CHI Memorial Lung Care Associates in Chattanooga: Pulmonary Specialists with Dual-Location Access
CHI Memorial Lung Care Associates is a specialty pulmonology practice affiliated with Chattanooga's largest health system, serving patients requiring diagnosis and management of lung disease, asthma, COPD, sleep disorders, and other respiratory conditions. The practice operates from two locations in the Chattanooga area and accepts most major insurance plans, functioning entirely by referral from primary care physicians.
What CHI Memorial Lung Care Associates actually is
The practice delivers board-certified pulmonology care within CHI Memorial Health's network. Its focus spans diagnostic testing (spirometry, bronchoscopy, sleep studies), chronic disease management, and acute respiratory care coordination. Unlike urgent care clinics that handle cough and bronchitis, this is a specialist referral practice where patients arrive with a physician order addressing specific lung or sleep concerns. The practice anchors pulmonary specialization in Chattanooga's medical market and maintains continuity with inpatient hospital-based care.
Services and what to expect cost-wise
CHI Memorial Lung Care Associates handles spirometry and pulmonary function testing, bronchoscopy for tissue sampling and airway evaluation, sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment planning, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma management. Patients with suspected sleep apnea typically undergo polysomnography (sleep study), ordered by the practice and performed at a CHI Memorial sleep lab.
Pulmonology visits in Chattanooga are usually coded as a new-patient consultation or an established-patient office visit. Uninsured patients and those with high-deductible plans should confirm costs with the CHI Memorial billing department; expect consultation fees in the range of $200 to $400 for uninsured self-pay, though this varies by complexity and testing required. Procedures like bronchoscopy carry separate charges. Most insurance plans, including Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial coverage, are accepted; verify coverage for any planned procedure before your visit.
How it compares to other Chattanooga pulmonology options
Chattanooga has limited independent pulmonology practices. Erlanger Health System also employs board-certified pulmonologists in their Erlanger Lung Center, a competing health system alternative. The key difference: CHI Memorial offers flexibility across two clinic locations, while Erlanger consolidates most pulmonary care in a single lung center. For insured patients, choice depends on insurance network inclusion and which system your primary physician refers to. Uninsured or cash-pay patients should call both systems' financial assistance lines; CHI Memorial and Erlanger both operate sliding-scale financial assistance for qualifying patients, though specific thresholds differ.
CHI Memorial typically offers shorter wait times for established patients, while Erlanger's lung center may have more capacity for complex bronchoscopy cases. Ask your referring physician which system has capacity for your condition when requesting a referral.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
CHI Memorial Lung Care Associates is right for anyone with a physician referral for pulmonary evaluation, chronic respiratory disease needing specialist oversight, or suspected sleep apnea. It suits patients with commercial insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, and those willing to navigate the referral process. It does not suit walk-in patients; you need a referral order from a primary care doctor, urgent care clinic, or hospital. If you have acute shortness of breath or chest pain, go to CHI Memorial's emergency department instead.
What the first visit involves
Schedule your appointment only after your primary care physician or referring provider has submitted a referral. At your first visit, bring insurance information, a list of current medications, and any recent imaging (chest X-rays, CT scans) or prior lung function test results. The visit includes a detailed breathing and medical history, physical examination, and often spirometry (pulmonary function testing) if not done recently. The pulmonologist will diagnose your condition, explain findings in plain language, and prescribe treatment (medications, home oxygen, further testing, or sleep study referral). Many patients complete their first appointment in 30 to 45 minutes, with follow-up scheduled as needed.
Hours, parking, and getting there
CHI Memorial Lung Care Associates operates from two clinic sites: one affiliated with CHI Memorial Downtown and another at a CHI Memorial outpatient facility. Both locations offer parking; downtown parking can be limited during midday hours. Office hours are generally 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Verify exact hours and location availability by calling CHI Memorial's physician referral line at (423) 778-7000 or checking the CHI Memorial website, as clinic schedules shift seasonally.
Appointment availability typically runs four to eight weeks from referral, though urgent cases are prioritized. Confirm this when your referral is placed.
CHI Memorial Lung Care Associates delivers board-certified pulmonary specialty care within Chattanooga's largest health system. For anyone managing asthma, sleep apnea, or COPD, or undergoing diagnostic workup for breathing problems, this practice is the standard specialty option available through referral.
