NASHVILLE -- Titans Rookies Amani Bledsoe, David Long Jr., Isaiah Mack, Kareem Orr, Derick Roberson, Jeffery Simmons and Papi White visited new families and orthopaedic patients for Titans Tuesdays at Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro.

"We visited some beautiful families today," said Long. "There were several first-time families and a few that were welcoming their second or third child. They were excited to see us and we were excited to give them gifts and sign autographs. It was a great visit!"

Saint Thomas Health recently announced the addition of NICView cameras to Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital. NICView cameras are a 24/7 webcam streaming service added to the NICU, allowing patients and their families to view their infant through a secure, online portal.

The NICView cameras will be made available for newborns in the NICU with parental and provider consent which allows them to view their infant online 24/7 through any web-enabled device from anywhere in the world.

Additionally, the hospital is undergoing an estimated $82 million vertical expansion, adding three additional floors and 72 beds to the west patient tower of the hospital. That totals an additional 60,000 square feet and is expected to be completed by mid-year 2020.

Rutherford is also accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and has been named one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation. The hospital's Emergency Department has one of the highest caseloads in the state.

Gordon B. Ferguson, president and CEO of Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital and president of Saint Thomas Regional Hospitals has served as the Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital president and chief executive officer since 2006; he was named Saint Thomas Regional Hospitals president in 2015.

"The partnership between Saint Thomas Rutherford and the Titans is an exciting way to support our community in partnership with other organizations and bring joy to our patients," said Ferguson. "The relationship we have with the Titans is so important to individuals we serve and our providers. We really enjoy the opportunity to have Titans players join us at Saint Thomas Rutherford!"

Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital is member of Saint Thomas Health, which is comprised of nine hospitals in the Nashville area and part of Ascension, the largest nonprofit health care system and largest Catholic health care system in the country. The hospital was originally known as the Middle Tennessee Medical Center when was purchased by Saint Thomas Health System several years ago from the former Baptist Hospital system. Rutherford is now part of the health care system founded by the Daughters of Charity in 1898.

The hospital is committed to serving all persons with special attention to the poor and vulnerable. This Catholic health ministry is dedicated to spiritually centered, holistic care that sustains and improves the health of individuals and communities. This ministry and its staff are advocates for a compassionate and just society through actions and words.

"It's all about giving back. It gives you a great warm feeling to talk to the patients, see them light-up and know you are making their day brighter," said Long.

ABOUT ASCENSION SAINT THOMAS HEALTH

In Tennessee, Ascension's Saint Thomas Health operates nine hospitals in addition to a comprehensive network of affiliated joint ventures, medical practices, clinics and rehabilitation facilities that cover a 68-county area and employ more than 8,000 associates. Across the state, Saint Thomas Health provided more than $127 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty in fiscal year 2018. Serving Tennessee for 15 years, Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the largest non-profit health system in the U.S. and the world's largest Catholic health system, operating more than 2,600 sites of care – including 151 hospitals and more than 50 senior living facilities – in 21 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.sthealth.com.