August 2017 Partners newsletter

5Heart failure initiative
improves outcomes
88Team member donates
to burn unit
programs provide
Stop the Bleed education
11Trauma
PARTNERS
AUGUST / 2017
NEWS FOR TEAM MEMBERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF WELLSTAR HEALTH SYSTEM
VININGS HEALTH
PARK TO OPEN
IN SEPTEMBER
As WellStar prepares to open its third
health park, patients in Vinings, Smyrna
and South Cobb now will have access
to an easy, one-stop-shop for a variety
of healthcare services and still receive
the world-class care they expect from
WellStar. Patients can have “well visits”
with a primary care physician, have a
prescription filled at the pharmacy,
see specialists, and receive Urgent
Care services, blood tests, x-rays or
mammograms.
“We are investing in the communities
we serve by bringing these services –
all conveniently located in one building
We are eliminating the
expectation that it takes all
day…to have medical services
performed.
– Joe Brywczynski, senior vice
president, WellStar Health Parks
Administration and Development
Artist’s rendering of WellStar Vinings Health Park, which opens Sept. 11, 2017.2017.
– closer to patients’ homes and places
of work,” said Joe Brywczynski, senior
vice president, WellStar Health Parks
Administration and Development.
“We are eliminating the expectation
that it takes all day, running from office
to office, to have medical services
performed,” Brywczynski said.
Outpatient services, such as imaging,
surgery, cardiac diagnostics, sleep
studies, physical therapy, and cardiac
and pulmonary rehabilitation, are
offered at the health park as an
extension of WellStar Cobb Hospital.
“We’re thrilled to expand access
to outpatient hospital services and
Continued on page 4...
Opening Events
WellStar Vinings Health Park | Approach toMain Entry
WellStar team members and
their families are invited to a
WellStar family open house event
Aug. 26, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Community members are invited
to a Family Fun Day & Flu Shot Clinic
Oct. 8, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Inflatables, games, refreshments,
health screenings and building
tours will be available
1

2
WellStar Health System and WellStar West Georgia Medical Center
Named to American Hospital Association’s “Most Wired” List
WellStar CEO Wins Prestigious
GHA Leadership Award
At its annual summer meeting, the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) presented
its prestigious W. Daniel Barker Leadership Award to Candice L. Saunders, FACHE,
president and CEO of WellStar Health System. Saunders was honored for her
leadership and commitment to bringing access to care to patients across the state.
“Candice Saunders is leading others to extend the reach of healthcare, both
through her work in the health system as well as through her incredible mentoring
of up-and-coming leaders,” said GHA President and CEO Earl Rogers.
Since Saunders was named to her current role in 2015, WellStar has grown to
become the largest health system in Georgia. This growth has allowed WellStar
to share its vision for world-class healthcare with new communities by improving
access to care and increasing quality.
WellStar West Georgia Medical
Center recently was named one of
the 2017 Most Wired Hospitals by
the American Hospital Association’s
(AHA) Health Forum.
WGMC was one of eight Georgia hospitals to earn “Most
Wired” status this year. WellStar Health System also achieved
“Most Wired” status for 2017. This is the second year in a
row the AHA has recognized WellStar WGMC. Last year, the
hospital was named to the organization’s “Most Wired Most
Improved List.”
This year’s Most Wired list includes hospitals and health
systems that rely on increased clinical capabilities, telehealth
and mobile technology. Technology is making it easier
for patients and providers to interact, thus improving
communication, safety and patient-provider relationships.
New tools also are helping patients become more actively
involved in their care and maintaining their health.
The AHA has administered the HealthCare’s Most Wired ®
survey to hospitals and health systems for 19 years, and results
are published in Hospitals & Health Networks magazine.
Candice L. Saunders, president and CEO,
WellStar Health System, received the
GHA’s W. Daniel Barker Leadership Award.
Pictured (left to right): Steven Gautney,
president and CEO, Crisp Regional
Hospital, and chair, 2017 GHA Board of
Directors; Candice L. Saunders; and Earl
Rogers, GHA president and CEO.
