December 2017 Partners newsletter

2 5
Team member celebrates
50 years of service
New treatment protocol aids
hypoglycemic newborns
10
Community
events
brought holiday joy
PARTNERS
NEWS FOR TEAM MEMBERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF WELLSTAR HEALTH SYSTEM
DECEMBER/ 2017
GROWING ROBOTIC
SURGICAL PROGRAM
NOW LARGEST IN STATE
Beginning January 2018, WellStar will offer the latest robotic
surgical technology at more hospital campuses than any other
health system in Georgia.
For the past year, WellStar has been developing a strategic
plan for its robotic surgical program that would offer greater
access to innovative technology for more people, while
delivering quality outcomes and better patient experiences.
Physician and hospital leadership reviewed the robotic surgery
program across the System to determine ways to strengthen
its capabilities, and then matched requirements with the
most appropriate and cost-effective technology. This led to
some existing robotic surgical systems being moved from
one hospital to another, and the purchase of six new robots.
New robotic surgical programs also were launched at WellStar
Douglas and North Fulton hospitals, WellStar Atlanta Medical
Center South and WellStar West Georgia Medical Center.
“This expansive footprint of robots means we can serve
more patients in their own communities with the most
advanced technology available,” said Mark Charlson, vice
president of surgery.
WellStar uses the latest in minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgical
technology from Intuitive Surgical’s daVinci® Surgical Systems.
Pictured: patient cart and surgeon’s console.
Robotic surgery gives surgeons the ability to perform
procedures in a less invasive fashion than open surgery.
Robotic surgeries may offer shorter lengths of stay and quicker
recovery times, less tissue damage, faster surgery time and
less time under anesthesia for our patients – adding up to
world-class care.
Physicians across the System who use the robots at each
hospital were selected to participate in a robotic surgery
committee. This group will review data associated with the
use, proficiency and outcomes of the various robotic surgeries,
connecting patient outcomes directly with the physicians who
perform the surgeries.
Continued on page 4...
1

2
TEAM MEMBER
CELEBRATES
50 YEARS SERVING
PATIENTS
When Anita Mitchell, medical technician,
Laboratory Services, started at WellStar
Spalding Regional Medical Center
50 years ago, it was Spalding County
Hospital. There wasn’t a single computer,
her pay was $1.15 an hour, and most of
the people she works with now weren’t
even born yet.
Only one thing hasn’t changed – Mitchell
still enjoys every single day.
“I wouldn’t trade anything about it,”
she said. “It’s a great place to work and
I’ll continue to work here as long as I
am able.”
Over the years, she’s studied at night
to make her way from lab secretary to
every possible department and nearly
every position within the lab and has
come to know and count on the lab
team like family. After becoming a PRN,
she decided to stay with the hematology
and chemistry departments, where she
said she relishes the variety and the
unpredictable nature of the work.
“Everybody’s disease is different and
you never know what you’re going to
see when you look under a microscope,”
Mitchell said.
“The lab gives you the opportunity to
look inside of a person,” she continued.
“Someone can look good on the
outside and you wouldn’t know what’s
wrong or going on inside unless you
see it in lab tests.”
Continued on page 3...
Celebrating 50 years as a team member, Anita
Mitchell, medical tech, Laboratory Services,
WellStar Spalding Regional Hospital, still
enjoys helping patients every day.
Unexpected Winter
Storm Brings Out
Our Best Efforts
While the recent and rare, winter storm may have caught the metro area by
surprise, our dedicated and compassionate providers and team members rose
to the occasion as though it was an ordinary occurrence.
Across the System, everyone, not just those involved in direct patient care,
played an important role in ensuring we could continue providing critical
services to our patients and communities when they needed it most.
During the storm, our caregivers and team members worked collectively to
ensure patient care and operations continued as usual. For instance, while our
security personnel helped in transporting team members to and from work,
our ground crews worked to keep our facilities safe and accessible for patients
and team members. Our emergency preparedness and shared services teams
monitored road and weather conditions and kept our physicians, team members
and communities informed.
WellStar Cobb Hospital campus at the height
of the storm.
These are just a few examples of our true spirit as a System and our ongoing
commitment to our vision of delivering world-class healthcare – no matter the
circumstances.
PARTNERS / DECEMBER 2017

