In January 2026, CHI Memorial in Chattanooga and its surrounding care sites will begin using the CommonSpirit Health name. The timing aligns with the opening of the new hospital in Ringgold, Georgia. This step follows several years of work to bring the ministry into closer unity with the wider CommonSpirit system.
What This Change Means
CHI Memorial became part of CommonSpirit Health in 2019. CommonSpirit is a national Catholic health system that includes 138 hospitals and more than two thousand care sites across twenty four states. By carrying one name across the system, CommonSpirit aims to strengthen collaboration, share clinical knowledge, and improve quality of care for those served in each community.
Leaders note that while the name will shift, the history and local identity of Memorial will remain valued. The long connection with the region and the trust built through years of careful presence will continue.
Updated Names of Facilities
Beginning in January 2026, the following sites will adopt the CommonSpirit name.
CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital Chattanooga
CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital Hixson
CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital North Georgia
CommonSpirit Memorial Foundation
This change will not affect physicians, nurses, or services. Care for patients will continue without interruption.
Connection to the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth
The roots of this ministry reach back to 1952, when the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth accepted the invitation to guide Memorial Hospital. Their work continued the call first taken up in 1812 to respond to those who were sick or suffering. The Sisters shaped the early years of Memorial with their steady presence and attention to those in need.
In 1997 the Sisters again acted with purpose when Memorial became part of Catholic Health Initiatives. The 2019 alignment that formed CommonSpirit Health brought CHI Memorial into a wider Catholic ministry committed to healing and to care for all creation.
Looking Ahead
As the new name appears across Chattanooga and North Georgia, the story of the Sisters will remain woven into the life of the hospitals and care sites. The Community’s early vision for compassionate healing continues to guide this ministry as it enters its next chapter.