New Medical Staff Members – January Credentials - As Approved at the February WellStar Governing Board Meeting

For a complete list of new medical staff, click "Read more>>."

New Medical Staff Members – December Credentials - As Approved at the February WellStar Governing Board Meeting

For a complete list of new medical staff, click "Read more>>."

New Medical Staff Members – November Credentials - As Approved at the December WellStar Governing Board Meeting

For a complete list of new medical staff, click "Read more>>."

WellStar Surgery Network Launches Marketing Campaign

The surgery marketing team has developed key messages that distinguish the WellStar Surgery Network as Atlanta’s surgery leader. WellStar’s rich tradition of minimally invasive surgery, broad subspecialty expertise and cutting-edge technology solidify our position as a regional destination for surgical care.
The “awareness phase” of the surgery marketing plan, which will launch early this year, includes print, television and radio advertisements. Additional targeted follow-up materials that will feature select specialties and surgery programs are also planned for the campaign.

Chris Anderson, M.D., F.A.C.S., Summit Surgical Specialists, leads the team and encourages a multi-hospital and multi-specialty approach. “The diversity of our team members has allowed us to successfully refine our message,” he said. “One of our priorities is to represent all 350 surgeons and anesthesiologists who make up the WellStar Surgery Network.”

“Our people are our greatest asset,” said William Mayfield, M.D., chief surgical officer at WellStar. “We’re determined to highlight their expertise across metro Atlanta.”

WellStar Health System Named as a “Top 100 Most Highly Integrated Healthcare Network” in U.S.

SDI, a leading healthcare information company, recently ranked WellStar as one of the top 100 health systems in its 14th annual “100 Most Highly Rated Integrated Healthcare Networks (IHN 100©).” The rating is based on SDI's IHN Rating System TM, which evaluates each network's ability to operate as a unified organization in each of eight categories: integration, integrated technology, contractual capabilities, outpatient utilization, financial stability, services and access, hospital utilization and physicians. WellStar moved up four spots from last year’s ranking to ninth, claiming a spot in the top 10 for the first time. WellStar is the only health system from Georgia to make the list. This year’s IHN 100© was published in the February issue of Modern Healthcare, a trade publication for the healthcare industry.

WellStar Hospitals Place on Quality Honor Roll

WellStar Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone and Paulding hospitals were recently named to the Georgia Hospital Association’s (GHA) Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) Quality Honor Roll. Additionally, WellStar Paulding Hospital is one of 21 hospitals in Georgia to be placed in the Chairman’s category, the highest on the list. WellStar Kennestone, Cobb and Douglas hospitals placed on the Presidential Honor Roll. The honor roll is based on clinical data provided by the federal Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS), which administers these programs. The data was collected from July 2009 to June 2010.

WellStar Health System Wins Statewide Patient Safety Award for Reduction of Health Care Associated Infections

The Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) presented its prestigious Quality and Patient Safety Award to WellStar Health System for its project that reduced health care associated infections (HAI). The project titled, “Providing Safe Care by Reducing the Incidence of Health Care Associated Clostridum Difficile Infections,” won third place in the highly-competitive Infection Prevention and Control Category.

New Absence from the Unit Policy

On Feb. 1, 2011, we implemented a new Absence from the Unit Policy. It is our top priority to ensure the safety and health of our patients at all times. We established this procedure in response to growing concerns about patients leaving units without the knowledge of our clinical staff.  If patients are not in their units, we cannot ensure their safety and that they are receiving timely medical care.

WellStar President & CEO Search Process

I wanted to provide you with an update on the search process for selecting a new President & CEO for WellStar Health System. Last fall, we retained the executive search firm of Witt/Kieffer to assist us with the process. In December, they met with members of the Board of Trustees and many senior and physician leaders to help us determine the skills needed for our next President & CEO and outline the goals and objectives for this position.

Physician Satisfaction with Medical Care HCAHPS

The healthcare industry is steadily becoming more consumer-driven and transparent. As part of this movement toward increased transparency and consumerism, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created a new survey tool. Dubbed the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (HCAHPS), this survey tool measures patients’ perceptions of their experience within hospitals. The results of this survey are publicly posted on CMS’ website, www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov, and are directly tied to reimbursement by CMS.

Physician Networking Social

On Thursday, Feb. 17 from 6 - 9 p.m., WellStar Physician Relations will host a Physician Networking Social at Arbor Connection (7475 Douglas Boulevard Suite 100 A, Douglasville, Ga. 30135). Dinner will be served. Please RSVP by Feb. 14 to Karen Nightingale at 678-337-7100 or karen.nightingale@wellstar.org.

On Tuesday, March 15 from 6 – 9 p.m., WellStar Physician Relations and WellStar Kennestone Hospital will host a Physician Networking Social at Marietta Country Club (Club Drive, Kennesaw, Ga.). Dinner will be served. Please RSVP by March 10 to Karen Nightingale at 678-337-7100 or karen.nightingale@wellstar.org.

Process for Ordering WellStar Approved Forms

If you send over forms (H&Ps, consent forms, etc.) for admissions or surgeries from your office, you can order packets from the Purchasing Department. There is no cost associated with ordering the forms. To view a  list of WellStar approved forms, go to eSource > My Resources > Forms & Docs > Medical Record Forms by Item Number.