TEAM MEMBER, continued from page 2
Mitchell found her calling at an early age.
Both her niece and her father had brain
tumors and her bedridden father died
when she was very young.
“It was heartbreaking. It made me think
that maybe I could do something to
help someone else; maybe there was
something out there that could change
things for those who are ill,” she said.
Working at Spalding
Regional has made me understand
what life is all about.
– Anita Mitchell, medical technician,
Laboratory Services
“Now, when I’m able to determine
findings from lab tests, it’s such a relief
to be able to share it with the doctors so
they’re able to treat their patients.”
There’s no doubt that after a long day,
Mitchell thinks about how she could
retire and give herself a break, but the
very next day, she’s back at it, bright
and early, because of this sense of
fulfillment.
“Working at Spalding Regional has
made me understand what life is
all about,” Mitchell said. “I have
thoroughly enjoyed my job here. I really
believe that’s why I’ve lasted so long.
All-in-all, helping the patients is what
matters most.”
TRAUMA PATIENT LEAVES TEAM
WITH SMILES, AND TEARS
This summer, Jim McGill was traveling on his motorcycle from Colorado to Florida
when disaster struck. He was involved in an accident that left him with a traumatic
brain injury, a fractured leg and multiple other injuries. He was immediately taken
to WellStar Atlanta Medical Center’s Level 1 Trauma Center, where a skilled,
multi-disciplinary team worked to save his life. The first few days were filled with
collaborative efforts by the Emergency, Trauma and Orthopedic departments to
stabilize him.
When it became clear that McGill would survive, a new set of questions arose:
how would his brain injury impact him? Would he walk again? Would he talk or
recognize his family?
McGill then was transferred to AMC’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (IRU), where he
began several months of hard recovery work with the help of a dedicated, multidisciplinary
care team. The team also worked to keep his wife and family informed,
committing to strive for the most optimal outcome.
McGill’s injury had left him unable to communicate and he suffered from a severe
form of diffuse axonal injury, making it very difficult to remain awake. He also
injured areas of his brain that regulated emotion, anxiety, learning, language and
memories. For some time, he was unable to identify himself or his surroundings.
With continued rehabilitation, McGill regained the function of his emotional
neuro-chemicals and could communicate again. He eventually could stand,
move and perform daily activities of living, such as feeding himself and brushing
his teeth. As he was discharged, team
members wiped away tears as he thanked
the team for all their work and dedication
to him. He was able to laugh, joke and cry
tears of joy as he left. A heartfelt goodbye
card from him sits on the rehab desk as
a reminder to the team that world-class
care is at our fingertips each day.
A photo of Jim McGill and his wife, Sandy,
from a thank-you card sent to the AMC IRU
team, serves as a daily reminder of the
importance of our mission to deliver
world-class healthcare.
3

4
TEAM CELEBRATES ONE YEAR WITHOUT CAUTIS
Showcasing the System’s commitment
to zero patient harm, the Intensive
Care Unit (ICU) team at WellStar
Atlanta Medical Center South recently
celebrated one year without any CAUTIs
(Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract
Infections). At press time for Partners,
they marked 379 days CAUTI-free!
“It’s not impossible!” said Danika
Pannia, AMC South’s director, ICU, who
developed the No CAUTI campaign.
The effort began with staff education
around key components:
• Does the patient meet the criteria
for a catheter? Why or why not?
• Are we keeping the catheter in
longer than the patient truly needs,
based on the criteria?
• Are proper protocols being followed
for urine cultures?
Pannia recruited a staff nurse to
conduct daily audits to assess the
The WellStar Atlanta Medical Center South ICU team recently celebrated one year without
any CAUTIs, thanks to their commitment to zero patient harm.
questions above. Pannia would review
the data to track improvements and
communicate with the staff, highlighting
the importance of zero harm and an
improved patient experience. As the
team approached 365 days, she said one
could sense the staff’s commitment.
“Our success truly comes from every
person who works in the ICU, or comes
in contact with an ICU patient,” said
Pannia. “We held hands and crossed the
finish line together – accomplishing this
as a team.”
ROBOTICS, continued from page 1
WellStar has a rich history in leadingedge,
minimally invasive treatments.
As an early precursor to robotic surgery,
the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy
(gallbladder removal) in the United
States was performed in 1988 by
physicians who practiced at Kennestone
Hospital, Barry McKernan, M.D., and
William Saye, M.D. – quietly making
medical history.
“In addition to the innovative and quality
care we can offer patients, we also are
able to use the depth of the program as
a recruitment tool,” said Charlson. “By
showing our commitment to the latest
and best technology available, we can
attract top surgical talent.”
When implementation of the expanded
program is complete in early 2018, six
of WellStar’s 11 hospitals, and two of its
outpatient surgery centers, will offer this
technology.
This expansive
footprint of robots means
we can serve more patients
in their own communities
with the most advanced
technology available.
– Mark Charlson, vice president
of Surgery.
PARTNERS / DECEMBER 2017

