Dan Woods Named Chief Operating Officer, WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Dan Woods has joined WellStar Kennestone Hospital as Chief Operating Officer (COO). He will work closely with the WellStar Kennestone Hospital Administrative team and will be responsible for oversight of all WellStar Kennestone Hospital operations.

Prior to joining WellStar, he served as Senior Vice President of Verras, where he lead efforts to minimize variations in the clinical care practice and reduce the utilization of resources by creating an environment of collaboration between physicians and hospitals. Prior to Verras, Dan served as Vice President of Operations at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Ill., where he championed numerous operational and quality improvement initiatives. In addition, he spearheaded efforts for operational excellence and improved the cost structure by $20 million in the first year. As a thought leader, he led the development of program strategies of four service lines, cardio-vascular, neurosciences, organ transplantation and oncology.

Dan holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Iowa and a MBA from the University of Chicago. You may contact him at dan.woods@wellstar.org or 770-793-5007.

New Liver Tumor Procedure at WellStar Kennestone

John E. Bianco, MD, Interventional Radiologist, Quantum Radiology, PC, is offering a new outpatient procedure for the treatment of primary and metastatic liver tumors at WellStar Kennestone’s Vascular Institute. The procedure, Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT), provides targeted radiation to the liver tumors and includes the placement of a transfemoral microcatheter positioned in the hepatic artery. Using the liver’s unique vascular supply, millions of yttrium-90 microspheres are selectively implanted in the microvascular arterial supply of the tumor, where they become trapped, killing tumor cells and sparing the healthy liver parenchyma. For more information on this procedure, please contact Quantum Radiology at 678-581-3830.

Tower & Church Bistro Opening Soon at WellStar Kennestone Hospital

When Tower & Church Bistro, a new restaurant, bakery and deli opens at WellStar Kennestone Hospital at the end of February, it will have its guests asking themselves if they really are on a hospital campus.

The 5,200-square-foot facility, which is located in the former Women’s Imaging space, is designed to provide its guests with an oasis from the traditional institutional environment. Featuring a dining room resplendent in rich wood, tile and stacked stone finishes, with an eclectic mix of transitional and antique furnishings, Tower & Church Bistro offers the convenience of a casual dining experience right on the hospital's campus.

General Manager and Executive Chef, Steve Barron, CEC, ACE,AAC, is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America with 30 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Chef Barron will offer a variety of delectable breakfast, lunch and dinner menu options, featuring French-Mediterranean and other international cuisines. The menu also will include salads, sandwiches, soups, hand-tossed pizzas, calzones and “Knead to Go” take-out options. A limited Starbucks® coffee menu also will be available.

Kennestone Outpatient Surgery Center

The Kennestone Outpatient Surgery Center (KOSC) is open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and is located on the fourth floor of the Kennestone Outpatient Pavilion. The new surgery center is designed to maximize efficiency and provide patients with a private and personal surgery experience.


Since treating the first surgery patients in early September, hundreds of ENT, general, plastic, gynecologic and breast cases have also been performed. To date, feedback from patients and surgeons alike has been consistently positive.


Dedicated nursing teams, fast-track anesthesia, convenient scheduling, expedited registration and the newest equipment and technology are some of the features that make the KOSC a great option for practices. If you have not had an opportunity to tour the new facility and would like to do so, please contact ChrisTina Goodall, KOSC director, at christina.goodall@wellstar.org.

WellStar Kennestone Hospital becomes designated Level II Trauma Center

The Georgia Department of Public Health designated WellStar Kennestone Hospital as a Level II Trauma Center, making WellStar Kennestone the only designated TraumaCenter in WellStar Health System’s five-county primary service area (Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas and Paulding counties). The designation comes after nearly two years of planning, implementation of a formal model for trauma care and the hiring of key physicians and support staff.

