Compare 1 respiratory therapists in Chattanooga, TN. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
1
Respiratory Therapists
100%
Accepting patients
100%
Most common: RT
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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 1 respiratory therapists. The most common credential is RT (100%). 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.
In a hospital, the RT will administer breathing treatments (bronchodilators via nebulizer), manage your ventilator settings if applicable, help you with breathing exercises, and monitor your oxygen levels. For pulmonary function testing, the RT guides you through a series of breathing maneuvers into a machine that measures lung capacity and airflow (the test takes 30 to 60 minutes). In pulmonary rehabilitation, the RT leads exercise sessions and teaches breathing techniques over a 6 to 12 week program. For home equipment (CPAP, oxygen), the RT sets up the device, teaches you how to use it, and provides ongoing support.
You may work with a respiratory therapist if you are hospitalized for a breathing problem, in the ICU on a ventilator, diagnosed with COPD or severe asthma and referred for pulmonary rehabilitation, prescribed home oxygen therapy, having a pulmonary function test (spirometry, lung volumes), prescribed a CPAP or BiPAP for sleep apnea, or receiving breathing treatments (nebulizer, inhaler) in a hospital or clinic. Most patients encounter RTs during hospital stays rather than seeking them out independently.
Pulmonary function test: $30-75 copay · Pulmonary rehabilitation session: $20-50 copay · Home oxygen setup: covered by DME benefit · CPAP machine: $0-200 after insurance · Nebulizer: $0-50 after insurance
Chattanooga, TN has 1 licensed respiratory therapists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of respiratory therapists in Chattanooga, TN are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
A pulmonary function test copay is $30 to $75. A pulmonary rehab session copay is $20 to $50. Home oxygen setup is covered under DME. A CPAP machine costs $0 to $200 after insurance. A nebulizer costs $0 to $50 after insurance. Actual costs in Chattanooga, TN depend on the provider and your insurance plan. CPAP supplies (masks, tubing, filters) are covered on a replacement schedule by most plans. Ask your DME provider what is covered and when. Pulmonary rehabilitation is one of the most cost-effective treatments for COPD.
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.
Some respiratory therapists in Chattanooga, TN accept TennCare, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers medically necessary respiratory therapy services, including pulmonary rehabilitation, home oxygen, and CPAP. Coverage details vary by state. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm TennCare participation before scheduling.
In hospitals, RTs visit as frequently as every two to four hours for breathing treatments. Pulmonary rehabilitation runs two to three times per week for six to twelve weeks. Home oxygen and CPAP follow-ups are periodic (monthly to quarterly). Pulmonary function tests are done as ordered by your physician. With 1 respiratory therapists in Chattanooga, TN, you can search on FindClarity to find a provider who fits your schedule.
Respiratory Therapists in the area may have trained at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, and Meharry Medical College School of Medicine. Graduates of local programs often stay in the area to practice.
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.
Inpatient respiratory therapy is covered as part of your hospital stay. Outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation is covered by Medicare (up to 36 sessions with possible extension to 72) and most commercial plans with prior authorization. Home oxygen therapy and CPAP/BiPAP machines are covered under durable medical equipment (DME) benefits when prescribed. Medicare covers 80% of the approved amount for DME after the deductible. Replacement CPAP supplies (masks, tubing) are covered on a schedule. Pulmonary function tests are covered as diagnostic procedures.