IDEA SPOTLIGHT
WELLSTAR OFFERS
INNOVATIVE SOLUTION FOR
HYPOGLYCEMIC NEWBORNS
WellStar Health System is leading the way with a groundbreaking
alternative to help newborn babies with low-blood
sugar, also known as hypoglycemia. With the new treatment
protocol, a small amount of gel solution containing dextrose
is placed inside the baby’s cheek to help increase sugar levels.
The initiative was developed as part of the FOCUS framework,
after a group of WellStar pediatric providers and nurses
began researching different options for these most-vulnerable
patients.
Low-blood sugar can have severe, or life-threatening, effects.
For newborns, the danger of seizures or brain damage is
particularly scary. Until now, a baby with hypoglycemia would
have to be placed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU),
where he or she would receive a sugar-solution intravenously,
interrupting important mother-baby bonding and breastfeeding
opportunities.
“It’s always a value-add when an idea can influence these
factors simultaneously, like what we’re seeing with the
treatment protocol for newborns,” Battle continued. “We
hope to continue getting ideas like these that not only help
those in critical need, but also creates a process that can be
replicated throughout our health system.”
Though the treatment is well-researched and proven safe
and effective, it is not yet widely used throughout the
United States. The program was implemented at WellStar
Kennestone, Cobb and Douglas hospitals in mid-2017, and will
be launched at WellStar Atlanta Medical Center, West Georgia
Medical Center, North Fulton and Spalding Regional hospitals
by summer 2018.
In addition to this program, the pediatrics team has developed
improved protocols in pediatric anesthesia and vaccines, with
more than 10 other FOCUS initiatives on the horizon.
“There is a lot of excitement around these programs,” said
Varma Rameswar, vice president, pediatric operations. “In
pediatrics, we are committed to continually creating the
highest quality of care and excellence in patient experiences
for children and their parents.”
Have an idea on how to improve processes and
procedures in your department? No idea is too small.
Idea submission process is easy. Visit eSource and click
on the FOCUS button to submit an idea.
“This is a wonderful example of evidence-based collaborative
best practice,” said Avril Beckford, chief pediatric officer and
a member of the WellStar Board of Trustees. “In addition, it
speaks to how essential it is for the whole team to be involved
from the beginning: pediatricians, pediatric nurses, pediatric
pharmacy, IT and administrative support.”
After birth, babies who are at risk are screened for
hypoglycemia. Those who test positive can be given the
dextrose gel three times in 24 hours to try to stabilize their
sugar. Remarkably, 90 percent of babies who received the gel
at WellStar Kennestone Hospital were able to remain out of
the NICU.
“FOCUS is all about approaching problems differently
through Lean thinking,” said Derek Battle, senior project
manager, Enterprise Project Management Office. “The goal
is to engage our team members in finding solutions that
improve patient care, employee satisfaction, and eliminate
wasteful processes or behaviors.”
Babies at Risk for Hypoglycemia:
• Born prior to 37 weeks, or
• Born large or small for their gestational age, or
• Have a diabetic mother
5

