Quality, affordable health care is available through the Knoxville region's five general-use hospitals, offering about 2,590 beds and providing practically every imaginable specialty, including many that are generally not found in communities of this size. In addition, Knoxville's East Tennessee Children's Hospital devotes itself exclusively to prenatal and intensive care, pediatrics, and children's surgery.
The largest hospital in the area is the University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville (UT). UT is nationally renowned for its research programs in heart disease, cancer, and genetics. Pediatrics, intensive care for newborns, and organ transplants are among its expanding services. Another of Knoxville's outstanding hospitals is Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. Fort Sanders features the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center, an $8 million facility specializing in treatment for disabled accident or stroke victims and a Kidney Stone Treatment Center with lithotripsy, the latest in kidney stone treatment. The hospital houses the Thompson Cancer Survival Center, a $20 million regional cancer unit closely affiliated with the prestigious Duke University Cancer Center. East Tennessee Baptist Hospital, offering a full range of services, is particularly known for its heart clinic.
St. Mary's Health System features a substance abuse center, a diabetes management center, and an Alzheimer treatment and research program. The hospital excels in laser eye care treatment as well as programs related to adolescent emotional behavior problems and home health care. Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee is known for its leading edge techniques in carotid artery treatment, and has the only Gamma Knife treatment center in the region, offering an alternative for brain tumor patients facing traditional surgery. Parkwest Medical Center's specialties include bariatric surgery, and treatment of breast cancer and heart disease.