65 WellStar Physicians
Named Top Doctors
With nearly 3,000 physicians and
advanced practice professionals on
its medical staff, WellStar is driving
innovation and patient-centered care.
Recently, Atlanta Magazine recognized
65 of those WellStar physicians on its
2017 Top Doctors list.
To be selected for the Top Doctors list,
physicians were nominated by their
peers and were featured in Atlanta
Magazine’s health issue in July.
“WellStar’s physicians are advancing
healthcare through innovative
treatments and compassionate
care,” said John A. Brennan, M.D.,
executive vice president and chief
clinical integration officer of WellStar
Health System.
“Our physicians understand the
importance of putting patients at
the center of everything they do.
With WellStar’s expanded network
of physicians, we are better able to
deliver high-quality healthcare to our
communities.”
The physicians selected this year
came from a diverse background
of specialties and many of them
have been recognized on this list for
multiple years:
• Chris Andersen, M.D., WellStar
Summit Surgical
• Ebon Bourne, M.D., WellStar
Acworth Family Practice
• George Brown, M.D., WellStar
Medical Group Family Medicine
• Carl Capelouto, M.D., Georgia
Urology
• Thomas Chacko, M.D., WellStar Ear
Nose & Throat
• Arun Chervu, M.D., Vascular
Surgical Associates
• Jay Cinnamon, M.D., Quantum
Radiology
• Larry Clements, M.D., WellStar
KenMar Pediatrics
• William Cleveland, M.D., Southwest
Atlanta Nephrology
• Toni E. Coombs, M.D., WellStar
Smyrna Primary Care Center
• William Cooper, M.D., WellStar
Cardiovascular Surgery
• Tapan Daftari, M.D., Resurgens
Orthopaedics
• Michael Dailey, M.D., Infectious
Disease Services of Georgia
• William Dowdell, M.D., WellStar
Pulmonary Medicine
• Amber Driskell, M.D., WellStar
Internal Medicine
• Daniel Eller, M.D., Maternal Fetal
Diagnostic Center
• Stanley M. Fineman, M.D., Atlanta
Allergy & Asthma Clinic
• David Gale, M.D., Pain Solutions
Treatment Center
• Thomas E. Gearhard, M.D., WellStar
Cobb Family Medicine
• Sachin Goel, M.D.,
Gastroenterology Specialists of
Georgia
• David Hafner, M.D., Vascular
Surgical Associates
• Jeffrey Hines, M.D., WellStar
Gynecologic Oncology
• Edward Holliger, M.D., Resurgens
Orthopaedics
• Angela Hudson, M.D., Women’s
Healthcare Center of Georgia
• Jermaine Jackson, M.D., Piedmont
Physicians Georgia Lung
• Tariq Javed, M.D., Neurological
Surgery
• Keith Jeffords, M.D., Paramount
Plastic Surgery
• Charles Kaplan, M.D., Georgia
Urology
• Robert A. Kelly, M.D., Resurgens
Orthopaedics
• Richard W. King, Jr., M.D., HyOx
Medical Treatment Center
• Chad Levitt, M.D., Radiation
Oncology
• Harry Lightfoot, M.D., WellStar
Surgical Specialists at Cobb
• Drew Locandro, M.D., Northwest
ENT & Allergy Center
• Douglas W. Lundy, M.D., Resurgens
Orthopaedics
• Ralph Lyons, M.D., Atlanta South
Gastroenterology
• Barry D. Mangel, M.D., WellStar
Cardiovascular Medicine
• Mark McCord, M.D., Radiation
Oncology
• Rolf Meinhold, M.D., Meinhold
Family Practice
• Daniel Miller, M.D., WellStar
Thoracic Surgery Associates
• Eduardo Molinary, M.D., WellStar
Pulmonary Medicine
• Jean E. Molinary, D.O., WellStar
Medical Specialists
• Thomas Murphy, M.D., Quantum
Radiology
• Muhamad Obideen, M.D., Atlanta
Gastroenterology Associates
• Neal Osborn, M.D., Atlanta
Gastroenterology Associates
Continued on page 4...
