History & Vision
Skyline Medical Center opened on September 23, 2000 as a replacement facility for Nashville Memorial Hospital in Madison. The 386,000 square-foot, 213-bed replacement hospital continues Nashville Memorial’s long history of excellence in neurosciences, spine care, oncology, orthopaedics, critical care, neurosurgery and emergency services.
Planning for Nashville Memorial Hospital began in the 1950s, with the original charter filed as Memorial Hospital in 1959. In 1960, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce hired consultants to analyze greater Nashville’s healthcare needs. Their report cited an inadequate number of hospital beds and a lack of inbound transportation routes as reasons for building a hospital east of the Cumberland River. Originally conceived as a 150-bed hospital, its capacity was increased during planning to 211 beds. Federal grants and private donations funded the building of the facility.
An Auxiliary, which consisted of a group of volunteers that formed in 1962, helped to raise additional building and equipment funds. The not-for-profit facility was started by Hubert L. Worrell, chairman of the Board of Trust, and Dr. Jefferson C. Pennington, Jr., president of the board of trust.
The late Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Sr. (1910-1998), co-founder of HCA, envisioned a new hospital north of downtown Nashville that would exceed the expectations of patients and families in middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky. He was personally involved in selecting the site and the concept for Skyline Medical Center.
But Dr. Frist envisioned more than a state-of-the-art facility for Skyline. He once said, “It is not bricks and mortar and equipment that make a hospital. It is the warmth and compassion and attitude of good employees which leads to quality care.” In honor of Dr. Frist, Sr., a statue of the late HCA co-founder graces the lobby of Skyline Medical Center. Nationally renowned sculptor Alan LeQuire created the statue. LeQuire is best known today for his monumental Athena Partheonos, the largest indoor statue in the western world, located at The Parthenon in Nashville.
Skyline Medical Center opened its doors on September 23, 2000. Located at 3441 Dickerson Pike on the highest point in Davidson County, Skyline Medical Center is an ultra-modern facility, featuring all private patient rooms and valet parking. Offering advanced medical capabilities, Skyline Medical Center is particularly known for its neurosurgery, neurology, oncology, orthopedics, and emergency services. Its 59-acre campus is also home to the 200,000 square-foot Skyline Medical Plaza, which provides convenient access to physician offices and a pharmacy.
The state-of-the-art design of Skyline allowed for an expansion in services in several areas. In 2002, Skyline opened its Rehab Center, formerly its transitional care unit. This comprehensive, interdisciplinary, inpatient program is staffed by professionals who specialize in rehabilitation. The center is self-contained and includes 22 spacious, beautifully decorated, private patient rooms with large baths, a therapy gym, and treatment rooms as well as the “activities of daily living” (ADL) areas, including a kitchen, dining area and laundry room. The center serves patients with a variety of diagnoses, including stroke, multiple trauma, total joint replacement (hip or knee), arthritis in multiple joints, fracture of the hip or femur, amputation and neurological disorders.
Skyline Medical Center’s Emergency Department (ED) is among the busiest in the region, seeing over 41,000 patients in 2010. Skyline’s ED offers patient-focused family-centered care in all areas, and includes:
- Accredited Chest Pain Center with PCI
- Bedside registration to ensure that patients get the care they need quickly and efficiently
- Fast Track Service, which provides care for patients with minor injuries who are usually seen within an hour or less by a physician or nurse practitioner.
Skyline Medical Center is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 1, 2006 | Tennessee Christian Medical Center’s Madison Campus is merged with Skyline Medical Center and renamed Skyline Madison Campus |
| April 1, 2006 | HCA purchases Tennessee Christian Medical Center (Madison and Portland, Tennessee campuses) from Adventist Health System |
| September 23, 2000 | Grand Opening Day and Patient Move Day from Nashville Memorial Hospital to Skyline Medical Center |
| September 15, 2000 | Dedication and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Skyline Medical Center |
| May 25, 2000 | Columbia/HCA became HCA-The Healthcare Company |
| November 16, 1999 | New hospital name announced: Skyline Medical Center |
| June 11, 1999 | Topping out ceremony for the new hospital |
| October 16, 1998 | Groundbreaking for the new hospital |
| August 1998 | Plan to build a new hospital was announced |
| January 5, 1996 | Columbia/HCA purchased Health Trust’s operating assets |
| April 1, 1994 | Health Trust, Inc. announced the purchase of Nashville Memorial Hospital |
| October 1993 | HCA merged with Columbia Healthcare Corporation |
| 1985 | Re-named Tennessee Christian Medical Center |
| October 31, 1976 | Four-story South Wing opened with 100 additional acute care beds (bringing the hospital total to 314 beds), an ultra-modern ER, 24 hour coffee shop and education area |
| 1976 | Purchased by Adventist Health System |
| December 20, 1974 | Three-story hospital addition completed with an ER, 37 patient beds and an outpatient department |
| November 21, 1973 | Construction began on four-story doctors building |
| July 5, 1965 | Nashville Memorial Hospital received the first patient |
| June 16, 1963 | Groundbreaking for Nashville Memorial Hospital |
| February 19, 1962 | Leaders announced construction of Nashville Memorial Hospital |
| 1908 | Madison Rural Sanitarium/Hospital opens |
