Erlanger Health System Sleep Disorders Center in Chattanooga: Polysomnography and Respiratory Testing on Site

Erlanger Health System's Sleep Disorders Center is a hospital-affiliated diagnostic and treatment facility housed at Erlanger Medical Center in East Brainerd, staffed by sleep medicine physicians and equipped with an in-house sleep lab for overnight monitoring. It serves patients with suspected or confirmed sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, and other conditions that disrupt sleep, and it differs from primary-care referral pathways by offering testing and specialist evaluation without requiring an external lab network.

What the center actually does

The sleep lab performs polysomnography (PSG), a multi-channel overnight recording that measures brain waves, oxygen levels, breathing patterns, heart rate, and leg movements while a patient sleeps. Technologists monitor patients remotely; recordings are reviewed by a sleep medicine physician who generates a diagnostic report used to guide treatment. The center also conducts home sleep apnea tests (HSAT) for patients in whom overnight lab testing is not feasible or is contraindicated, and it conducts multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT) for suspected narcolepsy. Treatment follows testing: the same physician team recommends continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, behavioral interventions for insomnia, or other medications and interventions based on diagnosis.

Services and what testing costs

Polysomnography performed at the center's in-house lab costs vary by insurance, but self-pay patients should expect $1,500 to $2,500 per night; verify your insurance coverage and whether a deductible or coinsurance applies before scheduling. Home sleep apnea testing typically costs $400 to $600 out of pocket if uninsured. MSLT and other daytime testing are billed separately. Most major insurances are accepted, but prior authorization is often required; Erlanger's patient access line can confirm coverage before your first appointment.

How it compares to other Chattanooga sleep testing options

Erlanger is the only hospital system in Chattanooga that owns and operates its own accredited sleep lab. Independent sleep clinics in the area, such as those affiliated with private practices, typically rely on contracted labs or outsource overnight testing to facilities outside the city, requiring patients to either wait for test dates or travel. Erlanger's on-site lab means you complete testing within the system where the sleep physician practices, reducing the likelihood of your report getting lost between providers and shortening the interval between test and consultation. If your sleep medicine physician is part of Erlanger's employed group, your entire care cycle—referral, testing, and follow-up—stays integrated; if you see an outside primary-care doctor, you still benefit from same-facility testing but will need to coordinate results transfer back to your referring physician. For CPAP equipment and supplies, Erlanger Durable Medical Equipment (DME) is on-site, but you can also purchase or rent devices from independent DME suppliers like Apria Healthcare or Lincare, which sometimes offer more flexible payment plans for uninsured patients.

Who this suits, and who may look elsewhere

Erlanger Sleep Disorders Center suits insured patients whose primary doctors have already referred them for testing, anyone with complex sleep-related conditions (including those with cardiac or respiratory comorbidities), and patients who prefer consolidated care within a single health system. If you lack insurance or are underinsured and cannot afford the full cost of lab-based testing, an independent practice offering home sleep testing only may have lower upfront costs. If you have already been diagnosed and simply need CPAP supplies or behavioral sleep coaching, standalone DME companies or behavioral sleep clinics may be more cost-effective. Erlanger is not a walk-in facility; all testing is by appointment through a physician referral.

What your first visit involves

Your primary-care doctor must refer you to Erlanger Sleep Medicine; you cannot self-refer. Once Erlanger receives the referral, a scheduler calls to book an initial consultation with a sleep medicine physician, which is typically conducted before any testing. During that visit, the physician reviews your sleep history, symptoms, and medical records, and may order testing on the same day or schedule it for the following week. If overnight PSG is ordered, you will receive written instructions about medications to hold, what to bring (identification, insurance card), and what to expect during the test: arrival around 8:00 p.m., application of electrodes and monitors, lights out around 10:00 p.m., and discharge around 6:00 or 7:00 a.m. the next morning. The lab will contact your referring doctor with results within 3 to 5 business days; your sleep physician typically schedules a follow-up call or visit to discuss diagnosis and treatment within 1 to 2 weeks.

Hours, parking, and logistics

The sleep lab operates Monday through Friday for overnight studies; call Erlanger Sleep Disorders at the main hospital line or ask your doctor's office for the direct scheduling number. Overnight testing is accommodated in the hospital's sleep lab facility located in the Erlanger Medical Center complex near East Brainerd Road; hospital parking is available in the main lot, with validated parking included for overnight sleep study patients. Daytime consultations and MSLT are also offered; confirm hours when you schedule.

Erlanger Sleep Disorders Center is the entry point for sleep medicine in Chattanooga for insured patients and those with serious or complex sleep conditions, and its in-house lab eliminates delays from external testing networks.