Sherie Chow, MD in Chattanooga: Internal Medicine and Primary Care

Sherie Chow, MD is an internal medicine physician practicing primary care in Chattanooga, accepting new patients and established insurance plans. She provides the foundation-level diagnosis and ongoing management that drives most of Chattanooga's healthcare flow: sick visits for acute illness, preventive screenings, chronic disease monitoring, and specialist referrals.

What Sherie Chow, MD actually is

Internal medicine doctors function as health gatekeepers in most healthcare systems. Unlike family medicine physicians, who treat patients from infancy through end-of-life, internists focus on adults and bring deeper training in complex medical problems, medication interactions, and the navigation of multiple chronic conditions. Within Chattanooga's physician landscape, which includes both large health systems (Erlanger Health System and CHI Memorial dominate the market) and independent primary-care practices, Dr. Chow operates as a full-service generalist: she diagnoses, manages ongoing treatment, orders diagnostics, and coordinates with specialists.

Her role means seeing patients for annual physicals, managing hypertension or diabetes, handling upper-respiratory infections and back pain, and deciding when a patient needs imaging, bloodwork, or a referral to cardiology or orthopedics. In Chattanooga's fragmented insurance landscape, she also works within multiple plan networks.

Services and insurance

Dr. Chow provides standard primary-care services: new-patient evaluations, annual wellness exams, established-patient sick visits, chronic-disease management (diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol), preventive screenings (age-appropriate cancer screenings, bone-density scans, cardiovascular risk assessment), and in-office minor procedures (blood draws, EKGs). She accepts most major commercial insurances, Medicare, and Medicaid; verify coverage before scheduling, as plan networks and in-network status shift annually.

No pricing is publicly listed, which is typical for physician practices in Chattanooga. Costs vary based on your specific insurance: copays for established-patient sick visits typically range from $25 to $50 in Chattanooga practices; new-patient evaluations may be higher. Ask the office directly for your plan's cost-sharing or request an estimate.

How Dr. Chow compares to other Chattanooga primary-care options

Chattanooga's primary-care physicians operate within two distinct models: employed by a health system (Erlanger, CHI Memorial, or smaller networks) or independent. System-employed physicians often have faster appointment availability because they sit within a larger scheduling pool and can refer internally without coordination friction. Independent practitioners like Dr. Chow typically offer more continuity; you're more likely to reach the same doctor, fewer mid-visit handoffs happen, and referral timing may move faster because the physician controls her own workflow.

Choosing between them depends on logistics and preference. If you prioritize same-day urgent access and don't mind seeing different doctors in your practice, a system-based clinic (such as Erlanger's numerous primary-care sites or CHI Memorial's primary-care network) fits better. If you want one doctor who knows your history deeply, have time to wait 3 to 4 weeks for a routine appointment, and value fewer referral delays, an independent internist like Dr. Chow may suit you. System-employed physicians also often have electronic records integration across hospitals and specialties; independents may require more manual record coordination.

Who it suits and who it does not suit

Dr. Chow is well-suited for adults (age 18+) who want a single, stable physician managing their overall health, have commercial insurance or Medicare/Medicaid, and don't need same-day walk-in availability. She works best for patients with one to three chronic conditions, annual health maintenance, and occasional acute illness. If you have multiple complex conditions requiring frequent specialist coordination, a system-based practice with integrated electronic records may reduce friction.

She is not a walk-in clinic; appointments are scheduled in advance. If you need urgent care for an acute problem and cannot wait weeks, Chattanooga has dedicated urgent-care centers (such as Urgent Care of Chattanooga locations) that provide same-day or next-day care without appointment.

What the first visit involves

A new-patient visit typically lasts 45 to 60 minutes. Dr. Chow will take a complete medical history (current symptoms, past illnesses, surgeries, medications, allergies, family history, lifestyle factors), perform a physical exam, and often order initial labs (complete blood count, metabolic panel, lipid panel, possibly thyroid or urinalysis). Bring your insurance card, any outside medical records, and a list of current medications and supplements. The visit establishes your baseline and may not fully solve an acute problem; that resolution happens at a follow-up.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Confirm current hours with her office directly, as physician schedules shift seasonally and with staffing changes. Most Chattanooga primary-care practices operate Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with limited or no weekend hours. Parking and location details are specific to Dr. Chow's practice address; call ahead to ask about lot availability, handicap access, or nearby street parking if needed.

Dr. Chow provides the continuity and medical depth that many patients prefer in a primary-care relationship, fitting best for those seeking one physician's ongoing attention rather than rapid same-day access or broad system integration.