PARTNERS / AUGUST 2017
3

4
Vinings Health Park, continued from page 1 65 WellStar Physicians, continued from page 3
compassionate care in the Vinings community,” said Amy Carrier, senior vice
president and WellStar Cobb Hospital president.
Since opening WellStar’s first health park just three years ago, the unique concept
has been overwhelmingly well-received by community members. The Acworth and
East Cobb Health Parks will see more than 412,000 patients in 2017.
“By bringing these services into communities in such a convenient way, we hope
to be a destination of choice for outpatient services, while helping patients receive
access to the services they need to lead healthier lives,” said Michael Johnson,
executive director of WellStar Health Parks, South.
WellStar Vinings Health Park, located at 4441 Atlanta Road, SE, near I-285 and
Cumberland Parkway, will officially open Sept. 11, 2017.
WELLSTAR VININGS HEALTH
PARK WILL OFFER:
> Medical Practices (Primary Care
Providers and Specialists)
> Imaging Center*
> Laboratory Services
> Outpatient Surgery Center* &
Pre-admission Testing (April 2018)
> Urgent Care Center
> Cardiac Diagnostics*
> Sleep Center*
> WellStar OrthoSport* (Physical
Therapy and Sports Medicine)
> Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation*
> Retail Pharmacy
> Community Education &
Wellness Center
> Parkside Bistro
*Services of WellStar Cobb Hospital
We’re thrilled to expand
access to outpatient services…
in the Vinings community
– Amy Carrier, senior vice president and
WellStar Cobb Hospital president
WellStar Vinings Health Park | Main Lobby
Photos above and below: Artist’s
renderings of the new WellStar Vinings
Health Park main lobby and entrance.
• Steven Oweida, M.D., Vein
Specialists of Northwest Georgia
• Shatul Parikh, M.D., Northwest ENT
& Allergy Center
• Bryan Piedad, M.D., WellStar
Cardiovascular Medicine
• Philip Ramsay, M.D., WellStar
Medical Group Surgical Specialists
of Atlanta
• Erich Randolph, M.D., Atlanta
Oncology Associates
• Michael Riley, M.D., WellStar
Cardiovascular Medicine
• Randy F. Rizor, M.D., The Physicians
Pain & Rehab Specialists
• Michael K. Schaufele, M.D., Pain
Solutions Treatment Centers
• Raymond Schettino, M.D., North
Fulton Ear, Nose & Throat Associates
• Roy Schottenfeld, M.D., North
Fulton Ear, Nose & Throat Associates
• Sanjay Sharma, M.D., Southern
Crescent Nephrology
• Elizabeth M. Street, M.D., Unified
Women’s Care of Georgia
• Jung Suh, M.D., Atlanta
Gastroenterology
• David Tanner, M.D., Atlanta Allergy
& Asthma Clinic
• Murphy Townsend, III, M.D.,
WellStar Urology
• Janice M. Warner, M.D., Atlanta
West Dermatology
• Elizabeth Whitaker, M.D., Atlanta
Face & Body Center
• W. Hamilton Williams, M.D.,
Radiation Oncology of Atlanta
• Barry Zisholtz, M.D., Georgia
Urology
• John Zora, M.D., Atlanta Allergy &
Asthma Clinic
• Alan M. Zuckerman, M.D.,
Quantum Radiology
Heart Failure Education Program
Aims to Improve Patient Outcomes
WellStar Health System has expanded a free education and
outreach initiative designed to help heart failure patients,
families and caregivers learn more about managing the disease.
