Memorial North Park Hospital in Chattanooga: A Mid-Size System Hospital for Scheduled Surgery and Inpatient Care

Memorial North Park Hospital is a 135-bed acute-care facility operated by Memorial Healthcare System, serving scheduled surgeries, inpatient admissions, and diagnostic imaging across its North Shore location. Unlike Chattanooga's larger teaching hospitals, it functions as a secondary medical center for planned procedures and stabilized patients rather than a regional trauma destination.

What the Hospital Handles

Memorial North Park operates general surgical services, orthopedic procedures, and inpatient medical care. The facility includes a surgical center for scheduled operations, emergency department for walk-in acute care, and imaging services (CT, ultrasound, X-ray). It does not house cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, or specialized trauma units; patients needing those services are transferred to larger regional facilities. The hospital holds a Tennessee operating license and participates in Medicare and most major insurance networks.

Services and What They Cost

Admission costs at Memorial North Park are bundled under DRG (diagnosis-related group) codes determined by Medicare rates and insurer contracts; patients pay copays or coinsurance based on their individual plan rather than a stated hospital bill. For example, a standard orthopedic surgery admission typically involves hospital facility charges (separate from surgeon fees) ranging from $8,000 to $15,000 before insurance, though actual patient responsibility depends entirely on deductible status and network coverage.

Outpatient imaging (a single CT scan, MRI, or X-ray) costs between $300 and $800 at the facility; confirm your plan's coverage before scheduling. Emergency department visits without admission incur registration and facility fees ($500 to $2,000 before insurance, depending on tests ordered). Call the hospital billing department directly at the main line to discuss financial counseling before a planned stay.

How It Compares to Other Hospital Options in Chattanooga

Erlanger Health System, the dominant regional provider, operates a 542-bed teaching hospital downtown with trauma, cardiothoracic surgery, and a Level 1 trauma center; Erlanger is the default for life-threatening emergencies and complex cases. Parkridge Medical Center (260 beds, East Brainerd) and Parkridge Valley Hospital (140 beds, east Hamilton County) offer similar mid-size profiles to Memorial North Park but carry different insurance networks and surgical specialty mixes.

Choose Memorial North Park for planned orthopedic or general surgeries if your insurer designates it in-network and your surgeon operates there. Choose Erlanger for any emergency, suspected trauma, or specialty care not available at North Park. Parkridge locations are appropriate only if your insurance steers you there or if your surgeon's primary affiliation is Parkridge. Memorial North Park suits patients who need scheduled care in an uncongested setting without the wait times of larger downtown facilities.

Who This Hospital Suits and Who It Does Not

Memorial North Park is appropriate for patients with scheduled elective surgery, planned inpatient recovery, or stable medical admissions whose care does not require subspecialty backup. Insurance networks matter significantly: Cigna, Humana, and BlueCross tend to include North Park; Medicare typically does. Patients without these plans may face high out-of-network costs.

The hospital does not serve patients needing emergency trauma care, cardiac catheterization, complex neurosurgery, or stroke interventions; those patients are transferred to Erlanger. Do not drive to North Park during an acute emergency; call 911 and let EMS route you appropriately.

What Your First Scheduled Admission Involves

Pre-admission calls from the hospital typically occur 48 to 72 hours before surgery, confirming medication lists and fasting instructions. Arrive 90 minutes before your scheduled time. Check-in occurs in the main lobby; follow signs to the surgical or admitting floor. You will be asked for insurance verification, a photo ID, and signed consent forms. A nurse will review your history, take vital signs, and start an IV if applicable. Anesthesia staff will meet you 30 to 60 minutes before surgery to discuss sedation options. Recovery occurs in a post-operative unit; discharge planning typically begins the same day or next morning, with written discharge instructions and follow-up appointment scheduling before you leave.

Hours, Parking, and Getting There

Memorial North Park operates 24 hours daily for emergency services; surgical and inpatient admitting occurs Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with limited weekend surgical scheduling (verify specific days with your surgeon's office). The facility sits at 2207 North Shore Drive NE, accessed from North Shore Boulevard; parking is complimentary in a surface lot adjacent to the main entrance. Public transit (CARTA) serves the area with limited weekday routes; confirm your route before relying on it. The emergency department has separate entrance signage and dedicated parking.

Memorial North Park fills a practical niche for Chattanooga patients needing scheduled surgery away from downtown congestion, provided your surgeon operates there and your insurance recognizes it as in-network.