Tennova Turkey Creek Medical Center Doubling Capacity in its Emergency Department

7/9/2026

Increasing to 20 Beds Expands Trauma Care Capabilities

KNOXVILLE, TN – Tennova Turkey Creek Medical Center has officially opened its newly expanded emergency department (ED), completing a $3 million investment that adds eight treatment rooms with trauma care capabilities and more than 3,000 square feet of dedicated emergency care space. The expansion brings Turkey Creek Medical Center’s total emergency room capacity to 20 patient rooms.

The expanded ED will be fully operational in mid-July following months of construction that began in February of this year. This project was designed to accommodate the rising demand for emergency services across the greater Knoxville area, where Turkey Creek Medical Center served more than 22,000 emergency patients in 2025 alone – more than 1,500 of whom required specialized trauma care.

“Expanding our emergency department is an important step so we can continue meeting the needs of our growing community,” said Tony Benton, CEO of Tennova Turkey Creek Medical Center. “We took many factors into consideration with our patients in mind, including simplified registration, an expanded waiting area and improved patient throughput. Our focus is on providing timely access to care, enhancing the patient experience and supporting our physicians and clinical teams with the resources needed to deliver high-quality emergency services.”

The expanded facility reinforces Turkey Creek Medical Center’s 30-minute ER service pledge, a standing commitment to timely, high quality emergency care. Patients can continue to check current wait times and access online scheduling on our homepage.

“Our emergency department serves as a critical access point for patients experiencing serious illness and injury, and this expansion allows us to care for more patients efficiently without compromising quality,” said Dr. John Pope, ER medical director. “Our physicians and clinicians had a significant voice in the planning of this project, enhancing our growing trauma capabilities and equipping our team to deliver the right level of care when every second matters.”

In preparation for expanded operations, the medical center recruited 15 additional positions within the emergency department. They have also deepened relationships with local EMS agencies to strengthen coordination so patients receive care from the field to the ED, a key component of its Level III trauma designation.

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