From humble beginnings associated with a now-historic figure, Cumberland Medical Center has evolved into one of the leading health care facilities in the area.
Cumberland Medical Center (CMC) was established in Crossville in 1950, tracing its heritage to a facility started in the Pleasant Hill community by Dr. May Wharton, memorialized in a book about her life, “Doctor Woman of the Cumberlands.”
Wharton’s original two-bed hospital grew to 30 beds in Pleasant Hill during the 1920’s, and CMC now boasts a state-of-the-art facility that is constantly expanding to meet the needs of the community.
“Our mission is to make available quality health care on a regional level to those in need of its service through dedication, professionalism and financial stability,” said Dr. Barry S. Wagner, Chief Executive Officer of CMC. “Our vision is to be the regional health care provider of choice, committed to excellence and dedicated to continuously improving the health, wellness and quality of life of the citizens of the communities we serve.”
CMC, a not-for-profit facility, is licensed for 189 patient beds, including inpatient rehabilitation beds. Of those 189 beds, they have an intensive care unit, and maternity suites. The hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission, and has earned that organization’s Gold Seal of Approval for its service and care.
“Cumberland Medical Center offers all private patient rooms and a complete range of specialized services; usually not found in a rural medical system,” Dr. Wagner said. “We have advanced medical and surgical services for seriously ill patients, including telemetry monitored beds and our intensive care unit.”
Other services offered at CMC include an outpatient imaging center, same-day surgery unit, sleep disorder center, Regional Cancer Center, Regional Breast Center, Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Center, durable Medical Equipment services and Cumberland Physician Group as some of its outpatient service lines.
“We have 76 active staff physicians plus 107 consulting and visiting physicians covering many specialties and sup-specialties,” Dr. Wagner said. “We are very proud of and confident in our staff.”
Those doctors work with an overall staff of 843 employees, and 152 volunteers. “We feel we have an excellent team, ready to deliver quality care to the people of Cumberland and surrounding counties,” Dr. Wagner said.
Many other services
CMC also offers and in-house cardiac cath lab. The CMC Auxiliary sponsors the Lifeline program, an emergency response system for individuals in their homes. A full-service laboratory, radiology department, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and cardiopulmonary services department support these services. The emergency department at CMC is staffed by board-certified physicians, 24-hours a day.
Wellness facilities
CMC has made a tremendous commitment to helping in the community get fit and stay that way, with not one, but two, wellness facilities with over 4,000 members. One facility is located in the Woodmere Mall in downtown Crossville, while the second is in the Fairfield Glade community. The 25,000 square-foot Fairfield facility includes a pool, fitness area, physical therapy services with a therapy pool, digital mammography services and patient financial services.
Both facilities have been recognized by the Medical Fitness Association with a Distinguished Achievement Award.
Education, support services
Cumberland Medical Center also puts an emphasis on community health education and programs.
Included in these services are community and healthcare provider CPR classes, advanced cardiac life support classes for health care providers, critical care course for health care providers, dietary counseling, diabetes self-management, and CMC grief support group offered through the CMC Emergency Department.