Erlanger adding major expansion to East campus

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — A major expansion is coming soon to Erlanger East on Gunbarrel Road. The multimillion-dollar project will add new facilities and beds.

Tyler Winks Executive VP, CEO Erlanger Health tells us, “This is the most significant investment that Erlanger has made in East Hamilton County since the hospital was built and it’s a response to the growth that we’re seeing in the region. It’s actually the fastest scoring region in our service area so we’re growing our capabilities and our services to meet the needs of the families in these communities because our families deserve access to the highest quality care and services close to home.”

This new expansion to the Erlanger East location is in response to shifting demographics and needs in East Chattanooga.

Mr. Winks continues, “We’re building a new patient tower. It will be three stories. It will start out with 26 beds, but we’re future proofing that building to be able to double our capacity. We’re adding cardiac catheterization labs, electrophysiology labs, interventional radiology rooms, and we’re expanding our ED and renovating our ED because actually the East Emergency room sees more patient visits per day than our downtown campus. That’s just a testament to the growth that we’re seeing that region.

Because this facility will be brand new, its services will also be cutting edge in comparison to other departments.

Mr. Winks says, “When we’re building this patient tower, we’re building it with the future in mind so we’re putting in advanced technologies, and this will be the most advanced patient program that Erlanger has ever opened in one of our facilities. It’s really going to be the blueprint as we continue to evaluate expansion and renovations down the road at Erlanger

Groundbreaking is set to begin this year, and construction will complete in 2028. Erlanger tells us there will be no disruption to patient care while construction is underway.