Centennial Medical Center (Nashville, Tennessee)

Centennial Medical Center (CMC) is the largest for-profit hospital serving the metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County area. As the flagship of the TriStar Health System, the facility boasts 615 beds and over 1,200 physicians covering many specialties. CMC is comprised of multiple units, including:

The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center
The Women's Hospital at Centennial
Centennial Heart Center
Parthenon Pavilion at Centennial
Centennial Tower
Centennial Medical Center at Ashland City

History

Park View, flagship of the HCA hospitals, was founded by Dr. Thomas Frist, in December, 1961. At that time, the facility was known as Park Vista Convalescent Home, and consisted of less than 200 beds. Dr. Frist and his colleagues set the standards for the direction of the hospital's future.

"Our dream and goal was to open a health care facility which would offer the finest service in Nashville - the cleanest rooms, the best food, a qualified nursing staff, and a friendly, warm atmosphere," said Dr. Frist.

Park View grew to be one of the leaders in the region in cardiology, opthalmology, oncology, and rehabilitation services. Park View has served as a tertiary care medical center and receives patients from all over Middle Tennessee, southern Kentucky, and northern Alabama. In November, 1987, Park View completed construction on the four- story, 70,750 square foot medical office building, The Atrium, which consists of a same-day surgery center, diagnostic center, breast center, and transplant center in addition to physician offices. This building connects to Park View at the north entrance. Also, in December 1987, The Rehab Center at Park View was completed. This is located on the 4th floor of the medical center and features a gym, work kitchen, and 20 beds.

In 1972, Dr. Henry Brackin, one of a group of Nashville psychiatrists who recognized the need for private psychiatric beds in The Downtown medical center area, began working with Dr. Frist to construct a new hospital. This hospital is Parthenon Pavilion, and is located adjacent to Park View Medical Center. Dr. Brackin had become interested in an article published by Dr. Zigmond Lebenshohn, a Washington D.C. psychiatrist, concerning an innovative design which featured patient rooms linked to parlors, or day rooms. This concept, as adapted by the architects, was utilized in the development of plans for Parthenon Pavilion and was to become the prototype for many future HCA psychiatric facilities throughout the country.

Construction began in 1972 and, during that time, a psychiatric unit in Park View was opened to begin providing services. The program moved into the new building around April 1, 1973, with a total of 16 practicing psychiatrists. 7 of these physicians still actively admit to the hospital today.

The original capacity of the hospital was 96 beds on two floors. In 1984, Parthenon was expanded to its present capacity as a 162-bed psychiatric hospital, on 4 floors, offering specialized treatment programs for distinct patient populations. Today, these programs include: the Adolescent Assessment Program, Adolescent Treatment Program, Adult Therapeutic Community Program, General Psychiatry Program, Intensive Treatment Program, General Treatment Program, Geriatric Program, Community Assistance Program, Comprehensive Activity Therapies, and Parthenon Academy. In November, 1989, Richard Bangert was named administrator of Parthenon Pavilion, replacing James Harper.

West Side Hospital, purchased by HCA in September, 1980, began construction for an eight-story tower to accompany the hospital's 237 beds in late 1981. The grand-opening was held in March, 1983, making it one of the newest medical facilites in Nashville.

The original building was formerly a convalescent home which opened in late 1967, owned and operated by General Care Corporation (GCC). In 1972, GCC added a branch for ancillary services and re-converted the facility into a hospital. On December 12, 1972, West Side officially opened its doors.

West side has offered specialties in Women's Health Services, Family Birth Unit, Neonatal Unit, lasers and The Optifast weight loss program. On November 3, 1987, West side celebrated a grand-opening of its 4-story medical office building located next to th hospital on Murphy Avenue. This building was to become the location of the Women's Resource and Procedure Center, Outpatient Diagnostic Center, and Auditorium in addition to 23 physician offices. Growth continued for the hospital facility, and, in 1989, the Sub-Acute Center Unit was officially opened with 20 beds.

Since 1989, the Centennial Medical Center Tower has been opened, as well as The Women's Hospital, formerly West Side, which is the first free-standing hospital dedicated exclusively to women's services. The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center and Physician's Park have also opened their doors in recent years, making Centennial Medical Center close to a 40-acre campus.

According to Dr. Frist, "Caring for people is, first and foremost, a way of life at Centennial Medical Center. The dream my colleagues and I had back in 1950 has totally been fulfilled. When I think of quality medical care, I think of a home-like atmosphere, a happy attitude, and a lot of pride...both on the part of the physician, nursing staff, and all our employees. Quality care is the key, it always has been, and it always will be."

Timeline

Park Vista Convalescent Hospital and Nursing Home opened its doors on December 20, 1961.
Park Vista was purchased by Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), a company formed by Thomas F. Frist, Sr., M.D., one of the original owners of Park Vista.
Founded in 1971, dedicated on April 15, 1973, Parthenon Pavilion a 100-bed hospital is the oldest and largest, full service psychiatric facility in Middle Tennessee.
West Side Hospital officially opened on December 12, 1972.
In September 1980, West Side was acquired by Hospital Corporation of America.
On March 6, 1983, West Side Hospital opened its doors to a new 8-story patient tower, replacing the old 5-story building which was demolished.
In November 1987, West Side celebrated the grand opening of its 4-story medical office building which housed the Woman's Resource and Procedure Center and the Outpatient diagnostic Center. The Atrium, Park View's 4-story medical office building, was completed in the same month.
In July 1989, the Tennessee Health Facilities and Planning Commission granted a single licensure for Park View, West Side, and Parthenon Pavilion.
On January 22, 1990, the three hospitals merged under the single name of Centennial Medical Center.
Concord Development, Inc. was named developer and McDevitt Street Bovis, contractor for Centennial Medical Center's new building project on August 27, 1990. Earl Swensson & Associates served as the project architects.
Sarah Cannon, creator of the beloved Minnie Pearl, dedicated her name to The Cancer Center at Centennial Medical Center on January 22, 1991, thus becoming The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center.
Centennial Medical Center broke ground on Phase I of the new building project on March 27, 1991, which included a 5-story medical office building, Physicians Park.
Physicians Park celebrated its grand opening on December 15, 1992.
On April 15, 1994, West Side Hospital was officially renamed The Women's Hospital at Centennial Medical Center specializing in the healthcare needs of women.
Phase II of Centennial Medical Center's building project is completed with the opening of Centennial Medical Tower