Surgical Services
CHI Memorial offers surgical expertise, the latest technology and support for area surgeons who perform some of the most intricate, minimally invasive and robot-assisted procedures. In addition to cardiac, cancer and orthopedic surgeries, specialties include bariatric, gastroenterology, general surgery, gynecology, neurology, otolaryngology, pain management, plastic surgery and urology. High-tech surgical suites at CHI Memorial feature advanced endoscopic surgical technology with ceiling-mounted equipment, touch panel video screens, multiple cameras and digital imaging capabilities.
Surgical procedures are performed at CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga and CHI Memorial Hospital Hixson.
Robotic-assisted surgery
CHI Memorial utilizes the daVinci® surgical system, the technology leader in robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery. The science of medicine and surgery is always evolving, and now you have more options than ever before for bariatric, general, gynecologic, thoracic/pulmonary and urologic surgery.
Using laparoscopic instruments and high-definition 3-D imaging, surgeons using the da Vinci surgical system can perform intricate procedures with greater precision, improved visualization and depth perception and enhanced dexterity. The computer-based system combined with the skilled hands and expertise of trained surgeons provides patients with more surgical options. Patients who undergo robotic-assisted surgical procedures typically experience less pain, shorter hospital stays, less reliance on opioid pain medication, reduced rates of complications, less blood loss, minimal scarring and quicker return to normal activities compared to open procedures.
Often referred to as a robot, the surgeon is in full control of the da Vinci® surgical system at all times. The system requires the skilled hands and judgment of a trained surgeon. The robotic arms of the da Vinci® system operate within ports, with the surgeon in full control of their actions throughout the procedure - the system cannot be programmed nor can it make decisions on its own. Additionally, there are sensors on the machine that ensure the robotic arms move only when the surgeon's eyes are viewing the console display.
Several surgeons on staff have performed more than 500 robotic-assisted surgical procedures. You can trust the most skilled surgeons – using the most advanced technology – to provide exceptional surgical care.
Breast surgery
Fellowship trained breast surgical oncologists Betsy Washburn, MD, and Takeyla Williams, MD, with CHI Memorial Breast Care Associates provide surgical treatment for breast cancer.
General surgery
The surgeons at CHI Memorial Surgical Associates perform procedures involving various organs, tissues, and systems within the body.
Thoracic surgery
CHI Memorial Chest and Lung Cancer Center provides minimally invasive and traditional surgical treatment options for cancers of the chest, esophagus and lungs.
Vascular surgery
CHI Memorial Vascular Surgery Specialists focus on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the blood vessels, excluding those in the heart and brain.