“This is an important day for not only WellStar but, more importantly, the residents of Northwest Georgia as they now have access to high quality trauma care closer to home,” said Candice Saunders, executive vice president and WellStar Kennestone Hospital administrator. “Exceptional emergency care is already available at four of the five WellStar hospitals; however, the addition of this trauma designation is a further demonstration of our commitment to bringing world-class healthcare to the communities we serve.”

A WellStar Trauma Steering Committee, made up of physicians and administrators, has been in place for nearly two years working on developing a model for trauma care and the implications of trauma designation. As part of the process, WellStar submitted data to the State of Georgia Trauma Registry over the past 10 months and had a state trauma site inspection from the Department of EMS/Trauma of WellStar Kennestone Hospital on Wednesday, Nov. 2.

“Obtaining this designation was a lot of work by many key individuals,” said Saunders. “Additionally, we had to create several key roles to support the trauma program, including a trauma program manager, a trauma registrar and a medical director for trauma services. As a Level II Trauma Center we also are required to have 24/7 access to certain medical specialists, such as a neurosurgeon, orthopaedics, and oral maxillofacial.”

With the addition of WellStar Kennestone to the Georgia Trauma Care Network, there are now 19 designated Trauma Centers (two of which are pediatric) in the state. Trauma Centers must meet guidelines to become a “designated” trauma center and are ranked at Levels I - IV. A Level I Trauma Center offers 24-hour, seven-day-a-week in-house availability to an attending surgeon and is usually aligned with an academic institution (i.e. medical school) as trauma research is required. A designated Level II Trauma Center has the same standard of care as a Level I, but does not provide training programs for surgery residents or fellows.

“The formalized trauma program will enhance the training of staff in the Emergency Department and improve the coordination of care,” said Barry Renz, M.D., a traumatologist who is serving as medical director for trauma services. ”Additionally, trauma patients who come to the WellStar Kennestone Hospital Trauma Center are more likely to survive as trauma mortality rate is 25 percent lower in trauma centers compared to non-trauma centers.”

WellStar Kennestone Hospital, already an accredited chest pain and stroke center, and its emergency department of three trauma rooms and 63 exam rooms is one of the busiest in the state. Last fiscal year, WellStar’s four emergency departments (WellStar Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone and Paulding hospitals) had 306,346 patient visits and served more adult patients than any hospital system in the state.


Here are links to various media mentions:
WSB-TV
http://www.wsbtv.com/videos/news/kenestone-hospital-named-level-2-trauma-center/vD6bX/

MDJ (front page with photo)
http://www.mdjonline.com/view/full_story/16321192/article-WellStar-Kennestone-receives-approval-to-offer-trauma-care?

MDJ (Editorial Piece the following day)
http://www.mdjonline.com/view/full_story/16331199/article-New-designation-for-Kennestone-welcome?

Georgia Health News Web Site
http://www.georgiahealthnews.com/
This also made the Atlanta Journal Constitution's "County by County" section on Nov. 9 and several of the local Patch.com Web sites.

WellStar Breaks Ground on New Tower

On Tuesday, Aug. 16, WellStar broke ground on a new tower at WellStar Kennestone Hospital. The tower, scheduled to open in December 2012 or January 2013, will have 108 rooms, all of which will be private.

Click here to read the full story in the Marietta Daily Journal. 

Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Receives “3 Star” Quality Rating!

WellStar Health System has received a “3 Star” rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). STS has developed a comprehensive rating system for the quality of cardiac surgery among hospitals. Only 12-15 percent of hospitals across the country received the “3 Star” rating, which denotes the highest category of quality for clinical excellence based on National Quality Forum (NQF) standards.

In the current analysis of national data covering the period from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010, the cardiac surgery performance of WellStar Kennestone Hospital was within the top tier thereby earning the STS - “3 Star” Rating.

