Prosthetics Clinic at Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga: Comprehensive Limb Replacement and Fitting

Erlanger's prosthetics clinic is an outpatient limb fitting and training center operated by Erlanger Health System, serving amputees with custom fabrication, consultation, and rehabilitation guidance across lower-limb and upper-limb prosthetics. The clinic sits within Erlanger's larger network of surgical, acute care, and rehabilitation services and acts as a direct referral destination for patients recovering from amputation or interested in prosthetic replacement.

What Erlanger's prosthetics clinic actually is

The clinic provides evaluation, fitting, and follow-up care for both lower and upper extremity prosthetics. Patients typically arrive as referrals from surgeons (after amputation or amputation revision), primary care physicians, or directly through Erlanger's discharge planning team. The clinic works with certified prosthetists who assess residual limb condition, discuss prosthetic options, coordinate device fabrication with in-house or contracted labs, and provide initial gait or mobility training. The clinic is not a surgical facility; it does not perform amputations or revision surgeries. Erlanger's orthopedic and vascular surgeons operate at Erlanger's main hospital campus on East 3rd Street, so surgical follow-up and prosthetic referral occur in the same system.

Prosthetic options and pricing

The clinic offers both lower-limb and upper-limb prosthetics across multiple technology levels. Lower-limb devices range from passive mechanical feet (basic articulated or solid-ankle designs) to microprocessor-controlled knees that adjust to walking speed in real time, with corresponding cost variation. Upper-limb prosthetics span from passive cosmetic hands to myoelectric arms controlled by residual limb muscle signals. Device cost depends on function tier, materials, and patient insurance coverage. Medicare covers prosthetics classified as Durable Medical Equipment (DME) with a 20% patient coinsurance after deductible; exact out-of-pocket cost varies by deductible status and income. Patients with commercial insurance should confirm coverage limits before fitting. Uninsured patients may qualify for assistance through Erlanger's financial counseling department. A consultation at the clinic can clarify cost estimates for the specific prosthetic recommended. Verify current pricing with the clinic directly, as prosthetic technology and insurance classifications change annually.

How Erlanger's clinic compares to other Chattanooga prosthetics providers

Chattanooga has two other recognized prosthetic providers: Hanger Clinic (a national chain with local locations) and smaller independent prosthetist practices. Hanger operates multiple outlets in the Chattanooga area and typically maintains faster appointment availability due to scale but may have longer device delivery timelines for specialty items. Independent prosthetists offer more personalized attention and flexibility in non-standard fittings but may have higher out-of-pocket costs for uninsured patients and less seamless integration with surgeons. Erlanger's clinic advantage lies in direct coordination with the amputating surgeon and immediate access to Erlanger's vascular and orthopedic teams if complications arise or revision is needed; a patient whose residual limb swells or develops pressure sores can often be seen by the same surgical team without a separate referral. Choose Erlanger if your amputation surgery occurred at Erlanger and you value integrated post-operative care. Choose Hanger or an independent prosthetist if you prioritize boutique fitting services or live far from the Erlanger campus.

Who the clinic suits and does not suit

The clinic suits patients within Erlanger's hospital network or those with recent amputation referred by their surgeon, patients covered by Medicare or major commercial insurance, and those living in or near Chattanooga who can attend multiple follow-up appointments (fitting is not a single visit; typical protocols include initial consultation, fabrication weeks, alignment fitting, and gait training sessions over 4-8 weeks). The clinic does not suit patients seeking prosthetic consultation alone without intent to purchase locally, those with unusual residual limb anatomy who need a highly specialized independent practitioner, or patients unable to commit to regular in-person therapy appointments. Patients living more than 30 miles from Erlanger may find Hanger's satellite locations more convenient.

What the first visit involves

A first appointment begins with a consultation lasting 45-60 minutes. The prosthetist examines the residual limb (assessing length, skin integrity, scar tissue, and volume), reviews medical history and pain levels, and discusses the patient's goals (return to work, daily living, walking speed, outdoor activity). The prosthetist may take measurements and make a plaster or digital scan. Insurance verification occurs at this visit; the prosthetist's office will check your policy's coverage level and any prior authorization requirements. The patient leaves with a cost estimate and a fabrication timeline (typically 2-4 weeks depending on prosthetic type and lab backlog). Return appointments include alignment fitting (adjusting prosthetic angle and position), gait training with a physical therapist (if available through Erlanger's rehab services), and adjustments as the residual limb volume changes in the first months post-fitting.

Hours, location, and parking

The clinic operates Monday through Friday; hours are typically 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (verify current hours with Erlanger's scheduling line). The clinic is located on the Erlanger main hospital campus at 975 East 3rd Street, Chattanooga, TN 37403. Parking is available in Erlanger's patient parking decks adjacent to the main building; first 30 minutes are free, and all-day rates are available. The clinic does not require a physician referral for a consultation, though insurance coverage may require one depending on your plan.

Erlanger's prosthetics clinic fills a clear need for amputees recovering within the Chattanooga area, particularly those who want continuity between their surgical team and prosthetic care. Its integration with orthopedic and vascular surgery reduces care fragmentation during the critical early months of prosthetic adjustment.