that need by establishing providers who can become a patient-centered medical home for that community.”
BJIT opened a location in the Tollgate Medical Plaza in Thompson’s Station in 2018, offering orthopaedic urgent care and physical therapy. Additional locations in Brentwood and Nolensville, offering urgent care and physical therapy, soon followed. A new location in southern Williamson County is also planned for 2023.
“Our commitment is to be where our patients need us,” Harris said. “Most people want access to orthopaedic care and physical therapy in their community. We want to build those relationships and be the go-to provider in those areas.”
Meeting the Need WMC and BJIT are committed to providing exceptional healthcare options where their patients need it most, and establishing locations across the county helps ensure patients receive consistent, comprehensive care.
“A lot of people are using urgent care locations as their primary healthcare provider,” Burton said. “Urgent care is needed, but primary care is focused on ensuring that the whole spectrum of the patient’s health is managed, not just individual symptoms.”
Burton said that this trend may have developed because of a lack of access to primary care providers. As a result, WMC is placing more primary care providers across Williamson County. As specialized healthcare needs become apparent in various locations, WMC leadership will expand offerings designed to meet those needs.
“Whether you are a new resident or looking for a healthcare provider, reach out and schedule an appointment at your local clinic,” Burton encouraged. “We can provide a comprehensive medical plan tailored to your specific health needs, and we want to build a relationship with our patients rather than just deal with their symptoms.”
Likewise, BJIT providers are devoted to achieving the best outcome for their patients.
“We want to make sure orthopaedic care and physical therapy are more accessible,” Harris said. “A lot of acute orthopaedic problems can be managed better in a clinic setting rather than an emergency room. We provide that access at a lower cost in the heart of communities where our patients live.”
Looking for quality care that is close to home? Whether you are planning to visit WMC’s main campus, the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee or a satellite location, providers are nearby to help you live a healthy life. To learn more about options in your community, visit WilliamsonMedicalCenter.org or BoneAndJointTN.org.