11 Years of Caring: Erlanger’s Commitment to the Sequatchie Valley

For more than a decade, Erlanger has proudly stood alongside the people of Sequatchie Valley—not just as a healthcare provider but also as a trusted neighbor, partner, and advocate for the health and well-being of our region.

A Promise Kept. A Community Served.

In 2014, Sequatchie Valley had gone four years without access to emergency care. Erlanger stepped in – opening the Erlanger Sequatchie Valley Emergency Department, a much-needed emergency department that provided the lifesaving services this community deserved.

Since then, we’ve done more than fill that gap — we have grown with you.

• Introduced new outpatient services and specialty care that previously required travel outside the valley.
• Partnered to expand primary care access, helping families get the consistent care they need closer to home.
• Supported the economic health of the region through millions in local salaries, facility investments, and community initiatives.

Committed to Partnership. Ready to Grow.

In December 2023, Erlanger entered into a Letter of Intent with Sequatchie County, expressing our desire to expand healthcare services and deepen our investment  in the region. Since that time, we've submitted contracts — including one that committed $850,000 to help support the relocation of EMS services.

Throughout this process we've remained open and willing to collaborate, believing that progress is best made through partnership. While we await a final decision from the County Commission, we main optimistic and ready to continue these important conversations. Our commitment to the people of Sequatchie Valley has never wavered because we believe your health can't wait.

$65 Million in Charity Care – Because Everyone Deserves Care

We believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Since opening in Dunlap, Erlanger has provided more than $65 million in uncompensated care to Sequatchie Valley residents — care given at no cost to the county or to the individuals who needed it most.

This is what nonprofit, mission-driven healthcare looks like: community-centered, compassionate, and focused on care over profit.

Raising the Bar for Community Health

When Erlanger Sequatchie Valley Emergency Department opened in 2014, Sequatchie County ranked 91^stout of 95 Tennessee counties in health outcomes. Today, thanks to expanded services, accessible care, and ongoing investments in community wellness by Erlanger, the county has climbed to 41st — a 50-spot improvement in just a decade.

Shaping the Future, One Student at a Time

We are proud of our partnership with Sequatchie County High School to provide hands-on shadowing opportunities for students interested in healthcare careers. We are not just serving our community today — we are helping to educate and inspire tomorrow’s healthcare leaders.

Rooted Here. Ready for Tomorrow.

Erlanger isn’t a newcomer. We didn’t arrive with a short-term offer. We’ve been here, shoulder to shoulder with you, for more than a decade – and we are committed to growing with this community for years to come.

We thank the residents of Sequatchie Valley for their trust. We’re proud of what we’ve built together. And we’re here — now and always — for the health of Sequatchie Valley.