The program, which began in April 2016, now is available at
four WellStar hospital campuses (Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone
Pictured are WellStar Douglas team members who originally
started the Heart Failure Academy. Front row, left to right: Lillian
Dyson, CNL; Marty Hand, Professional Practice manager; Cindy
Spencer, HF nurse navigator. Back row, left to right: Karen
Vaughan, RN; Lisa Keyzer-Andre, CNL; Stefanie Crumbley, RN;
Josh Whitman, CVM manager
WellStar Atlanta Medical Center (AMC) is sponsoring the
Atlanta BeltLine’s Lantern Parade for the third consecutive
year. All WellStar team members are encouraged to decorate
a paper lantern and join the parade on Saturday, Sept. 9,
2017. It starts at dusk at the beginning of the BeltLine on Irwin
Street, and follows the trail to Piedmont Park. AMC will offer
paid parking in Garage B to the public.
AMC is also giving out a limited number of branded paper
lanterns to team members and the public, and will hold a
lantern decorating contest for its team members.
The Atlanta BeltLine is the most comprehensive
transportation and economic development effort ever
undertaken in the City of Atlanta and among the largest,
most wide-ranging urban redevelopment programs
currently underway in the United States.
and Paulding). It consists of four sessions to address
understanding of the disease: goal-setting for lifestyle
changes, nutrition, medications and exercise. It also includes
review of advanced directives, palliative care, behavioral
health needs and community
resources. The open forum
allows participants to
The open forum allows
ask questions and share
participants to ask questions
experiences with a team of and share experiences with a
collaborative subject matter
team of collaborative subject
expert presenters. A before
matter expert presenters.
and after self-care heart
failure index survey is used to
measure learning.
“The results of the Heart Failure Academy clearly
demonstrate the correlation of hospital admissions/
readmissions with the program,” said Hans Lee, M.D., medical
director of the Heart Failure/Comprehensive Care Clinic.
“It also has had a direct positive impact on heart failure
patient outcomes by allowing patients to guide their care in
partnership with their health care team,” said Dr. Lee.
To date, of the 65 participants who completed the entire
program (attended all four sessions), there have been zero
30-day hospital readmissions.
WellStar Team Members Encouraged to Join BeltLine Parade
For more information, visit art.beltline.org/lantern-parade.
WellStar is sponsoring the Atlanta Beltline’s Lantern Parade.
Team members are encouraged to decorate a paper lantern and
join the parade on Saturday, Sept. 9.
PARTNERS / AUGUST 2017
WellStar Vinings Health Park | Approach toMain Entry
5

6
WellStar Welcomes New GME Residents
This summer, the WellStar Graduate
Medical Education (GME) programs
matched with top talent from around
the country and welcomed more than
50 new residents to its various programs
in the System.
WellStar Atlanta Medical Center added
new residents in its Family Medicine,
General Surgery, Internal Medicine and
Orthopedic Surgery programs. WellStar
Kennestone Hospital GME program
started a full class of Internal Medicine,
OB/GYN, and, for the first time,
Transitional Year residents.
WellStar Atlanta Medical Center
2017-2018 Graduate Medical Education Intern Class
Front Row: Azelia Brown, PharmD; Huda ELSheikh, MD; Samuel Fantaye, MD; Shumet Lonsako, MD;
Shereen Mohamed Nour, MD; Jemese Richards-Boyd, MD; Daniel McAndrews, MD; Stephen Stringfellow, MD;
Zachary Evan Adkins, MD; Ademola Shofoluwe, MD; Andrew Hyde, MD; Walker Shearon, MD
Back Row (Left to Right): Haleh Khoshreza, MD; Getnet Tioum, MD; Betelhem Woldemariam, MD; Neetha Vadde, MD;
Alyssa K. Elrod, PharmD; Caroline Waryoba, MD; Lauren Henderrson, MD; Zachary Shai Rogozinski, MD; Nikhil Neelkantan, MD;
Ashley Elizabeth Mehl, MD; Nikita Chand, MD; Rachael Dean, MD; Fatma Hassan, MD; Adam (Charles) Manly, MD
Kennestone’s Graduate Medical Education Intern Class of 2017-2018
Kennestone’s new Transitional Year
program offers a well-balanced program
of graduate medical education in multiple
clinical disciplines designed to facilitate
the choice of, and preparation for,
a specific specialty, including those
requiring a year of fundamental clinical
education as a prerequisite.
