Gordon Graham, MD in Chattanooga: Interventional Cardiology at Chattanooga Heart Institute

Gordon Graham, MD, is an interventional cardiologist at Chattanooga Heart Institute, where he specializes in catheter-based procedures to diagnose and treat blocked or narrowed arteries. His practice occupies a significant portion of the institute's procedural capacity and serves patients across East Tennessee and North Georgia who require coronary angiography, angioplasty, and stent placement, often as an alternative to surgery.

What Chattanooga Heart Institute actually is

Chattanooga Heart Institute is a standalone cardiology group with multiple locations across the Chattanooga metro area, operating separately from larger hospital systems. Dr. Graham holds board certification in internal medicine and interventional cardiology through the American Board of Medical Specialties. The institute provides both outpatient clinic consultations and in-hospital procedures at affiliated facilities, primarily for patients with coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, and valve disease. The practice accepts most major insurance plans and has been in operation long enough to establish strong referral pathways from primary care physicians and other specialists throughout the region.

Services and what interventional cardiology costs

Dr. Graham's scope centers on percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and diagnostic coronary angiography. These are catheter-based procedures in which a small tube is threaded through an artery to the heart, allowing direct visualization of coronary vessels and placement of stents when blockages are found. Consultation and diagnostic imaging (echocardiography, stress testing) occur in the outpatient clinic; procedures take place at the hospital where the institute has operating privileges.

Costs for interventional procedures depend heavily on the specific intervention, hospital facility fees, and insurance coverage. A diagnostic coronary angiography ranges from $3,000 to $8,000 in out-of-pocket cost for uninsured patients; a PCI with stent placement can run $15,000 to $40,000 before insurance, though insured patients typically pay a deductible and copay only. Consultation fees are standard cardiology office visit rates (usually $150 to $300). Verify current pricing and your out-of-pocket responsibility with the practice before scheduling, as facility fees and negotiated insurance rates vary.

How Chattanooga Heart Institute compares to other interventional cardiology options in Chattanooga

Chattanooga's primary competitor is the cardiology department of Erlanger Health System, which operates a larger heart and vascular institute with multiple interventional cardiologists and a dedicated cath lab. Erlanger is part of a hospital system with greater volume and institutional resources; for highly complex cases or patients already hospitalized through the ER, Erlanger may be the referral pathway.

Chattanooga Heart Institute's advantage lies in its independence and speed of access. Patients with a private cardiologist referral often reach Dr. Graham's clinic faster than those waiting within a hospital system's appointment queue. The standalone model also means fewer administrative referral barriers between the clinic consultation and scheduled procedure. Erlanger is the better choice if you lack a direct referral or prefer integrated hospital-system care; Chattanooga Heart Institute suits established patients with a referring physician who have uncomplicated blockage and need efficient procedural scheduling.

Who suits this practice and who does not

Dr. Graham and Chattanooga Heart Institute are well-matched for patients who have had a stress test, imaging study, or symptoms (chest pain, shortness of breath) that prompted a referral from their primary care doctor and who need catheterization to confirm blockage and plan intervention. Insurance acceptance is broad, making this practice accessible to most insured patients.

This practice is not a starting point for patients without an established cardiologist or referral. A patient arriving at Chattanooga Heart Institute clinic without a prior diagnostic workup will likely be sent back to their primary care doctor first. Uninsured patients will find that out-of-pocket procedure costs are substantial, though the practice can discuss payment plans; the hospital cath lab itself may offer financial assistance programs separate from the cardiology group.

What your first visit involves

A new-patient appointment begins with a clinic consultation in which Dr. Graham or another physician reviews your cardiac history, current symptoms, prior test results, and medications. A nurse or technician typically performs an EKG. If you have not already had recent imaging (stress test, echocardiogram, or angiography), the clinic may order these before or shortly after the consultation. If imaging shows blockage requiring intervention, the team schedules a procedure at the affiliated hospital facility. The entire initial visit usually takes 45 minutes to an hour.

Bring your insurance card, a list of all medications, and any prior cardiology reports or test images. If you are referred by your primary care doctor, ensure that referral paperwork reaches the office before your appointment to avoid delays.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Chattanooga Heart Institute operates weekday clinic hours from 8 AM to 5 PM, with some extended afternoon availability depending on location (verify the specific office address, as the group has multiple sites). Parking is available at each clinic location and is free. Procedures take place at hospitals with appropriate facilities, not in the private office; you will receive hospital pre-admission instructions separately.

Public transportation in Chattanooga is limited; personal transportation or ride-share is the practical default for clinic visits and procedure day.

Gordon Graham's credentials and established reputation within Chattanooga's cardiology referral network make him a reliable choice for patients with blocked coronary arteries who have already been evaluated by their primary doctor and need a procedural cardiologist.