New Dickson senior hospital, assisted living facility planned

A Middle Tennessee-based healthcare company is planning to construct a 16-bed geriatric mental health hospital by next year as well as a larger assisted living and memory care facility in coming years, according to company officials. 

The 16-bed, 14,200-square-foot Natchez Center for Behavioral Medicine was recently approved by the Tennessee Health Service and Development Agency. The hospital is being developed through a partnership between Murfreesboro-based National HealthCare Corp., or NHC, and Reliant Healthcare Corp., which is based in Birmingham, Ala.

The two healthcare providers formed the Natchez Center for Behavioral Medicine, LLC. 

The facility, with an estimated cost of $5.7 million, is expected to create 25 jobs, according to company officials. Construction is set to begin in 2022 on the hospital, which will be located adjacent to the TriStar Natchez campus on Highway 46 South in the City of Dickson. 

The proposed floor plan includes six semi-private rooms, four private rooms, one nursing station, one seclusion room, an ambulance entry, intake areas, one

telemedicine room, and one group room, according to the application provided to the state health service and development agency.

The jobs expected in the facility include the following: chief nursing officer, nurse practitioner, nurse supervisor, 4-5 nurses, one intake coordinator, 8-9 mental health techs, one activity therapist, one social worker as well as direct patient care workers and non-director patient care workers, according to the application. 

Also planned for that area is a 74,000-square-foot, 84-unit assisted living and memory care facility, according to NHC officials. 

“We are thrilled with the agency’s recognition of the need to provide high quality care to seniors who may be experiencing psychological or emotional difficulties in Dickson and the surrounding six counties,” said Steve Flatt, chief executive officer of NHC, in a statement. “We appreciate the overwhelming support from the community and healthcare leaders who submitted letters of support to help bring these important services to seniors in our community.”  

“Treating cognitive disorders is a critical part of the continuum of care we are providing for the senior community,” said Jim Harper, president of Reliant, in a statement. 

In the application with the state, Natchez Center for Behavioral Medicine also cites the following as needs for the hospital: 

• The bed need methodology demonstrates additional beds are needed in the proposed service area.

• Improved access to needed behavioral services in a rural area will be enhanced and long waits and long commutes will be shortened or eliminated.

• The proposed project will improve consumer choice in the proposed service area.

• The proposed inpatient psychiatric project will offer a continuum of care that will include partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient services for residents within the nursing

Documents in the application show that Reliant has 10 percent ownership of the facility while NHC owns the remainder.  

NHC currently operates a senior care facility in Dickson that offers long-term and short-term care.