Jason C. Pooler, MD in Chattanooga: Ketamine Infusion for Treatment-Resistant Depression and Chronic Pain
Dr. Jason C. Pooler operates a specialized psychiatry practice in Chattanooga focused on ketamine-assisted treatment, a psychiatric intervention used primarily for patients whose depression, anxiety, or chronic pain has not responded to standard medications or therapy. Unlike general psychiatry offices, Chattanooga Ketamine Center administers ketamine infusions on-site under controlled conditions, requiring direct physician oversight during and after each session. The practice serves adults seeking an alternative when first-line and second-line psychiatric treatments have failed.
What Chattanooga Ketamine Center Actually Is
Chattanooga Ketamine Center is a medical office dedicated to the administration and monitoring of intravenous ketamine infusions under psychiatric supervision. It is not an emergency facility, hospital, or general psychiatry clinic that prescribes oral medications; instead, it provides a specialized procedure that takes place over multiple sessions. The treatment is used off-label for major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression (defined as failure to respond to at least two adequate antidepressant trials), bipolar depression, and chronic pain conditions including Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and fibromyalgia. Dr. Pooler is licensed in Tennessee and holds psychiatric credentials; the center operates as an outpatient facility where patients receive infusions and remain under observation before discharge.
Services and Pricing
Chattanooga Ketamine Center offers intravenous ketamine infusions administered in a controlled clinical setting. A standard initial treatment protocol typically involves six infusions scheduled over two to three weeks, though protocols vary by patient diagnosis and response. Each infusion session lasts approximately 40 minutes of active medication time, plus 30 to 60 minutes of post-infusion monitoring before discharge.
Pricing for ketamine infusion therapy varies by location and provider. Chattanooga Ketamine Center's exact per-infusion cost and package pricing should be confirmed directly with the practice, as fees depend on the number of infusions, any required baseline psychiatric evaluations, and imaging or lab work. Most practices in this specialty range from $400 to $800 per infusion when paid out-of-pocket; some insurances, including certain mental-health-specific plans, may cover ketamine infusion therapy for treatment-resistant depression, though coverage is not universal. Verify with your insurance plan and the center before scheduling, as pre-authorization is often required.
Maintenance infusions, given less frequently after the initial protocol to prevent relapse, are also available. These may occur monthly or quarterly depending on individual response and clinical judgment.
How Chattanooga Ketamine Center Compares to Other Local Psychiatry Options
Chattanooga has several psychiatric practices offering medication management and therapy, but ketamine infusion therapy is a specialized subset. General psychiatry practices in the area, including those in hospital systems like Erlanger and Parkridge, handle medication-based depression and anxiety treatment; however, they do not administer intravenous ketamine as a treatment modality. These offices are the right choice for patients seeking routine psychiatric care, initial medication trials, and talk therapy.
Chattanooga Ketamine Center is appropriate specifically for patients already diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression or chronic pain who have exhausted conventional antidepressants or pain medications. If you are new to psychiatric treatment or unsure whether you meet criteria for ketamine infusion, a consultation with a general psychiatrist first may clarify whether this advanced option applies to you.
Outside Chattanooga, ketamine clinics in Nashville and Atlanta offer similar protocols; if Dr. Pooler's schedule is unavailable or you prefer to compare, those practices exist but require travel.
Who This Practice Suits and Who It Does Not
Kettamine infusion therapy is most suitable for adults aged 18 and older who have documented, treatment-resistant major depression, bipolar depression, or chronic pain conditions that have not improved with at least two different medication trials or pain management approaches. It suits people with urgent depressive symptoms, as ketamine can produce mood improvement within days to a week, faster than traditional antidepressants. It also suits those seeking an alternative when side effects from conventional medications are intolerable.
This practice is not appropriate for patients seeking first-line depression or anxiety treatment, pregnant or nursing women (due to insufficient safety data), individuals with active substance use disorders, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or those with certain cardiac conditions. Psychosis unrelated to depression or bipolar illness is generally a contraindication. A thorough psychiatric and medical history is required before acceptance.
What the First Visit Involves
Before the first infusion, you will attend an intake and evaluation appointment with Dr. Pooler or his clinical team. This visit includes a detailed psychiatric history, review of prior medication trials and their outcomes, current symptoms, medical and surgical history, and current medications. Baseline vital signs and often an EKG (electrocardiogram) are obtained to assess cardiac safety, especially given ketamine's effects on blood pressure and heart rate. You will discuss the rationale for ketamine, expected timeline for response, potential side effects (dissociation during infusion is common and expected), and post-infusion restrictions (driving is prohibited; arrange transportation).
On the day of your first infusion, you arrive at the center as an outpatient. An IV is placed, vital signs are monitored continuously, and ketamine is infused over approximately 40 minutes. During the infusion, you may experience dissociation, a dreamlike detachment from your body and surroundings; this is not dangerous and resolves as the drug wears off. After infusion, you remain in the recovery area for 30 to 60 minutes under staff observation until you are alert and safe to leave. A designated driver or ride service must pick you up; you will not be permitted to drive.
Subsequent infusions follow a similar routine, though baseline testing is not repeated.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
Chattanooga Ketamine Center's specific hours and address should be confirmed directly with the practice by phone or website. Most ketamine infusion practices operate during business hours and schedule infusions in the morning or early afternoon to allow for safe recovery and discharge before evening. Parking at the location will be available for outpatient visits; ask about accessibility and lot location during your call to confirm.
Because infusion appointments require a designated driver, plan transportation before your first session. Infusions are scheduled in blocks over two to three weeks, so expect ongoing commitment during the initial protocol phase.
Dr. Pooler's practice provides a clinical option for Chattanooga residents with treatment-resistant depression or chronic pain, filling a specialty gap between routine psychiatry and hospital-based psychiatric emergency care.