The Transitional Year program also will
provide clinical education for those
medical school graduates planning to
serve in public health organizations or
those who desire or need to acquire at
Atlanta Medical Center’s Graduate Medical Education Intern Class of 2017-2018
least one year of fundamental clinical
education before entering administrative
medicine or non-clinical research.
Over the next two years, the WellStar
Kennestone Hospital GME program
will expand even further, welcoming
Emergency Medicine and Family
Medicine programs to the curriculum.
The WellStar Kennestone Pharmacy
program also welcomed two new
residents, Sara Rammo and Ana
Plagova, this summer. Eleven of our
previous residents are now working
within WellStar Health System as
pharmacists, 10 are Board Certified
Pharmacotherapy Specialists (BCPS),
one is a Board Certified Pediatric
Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPPS)
and two completed a PGY2 specialty
residency.
CENTER FOR NURSING EXCELLENCE DEBUTS
REFRESHED PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE MODEL
WellStar Health System’s Center for Nursing Excellence has
updated its Professional Practice Model (PPM) with input
from all levels of nursing professionals. This foundation for
nursing care at WellStar will empower nurses Systemwide to
better deliver quality care and value to our patients.
During the 2016 Fall Nursing Retreat, attendees from
across the System submitted their ideas and thoughts on
the 5-Star PPM. This exercise was repeated at each facility
with groups of direct care nurses. A predominant trend
reinforced from these meetings was that the 5-Star PPM
needed refining and simplifying.
“This update to WellStar Nursing’s Professional Practice
Model builds on the strengths of the previous version,
providing a clear vision for One WellStar just over one year
after welcoming our new team members onboard,” said
WellStar Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer
Jill Case-Wirth.
The updated PPM helps illustrate WellStar Nursing’s mission
of “Caring Compassionately, Practicing Professionally.”
The new PPM has the five following platforms:
Shared Leadership – This platform fosters a culture rooted
in team-member engagement, collaboration and trust, which
results in a working environment that promotes nursing
excellence at all levels of practice.
Exemplary Practice – Each team member and practice work
toward the goal of providing the highest standard of care to
all patients.
Teamwork – Collaboration, communication and
interdisciplinary planning of care empowers WellStar nurses to
deliver safe, high-quality healthcare.
Creative Innovations – While nursing practice and care
should be based on evidence-based practice, research and
industry standards, continuous improvement methodologies
encourage our nurses to be able to foster creative and
innovative solutions.
Professional Development – WellStar is committed
to supporting our nurses in their pursuits of continuing
education and professional growth.
Relevant across all roles and practice settings, and for all
nurses, the five elements of the new PPM depict the shared
areas of focus for professional nursing practice at WellStar,
while reflecting the mission, vision and values of nursing and
the System.
For more information on the new Professional Practice
Model, visit the Center for Nursing Excellence on eSource
under Departments.
PARTNERS / AUGUST 2017
7

8
WellStar Team Members Selected to
Present at National Conference
TASK FORCE CELEBRATES SUCCESS IN REDUCING
C. DIFFICILE INFECTIONS AT WELLSTAR
WellStar nurses Susan Thurman and
Starr Watson
Congratulations to
WellStar Paulding Hospital
team members, Susan
Thurman, DNP, RN,
director of nursing for
Inpatient Services, and
Starr Watson, MSN, RN,
CNL, nurse manager,
who were selected to
participate in a “rapidfire”
presentation at the
Vizient MidSouth Clinical
Connections Summit, Sept.
13-17, 2017, in Denver.
To participate, potential
presenters had to submit
abstracts, which were reviewed by leading practice experts.
