CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga: Full-Service Acute Care on the Southside
CHI Memorial Hospital is a 315-bed acute-care facility run by CommonSpirit Health and located on Dodds Avenue on Chattanooga's south side. It provides emergency and surgical services, inpatient medical care, and scheduled procedures ranging from joint replacement to cancer treatment, and functions as one of two major hospital systems serving the broader Chattanooga region alongside Erlanger Health System.
What CHI Memorial Actually Is
CHI Memorial operates as a mid-sized regional hospital rather than a specialty center. Its footprint covers general medicine, orthopedic surgery, cardiology, oncology, pulmonology, emergency medicine, and obstetrics. The facility is part of CommonSpirit Health, a national nonprofit health system, which shapes its governance and can affect insurance network participation depending on your plan. It is not a trauma center (Erlanger Medical Center holds that designation) and does not house a children's hospital, meaning pediatric cases and level-one trauma are routed elsewhere within the region.
For scheduled procedures and elective care, CHI Memorial competes directly with Erlanger. For emergency care, the question of which facility you reach depends partly on where you live in Chattanooga: the hospital's south-side location makes it the default choice for residents in South Chattanooga, St. Elmo, and nearby areas, while those closer to downtown or north Chattanooga may arrive at Erlanger's main campus first.
Emergency and Scheduled Care
The emergency department operates 24 hours and handles acute medical conditions, injuries, and chest pain evaluations without appointment. Walk-in wait times vary; verification of current typical wait times is recommended through the hospital's website before deciding to visit, as ER volume fluctuates with season and day of week. The ED is equipped for basic stabilization and transfer; if you require trauma surgery or pediatric intensive care, you will be transferred to Erlanger.
Scheduled inpatient care and surgical procedures require a physician referral or admission order. Surgical cases (orthopedic, cardiac, general surgery) are booked in advance. Joint replacement, the most common elective orthopedic procedure, typically involves a pre-operative visit, the surgery itself, and a same-day or next-day discharge depending on age and comorbidities.
Specific pricing for procedures is not publicly listed by CHI Memorial. Most costs are negotiated between the hospital and your insurance carrier. If uninsured, call the hospital's financial assistance department (verify the current number on their website) to discuss cash-pay rates; CommonSpirit facilities often have sliding-scale programs for low-income patients.
How It Compares to Erlanger
Erlanger Medical Center, run by Hamilton County government, is the other major hospital system in Chattanooga and sits downtown. Erlanger is the region's only level-one trauma center and houses the county's only children's hospital. Most primary-care patients have access to both systems through major insurance plans, though specific in-network status depends on your plan.
For elective orthopedic or cardiac surgery, both hospitals maintain comparable surgical volumes and outcomes. For emergency trauma, serious pediatric illness, or stroke, Erlanger is the designated destination. CHI Memorial's south-side location is an advantage if you live south of the city; Erlanger's downtown location and broader range of specialty services (burn unit, pediatric ICU) favor those requiring specialized acute care.
If you carry Medicaid or Tricare, confirm in-network status at both systems before admission; coverage varies by plan and changes annually.
Who It Suits and Who It Does Not
CHI Memorial is the practical choice for scheduled surgery and non-trauma emergencies if you live in south or central Chattanooga. It suits patients with commercial insurance, Medicare, and those willing to work with financial assistance offices if uninsured. The hospital is not suitable for level-one trauma, severe pediatric illness, or burns. If you are pregnant, both CHI Memorial and Erlanger have obstetric units; your choice will depend on your obstetrician's admitting privileges.
What a First Visit Involves
For an emergency visit, arrive with photo ID and insurance card if available. You will be triaged by a nurse, evaluated, and admitted or treated and discharged. A typical ED visit lasts 2 to 4 hours depending on acuity and volume. Non-emergency transfers to inpatient care happen by hospital order, not patient choice.
For scheduled admission or surgery, your physician's office will coordinate pre-operative testing (labs, imaging, EKG) in the weeks before surgery. You will receive discharge instructions via phone or mail and are asked to arrive 1 to 2 hours before your scheduled procedure time.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
The emergency department is open 24 hours. Scheduled surgery and inpatient services operate Monday through Friday with weekend coverage. Parking is free in hospital lots adjacent to the main entrance. The address is 2500 Dodds Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37404. Verify current visiting hours and any COVID-related restrictions on the hospital's website before arriving.
CHI Memorial serves a necessary role in Chattanooga's hospital landscape and is the practical regional hospital for residents in south Chattanooga and those without access to Erlanger's downtown location or specialized services.
