Fentress County has been without a hospital for roughly two years.  County Executive Jimmy Johnson said the county’s proposed standalone Emergency Room could receive approval as soon as today.

Johnson said they are going to Nashville and hope to obtain approval for the certificate of need required to open an ER. Current federal rules require a transferring facility connected to a major hospital be within 35 miles.

Johnson said if the county gets approval, UT-Medical will begin getting equipment in to set up the facility. He said if everything goes according to plan, patients could start being treated by the first quarter of 2022.  In March, county commissioners agreed to purchase the old Fentress Health Systems building for $655,707 to host the standalone ER.