Drs Ellis & Sherrill PA in Chattanooga: A Two-Provider Family Medicine Practice Taking New Patients

Drs Ellis & Sherrill PA is a private family medicine practice in Chattanooga that accepts established and new patients for primary care, preventive health visits, acute illness, and chronic disease management. The practice operates as a small, physician-owned office rather than a clinic or health system satellite, which shapes how appointments are scheduled, how long visits typically run, and what insurance arrangements work smoothly.

What the practice handles

Ellis & Sherrill provides general family medicine: annual physicals and preventive care screenings, management of common chronic conditions (hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol), acute visits for cold, flu, and infection, blood draws and lab work coordination, and referrals to specialists. The practice does not perform surgical procedures, deliver babies, or manage high-risk obstetric cases; those needs route through Chattanooga's hospital systems and obstetric specialists.

Insurance and new-patient access

The practice accepts Medicare and most commercial plans; verify your specific carrier when calling to schedule. New-patient availability varies by provider and season; waits for a new-patient appointment typically range from two to four weeks. Established patients can usually secure sick visits within one week and routine follow-ups within two to three weeks.

First-visit appointments run longer than follow-ups to accommodate a full history, review of previous medical records, and a complete physical exam.

How it compares to other Chattanooga family medicine options

Chattanooga's family medicine landscape splits between small private practices like Ellis & Sherrill, large clinic networks (including offices affiliated with Erlanger, CHI, and other health systems), and urgent-care chains. A small practice typically means fewer administrative barriers, longer appointment times, and often easier phone access to the doctors themselves. The trade-off is less infrastructure: no on-site imaging, limited after-hours support, and no walk-in option. If you need X-rays, ultrasound, or lab work done immediately, a health-system clinic or hospital-based center will turn around those tests faster in-house. If your priority is a personal relationship with your primary-care doctor and time for complex questions, a two-provider practice is often the better fit.

Chattanooga urgent-care centers and walk-in clinics suit acute needs (sprains, cuts, sudden illness) but are not ideal for ongoing chronic disease management or preventive care continuity.

Who this practice suits and who it does not

This practice works well for patients who want a stable, personal primary-care relationship, have uncomplicated acute and chronic health needs, and accept a two-to-four-week wait for routine appointments. Patients with multiple specialists, frequent imaging, or complex medical histories may find a larger health-system clinic with integrated departments more efficient. If you cannot wait, urgent care is the appropriate alternative.

What to expect on your first visit

Schedule by phone to confirm insurance, provide brief health history, and arrange a time. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early with your insurance card and government ID to complete registration and medical history forms. The visit itself covers a full physical exam, review of medications and family history, and a conversation about your health goals and any acute concerns. Blood work for routine screening may be drawn that day; lab results typically return within a few days, and the doctor contacts you by phone or portal with findings and next steps.

Follow-up visits are shorter (15 to 20 minutes typically) unless a new problem emerges.

Hours and location

Drs Ellis & Sherrill PA operates standard office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a lunch break typically from noon to 1:00 p.m. (confirm exact hours when calling). The office is located on a residential street with street parking; the lot is small. There is no after-hours answering service; urgent evening or weekend issues require a trip to urgent care or the emergency room. Call ahead if you are running late; repeated no-shows or cancellations without notice may affect your ability to keep future appointments.

Why this practice fits Chattanooga

Drs Ellis & Sherrill PA fills a persistent need in Chattanooga's health landscape for a small, physician-owned family medicine practice where patients can develop an ongoing relationship with the same doctor and receive attentive, unhurried primary care without the scheduling rigidity of large clinic networks. For patients who value continuity and personal knowledge of their medical history, the practice earns its place.