Local Facility Named “Center of Excellence” for Advanced Breast Cancer Treatment

WellStar Kennestone Radiation Oncology Department was recently named a “Center of Excellence” in accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) for its use of the SAVI™ applicator, an advanced therapy for breast cancer as part of breast conservation therapy. The SAVI applicator can provide important advantages for women with early-stage breast cancer.

WellStar Kennestone Hospital Plans to Become Designated Level II Trauma Center in Summer 2011

At the Thursday, December 9 WellStar Health System Board of Trustees meeting, a resolution was adopted authorizing WellStar Kennestone Hospital to submit an application with the Georgia Department of Community Health to become designated as a Level II Trauma Center by the summer of 2011. If approved, WellStar Kennestone Hospital will be the only designated Trauma Center in WellStar Health System’s five county primary service area. Click here to read the full press release.

WellStar Kennestone Hospital’s Stroke Program Recognized with Prestigious Award

WellStar Health System is pleased to announce WellStar Kennestone Hospital has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award.
The award recognizes WellStar Kennestone Hospital’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations.

WellStar Achieves Quality Honor Roll

The latest Appropriate Care Measures (ACM) rates from April 2009 to March 2010 show that WellStar Cobb, Douglas, Paulding and Kennestone hospitals continue to meet the 93 percent threshold for the Presidential Level of the Quality Honor Roll! (The most recent Quality Honor Roll can be found by clicking here.)

Pat Horton’s Resignation

Pat Horton, Chief Nursing Officer for WellStar Kennestone Hospital, recently announced her resignation so that she can spend more time with her family, effective Oct. 29, 2010. Pat joined WellStar Kennestone Hospital in 2007 as the Executive Director of Medical Nursing and became the interim Chief Nursing Officer in 2009.

WellStar Kennestone Hospital’s Spine Surgery and Total Joint Replacement Programs Receive National Recognition

WellStar Health System is pleased to announce that WellStar Kennestone Hospital has been granted accreditation by the Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center.

June and July CME Events

For a complete list of June and July CME events, click "Read More>>."

Physician Engagement at WellStar Kennestone Hospital (Part 3 of the Series)

Robert Jansen, M.D., VP of Medical Affairs

The 2010 Medical Staff Engagement Survey is well underway and will continue through June 7. I would like to thank each of you who have already participated and I look forward to viewing your feedback. Your input is extremely important and provides insight and data which will help fuel our 2011 planning sessions.

As you may recall from my previous articles, I reviewed a list from Engaging Physicians by Dr. Stephen C. Beeson where he spoke of different stages to improve engagement. I have already covered three of these topics, including:

• Communicate Organization Vision and Goals
• Establish Physician Confidence and Trust
• Training Physicians

60 Never Looked So Good – Kennestone Hospital Celebrates 60th in June

As the New York Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies in the 47th World Series of baseball and North Korean forces invaded South Korea to begin the Korean War, Georgia Governor Herman Talmadge helped to dedicate what we now know as WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

May and June CME Events

For a complete list of May and June CME events, click "Read More>>."

Clinical Documentation Improvement: Focus on Sepsis

The terms “bacteremia” and “sepsis” are often used interchangeably by healthcare providers. However, these should not be considered synonymous terms.

WellStar Kennestone Hospital Awarded Three-Year CARF Accreditation

CARF International announced that WellStar Kennestone Hospital has been accredited for a period of three years for its Inpatient Rehabilitation Program: Hospital, Adults; and its Inpatient Rehabilitation Program: Hospital, Stroke Specialty Program. This is the sixth consecutive, three-year accreditation that the international accrediting body has awarded to Kennestone.

60 Never Looked So Good – Kennestone Hospital Celebrates Milestone in June

In June, WellStar Kennestone Hospital will mark 60 years of providing world-class healthcare to our community. The hospital opened June 12, 1950, with 105 beds, 80 employees and 28 physicians. Today, Kennestone is licensed for 633 beds, has more than 4,000 employees and 800 medical staff coming onto the campus throughout the week.