Close to 500 submissions were submitted and 56 were
selected to participate in the rapid-fire sessions. Watson and
Thurman will be co-presenters for their abstract “The Delivery
and Implementation of a COPD Care Bundle in Efforts to
Improve Patient Outcomes.”
In addition to being selected at a national level, WellStar
Paulding Hospital won third place in the Clinical category for
submitting the same abstract to Vizient MidSouth’s Brilliance
Awards program this past March. It is quite an honor to be
selected at both the regional and national level.
The Vizient Clinical Connections Summit focuses on improving
healthcare through clinical quality and patient safety strategies,
as well as strategies that leverage technology for improved
outcomes and reduced costs in health care delivery. The
audience for the summit includes leaders in clinical, pharmacy,
perioperative, quality and performance, pediatric, risk, safety,
service line, supply chain and value analysis areas.
If team members want additional information on the Summit
or the abstract submission process, please contact Sharon Ellis
at sharon.ellis@vizientmidsouth.com or (770) 850-7433.
Team Member Donates
Equipment to WellStar Cobb
Hospital Burn Unit
Thanks to a donation to the WellStar Foundation
by Amir Emamifar, PharmD, MBA, director of
Pharmaceutical Services at WellStar Cobb Hospital,
staff in the hospital’s burn unit now are using a
HoverMatt air transfer system to move patients.
“I realized this need through my weekly leadership
rounding and wanted to donate the HoverMatt to
the burn unit, because these patients have extremely
sensitive skin and any movement must be done with
extensive care,” said Emamifar.
The HoverMatt air transfer system allows burn unit
staff to more easily transfer and reposition burn
patients with less skin irritation, thanks to a cushion
of air inflated beneath the patient.
“I am happy to give back to WellStar because I know
the HoverMatt will make a big difference in the lives
of the patients and team members within the burn
unit,” said Emamifar.
As one of only three inpatient burn centers in
Georgia, Cobb’s Burn Trauma Program treats 450
patients in the inpatient unit per year from across
southeast Georgia. Cobb Hospital also has an
outpatient burn center.
Providing care that is consistently safe
and infection-free is critical to our
patients. And reducing the number of
healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)
is part of WellStar’s quest to achieve
zero harm. Through this effort, we can
reduce mortality, length of stay, hospital
readmissions and cost.
Thanks to their hard work, we
move one step closer to exceeding
the expectations of our patients
and consumers through the delivery
of high-quality care
– Carrie Owen-Plietz, executive vice
president and COO, WellStar’s Hospital
Division, and C. diff Task Force
executive sponsor
To address one of our top safety
and quality goals, we developed a
Systemwide C. difficile (C. diff) Task
Force. Through the development and
implementation of new or improved
standardized processes, policies and
protocols by the task force, the number
of C. diff cases across the System over
the past year has trended dramatically
toward zero.
“I am very proud of the many milestones
achieved by the task force this past
year,” said Carrie Owen-Plietz, executive
vice president and COO, WellStar’s
Hospital Division, and C. diff Task Force
executive sponsor.
“Thanks to their hard work, we move
one step closer to exceeding the
expectations of our patients and
consumers through the delivery of highquality
care,” she said.
According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), those
most at risk of becoming infected with
C. diff – caused by the Clostridium
difficile germ—are people, especially
older adults, who take antibiotics and
also get medical care.
Members of WellStar’s C. diff Task Force celebrate the milestones the System achieved
this past year in dramatically reducing the numbers of cases acquired of this potentially
deadly infection.
HAND HYGIENE
COMPLIANCE VITAL
Team members and medical staff
are reminded that hand hygiene
is the single most effective
way to prevent infections. Full
compliance is vital to reducing
HAIs, such as C. diff.
The task force’s multidisciplinary
approach targeted the following key
areas: antimicrobial stewardship,
Clinical Inpatient Acute-care, Clinical
Ambulatory, Clinical Community,
Education, Environmental Services,
Information Technology and Internal
Communications.
The task force sub teams will continue
their endeavors to ensure compliance
and a continued downward trend in
the number of C. diff cases across
our System.
