Compare 30 physiatrists (pm&r) in Chattanooga, TN. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
30
Physiatrists (PM&R)
100%
Accepting patients
60%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Chattanooga is the healthcare anchor for the tri-state corner where Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama meet. Erlanger Medical Center is the academic trauma center, while CHI Memorial (now part of CommonSpirit Health) provides the largest community hospital network. The city is smaller than Nashville or Knoxville, but it serves a regional population that extends well beyond Hamilton County.
Chattanooga has 30 physiatrists (pm&r). The most common credential is MD (60%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
Chattanooga sits in a river valley between ridges, so geography shapes how people get to care. Erlanger and Parkridge are clustered near downtown along I-24. CHI Memorial's main campus is on the east side along Gunbarrel Road, with a second campus in Hixson to the north. Most travel is by car, and the compact city means most appointments are within a 20-minute drive. Patients from northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama regularly cross state lines for care here.
Providers practice throughout Chattanooga. North Shore is a walkable neighborhood across the river from downtown with growing wellness-oriented practices and proximity to Erlanger. Southside is a revitalized area near downtown Chattanooga with new medical offices and community health services. St. Elmo is a historic neighborhood at the base of Lookout Mountain with established family practices. Red Bank is a suburban community served by CHI Memorial and several primary care offices along Dayton Boulevard.
Nearby hospitals include CHI Memorial Hospital, Erlanger Medical Center, and Parkridge Medical Center. Local training programs run through University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Erlanger Medical Center is a Level I trauma center and the primary teaching hospital for the University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga.
The first visit lasts 45 to 60 minutes. The physiatrist will assess your physical function, strength, flexibility, neurological status, and daily activity limitations. They take a comprehensive history including your injury, prior treatments, and functional goals. The evaluation often includes hands-on testing of specific movements and reflexes. The treatment plan is goal-oriented: what do you want to be able to do? From there, they coordinate therapies, prescribe medications, and may perform diagnostic or therapeutic injections.
Erlanger and CHI Memorial are the two main systems. Erlanger is the trauma and academic center, while CHI Memorial has more community-oriented locations. Your insurance network is the best guide for choosing between them.
See a physiatrist for rehabilitation after stroke, spinal cord injury, or brain injury, for chronic musculoskeletal pain (back, neck, joint), for disability evaluation and management, for post-amputation care and prosthetic optimization, for nerve and muscle conditions (carpal tunnel, neuropathy), and for return-to-work or return-to-activity planning after any significant injury or surgery.
Office visit copay: $30-75 · EMG/nerve conduction study: $500-1,500 · Joint injection: $100-500 · Inpatient rehab: $1,500-3,000/day
Chattanooga, TN has 30 licensed physiatrists (pm&r). 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of physiatrists (pm&r) in Chattanooga, 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 is accepted at Erlanger and most CHI Memorial facilities. Patients crossing from Georgia should verify whether their Georgia insurance plans cover Tennessee providers.
An office visit copay is $30 to $75. An EMG/nerve conduction study costs $500 to $1,500. A joint injection runs $100 to $500. Inpatient rehab costs $1,500 to $3,000 per day. Actual costs in Chattanooga, TN depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Inpatient rehabilitation stays are typically covered by insurance but may have limits on the number of days. Outpatient therapy (PT, OT, speech) has annual visit caps under many plans. Verify your benefits early in the rehabilitation process.
Chattanooga has two main hospital systems: Erlanger Health System (academic, trauma) and CHI Memorial (CommonSpirit Health, community). Parkridge Medical Center (HCA) provides additional capacity. Start with your insurance network to narrow your options.
MD stands for Doctor of Medicine and DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Chattanooga, TN, 60% hold the MD credential and 13% hold DO. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
60% of physiatrists (pm&r) in Chattanooga, TN accept Medicare. Medicare covers physiatry visits, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient therapy services. EMG and nerve conduction studies are covered when medically indicated. Durable medical equipment (braces, wheelchairs) is covered under Part B. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Yes. Erlanger and CHI Memorial both serve patients from Catoosa County (GA), Dade County (GA), and DeKalb County (AL). However, state Medicaid programs don't always transfer across borders, so verify your coverage before scheduling.
Chattanooga handles most routine and specialty care well. For highly specialized procedures or rare conditions, patients are typically referred to Vanderbilt in Nashville (about 2 hours) or Emory in Atlanta (about 2 hours). The city is well-positioned between both referral centers.
Top accepted carriers in Chattanooga, TN include unitedhealthcare, medicare, cigna, qhp-29854, and qhp-14002.
Physiatry visits are covered as specialist visits under medical insurance. Rehabilitation services (physical therapy, occupational therapy) are covered with standard copays and visit limits. EMG/nerve conduction studies ordered by a physiatrist are covered when medically indicated. Inpatient rehabilitation for stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injury is covered under medical and Medicare benefits.