If you would like to order WellStar approved forms, please contact Paula Arnett at Paula.Arnett@wellstar.org or 770-792-1700.

Please include the following when ordering:

Form name
Form item # (if known- located on bottom of the form)
Practice Name
Practice Address
Contact person and phone #
Quantity needed

WellStar Medical Group Launches The Pulse Newsletter

If you are an employed WellStar Medical Group (WMG) physician, you should have received the first edition of The Pulse, a quarterly newsletter by providers, for providers. The Pulse was created by the Physician Engagement Committee of the Medicine Service Line as a way for the WMG to communicate with each other and the WMG administration.

Whether you are in the office or at home, the format of The Pulse makes it easy to open, read and print. Interactive hyperlinks embedded throughout the newsletter allow you to navigate to a particular topic or page. Simply click on a story title on the Contents page to be directed to that particular story and use the "Contents," "Previous Page," and "Next Page," links on the bottom of each page to help you navigate to a particular page. To make the newsletter appear larger, use the percentage key on the top toolbar to change the percent to 75, 100 or whatever you prefer.

If you did not receive the newsletter, please contact Sarah Solomon at sarah.solomon@wellstar.org.

February and March Department Meetings

For a list of February and March department meetings, click "Read More>>."

Upcoming CME Events

For a list of upcoming CME events, click "Read more>>."

POLST Education Starts Feb. 14

On Feb. 14, WellStar will continue to roll out an updated Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) - a form / order that ensures a patient’s treatment wishes about end-of-life care are honored. The new, hot pink POLST form replaced the goldenrod form and is more user-friendly.

Robert G. Warner, M.D. 1950-2011

Robert G. Warner, M.D., 60, WellStar cardiologist and long-time member of WellStar’s Board of Trustees, died unexpectedly on Jan. 14.

Dr. Warner was a cardiologist at the Cobb Heart Clinic and WellStar Cobb Hospital for the past 22 years. He served on WellStar’s Board since 2001.

Dr. Warner was known for his generous spirit, love of life and appreciation of gourmet food, diverse cultures and travel.

“Bob’s dedication to his family, his patients and WellStar will be sorely missed,” said Jim Budzinski, interim president & CEO.

“The WellStar family extends its sympathy and condolences to Bob’s family,” said Randall Bentley, chair, WellStar Board of Trustees. “Our thoughts are with Bob’s mother, Mary, and his children, Catherine, a medical student at Medical College of Georgia; Brian, a senior at Amherst College in Massachusetts; and Elizabeth, a junior at Bowdoin College in Maine.”

Safety First Re-certification Schedule for Physicians and Mid-Levels

For the February and March Safety First Re-certification schedule, click "Read more>>."

WellStar Pediatric and Adolescent Center Relocates

WellStar Pediatric and Adolescent Center relocated its Smyrna office in an effort to better serve the community. The Cooper Lake location closed on Feb. 4 and the new location at 4521 South Cobb Drive, Suite 100, Smyrna, Ga. 30080, opened on Feb. 7.

Heather Bean, CPNP; Avril Beckford, M.D., FAAP; Melanie B. Coon, CPNP; Ana Combes-Osacar, M.D., FAAP; Annisha Ellis, M.D., FAAP; Sivan Hines, M.D., FAAP; Laurel Kohn, M.D., FAAP; Patricia Matthews, M.D., FAAP; Patricia Anne Wolfe, DO, FAAP; and are all providers at WellStar Pediatric and Adolescent Center.

WellStar Pediatric and Adolescent Center has been part of WellStar Medical Group for more than 15 years. For more information, call the Austell office at 770-819-9262, the Smyrna office at 770-801-5000 or visit www.pediatricandadolescentcenter.org.

Microsoft Home Use Program

For a limited time, WellStar team members can take advantage of Microsoft Office Professional 2010 for Home Use for only $9.95.*

1. To redeem, visit http://hup.microsoft.com

2. Enter your WellStar e-mail address and use WellStar code BFD4ACC4AC

3. Click on the "Buy Now" link from the activation e-mail you will receive from Microsoft Home Use Program.

*This offer is a $499.99 value! The unique WellStar code is assigned to our organization for our sole use and may not be shared with anyone outside of WellStar. Limited licenses are available on a first come, first serve basis. In order to take advantage of this special Microsoft offer, you must have a valid WellStar e-mail address.  This offer is valid ONLY for home use and may NOT be installed on any work computers.

Winter Storm 2011 Forum

During the January snow storm, there were many incredible stories of the effort and commitment that WellStar team members put forth in order to serve our community. To capture and share these stories with the entire WellStar team, we created a WellStar Winter Storm Forum.

Go to www.wellstar.org/winterstorm2011 and tell us your experiences, post pictures or recognize outstanding team members within the entire WellStar community.

Save 50 Percent off Select Cosmetic Laser Treatments

• Hair removal
• Spider veins
• Facial rejuvenation

The discount is valid for all WellStar employees through May 31. The laser treatments are available at the practice of Robert Hudec, M.D., located at Towne Lake Medical Center, Family Practice, in Woodstock. Call 770-592-3000 to schedule your free consultation.