Leonard Hays, MD FACC FSCAI in Chattanooga: Advanced Interventional Cardiology and Nuclear Stress Testing
Leonard Hays, MD FACC FSCAI, is an interventional cardiologist practicing in Chattanooga who specializes in catheterization procedures, coronary angiography, angioplasty, and stent placement for patients with coronary artery disease. His dual board certifications (American College of Cardiology and Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions) reflect training in both diagnostic and therapeutic heart catheterization. He provides both inpatient procedures at hospital facilities and outpatient diagnostic testing, positioning him as a referral destination for complex coronary cases across the Chattanooga region.
What Hays offers and how it differs locally
Hays' practice centers on interventional procedures: coronary angiography (diagnostic imaging of heart arteries), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stent placement, and management of acute coronary syndromes. He also performs nuclear stress testing, a non-invasive imaging study that assesses blood flow to the heart muscle during exercise or chemical stimulation. This breadth distinguishes him from general cardiologists who may handle rhythm disorders, heart failure, and valvular disease but refer intervention cases to a specialist.
In Chattanooga, interventional cardiologists are less numerous than general practitioners. Other interventional specialists operate through the same major hospital systems (Erlanger and Parkridge), but Hays' specific combination of catheterization expertise and established outpatient stress-testing capacity makes him a common referral for both primary-care physicians and other cardiologists managing patients with chest pain or prior heart attacks.
Services and pricing
Hays' primary services fall into two categories. Diagnostic work includes nuclear stress testing (cost typically $800 to $1,200 without insurance, depending on the imaging protocol), echocardiography, and coronary angiography (performed at a hospital lab as an inpatient or outpatient procedure). Therapeutic interventions such as stent placement occur in a hospital catheterization laboratory; the total facility and physician cost for PCI varies widely based on stent type, anatomy, and hospital overhead, ranging from $15,000 to $35,000 before insurance. Verify current pricing and insurance coverage with his office directly, as hospital facility fees and out-of-pocket costs depend on your plan and deductible status.
Standard practice for referral-based cardiologists involves the patient's primary care or referring cardiologist initiating contact; most insurance plans require prior authorization for invasive procedures. If you lack a cardiologist, your primary-care doctor can refer directly.
Who this practice suits and does not suit
Hays is the right choice if your primary-care physician or another cardiologist suspects you have significant coronary artery disease and you need a procedure (angiography or stent placement) rather than medication management alone. He is also appropriate for patients whose initial stress test suggests ischemia (reduced blood flow to the heart during exertion) and who want the diagnostic and intervention expertise in one provider relationship.
This practice does not suit patients seeking primary-care cardiology for hypertension, heart failure, or arrhythmia management without an interventional procedure in mind. General cardiologists in Chattanooga (such as those in multispecialty groups at Erlanger or Parkridge) handle that spectrum; they refer to Hays when intervention becomes necessary.
What the first visit involves
If you are referred for a procedure or stress test, Hays' office will schedule a consultation and diagnostic workup. For stress testing, expect a 45-minute to 2-hour appointment: a technician will place heart-monitoring electrodes and IV access, you will exercise on a treadmill or receive pharmacological stress (adenosine or dobutamine) to increase heart rate, and a camera will image your heart's blood flow. If coronary angiography is planned, you will meet with Hays to review risks and benefits; the procedure itself occurs in a hospital catheterization lab on a separate day, requires fasting, and involves conscious sedation.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Hays maintains outpatient office hours in Chattanooga (location and hours subject to change; confirm directly with his office). Stress testing and routine consultations are office-based. Catheterization procedures are performed at a hospital facility (typically Erlanger Medical Center, given his affiliations); patients are advised to arrange transportation, as sedation prevents driving. Hospital parking for procedures varies by facility; most Chattanooga hospitals offer visitor and patient parking.
Why Hays matters in Chattanooga's cardiology landscape
Interventional cardiology is a time-sensitive specialty: patients with active heart attacks or unstable chest pain need prompt access to someone who can image and treat blocked arteries in the same session. Hays' dual expertise and established presence in local hospital systems mean referring physicians can move patients through diagnosis to treatment without additional handoffs, reducing delay in a population where timing directly affects heart muscle survival.
