Cancer Network News_Summer 2017

SUMMER 2017 • ISSUE 6
NEWS
Letter from Leadership
WellStar Health System’s fiscal year runs from
July 1 to June 30, and as we begin a new
fiscal year, it is a good time to re-confirm our
Guiding Principles for the Oncology Service
Line. Our Vision is “to deliver world-class
cancer care”, and our Guiding Principles can
be viewed as our tool kit for achieving this
shared Vision.
Like other service lines at WellStar, our
Guiding Principles can be summed up by
the “Quadruple Aim,” which is: 1) improving
population health, 2) reducing per capita
costs, 3) enhancing the patient experience,
and 4) improving provider wellness.
Let’s take a closer look at each one from an
oncology perspective.
Improving Population Health. This is
really the most important aim – this is
the reason we exist. From an oncology
perspective, the WellStar Cancer Network
was formed and within this network, two
Cancer Committees (North and South) and
numerous subcommittees were assembled
(Accreditation Standards and Quality (ASQ),
Breast, Gynecology, Lung, Melanoma,
Gastroenterology, Genitourinary, and Pancreas,
Hepatobiliary Malignancies (PHBM)). Each of
these subcommittees are multi-disciplinary
Michael Andrews, M.D.
Chief Cancer Officer
Chad Schaeffer, MS,
FACHE
Vice President Oncology
Service Line
teams of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals that have
been formed to improve cancer care with respect to their particular tumor
site. This involves tracking metrics for process improvement, exposing
variances and inconsistencies, providing feedback to improve patient
outcomes by enhancing cancer care, and identifying and promoting the use
of national evidence-based standards such as the National Comprehensive
Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines.
Another major component in support of improving population health is
wellness. From a cancer perspective, our goal should be to encourage the
Continued on page 2
VISION:
TO DELIVER WORLD-CLASS
CANCER CARE.
MISSION:
TO ELIMINATE THE BURDEN
OF CANCER ON OUR
COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING
COMPREHENSIVE
PREVENTION & EARLY
DETECTION, TREATMENT
AND SURVIVORSHIP
PROGRAMS, DELIVERED
IN A PATIENT-CENTERED
ENVIRONMENT BY
IMPASSIONED CAREGIVERS.
THIS
ISSUE
Cancer Committee South 02
Crump Award 03
Survivors’ Day 04
Awards & Accolades 05

Continued fron front cover
never-diagnosed public to get their recommended
cancer screenings. Building upon the strength and
success of our lung cancer screening program,
our newly formed cancer screening department
has plans to expand its scope into other important
areas, including colon cancer screening, breast, and
prostate. This team is working closely with the key
leaders in gastroenterology, urology, and radiology to
determine the most effective ways to reach primary
care physicians who will drive much of the program’s
success.
Reducing Per Capita Costs. The aim to reduce costs
for patient care services is all about providing more
value to the patient. If we can identify ways to reduce
our costs and still provide high-quality patient care,
everyone wins. From an oncology perspective, this
year, we’ve been focused on reducing the length of
stay, promoting the use of drug replacement programs
for underinsured, and consolidating our tumor
registries for all of the hospitals in our Cancer Network.
Enhancing the Patient Experience. Improving our
patient’s experience will also provide more value
to our patients and so it should also be one of our
aims. Cancer patients have many unique needs and
sometimes require multiple visits to see multiple
physicians in the coordination of their care. This is
where our STAT clinics and oncology nurse navigators
have been so very vital. Either through a single clinical
STAT visit or through a carefully coordinated series of
appointments, our nurse navigators are there to help
our cancer patients through their difficult journey.
They also help make our patients’ experience better
by providing them with education about their disease,
what to expect from certain tests/procedures, and
where to go to for support along the way.
Improving Provider Wellness. WellStar adopted this
fourth aim more recently, and it makes sense because
without addressing this aim, it is difficult to see how
the other aims can be effectively achieved. We know
that working with oncology patients can be very
rewarding, but also very emotionally taxing. Workplace
stress and burnout are quite common for providers in
our service line. To help achieve this aim, we must take
full advantage of ways to standardize work processes,
and fully utilize the electronic health records. To that
end, this year we are working on a plan to implement
Beacon, the EPIC outpatient infusion software module,
across all of WellStar to include all outpatient infusion
centers, certain WMG physician offices, and potentially
implementation of Beacon at all NGOC sites. We will
keep you posted on progress.
In summary, it is with continued focus on the Guiding
Principles (The Quadruple Aim), that our service line
will be able to deliver the world-class cancer care that
we aspire to accomplish.
Cancer Committee South
Representatives from WellStar Atlanta Medical Center, WellStar Spalding Hospital and WellStar West Georgia
Medical Center all met to establish the Cancer Committee South. Wassim Mchayleh, M.D., MBA, FACP, will be
the committee chair. Welcome to the WellStar Cancer Network!
(Above): Cancer Committee South
SUMMER 2017 • ISSUE 6 02

