Community Health Systems, the owner of Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville, announced today it will sell the 270-bed Clarksville hospital.<\/p>\n
Updated with background.<\/p>\n
CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW<\/a>) \u2013 Franklin-based\u00a0Community Health Systems<\/a>, the for-profit owner of Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville<\/a>, announced today that the company will sell its 80% ownership interest in the 270-bed\u00a0Clarksville\u00a0hospital, plus associated facilities, to Vanderbilt University Medical Center\u00a0for\u00a0$600 million.<\/p>\n VUMC currently holds 20% ownership of Tennova and will purchase the rest through this transaction, according to a news release from CHS. The transaction is expected to close in early 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions.<\/p>\n Vanderbilt has owned a 20% share in Tennova-Clarksville since October 2020. That 20% cut for nonprofit purposes emerged in 2005 when Clarksville\u2019s hospital was first sold into for-profit hands. <\/p>\n Clarksville Now has reached out to both Tennova and VUMC for comment.<\/p>\n Growing competition for hospitals in Clarksville<\/p>\n The move comes in the wake of a surge of interest in the health care business in Clarksville. <\/p>\n In July, Ascension Saint Thomas<\/a> was granted a state Certificate of Need<\/a> to build a 44-bed hospital in Clarksville, expandable to 132 beds. The $148.5 million investment will create approximately 250 healthcare jobs, and it\u2019s expected to open in 2028.<\/p>\n At the same hearing, TriStar Health<\/a>, part of Brentwood-based HCA Healthcare, was approved for a 68-bed hospital<\/a>, expandable to 224 beds, on a site on the south side of Tiny Town Road. The $286 million investment will create more than 200 healthcare jobs and serve both Montgomery and Stewart counties.<\/p>\n Tennova Healthcare unsuccessfully opposed<\/a> both hospitals, arguing that they were not needed and would be duplicative to existing services. <\/p>\n In August, Tennova was denied state permission<\/a> to shift a planned satellite hospital to a desired location at Exit 11. Tennova had been granted a CON in 2021 to build an additional 12-bed satellite hospital<\/a> with a 14-bay ER on Trenton Road. That hospital was never built, and Tennova wanted to move it to a spot next to their Exit 11 Sango ER. That location is also next to the planned Ascension Saint Thomas campus. <\/p>\n | PREVIOUSLY: How we got to Tennova: Clarksville\u2019s hospital ownership history | ANALYSIS<\/a><\/p>\n Timeline leading to Tennova<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a timeline of Clarksville\u2019s hospital management.<\/p>\n April 1996: Clarksville Memorial Hospital shifts from government act oversight to become private, nonprofit entity.<\/p>\n 1996: Vanderbilt University Medical Center opens Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Clarksville.<\/p>\n Early 1997: Clarksville Regional Health Care System begins lease of CMH from Memorial General Hospital District Board.<\/p>\n April 1999: Clarksville Regional renamed \u201cGateway Health System\u201d (GHS), 206-bed hospital renamed \u201cGateway Medical Center.\u201d<\/p>\n September 2002: Gateway becomes home base for Vanderbilt\u2019s third LifeFlight helicopter.<\/p>\n October 2004: GHS invites 11 hospital operators to submit proposals for construction of new hospital.<\/p>\n November 2004: Gateway-Vanderbilt Cancer Treatment Center opens.<\/p>\n August 2005: GHS chooses for-profit Triad Hospitals to purchase hospital, in 80\/20% split between Triad\/GHS.<\/p>\n November 2005: City Council and County Commission narrowly approve Triad\/GHS deal.<\/p>\n July 2006: Triad breaks ground on new 270-bed hospital on Dunlop Lane.<\/p>\n December 2006: Clarksville Volunteer Health and Community Health Foundation created as custodians of GHS\u2019 20% share of new hospital.<\/p>\n March 2007: Franklin-based Community Health Systems announces purchase of Triad nationwide.<\/p>\n June 2008: Gateway Medical Center moves from Madison Street into new hospital on Dunlop Lane.<\/p>\n Late 2010: Demolition of the old hospital to make way for Publix.<\/p>\n February 2016: Gateway renamed as part of Tennova Healthcare, a division of CHS.<\/p>\n January 2017: Tennova announces it will renovate ER.<\/p>\n December 2017: Tennova opens satellite ER in Sango.<\/p>\n October 2020: Vanderbilt enters agreement to acquire CVH\/GHS\u2019 20% share of Tennova-Clarksville.<\/p>\n December 2021: Tennova gets Certificate of Need for satellite ER on Trenton Road, which is never built.<\/p>\n October 2025: CHS announces it will sell its 80% share of Tennova to Vanderbilt.<\/p>\n Sources: Pre-2010 primarily Leaf-Chronicle archives<\/a>, post-1010 primarily Clarksville Now archives<\/a>.<\/p>\n