With a long and distinguished history of providing excellent health care to the Chattanooga community, Erlanger continually builds upon the cornerstone laid in 1891 by Baron Frederic Emile d’Erlanger. The French nobleman, who played an important role in the development of the region’s railroad, founded the hospital to care for railroad workers and the budding community. Although the population and hospital have both grown and changed, the heart of service continues.
“Since 1891, Erlanger’s mission has remained steadfast – to compassionately care for people, serving as Chattanooga’s hospital and a vital resource for our region. We are committed to providing patients of all ages, from newborn to centenarians, with comprehensive care ranging from preventative care to highly complex specialty care, right here in the Chattanooga area,” shared Christine Gordon, Director of Marketing & Public Relations.
Erlanger now encompasses seven hospitals and a number of primary care facilities that provide health care from routine check-ups and common sick visits to high level trauma care. From smaller hospitals in local communities to the region’s only Level I Trauma Center, Erlanger’s network of providers creates a seamless transition of care as patients’ needs change.
“Having our hospitals strategically located in our region is key to Erlanger’s healthcare delivery, ensuring patients have access to care close to home while seamlessly connecting them to a higher level of care at Erlanger’s Baroness Hospital,” Gordon explained. “For example, a patient at Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital in Pikeville, Tennessee, can be transferred to the Baroness Hospital for advanced care, and then transferred back to your community for ongoing treatment. This approach keeps care within our region, eliminating the need to travel to larger cities for that specialized care.”
As the region’s only air ambulance, LIFE FORCE works in conjunction with Erlanger’s Level I Trauma Center to provide lifesaving medical treatment to residents within 150 miles of Chattanooga.
“LIFE FORCE is a key player on the Erlanger team, giving patients access to a higher level of care even when they are further out from the Chattanooga area,” said Gordon. “LIFE FORCE bases are strategically located in the region, from Winchester, Tennessee to Blue Ridge, Georgia to Andrews, North Carolina, to quickly transport patients to Chattanooga for a higher level of care.”
In addition to the region’s Level I Trauma Center, the Erlanger Baroness Hospital offers specialized care for women and newborns, including high-risk obstetric care for patients throughout all stages of pregnancy and childbirth.
“Erlanger’s Level III Perinatal Center, located at the Baroness Hospital, provides advanced care for both expectant mothers and infants. Oftentimes, these expectant mothers need to be admitted to the hospital leading up to the birth,” she said. “In addition, we offer a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the highest designation of NICU care in the state of Tennessee and the only one in our region. Having this higher level of care for both moms and their babies, right here in Chattanooga, is very special and essential for our community.”
As the region’s only comprehensive pediatric center, Children’s Hospital at Erlanger provides the highest level of care dedicated to children. From emergencies to oncology services to cardiac care, Children’s Hospital at Erlanger provides extensive pediatric services in Chattanooga.
Children also receive exceptional care with a fun twist at Kennedy Outpatient Center. This 90,000 square foot facility provides children with fun and engaging activities to help make visits to the doctor more fun, especially for children requiring specialized care. From the locomotive out front, which pays homage to Erlanger’s historic connection to the railroad, to interactive components inside, such as a life-size fire truck and tow truck, the facility feels more like a children’s museum than a doctor’s office.
“The goal was to create an environment that is fun and welcoming to children,” shared Gordon. “No child wants to come to the hospital or the doctor's office, so it is built with a lot of fun and engaging areas where kids can entertain themselves.”
Erlanger continues to make advancements in specialized care through the Comprehensive Stroke Center. The center, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is equipped to handle the most complex stroke cases. Its outreach now also extends to DeKalb Regional Medical Center in Fort Payne, Alabama, through the telemedicine partnership.
“We have made great strides in providing virtual care to stroke patients. The partnership between our stroke team and DeKalb Regional Medical Center allows our team to provide a higher level of stroke care while keeping patients in their community when minutes matter most,” Gordon explained. “Erlanger continues to explore the possibility of bringing more telemedicine opportunities and partnerships with other smaller hospitals in the region.”
As the only locally owned and operated hospital system, Erlanger plays a vital role in supporting the local economy and investing in the future of Chattanooga. Through a partnership with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center – College of Medicine Chattanooga, Erlanger significantly contributes to training tomorrow’s physicians and connecting medical students with some of the best practicing physicians in the world.
“Our partnership with UTHSC College of Medicine Chattanooga not only allows us to provide that training ground for physicians who are pursuing their medical degree but also have a hand in training them to be the next top doctor, then seeing them come back to serve the Chattanooga area,” said Gordon.
Over the last year and a half, Erlanger has undergone exciting changes including transitioning to a nonprofit 501c3 organization. This shift provides Erlanger’s leadership with the freedom to develop unique solutions and plan future growth based on what is best for Chattanooga and the surrounding region.
Much of what Erlanger provides is made possible through community support and as the organization continues to grow and expand services, ongoing support is vital. Each year, the Erlanger Foundation hosts Believe Bash, Erlanger’s signature fundraising event. This year the black-tie gala will be held on Saturday, April 26th, 2025, at the Chattanooga Area Convention Center in downtown Chattanooga. Funds raised through this event, plus other contributions, allow Erlanger to continue amazing work in the community and surrounding region.
“Since 1891, our cornerstone has been here on East 3rd Street. Through the years, we have transformed and are constantly looking for ways to enhance not only the high level of care that we can offer our patients but also how we can take care of our community,” said Gordon. “We want to do that in the best way possible and by meeting our patients where they are. So, whether that is in a small community hospital or through telemedicine services, we continue to position ourselves to be the region’s healthcare leader.”
For more information about Erlanger, visit erlanger.org and follow Erlanger on Facebook and Instagram. To connect with the Erlanger Foundation and find more details about Believe Bash, visit erlangerfoundation.org.
Whether in a small community hospital or through telemedicine services, we continue to position ourselves to be the region’s healthcare leader.
Michelle W. Parnell
Michelle enjoys discovering people’s passions and being a facilitator for them to share those passions with the world. For the last five and a half years, she has had the honor of writing and sharing the stories of amazing people with City Lifestyle readers across the country. Michelle loves spending time with her husband and their three daughters. One of her passions is homeschooling, which she still does daily with her youngest daughter while celebrating that her oldest two homeschool graduates are thriving at college.