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Health Care
Williamson Medical Center Takes Cardiac Care to the Next Level
Williamson Medical Center in Franklin has recently completed an $80 million expansion and renovation.
As picturesque landscapes and a booming economy continue to draw new residents to Williamson County‚ the area’s only full-service hospital is finding new ways to bring first-class health care to the growing community.
Williamson Medical Center‚ located off Interstate 65 and Highway 96 in Franklin‚ recently completed an $80 million expansion and renovation.
Among the many changes are a technologically savvy Emergency Department three times its previous size and a cardiac program that positions the 185-bed hospital as a leader in the field of interventional cardiology.
Since saved time means saved heart muscle‚ emergency personnel now transmit EKG results from the ambulance to the Emergency Department‚ allowing physicians to determine whether the patient is having a heart attack and whether balloon angioplasty may be needed. If so‚ the cardiac catheterization team mobilizes and often is in place before the patient even arrives.
“Only about one-third of hospitals perform angioplasty within 90 minutes‚ the standard of care set by the American Heart Association‚” says Dr. Jerry Franklin‚ medical director of cardiology at Williamson Medical Center.
Williamson Medical Center recently averaged a “door-to-balloon time” of less than 60 minutes. Upon arrival‚ patients receive evaluation‚ treatment and education in a 24-hour Chest Pain Center‚ where nurses are specially trained to respond to cardiac emergencies and physicians are board certified in internal medicine or cardiology.
Staff also utilize fully digital X-ray technology to offer patients quick‚ accurate diagnosis and treatment. A new CT imaging system‚ the LightSpeed VCT‚ is the world’s first Volume Computed Tomography. Used in cardiac catheterization‚ a diagnostic test to track blood flow through the coronary arteries‚ the X-ray system allows physicians to identify and treat blockages.
WMC was the first in Middle Tennessee to offer the scanner‚ which transmits 70 percent less radiation than traditional scanners and captures a complete image of the heart in only five beats.
Since patients have many questions following the diagnosis of heart disease‚ an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program offers physical exercise and education to help individuals regain health and prevent recurring problems.
The medically supervised‚ 12-week program emphasizes diet‚ medication‚ stress management‚ smoking cessation and risk factors for heart disease.
“Many hospitals in the country just now are beginning to look at changing internal procedures to optimize outcomes and improve treatment times‚” Franklin says. “Williamson Medical Center is ahead of the curve when it comes to implementing these measures.”
As Williamson Medical Center continues its 50-year mission of providing excellence in health care‚ physicians and staff are committed to finding innovative ways to bring healing to the heart of this growing community.
Story by Melanie Hill
Photo by Brian McCord
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