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Healthcare in Tennessee

Tennessee's healthcare system is highlighted by two world-renowned institutions: Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, a global leader in pediatric cancer treatment that provides care at no cost to families. Nashville has emerged as the healthcare capital of the United States, home to the headquarters of HCA Healthcare, the nation's largest for-profit hospital system, along with Community Health Systems and numerous other healthcare companies. With approximately 19,500 active physicians and a rate of 280 per 100,000, Tennessee has moderate physician density. The state has four medical schools spread across Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville, providing strong workforce training. Despite Nashville and Memphis's healthcare prominence, rural Tennessee faces significant physician shortages, particularly in Appalachian East Tennessee and the rural western counties. The state has not expanded Medicaid through traditional means, though a block grant approach has been debated. Tennessee's healthcare industry is a major economic driver, employing hundreds of thousands of workers. Knoxville, Chattanooga, and the Tri-Cities region serve as important regional healthcare centers. The state has invested in telehealth and rural health clinics to address access gaps in underserved communities.