RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - The COVID Pandemic wreaked havoc on our healthcare system in multiple ways, from increasing debt to overworking healthcare professionals. Congressman Scott DesJarlais, who represents Rutherford County stated... The National Library of Medicine released an article in 2021 entitled, "The impact of COVID-19 on health and health systems." In the essay, Dr. Abraham Haileamlak wrote, "It posed challenge on health human resource management, facility utilization and medical supply management."

Fast forward to October of this year... While places like Murfreesboro and Smyrna have recovered from the pandemic better than most areas, the growth of new doctors and nurses in the healthcare field continues to lag behind the population growth of places like Rutherford County and other nearby communities...

Healthcare costs continue to sore with little end in sight. The American Hospital Association highlighted in August that household debt rose by more than $17-trillion in the first quarter of 2023, noting an increased number of residents are borrowing more money to pay for housing, higher education and consumer goods. Medical debt is part of the issue... A recent study released by Lending Tree shows residents in the Nashville MSA have the 9th largest amount of debt in the country, carrying an average of $43,079 in non-mortgage debt.

While solving the problem of healthcare availability won't come overnight, Congressman DesJarlais did state... For those who prefer traditional face-to-face medicine, Rutherford County is proving to be a good area to call home. Locally, there has recently been an influx of medical care facilities opening in the Murfreesboro area. In 2022, a new Tennessee Orthopedic Alliance office opened along Veterans Parkway at Shores Road. Less than 12-months later, Ascension Saint Thomas Westlawn opened their doors to patients in the same area. Later this month, Murfreesboro Medical Clinic will open their newly built MMC Westlawn campus. The new MMC offices boast 75,000 square feet of services, and will mark MMC’s eighth location. That said, Veterans Parkway near the I-840 interchange is turning into a healthcare haven.

Want to Hear More? Hear the entire interview with Congressman Scott DesJarlais, who was interviewed this past week by Dr. Bill Kraus on the WGNS RoundTable show (Click Here to Listen to Our Podcast).