The Williamson County Board of Commissioners voted to move forward with Ascension Saint Thomas as the proposed new owner of Williamson Health during a nearly two-hour meeting Sept. 9.
County officials first proposed selling Williamson Health in 2025, saying the financial influx could address the county’s $1.1 billion debt.
Until June, a state law stood in their way. Legislation sponsored by Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, and signed by Gov. Bill Lee on April 16 created an exemption allowing the transfer of ownership for hospitals valued at more than $500 million.
However, residents urged commissioners to delay a vote because of an ongoing state investigation after at least four patients sufferedparalysis or other severe neurological impact. State
officials found that the hospital's pharmacy mislabeled syringes of medication, with medical staff mistakenly injecting potassium phosphate into spinal fluid during anesthesia procedures.
“This deserves deliberate judgment not haste,” said Franklin resident Janice Curtis. “I am not here to stop the sale, I am here as a concerned resident asking you to exercise presence. Defer the vote until the investigation is complete.”
Other residents like Todd Caster agreed.
“I worry the health board has made a decision partly based on the cultural fit of a not-for-profit," he said.
Several county commissioners also hastened a vote.
“Quite a few things have changed since July 6, when the board brought this resolution to us,” said Commissioner Gregg Lawrence. "It's undeniable that Ascension is under a cloud right now. One of the troubling things about that is it's been three weeks, and it still hasn't been resolved. There's also a number of questions that myself and others of us on this commission have asked that we don't have answers to yet.”
Lawrence suggested the commission take more time to review the proposal because it represents the largest finance transition it has ever considered: "This decision does not need to be rushed.”
Others who spoke, including employees of Williamson Health said they believe the sale could be a good thing.
"I feel comfortable telling the commissioners in the county that I trust that Ascension St. Thomas is an excellent partner, not only to my practice, but to my community, where I live,” said Dr. Oscar Mendez, a neurologist and sleep medicine physician at Williamson Health.
The two resolutions voted on were;
- The right to give Williamson County Mayor Andy Marshall permission to sign a non-binding letter of intent with Ascension Saint Thomas.
- The right to transfer Williamson Health’s assets to Ascension.
A motion to defer the voting did not pass and both resolutions passed. The next commissioner meeting related to the hospital sale is scheduled for November.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Williamson commissioners move forward with Ascension hospital sale despite concerns