6
What You Need
TO KNOW
Educational Scholarship
Applications Open
DEADLINE: FEB. 28, 2018
Last year, 58 scholarships and $63,500 were awarded
to team members and their dependents through the
WellStar Foundation Educational Scholarship Program.
Applications for this year’s program are being accepted
now through Feb. 28, 2018.
WellStar Foundation Educational Scholarships are made
possible through Team Member Giving donations. The
program aims to increase the local supply of healthcare
professionals by offering financial assistance to qualified
persons pursuing a college degree in a healthcare
related field.
Scholarships are available to benefit-eligible WellStar
team members, their spouses and dependents.
Additional information can be found on eSource (see
the quick link on the left-hand side of the main page).
To submit your
application, or for any
questions, contact Keli
Durner at keli.durner@
wellstar.org.
Marceea Orr, RN, charge
nurse at WellStar Cobb
Hospital, is grateful to
be able to pursue her
goal of completing her
Bachelor of Science in
Nursing degree, thanks
to receiving a WellStar
Foundation Educational
Scholarship.
WellStar Pharmacy Network Offers
Benefits for Team Members
Working at a leading healthcare system comes with many
perks – including access to on-site pharmacy services
and prescription discounts, which WellStar Health System
offers through the WellStar Pharmacy Network (WPN).
WPN includes pharmacies located onsite at many of our
facilities across the System, with delivery options available
for facilities without an onsite pharmacy.
In addition to convenience, discounts are offered for
several prescriptions if purchased through WPN, making
it probable for your prescription to be lower in cost than
at other retail pharmacies. Beginning Jan. 1, 2018, this
benefit will be offered for all team members and their
eligible dependents enrolled in the WellStar Employee
Medical Plan.
Through the WPN, team members receive access to worldclass
pharmacists, medication counseling, and prescription
services that provide a safer, more secure delivery system
than mail order services. WPN stocks many over-thecounter
medications and medical supplies, and accepts
most major prescription insurance plans as well.
To fill a new prescription, simply contact one of the
WellStar Pharmacy Network locations below.
WellStar Pharmacy Network Locations:
WellStar Cobb Hospital: 678-945-2111
WellStar Kennestone Hospital: 770-793-9300
WellStar Paulding Hospital: 470-644-8091
WellStar Windy Hill Hospital: 770-644-1005
WellStar Acworth Health Park: 470-956-0005
WellStar East Cobb Health Park: 470-956-0170
WellStar Vinings Health Park 470-956-0400
Currently, WellStar Windy Hill Hospital delivers to all
Shared Services, WellStar Medical Group locations and
WellStar Douglas Hospital. WellStar East Cobb Health
Park (ECHP) will deliver to WellStar West Georgia Medical
Center, WellStar Atlanta Medical Center, WellStar Atlanta
Medical Center South, and WellStar North Fulton
Hospital. On March 1, 2018, ECHP will add Spalding and
Sylvan Grove hospitals to their delivery services.
PARTNERS / DECEMBER 2017

The Learning
Academy Opens The
WellBee Place – An
Innovative Care Area
for Mildly Ill Kids
As part of our Employer of Choice
strategy, WellStar is proud to
announce the opening of The
WellBee Place, a unique, new care
area for mildly ill children, located
within The Learning Academy
childcare center on the WellStar
Kennestone Hospital campus.
The first of its kind in the state of
Georgia, the new, six-bed care area
provides parents with the ability
to secure childcare under a wider
range of circumstances. It not only
offers moms and dads peace of
mind in knowing their child will
be well cared for while they are at
work, but also allows WellStar to
provide a better continuum of care
for our patients.
The WellBee Place is staffed with
a team of Bright Horizons care
providers in conjunction with a
team of WellStar on-call triage
nurses. The triage nurses accept
calls from Learning Academy
parents beginning at 5 a.m. daily
to review their child’s symptoms
and determine whether he or she
is eligible to stay in the care area.
If accepted, a child may stay for a
maximum of three consecutive days.
For more information about the
Learning Academy, call 770-793-7570
or visit eSource/Human Resources/
Work Life/ The Learning Academy
(Kennestone).
On Dec. 4, 2017, members of WellStar senior leadership (top photo) joined with The
Learning Academy staff to officially open The WellBee Place (bottom photo), a unique
care area that serves eligible mildly ill children.
SAVE THE DATE
Please Join Us!
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at WellStar
HONORING AND CELEBRATING
DR. KING’S LEGACY
Monday, Jan. 15, 2018
Watch your email in early January for further details,
including the program agenda.
15
7

8
ANNOUNCING: 2017 SYSTEM
TOWN HALL MEETINGS ANNUAL
PRIZE WINNERS
Congratulations to our 2017 WellStar Town Hall annual prize winners! This year,
each of 12 lucky team members received a cash prize and five additional days of
paid time off (PTO).
Team members who attended the spring and/or fall 2017 Town Hall meetings and
completed a prize drawing entry slip were eligible to enter the drawing.
1.
2017 TOWN HALL ANNUAL
PRIZE WINNERS
Photo 1: WellStar Atlanta Medical
Center’s Bonny Hoilman, Mother/
Baby Unit (fifth from left), with her
colleagues
Photo 2: (L-R): Jerry Fulks, WellStar
West Georgia Medical Center
President, with winner Jessica
Timmons, Home Care; and Phyllis
Gentry, Home Care Director
Photo 3: Mike Wallace,
Maintenance/Engineering, WellStar
Atlanta Medical Center South
Photo 4: Laundry Director James
Goodwin with winner Sylvia Collins,
production assistant
2. 3.
4.
Photo 5: (L-R): Monte Wilson,
WellStar Windy Hill Hospital
president, with winner Sharissa
Beckford, Critical Care Unit, PCU,
unit manager Chuck Cordell,
and Chief Nursing Officer Betsy
Brachovich
5.
PARTNERS / DECEMBER 2017
6.
Photo 6: Winner Vicki Utley,
WellStar Medical Group,
Cardiovascular Medicine, West
Georgia
Winners not pictured:
• Victoria Fountain, Care Coordinator,
WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Rachel Jones, RN, 2 South, WellStar
Douglas Hospital
• Tammy Carlson, RN, Float Pool,
WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Ifeoma Igbokwe, PCT, Rehab
Department, WellStar North Fulton
Hospital
• Tina “Yvette” Summers,
coordinator, WellStar Paulding
Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
• Paula Rose, RN, Third Floor Med/
Surg Unit, WellStar Spalding
Regional Hospital

