University Women's Services in Chattanooga: Obstetric and Gynecologic Care at a Teaching Health System

University Women's Services is a physician-led obstetric and gynecologic practice affiliated with the University of Tennessee College of Medicine at Chattanooga, based at Erlanger Health System. The clinic manages routine gynecologic care, prenatal and delivery services, and gynecologic surgery, with attending physicians who supervise medical residents as part of the teaching mission.

What University Women's Services Actually Is

The practice operates as an academic OB/GYN clinic rather than a private independent practice. Patient care flows through a teaching framework, meaning appointments and procedures often involve oversight by faculty physicians and participation of trainees. This structure keeps costs lower than many private alternatives but introduces scheduling variability around resident education cycles and conference schedules. The clinic maintains obstetric capacity for deliveries, aligning with Erlanger's role as Chattanooga's primary teaching hospital and the regional perinatal referral center.

Services and Pricing

University Women's Services provides gynecologic evaluation, contraception counseling, intrauterine device insertion, colposcopy for abnormal cervical screening, prenatal care across all trimesters, labor and delivery, postpartum management, and gynecologic surgery including hysterectomy and myomectomy. The practice does not publish a standard fee schedule online, but as part of Erlanger Health System, charges are typically lower than private OB/GYN practices in the region. Patients with Medicaid, Medicare, or commercial insurance are accepted; uninsured patients should confirm financial assistance eligibility at intake. Prenatal care packages (typically 12 to 16 visits from initial intake through delivery) are billed as a bundled charge; verify the current total with the clinic directly, as costs shift with insurance category and facility charges. Call 423-778-7800 to discuss pricing before your first appointment.

How It Compares to Other Chattanooga Options

Chattanooga has two main tiers of OB/GYN access. Private practices, such as Women's Health Associates and other independent gynecologists throughout the city, offer longer appointment windows, typically shorter wait times, and patient continuity without resident involvement. Those practices charge higher copays and may have longer scheduling waits during peak periods. Erlanger's University Women's Services, by contrast, prioritizes teaching and accessibility; residents are part of appointments, but the structure subsidizes cost and offers walk-in availability for urgent gynecologic concerns (bleeding, infection, pelvic pain) on some days. For low-risk obstetric care, University Women's Services is appropriate; for high-risk pregnancy (gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, fetal anomaly), the same practice maintains the continuity advantage because Erlanger is the regional maternal-fetal medicine center, and patients do not need to transfer.

Who It Suits and Who It Does Not Suit

This clinic suits patients who prioritize affordability, accept teaching involvement, are comfortable with Erlanger's hospital system for delivery, or require high-risk obstetric services. It suits those with Medicaid, Medicare, or no insurance who need immediate gynecologic care. It does not suit patients who strongly prefer exclusively private one-on-one physician time without resident participation, who desire longer appointment continuity, or who prefer delivery outside the hospital setting. Patients seeking cosmetic gynecology or specialized urogynecologic procedures may find more focused expertise at private practices or specialized centers.

What the First Visit Involves

On first gynecologic appointment, arrive 15 minutes early for registration and intake forms. A medical assistant will obtain vital signs and menstrual history. A resident or staff nurse may perform chart review and initial assessment. The attending physician will then conduct a pelvic exam and review history; if obstetric care is the goal, baseline labs, ultrasound dating, and prenatal education are scheduled on the same visit or shortly after. The appointment typically runs 45 to 60 minutes. Bring insurance card, photo ID, and a list of current medications and allergies.

Hours, Parking, and Logistics

The clinic is located on the campus of Erlanger's main hospital on East Third Street in downtown Chattanooga. Clinic hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but this schedule changes seasonally around resident conference weeks; confirm hours before scheduling. Parking is available in Erlanger's visitor parking structure adjacent to the building, with hourly and daily rates. Walk-in urgent gynecologic appointments are available by phone call; do not show up unannounced. To schedule, call 423-778-7800 or visit the Erlanger Health System website patient portal to request an appointment online.

University Women's Services fills a critical gap in Chattanooga's obstetric landscape by maintaining perinatal care at the only teaching health system in the region while keeping prenatal and gynecologic costs accessible. For patients who value comprehensive care and do not require private-practice exclusivity, it is the obvious regional choice.