Crump Award for
Excellence in Oncology
Nursing
Congratulations to Sara Owens, BSN, RN, OCN,
a breast nurse navigator at WellStar Kennestone
Hospital, for being named the winner of the 2017
Crump Award for Excellence in Oncology Nursing.
Created through the generosity of the Crump family
with a donation to the WellStar Foundation, this peernominated,
annual award recognizes oncology nurses
who embody the core values of the WellStar Cancer
Network, and who strive to go the extra mile while
providing care for those who are battling cancer. As
part of the award, Owens also received a $2,000
professional growth and development scholarship.
Nominees for the Crump Award also included
(L-R) Jill Case-Wirth, senior vice president and chief
nurse executive, WellStar Nursing Services; Sara Owens,
BSN, RN, OCN, WellStar Kennestone Hospital breast
nurse navigator; Faye Zwieg, WellStar Kennestone
Hospital CNO; and Dan Woods, senior vice president
and WellStar Kennestone Hospital president.
Lisa Bruggeman, RN, OCN, Kennestone
Radiation, Nancy Page, RN, OCN, Kennestone GI
Navigator, and Julie Jones, BSN, RN, Kennestone
Inpatient Charge Nurse.
WellStar Represented at ONS conference in Denver
Sara Owens, BSN, RN, OCN, a Kennestone breast health
nurse navigator, presented her poster Survivors Offering
Support: Peer Support for Women with Breast Cancer at
the Oncology Nursing Society’s annual national conference
in Denver, Colorado. Owens worked with a collaborative
team of breast cancer survivors and staff to create the
program, which matches patients newly diagnosed with
breast cancer with a network of breast cancer survivors
who provide peer support.
Sara Owens, BSN, RN, OCN
Leena Nehru, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, presented Strategies and techniques to
assist the chronically mentally ill patient through their cancer journey from a
strengths-based perspective. The presentation provided a framework for new
and seasoned oncology social workers to develop an effective treatment plan
from the strength-based perspective. Oncology social workers we often face
the challenges of working with patients who are struggling emotionally and
physically because of their cancer, but when a patient has both cancer and a
chronic mental illness it can be doubly hard. By learning how to provide and
teach strength-based perspective strategies and techniques to the patient, we
can assist them in receiving the best care possible from our cancer programs.
Leena Nehru, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C
03
SUMMER 2017 • ISSUE 6

WellStar West Georgia
participates in Relay for Life
WellStar West Georgia’s Oncology Services team joined the
community in April for Troup County’s annual Relay For Life.
The event honored cancer survivors and their caregivers,
remembered lost loved ones and raised more than $87,000
for the American Cancer Society. WGMC donated $10,000 to
the Relay.
(Above): Dr. Taylor, Radiation Oncology,
Dr. Mchayleh, Medical Oncology, Charlene
McClanahan, Director, Oncology Services
Cancer Survivors’ Day
Celebrations
National Cancer Survivors Day was a day full of celebrating the survivors
and their stories. Survivors were able to share their triumphs with one
another and celebrate with team members and physicians that helped
them through some of the most difficult times.
WellStar Kennestone
WellStar Kennestone celebrated with a groovy blast from the past at their
1970s themed celebration. Guests enjoyed music from the 60s and 70s
while eating Steak N Shake burgers, hot dogs and milkshakes. Words and
stories were shared from Chad Schaeffer, Vice President of Oncology, and
cancer survivor, Donna Kholschmidt. Closing the event, survivors enjoyed
tie dyed cake for dessert, a guitar performance by a fellow cancer survivor
and a 1970s themed trivia raffle drawing for prizes donated by various
hospital departments and local retailers.
WellStar West Georgia Medical Center
West Georgia’s celebration featured guest speaker, Susan Marshall,
LPC, founder of The Center for Mindful Exploration, who led the group
through meditation and relaxation. Guests were also treated to a live
performance by Nick Mayfield, a local singer, song writer and producer,
who provided soothing music during the catered meal and before the
meditation program. The event was held at the New Hope Baptist
Church in LaGrange.
Kennestone’s Survivors Event
West Georgia’s Wanda Lowe, RN,
Cancer Navigator, Mary Ann Hodnett,
Secretary Oncology Services
Nick Mayfield, local singer, song
writer and producer from LaGrange.
LETTER
OF
THANKS
To my Angel infusion nurses,
I’m forever grateful to each of you for your care for me and others y’all so graciously
bestow upon us! Each of you will someday have wings even more beautiful than
this butterfly. “Hey it used to be a worm!” You’ve been an inspiration to me and I’m
gonna miss y’all. You will always be in my heart and prayers.
SUMMER 2017 • ISSUE 6 04

