Compare 108 general surgeons in Knoxville, TN. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
108
General Surgeons
100%
Accepting patients
91%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Knoxville is the healthcare hub for East Tennessee, a region that stretches from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Cumberland Plateau. The University of Tennessee Medical Center serves as the regional trauma and referral center, while Covenant Health runs the largest community hospital network. For a mid-sized city, Knoxville has solid breadth across specialties, though patients with rare conditions may still be referred to Nashville or Atlanta.
Knoxville has 108 general surgeons. The most common credential is MD (91%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
Knoxville's medical facilities spread along the I-40 and Kingston Pike corridors. UT Medical Center sits on Alcoa Highway south of downtown, while Fort Sanders Regional is near the UT campus. West Knoxville and Farragut have growing outpatient campuses along Kingston Pike. The city has no rail transit, and driving is the default. Most destinations within the metro are reachable in 15 to 25 minutes.
Providers practice throughout Knoxville. Downtown Knoxville is fort Sanders Regional Medical Center sits at the edge of downtown, serving the urban core and the UT campus community. Bearden is a west Knoxville commercial corridor with numerous medical and dental offices along Kingston Pike. West Knoxville is parkwest Medical Center and Turkey Creek medical offices serve this fast-growing suburban area near Farragut. South Knoxville is a residential area across the Tennessee River with community health options and proximity to UT Medical Center.
Nearby hospitals include University of Tennessee Medical Center, Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, and Parkwest Medical Center. Local training programs run through University of Tennessee College of Medicine (Knoxville campus) and University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The University of Tennessee Medical Center is the primary Level I trauma center for the 21-county East Tennessee region.
The consultation includes a review of your symptoms, imaging, and lab results. The surgeon will perform a focused physical exam and discuss whether surgery is recommended, what the procedure involves, risks and benefits, expected recovery time, and alternatives. Many general surgery procedures are now done laparoscopically (small incisions, camera-guided), meaning shorter hospital stays and faster recovery than traditional open surgery.
Covenant Health and UT Medical Center are the two main systems. If you need a specialist referral, UT Medical Center is the academic option. For routine primary care, Covenant's network of community practices is widely accessible.
See a general surgeon for gallbladder problems (gallstones), hernias (inguinal, umbilical, incisional), appendicitis, breast lumps or biopsies, colon polyps too large for endoscopic removal, skin lesions requiring excision, thyroid nodules requiring surgery, abscesses needing drainage, and any abdominal condition your doctor believes needs surgical evaluation.
Consultation copay: $30-75 · Gallbladder removal: $5,000-15,000 · Hernia repair: $3,000-10,000 · Appendectomy: $5,000-20,000
Knoxville, TN has 108 licensed general surgeons. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of general surgeons in Knoxville, TN are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is the dominant carrier. TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid) is accepted at UT Medical Center and most Covenant Health facilities. Humana and UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are common among retirees.
A surgical consultation copay is $40 to $75. Hernia repair costs $3,000 to $7,000 (facility + surgeon). Gallbladder removal runs $5,000 to $12,000. Appendectomy costs $5,000 to $15,000. Actual costs in Knoxville, TN depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Surgical costs involve multiple bills: surgeon fee, anesthesiologist fee, facility fee, pathology, and possibly assistant surgeon. Ask for a bundled estimate in advance. Out-of-network anesthesiologists at in-network facilities are a common surprise bill.
Knoxville healthcare runs through two main systems: Covenant Health (community hospitals) and UT Medical Center (academic/trauma). Tennova Healthcare also operates facilities in the area. Your insurance network will steer you toward one system.
MD stands for Doctor of Medicine and DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Knoxville, TN, 91% hold the MD credential and 6% hold DO. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
69% of general surgeons in Knoxville, TN accept Medicare. Medicare Part B covers surgical consultations, and Part A covers inpatient surgical procedures. The surgeon's fee, anesthesia, and facility charges are typically separate bills. Standard deductible and coinsurance apply. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
UT Medical Center serves as the Level I trauma and specialty referral center for 21 East Tennessee counties. Covenant Health operates smaller hospitals in Morristown, Sevierville, and other surrounding towns. For routine care, Cherokee Health Systems has locations across the region.
For most routine and specialty care, yes. Knoxville has strong hospital systems and a growing physician base. For highly specialized procedures, rare conditions, or clinical trials, Nashville's Vanderbilt is the next step up and about a 3-hour drive.
Top accepted carriers in Knoxville, TN include unitedhealthcare, medicare, qhp-14002, cigna, and centene.
Surgical consultations and procedures are covered under medical insurance. Most surgeries require prior authorization. Verify that both the surgeon and the surgical facility (hospital or ambulatory surgery center) are in-network. Ambulatory surgery centers often have lower facility fees than hospitals for the same procedure. Ask about total estimated costs including surgeon, facility, and anesthesia fees.