About Our Practice
Erlanger Hayes Hand Center is the region's leading healthcare provider dedicated exclusively to the comprehensive care of the hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow. Combining world-class orthopedic surgery with specialized on-site hand therapy, we provide an integrated pathway from diagnosis to complete rehabilitation.
A Legacy of Specialized Excellence
For decades, our practice has served the Chattanooga, Tennessee community, establishing a reputation for exceptional clinical outcomes in upper extremity medicine. Founded on the principle that the human hand requires highly focused expertise due to its intricate anatomy of tendons, nerves, and small bone networks, we have remained committed exclusively to this specialized field.
As part of the Erlanger Health System network, our practice bridges the gap between private clinical care and elite institutional academic medicine, ensuring our patients receive the most advanced treatment options available.
Our Integrated Care Philosophy
We believe that optimal recovery happens when the surgical team and the rehabilitation team work as one cohesive unit. At Hayes Hand Center, our physicians and Certified Hand Therapists (CHTs) practice under the same roof. This close physical proximity enables immediate collaboration:
- Surgeons can directly monitor post-operative progression in the therapy room.
- Therapists can instantly communicate structural updates or wound healing feedback to the attending physician.
- Custom orthotic and splint designs can be altered in real-time based on immediate medical assessment.
This comprehensive approach minimizes recovery delays, reduces secondary complications, and creates an efficient, stress-free ecosystem for the patient.
Academic & Clinical Affiliations
Our physicians serve as clinical academic faculty members in partnership with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) Department of Plastic Surgery and Orthopedics. Through this fellowship and residency framework, our team is directly involved in training the next generation of hand surgeons, participating in clinical research trials, and adopting cutting-edge microsurgical methodologies.
Comprehensive Continuum of Care
From the moment you walk through our doors, our goal is to restore your standard of living, whether that means returning to heavy industrial work, playing a musical instrument, typing at a keyboard, or managing daily basic activities. We treat a wide array of conditions including acute microscopic nerve repairs, complex tendon restorations, congenital variations, and chronic degenerative joint diseases like osteoarthritis.