How to Find a Physician in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Whether you're new to the area, a visitor or a long-time resident in need of medical care, finding a physician in Chattanooga is an easy process. Thanks to plenty of local, state and national online resources, as well as other sources of information, locating a Chattanooga doctor is relatively simple.

Instructions

• 1

  Ask friends, relatives, neighbors or coworkers for recommendations for physicians in Chattanooga. Word of mouth in local communities tends to be one of the best ways to find a care provider that will meet your needs. If you are visiting Chattanooga, ask the staff at your hotel, check with the hotel's concierge or call local directory assistance to find a local doctor.

• 2

  Call your insurance company and ask about in-network providers in the Chattanooga area. You can find contact information on your health insurance card, or on your health insurance provider's web site. If you are visiting Chattanooga, call your insurance provider and ask for a list of doctors in the area who will take your insurance, either in-network or out of network.

• 3

  Use local online resources by searching Chattanooga's pages on The Beehive, using the "Find Care" link on the Tennessee Department of Health web site or searching for a doctor through the Tennessee Board of Medicine's web site (links in References). Using community sites like The Beehive provide a more tailored approach to finding a local doctor; relying on state resources - especially those that license and credential doctors - is also a great way to find a doctor near you.

• 4

  Take advantage of national online resources, such as the American Medical Association's Doctor Finder (link in Resources). The AMA's database has information on almost one million physicians nationwide, organized by city, state and specialty. If you're searching for an internist or family physician, check out the "find a doctor" tools offered by the American Academy of Family Physicians (aafp.org) or the American College of Physicians (acponline.org) - both sites allow you to tailor your search by geographical location.