Professional Referrals

Disorders we treat at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital in Chattanooga, TN

Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, provides comprehensive inpatient psychiatric care for adults and older adults whose lives have been impacted by a variety of mental and behavioral health challenges.

The following is a partial list of the many disorders and challenges that individuals may receive care for at Erlanger:

• Bipolar disorder
• Depressive disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Schizophrenia
• Suicidal ideation
• Homicidal ideation
• Psychotic disorders

We are also able to help individuals who are struggling with mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse or addiction. However, please note that we cannot accept those who have a primary diagnosis of a substance use disorder. We treat addiction only within the context of our dual diagnosis program.

All care at Erlanger is offered through age-appropriate programs:

• Our adult services are for men and women age 18 and above, while our older adult program typically accepts individuals age 65 and above.
• All admissions decisions for patients at all age levels are made on a case-by-case basis.

While your client or patient is receiving care at Erlanger, they will work with teams of experienced professionals. Depending upon each person’s specific needs, their care may be provided by board-certified psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, counselors, social workers, activity therapists, and other experts.

Types of referral sources we frequently partner with

At Erlanger, we are proud to have established positive professional relationships with a wide range of caregivers and referral sources. The following are examples of the organizations and professionals in the Chattanooga, Tennessee, area that have referred individuals to our hospital:

• Hospital emergency departments
• Crisis response teams
• Mental health providers
• Supported housing facilities
• Primary care physicians
• Psychiatrists
• Social workers
• Community agencies
• Court systems
• Law enforcement organizations

We always welcome the opportunity to expand our referral network and develop new partnerships in order to best serve individuals, families, and communities throughout Tennessee.

What the professional partnership looks like at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital

When you refer a patient to Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital, our goal is to work in active partnership with both you and your patient throughout their time in our care.

Of course, we will respect the wishes and preferences of the individual who is healing with us. But if they authorize us to share information with you, we will update you on their progress and otherwise involve you in their care as desired and when clinically appropriate.

All referred patients complete a comprehensive assessment prior to starting care at Erlanger. This process ensures that we have identified and are prepared to treat all of the issues that have been preventing the individual from living a healthier life. A member of our intake team can also work directly with the patient’s insurance provider to obtain authorization for all required services.

Following their completion of care at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, all patients receive detailed discharge plans. The goal of our discharge planning process is to ensure that adults and older adults are connected with the resources that will best support their continued recovery.

If you have been providing services to an individual prior to referring them to Erlanger, their discharge plan may include a referral back to your practice. As is the case with all other services at Erlanger, our discharge planning process is personalized according to the specific needs and goals of each person who is entrusted with our care.

Referring a potential patient to Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital in Chattanooga, TN

We value the time of our professional partners throughout the Chattanooga, Tennessee, community, and we have worked diligently to make our referral process as efficient and effective as possible.

If you have identified someone who you believe can benefit from the psychiatric services we provide, simply call us. A member of our team is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

When you contact Erlanger, you will be connected with one of our intake clinicians. This professional will collect some basic information, describe the intake process, and answer any questions that you may have. If you are a healthcare provider and the referred individual has granted consent, we will request that you provide us with a copy of all relevant treatment information.

Once you have provided this information, our team can coordinate directly with the patient, their family, the insurance provider, and all other relevant parties. When approval has been granted for us to share information with you, we will update you regarding admission, the patient’s progress with us, and their discharge.

For more information about our referral procedures, intake process, or any other aspect of psychiatric care at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital, please feel free to contact us at your convenience.