‘Been a need’: White House’s first free-standing emergency room in the works

WHITE HOUSE, Tenn. (WKRN) — White House could soon have its first free-standing emergency room.

In partnership with Ascension Saint Thomas hospital, Highpoint Health in Gallatin is working to bring a 24/7 emergency room to the steadily growing community.

“I think it’s big,” White House Mayor John Corbitt said. “I mean right now, you have to go to Hendersonville or Gallatin or Springfield to get to an emergency room. It’s a first step towards something a little bit bigger. I think we’d eventually like to see sort of a micro hospital.”

The proposed ER would have six rooms, an on-site lab, plus the ability to conduct X-ray and CT imaging. It would be built roughly half a mile off Interstate 65 on North Sage Road. That location would allow for easy access from other nearby communities.

Highpoint Health’s CEO Rod Harkledoad said that the community deserves emergency care.

“[It’s] not only essential for White House but will also support surrounding communities and rural areas experiencing similar growth,” Harkleroad said in a press release.

Harkleroad echoed Corbitt’s sentiment, telling News 2 that they hope to continue adding more medical resources to White House.

“I think it’s been a need for a while,” Corbitt said. “They wouldn’t be building it if there wasn’t a need.”

Mayor Corbitt saw the proposed emergency room as yet another sign of progress in their once-isolated town.

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“I think we’re headed in the right direction,” Corbitt told News 2. “We just approved 6 major road projects in White House to help alleviate some of the traffic, we’re looking at storm water (management) right now. And this ER is just another needed addition.”

Corbitt said that White House is focused on improving their infrastructure and adding more commercial spaces to town, including a Publix. If the emergency room is approved by the state, the facility would likely open in 2025.

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