PARTNERS / AUGUST 2017
9

10
Record-Setting Donation by WellStar Hospital Auxiliaries
Volunteers at WellStar Kennestone, Cobb, Douglas, Paulding,
Spalding Regional, Sylvan Grove and Windy Hill hospitals
donated a historic $714,000 to the WellStar Foundation in
support of healthcare initiatives at their local hospitals.
Throughout the 2017 fiscal year, more than 800 volunteers
donated a combined total of over 138,300 hours in the form of
gift shop operation and hosting vender events. These sales,
along with personal donations, were directly reinvested back
into the community through worthy hospital projects and
programs selected by volunteer leadership.
The Foundation is incredibly thankful for these hardworking
volunteers. In part thanks to these contributions, the Foundation
supported initiatives in emergency and trauma, pediatrics,
NICU, women’s health, cancer, cardiac, imaging, community
education and more throughout the 2017 fiscal year.
TOWN HALLS
COMING SOON
Revised
Fall Town Hall
Meetings Dates
The dates of the fall Town Hall Meetings have been
rescheduled for Oct. 15-21 to allow us to host three
meetings in Fiscal Year 2018.
FY 2018, the first full year of our new strategic direction,
is packed with important initiatives and key priorities,
and we want to make sure our team members are kept
well-informed.
Further details and schedules will be emailed to all team
members in early October.
(Left to right): Dana Caviness, manager, Support Services; Dan
Woods, SVP and president, WellStar Kennestone Hospital; Brenda
Castille, Auxiliary Board president; Charlotte Murray, Auxiliary Board
treasurer; Lisa Mello, director of Development, WellStar Foundation
(Left to right): Gene Weeks, development director, WellStar
Foundation; Deloris Short, president, Douglas Hospital Volunteer
Board; Steven Lambert, manager, Behavioral Health and Voluntary
Services; Craig Owens, SVP and president, WellStar Douglas Hospital
(Left to right): Mary Helen Prigeon; Barbara Staples; Betty
Moore; Charlie Martin; Joan Harris, president, WellStar Spalding
Regional Auxiliary; Fonda Wise; Wadra McCullough, chief nursing
officer, Spalding Regional; Kathleen Smith, WellStar Foundation
development officer; Margie Gregory; and Jewell Williams
Team members from across WellStar’s Trauma Network are working to educate community members on potentially life-saving techniques
to reduce deaths from hemorrhage in mass-casualty events.
WELLSTAR TRAUMA NETWORK PROVIDES STOP THE
BLEED EDUCATION THANKS TO STATE GRANT
Team members from the WellStar
Trauma Network are working to provide
education and training to help reduce
deaths from hemorrhage, which is the
leading cause of preventable deaths
from trauma. Their work is part of Stop
the Bleed, a national campaign initiated
after a review of the preventable deaths
in the Sandy Hook tragedy. It was
developed by the American College
of Surgeons in collaboration with first
responders, law enforcement, fire,
military and public safety personnel
as a means of saving lives in masscasualty
events.
The Georgia Trauma Commission
received a $1 million grant from the
Georgia State Legislature to provide
bleeding control kits and training for
every public school in Georgia. This
fall, WellStar trauma team members
are participating in the Commission’s
Stop the Bleed School Response
Program, which is designed to enable
school teachers, nurses and staff to
render immediate, potentially life-saving
medical aid to injured students or
co-workers while awaiting the arrival of
professional responders.
As part of the grant, the Commission
will provide to each Georgia school
approximately 12 bleeding control
kits, which include sterile gloves, a
tourniquet, gauze, trauma dressing
and an instruction card.
