Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital: Pediatric Care & Info

Yes. East Tennessee Children’s Hospital officially became Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital on February 26, 2026. The change recognized Dolly Parton’s longstanding relationship with the hospital and pediatric health initiatives in East Tennessee.

This was a renaming of the existing Knoxville children’s hospital, not the opening of a completely different hospital.

Federal provider/insurance systems may take longer to reflect a hospital rebrand. If your insurer asks for the legal organization, the hospital may still appear under East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Association, Inc.

The hospital does not currently publish one universal central scheduling number for every specialty. Many pediatric subspecialty groups have their own direct appointment line.

Current pediatric leadership and faculty

Pediatric Cardiology

Current physician information includes Michael Liske, MD, a current UTHSC pediatric faculty member, and recently recruited pediatric cardiology faculty such as Sam Littlejohn, MD. Additional current cardiologists should be confirmed when scheduling because the roster can change.

Pediatric Neurology

Current provider directories associated with the Knoxville pediatric neurology practice include names such as Namita Garg, MD, Christopher Miller, MD, Karsten Gammeltoft, MD, Anna Kosentka, MD and Jessica Sheah, MD.

The hospital is also developing an advanced epilepsy-monitoring program.

Pediatric Surgery

Pediatric Urology

Current specialists associated with the program include D. Preston Smith, MD, Rhys Irvine, MD and Jacqueline Morin, MD.

Pediatric Nephrology

Sai Sudha Mannemuddhu, MD is a current UTHSC pediatric nephrologist affiliated with the Knoxville program. Current practice records also identify pediatric nephrology providers at the 2100 Clinch Avenue medical-office campus.

Pediatric Pulmonology

Diana Quintero, MD is listed by UTHSC as pediatric faculty in pulmonology. The program cares for children with pulmonary and respiratory conditions.

Pediatric Endocrinology

Pediatric endocrinology cares for diabetes, growth disorders, thyroid disease, puberty and other hormone-related conditions.

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Pediatric Hematology / Oncology

Current provider directories associated with the pediatric hematology/oncology program include physicians such as John Corns, DO, Susan Spiller, MD and Michael Blake, MD. Confirm the current treating team when scheduling.

How to get a doctor’s actual schedule

The hospital provides round-the-clock pediatric emergency care for infants, children and adolescents. The emergency team includes pediatric emergency physicians, nurses and access to hospital specialists when a child requires admission or advanced care.

Is Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital a pediatric trauma center?

The hospital is Tennessee-designated as a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center. For major trauma, Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital and the University of Tennessee Medical Center coordinate care so injured children can be treated at the institution appropriate for the injury and required trauma resources.

Emergency fee

The hospital does not publish one reliable flat “pediatric ER fee.” An emergency visit can include separate charges for physician evaluation, hospital/facility services, laboratory testing, imaging, medication, procedures and inpatient admission if needed.

For a scheduled, non-emergency service, ask the hospital or specialty office for an estimate before treatment. Emergency care should never be delayed solely to obtain a price quote.

Current Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital information describes a 14-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit supported by pediatric critical-care physicians and advanced-practice providers.

Critical-care capabilities include

• Pediatric intensive-care monitoring.
• Continuous renal-replacement therapy.
• Acute hemodialysis.
• Inhaled nitric oxide.
• High-frequency oscillatory ventilation.
• Pediatric ground transport.
• Access to pediatric subspecialists throughout the hospital.

The hospital also provides neonatal intensive-care services for newborns requiring advanced pediatric support.

Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital performs thousands of pediatric surgical cases each year. Current hospital information reports approximately 10,000 surgical cases annually.

Pediatric Surgery is led by W. Glaze Vaughan, MD, whose clinical focus includes neonatal and pediatric surgery.

Before pediatric surgery

• Confirm the surgeon’s office and procedure location.
• Complete required pre-operative testing.
• Follow fasting instructions exactly.
• Bring insurance and identification information.
• Bring an updated medication and allergy list.
• Ask which medicines should or should not be given on surgery morning.
• Ask where the parent/caregiver should park.
• Ask how many caregivers may accompany the child.
• Request a hospital cost estimate for scheduled surgery when needed.

Why a doctor’s visit price varies

• Specialty being seen.
• New-patient vs. follow-up visit.
• Insurance network.
• Deductible and coinsurance.
• Whether tests are performed.
• Whether a hospital facility charge applies.
• Whether a physician group bills separately.

Why an ER bill varies

• Emergency evaluation level.
• Physician professional services.
• Laboratory testing.
• X-rays, ultrasound, CT or MRI.
• Medication.
• Procedures or sedation.
• Specialist consultation.
• PICU or inpatient admission.

How to get a useful estimate

The hospital has historically emphasized providing pediatric care regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Families facing a large balance should ask specifically about financial assistance, charity care or payment-plan options.

Because the Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital name became official only in 2026, insurers and claims systems may still show the hospital under its legal/historical name: East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Association, Inc.

Before scheduled specialty care

1. Call the insurance company using the number on the card.
2. Give the hospital’s current name and former/legal name if needed.
3. Verify the individual physician or specialty group separately.
4. Ask whether a pediatric referral is required.
5. Ask whether prior authorization is required for testing or surgery.
6. Ask about deductible, copay and coinsurance.

Current pharmacy directories associated with the hospital list the outpatient pharmacy as operating on weekdays, commonly Monday through Friday, approximately 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m..

Hospital portal and medical-record materials allow approved patients or caregivers to access portions of a child’s health information electronically.

Information that may be available electronically

• Appointment information.
• Medication lists.
• Visit history.
• Laboratory/test results.
• Discharge information.
• Billing-related information.

Requesting full records

Pediatric hospitals generally involve parents and caregivers directly in a child’s care. Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital allows family presence while also maintaining unit-specific infection-control, safety and privacy restrictions.

Call first when visiting

Use the main hospital number, 865-541-8000, and ask for the child’s unit to confirm:

• Current visitor hours.
• Number of visitors allowed.
• Sibling/child visitor rules.
• Whether overnight caregiver stays are allowed.
• PICU or NICU restrictions.
• Infection-control restrictions.

Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital occupies the pediatric campus around 2018 Clinch Avenue in Knoxville, near 21st and 22nd Streets. Pediatric specialty offices may be in hospital towers or nearby Clinch Avenue medical buildings.

Visitor parking

Hospital navigation materials identify visitor parking areas and garages around the Clinch Avenue campus, including parking near the main hospital entrances. A commonly used hospital parking garage is along Clinch Avenue between 21st and 22nd Streets.

Emergency parking

Follow signs marked Emergency when bringing a child for emergency care. Do not use an outpatient/surgery parking instruction when the child needs the Emergency Department.

Before leaving home

• Save the physician or clinic name.
• Save the suite/building number.
• Use the latest hospital campus signs.
• Ask the clinic which garage is closest.
• Ask about accessible parking if needed.
• For surgery, ask whether a parking pass or validation is provided.

Families traveling to Knoxville for complex pediatric care should ask the care team or hospital social-work/family-support staff about lodging assistance and family resources.

Ask about

Call the hospital at 865-541-8000 and ask for the appropriate family-services or social-work department when your child has an extended stay.