Dr. Christopher Graves in Chattanooga: OB-GYN with Hospital Privileges at Erlanger and Parkridge
Dr. Christopher Graves is an obstetrician-gynecologist in Chattanooga who manages pregnancy, delivery, and gynecological care and maintains active delivery privileges at two of the city's largest hospital systems: Erlanger Health System and Parkridge Medical Center. His practice provides comprehensive prenatal and postnatal care, routine gynecology, and in-hospital obstetric management for patients who choose hospital-based delivery.
What the practice actually is
Graves operates as a hospital-affiliated OB-GYN, meaning most patients deliver at one of his affiliated hospitals rather than in a freestanding birth center. This model suits women seeking obstetric care connected to an institution with ICU capability, anesthesia support, and surgical backup, which matters most during high-risk pregnancies or unexpected complications during labor. He accepts most major insurance plans and manages routine visits in an office setting before referring patients to his hospital when labor begins.
Services and patient populations
The practice covers the standard OB-GYN scope: routine gynecology, annual screenings, contraception counseling, prenatal care from early pregnancy through delivery, and postpartum follow-up. Obstetric patients receive office-based visits (typically every four weeks until month seven, then every two weeks until month nine, then weekly) and deliver at the hospital of record. The practice typically performs ultrasounds in-office to date pregnancies and screen for fetal abnormality, though detailed anatomy scans may be referred to maternal-fetal medicine.
Pricing follows standard insurance reimbursement, and exact out-of-pocket costs depend on your individual plan's deductible, copay, and coinsurance structure. Uninsured patients should contact the office directly for cash-pay rates.
Comparison to other Chattanooga OB-GYNs
Chattanooga has multiple OB-GYN practices, and hospital affiliation is a key difference. Dr. Graves's dual privileges (both Erlanger and Parkridge) give expecting patients some choice in which system they deliver at. Other practices in the area are similarly hospital-based, but the specific hospitals differ. For example, some providers deliver exclusively through Erlanger, others through Parkridge or Children's Hospital of Chattanooga's obstetric partnership. If you have a strong preference for one hospital system over another—due to location, reputation, or insurance network benefits—confirm that your chosen provider has active privileges there before booking.
For women seeking midwifery-led care or birth center delivery, those options exist outside hospital-based OB-GYN practices and involve different risk management and insurance acceptance; neither is handled by a hospital OB-GYN like Graves.
Who this practice suits and who it does not
This practice is appropriate for women planning hospital delivery, those with insurance that requires physician-managed care, and patients with moderate to high-risk pregnancies who benefit from close hospital coordination. It suits women who want continuous prenatal care with one provider rather than rotating through multiple physicians in a large group. It does not suit women seeking midwifery-led births, those looking for out-of-hospital delivery, or patients who prefer a completely midwife-primary care model without physician oversight.
First visit and initial setup
New obstetric patients typically schedule a first prenatal visit after a positive home pregnancy test or referral from primary care. The office will confirm the pregnancy, take a detailed history including prior pregnancies and medical conditions, perform a pelvic exam, and order initial labs (blood type, Rh status, infectious disease screening, complete blood count). Dating ultrasound is usually done in-office or referred out, and patients receive a due date and a schedule of subsequent visits.
New gynecology patients undergo a similar initial history and exam tailored to their presenting concern, whether routine wellness or a specific symptom.
Hours, location, and logistics
Contact the office directly to confirm current hours and parking details, as these change seasonally and with staffing. The practice is located in the Chattanooga area and typically operates on a standard clinic schedule (weekday mornings and afternoons). Labor and delivery are managed at the affiliated hospital, not the office, so expect to travel to Erlanger or Parkridge when labor begins.
Why this practice earns a place in the Chattanooga guide
Dr. Graves represents the standard model for obstetric care in Chattanooga: physician-directed prenatal care linked to major hospital delivery. His dual hospital privileges reflect credentialing at both of the city's largest obstetric systems, which gives patients flexibility in choosing their delivery facility without switching providers mid-pregnancy.