AWARDS &
ACCOLADES
Congratulations to WellStar West Georgia’s Sara Tidwell, RMA, WMG West
Georgia Oncology, and Mary Ann Hodnett, Secretary, Oncology Services,
for receiving the “Above and Beyond the Call of Duty” award. This award has
three requirements that employees must exhibit:
1. Behavior that exceeds Standards of Behavior
2. Behavior that vividly illustrates the P.R.I.D.E. of
WellStar West Georgia Medical Center
3. Behavior that inspires and raises morale to a
higher degree
Sara Tidwell, RMA, WMG West Georgia
Oncology, and Mary Ann Hodnett,
Secretary, Oncology Services
Congratulations to the professional clinical staff at WellStar Kennestone’s Center for Survivorship and Support, for all
having completed their national oncology certifications. Navigators Gigi Bellamy, Susan Willard, Sara Owens, Nancy
Page, and Michelle Guibault are Oncology Certified Nurses (OCNs). Lisa Sherman is a Certified Breast Care Nurse
(CBCN). Leena Nehru has earned her Oncology Social Work Certification (OSW-C) and Rachel White maintains her
Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition (CSO).
Congratulations on your individual and collective achievements!
Sheri Weaver,
BSN, RN
Sheri Weaver, BSN, RN,
outpatient infusion center at
WellStar Paulding, has won The
Daisy Award for Extraordinary
Nurses. Her life experiences
prepared her to handle delicate
cancer patients, as well as the
ability to be empathetic with a
variety of other patients. She
has worked hard to hone her IV skills and educate
herself to give optimal care to our special “family.”
Recently she went above and beyond for a particular
patient who was diabetic. During one of his visits
to the Paulding OPIC, he was sent to the ED for
hyperglycemia. Sheri checked on him several times
in the ED and again once he was admitted. After
discharge, she called to check on him at home and
had him bring in his diabetic testing supplies. Once
she realized his glucometer strips were from 2004,
she was able to get him a brand new glucometer
donated and even bought the strips for his machine
with her own money. She then educated him on
diabetes, glucose monitoring and insulin. Sheri gave
100% for this patient and we are so proud of her!
WELCOME NEW TEAM MEMBERS
Jami Harris, RN,
WellStar Cobb
Infusion Therapy
Chris A. Nanna, BA, R.T.,
(R)(T)ARRT, Manager, Radiation
Therapy at WellStar Paulding
Holly Stanelle, R.T.(T),
WellStar West Georgia Medical
Center Radiation Therapy
Travis Tyson, R.T.(T),
WellStar West Georgia Medical
Center Radiation Therapy
05
Daniel Williamson, R.T.(T),
WellStar West Georgia
Medical Center Radiation
Therapy
SUMMER 2017 • ISSUE 6

WELLSTAR CANCER NETWORK
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORY
ATLANTA MEDICAL CENTER
IMAGING.................................... 404-265-6586
ATLANTA MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH
IMAGING.................................... 404-466-1500
COBB
CT/MRI........................................ 470-732-1515
DIAGNOSTIC.............................. 470-732-3526
IMAGING.................................... 470-732-3551
INFUSION................................... 770-732-4330
IP ................................................ 770-732-4660
NM.............................................. 470-732-3513
RAD ONC.................................... 770-948-6000
STAT............................................ 470-732-4816
DOUGLAS
IMAGING.................................... 678-715-6601
INFUSION................................... 678-715-6860
IP 2N............................................ 770-920-6250
STAT............................................ 678-715-6613
Call the WellStar Cancer Connect Line
at 877-366-6032 to refer a patient to
one of our multidisciplinary programs.
Option 0: Hope Line/Operator
Option 1: TomoTherapy ® and CyberKnife ®
Option 2: Pancreatic Hepatobiliary
Malignancies
Option 3: Lung STAT Clinic
Option 4: Prostate STAT Clinic
Option 5: Center for Genetics
Contact
Us
KENNESTONE
IMAGING.................................... 470-793-0060
INFUSION COBB TOWER RD.... 770-793-7518
IP BLUE MAIN............................. 470-793-4162
IP MEDICAL IMAGING............... 770-793-5556
LUNG SCREENING..................... 470-793-4247
RAD ONC.................................... 770-793-7500
STAT............................................ 770-793-7440
NORTH FULTON
IMAGING.................................... 770-751-2720
INFUSION................................... 770-751-2724
PAULDING
RAD ONC.................................... 470-644-8160
IMAGING.................................... 470-644-8060
INFUSION................................... 470-644-7235
SPALDING
IMAGING (OFFSITE)................... 770-229-4660
IMAGING (ONSITE).................... 770-228-2721, EXT 6908
INFUSION................................... 770-228-2721, EXT 3405
IP................................................. 770-229-6960
RAD ONC.................................... 770-227-3737
WEST GEORGIA
IMAGING.................................... 706-845-3785
INFUSION................................... 706-845-3331
RAD ONC.................................... 706-845-3544
WEST GEORGIA ONCOLOGY... 706-812-2426
WINDY HILL
IMAGING.................................... 770-644-1240
SURGERY CENTER..................... 770-644-1284
WELLSTAR IMAGING (LEGACY ONLY)
SCHEDULING............................. 678-581-5900
WellStar Cancer Network News is published
three times a year. Please submit content for future
issues to cancernetworknews@wellstar.org.
When submitting employee names, please include
their credentials, title and department. Anyone
other than team members featured in photos must
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wellstar.org
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