GREAT PLACE TO WORK ® HAS CERTIFIED
WELLSTAR’S WORKPLACE CULTURE
Great Place to Work ® recently certified our workplace culture based on your feedback
in the 2017 Trust Index ® survey. On Nov. 13, WellStar Health System was certified
as a great workplace by the independent analysts at Great Place to Work ® . WellStar
earned this credential based on extensive ratings provided by our team members
in anonymous surveys. A summary of these ratings can be found at http://reviews.
greatplacetowork.com/wellstar-health-system.
“We applaud WellStar Health System for seeking certification and releasing its
employees’ feedback,” said Kim Peters, executive vice president of Great Place to Work’s Certification Program.
“These ratings measure its capacity to earn its own employees’ trust and create a great workplace - critical metrics
that anyone considering working for, or doing business with, WellStar Health System should consider as an indicator
of high performance.”
WellStar team members completed 15,650 surveys, resulting in a 90 percent confidence level and a margin of error
of ± 0.22.
WellStar Hospitals Earn
Top Quality Rankings
Accolades in quality and patient safety
have been received by WellStar West
Georgia Medical Center and WellStar
Douglas Hospital.
For the fourth time in five years,
Georgia Trend magazine has named
WellStar West Georgia Medical
Center the No. 1 Large Hospital (more
than 400 beds) in the state for 2017.
WellStar WGMC also placed at the
top of Georgia Trends annual hospital
report in 2013, 2015 and 2016.
The rankings are determined by
grouping together hospitals of similar
size and mission and then by comparing
data from the Centers of Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS), which
provides publicly available information
(hospitalcompare.hhs.gov) on more than
40 quality-related indicators, including
patient experience, outcomes of care,
process of care, and efficiency and value
of the services rendered.
WellStar Douglas Hospital is the only
hospital in Georgia to be named a
Top General Hospital by the Leapfrog
Group, a national independent hospital
watchdog association. Based on quality
and patient safety, the Leapfrog Top
Hospital award is widely acknowledged
as one of the most competitive honors
American hospitals can receive. Douglas
Hospital won the award for two
consecutive years.
Performance across many areas of
hospital care is considered to establish
the qualifications for these awards.
Areas considered include: infection
rates, maternity care and the hospital’s
capacity to prevent medication errors.
The rigorous standards are defined in
each year’s Top Hospital Methodology.
Only six percent of hospitals in the
nation meet the criteria to qualify as a
Leapfrog Top Hospital.
9