Trauma programs throughout the
state, including those within WellStar,
are partnering with EMS and fire
departments to provide the training
for the schools. The WellStar Trauma
Network includes the following
hospitals, who are providing training
to local school districts:
> WellStar Atlanta Medical Center:
Newton and DeKalb county schools
> WellStar Kennestone: Bartow,
Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas, Gilmer,
Paulding and Pickens counties
> WellStar North Fulton: Fulton
County schools
Earlier this year, staff from most of
Georgia’s trauma centers trained
approximately 200 legislatures and
staff members, including the Governor,
at the Georgia state house. The
Commission also installed two Stop the
Bleed kits in the capitol. Additionally,
WellStar Kennestone, AMC and North
Fulton have conducted the training for
churches, businesses and other entities.
The Georgia Trauma Commission
received a $1 million grant from the
Georgia State Legislature to provide
bleeding control kits and training
for every public school in Georgia.
To date, WellStar team members
have trained almost 1,000 school
and community representatives and
additional training sessions are ongoing.
PARTNERS / AUGUST 2017
11

WellStar Kicks Off 2017 AHA’s
Healthy for Good Heart Walk Initiative
Walkers and Runners Needed
This year, WellStar is proud to be
the Health Screening Sponsor for the
Metro Atlanta Heart Walk and the
Signature Sponsor for the Northwest
Georgia Heart Walk, proudly committing
to raise $200,000.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading
cause of death in America and accounts
for one in three deaths across the
communities we serve in Georgia, touching
the lives of so many of our patients,
family, friends and team members.
The American Heart Association’s (AHA)
Healthy for Good Heart Walk provides
us with a unique opportunity to stand
together in support of our mission
and efforts to advance awareness, and
change the future of heart disease and
stroke in our community.
To participate, and support our
collective efforts to fight against
stroke and heart disease, please visit
metroatlantaheartwalk.org/wellstar and
register as a coach, walker or runner for
one of the following events:
> Metro Atlanta Heart Walk |
Saturday, Sept. 23 | Georgia World
Congress Center
> Northwest Georgia Heart Walk &
5K Heart Run | Saturday, Nov. 4 |
Historic Marietta Square
As you create your team, please be sure
to register under your WellStar facility.
With your involvement, we can exceed
the expectations of our patients
and consumers in the fight against
cardiovascular disease.
WellStar is a sponsor of the American Heart
Association’s 2017 Healthy for Good Heart
Walk, with the goal of raising $200,000 to
fight against heart disease and stroke.
A PUBLICATION FOR TEAM MEMBERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF WELLSTAR HEALTH SYSTEM
PARTNERS
WellStar Health System Board of Trustees
Avril Beckford, M.D.
Randall Bentley
Charles Brock
Otis Brumby, III, Vice Chair
H. Speer Burdette, III
Robert N. Cross, M.D.
Paul L. Douglass, M.D.
David Hafner, M.D., Chair
Fitz Johnson
Charles J. Jones
Gary A. Miller
Mitzi Moore
Greg Morgan
Michael B. Patton
Tom Phillips
Walter G. Robinson
Frank Ros
O. Scott Swayze, M.D.
Jeffrey Tharp, M.D.
Ambica Yadav
Ex-Officio: Candice Saunders,
President & CEO
PARTNERS is published monthly by Marketing, Public Relations, Internal
& Digital Communications. Send submissions to Pat Torres, Internal
Communications Strategist.
About WellStar Health System
WellStar Health System, the largest health system in Georgia, is known nationally for
its innovative care models, which are focused on improving quality and access to
healthcare. WellStar consists of WellStar Medical Group, 240 medical office locations,
outpatient centers, health parks, a pediatric center, nursing centers, hospice,
homecare, as well as 11 inpatient hospitals: WellStar Atlanta Medical Center, WellStar
Atlanta Medical Center South, WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center
(anchored by WellStar Kennestone Hospital), WellStar West Georgia Medical Center,
and WellStar Cobb, Douglas, North Fulton, Paulding, Spalding Regional, Sylvan
Grove and Windy Hill hospitals. As a not-for-profit, WellStar continues to reinvest in
the health of the communities it serves with new technologies and treatments.
For more information, visit wellstar.org.
Learn how to become
a social media star at
wellstar.org/social.
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