10
COMMUNITY EVENTS
USHERED IN THE
HOLIDAY SEASON
1.
Santa, Mrs. Claus and many of their helpers were kept busy this
holiday season, as WellStar hosted several community events at
facilities throughout the System. Please enjoy a few short stories
and photos that captured the spirit of these special occasions.
Hundreds of guests gathered at both the annual Light the Night event at
WellStar Kennestone Hospital and WellStar Douglas Hospital’s A Night
of Holiday Magic to have their family photos taken with Santa and Mrs.
Claus, enjoy holiday music, kid’s activities and refreshments, and
usher in the holiday season with the lighting of each facility’s grand
Christmas tree.
2.
Photo 1: Mary Chatman, interim president, WellStar Kennestone
Hospital, (center) welcomed Light the Night’s guest of honor and former
trauma patient, Dylan Combee, (third from left) and members of his
family to help light the Christmas tree atop the hospital.
Santa and Mrs. Claus also delighted visitors at tree-lighting events held
at WellStar Acworth, East Cobb and Vinings health parks, as well as at
the WellStar Pediatric Center’s annual holiday celebration.
Photo 2: Santa and Mrs. Claus visited with two adorable young “elves”
at WellStar Acworth Health Park’s tree lighting event.
Photo 3: Visitors young and old took a turn to let Santa know what was
on their Christmas wish list at WellStar Douglas Hospital.
Photo 4: The Dodgen Middle School Chorus entertained guests at
WellStar East Cobb Health Park’s tree-lighting event.
3.
The very popular annual Santa Pancake Breakfast at WellStar Atlanta
Medical Center (AMC) was attended by numerous team members and
their children and grandchildren. Guests were treated to a delicious
meal, a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and each child in attendance
received a special Christmas gift. The purpose of the breakfast is to
make sure every child and grandchild of an AMC team member receives
a Christmas gift each year – a tradition that started more than 40 years
ago, at the former Georgia Baptist Hospital, and is supported by the
AMC medical staff.
Photo 5: Venus Soriano, RN, Labor & Delivery, helped Santa distribute
Christmas gifts to each child in attendance at AMC’s annual pancake
breakfast.
PARTNERS / DECEMBER 2017

4.
GENEROUS
TEAM MEMBERS
“STUFFED A
BUS” WITH TOY
DONATIONS
5.
The generosity and community spirit
of our team members to help those in
need shone brightly this holiday season.
WellStar is a sponsor of the Cobb
Christmas, Inc., holiday Stuff-A-Bus
program, which collects donations of
toys and food for deserving families in
Cobb County.
This year, the Stuff-A-Bus, provided by
co-sponsor Cobb Community Transit
System, stopped at WellStar Cobb,
Kennestone and Windy Hill hospitals,
WellStar Vinings Health Park, the
WellStar Administration Building and
the WellStar Corporate Office.
All told, WellStar team members filled the
buses with 1,551 in donated items, as well
as $350 in gift card and cash donations.
WellStar team members
gave generously to this
year’s Stuff-A-Bus holiday
program, sponsored by
Cobb Christmas, Inc. The
bus made stops at the
WellStar Corporate Office
and WellStar Acworth and
East Cobb Health Parks as
part of its route.
11

TEAM MEMBER GIVING SPOTLIGHT
Why I Give: Melanie Duncan
Melanie Duncan, patient relations
coordinator at WellStar Paulding
Hospital, is passionate about giving
back – a feeling that has only grown
since her family’s experience at WellStar,
when she encountered the impact of
giving firsthand.
Helping the System provide quality
healthcare for her family and the
communities we serve is the reason Melanie
Duncan is a WellStar Foundation team
member giver. (L-R): Oscar and Hildreth
Honea, with daughter Melanie Duncan.
“My momma was pretty much a walking
ticking time bomb,” Duncan shared.
While at the hospital with Melanie’s
father for a routine visit, the doctor
suggested conducting tests concerning
her mother’s heart murmur, since they
had not been performed in a while. The
doctors found her mother’s aortic valve
nearly completely blocked. On Feb. 1,
2013, she underwent open heart surgery
and now has a pig valve working as her
aortic valve.
“You see, the WellStar Foundation
allows donors to designate funds to
various initiatives all over the System
and the communities we serve,” Duncan
continued. “Every dollar is then used
to create the greatest impact in vital
service areas, such as the heart program.
Had WellStar not received contributions
to enhance the heart program at the
hospital close to my home, my mom
might not have been able to receive this
lifesaving, surgical procedure.”
“I’m proud to tell others I give to the
WellStar Foundation and am happy
to contribute where needed with the
aim of raising more funds for this great
Foundation.”
>>> Watch Melanie’s video on
teammembergiving.org and then join her
and the WellStar Foundation on Feb. 5-16 for
the annual Team Member Giving campaign.
WellStar West Georgia Medical Center’s
(WGMC) team member giving club,
Together Employees Achieve Magic
(T.E.A.M.), is supporting renovation of
the hospital’s cancer center. In addition,
15 percent of each donation is allocated
to provide the only source of support
for Helping Hands, a team member and
volunteer assistance program for WGMC
team members. WGMC team members
wishing to join T.E.A.M. should contact
the West Georgia Health Foundation at
706-845-3029 or larkin.dorsey@wellstar.org
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 Internal Communications, Marketing,
Public Relations & Digital Communications. Send submissions to Pat
Torres, Internal Communications Strategist, at Pat.torres@wellstar.org.
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.
12