Celebrating Nurses

On May 2, three WellStar nurses were honored at The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s annual Celebrating Nurses: Nursing Excellence Awards event. Amy Tipton, RN, WellStar Paulding Hospital ICU and Acute Care; Cindy Bales, RN, WellStar Kennestone Hospital Women’s Unit; and Penninah (Penny) Ndungu, RN, Kennestone, Ortho/Neuro Telemetry, were chosen from more than 300 nominees as three of the top 10 nurses in Georgia. WellStar was the only health system with more than one honoree.

Whether it’s in a hospital, on a soccer field or in another continent, this year’s nominees share a commitment to helping others and making a difference in peoples’ lives. Their passion for nursing goes beyond their day-to-day responsibilities, as you will discover through their nomination stories.

Call for Nominations: Georgia Hospital Association’s 8th Annual Hospital Hero Awards

Know a WellStar team member, volunteer or physician who epitomizes patient and family centered care either at the bedside or behind the scene? Nominate them today for a Georgia Hospital Association’s (GHA) 8th Annual Hospital Hero Award.

According to GHA’s website, the Hospital Hero award is given to 11 exceptional individuals whose exemplary leadership and dedication have significantly enhanced patient care, their organizations and their communities.

The GHA also annually honors aGeorgia hospital employee who has at least 30 years of dedicated service with the Lifetime Heroic Achievement Award.


Anyone may nominate fellow team members, volunteers or physicians, even individuals who are not affiliated with a Georgia hospital. For complete details, or to submit a nomination, please visit https://publications.gha.org/Home/Awards/HospitalHeroesAwards.aspx.

The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, July 27.

Patient Safety Project Awarded Grant

WellStar recently received a grant from Medline Industries to fund a project that will measure the effectiveness of fall prevention team training. The $100,000 grant, one of only 11 awarded nationwide, is the largest our System has ever received for a clinical care initiative. Principal investigators for the grant are Bethany Robertson, executive director and chief learning officer; LeeAnna Eaton, director of Nursing Research; and Marcia Delk, M.D., senior vice president, Medical Affairs, and chief quality officer.

The project’s objective is to decrease falls and fall-related injuries through the implementation of an evidence-based team training program. Two units at WellStar Douglas Hospital - 2 South and 2 North - will participate in the study. WellStar Cobb Hospital’s 4 South and 2 South will serve as control units. The year-long project began in March; if successful, study findings will provide a platform for larger funding opportunities and the model has the potential to be replicated across the System.

“Recruiting has begun at Douglas Hospital and we have engagement from all departments and disciplines involved in patient care on our interventional units,” said Sara Patrick, project manager. “Thanks to our Safety First initiative, they realize fall prevention is a true team effort.”

WellStar Named Top Nonprofit by the National Association for Female Executives

WellStar was again named to the NAFE Top 50 Companies and 10 Nonprofits for Executive Women by the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE). Overall our System was ranked No. 1 among nonprofits, up from third last year. The list identifies organizations whose policies and practices encourage women’s advancement and whose numbers at the highest levels of leadership demonstrate that commitment.

This is a recognition we should all be proud of, as it speaks directly to our System’s strong dedication to the advancement of women in leadership – and on a national scale. Females account for 82 percent of our workforce and 75 percent of the top 20 percent earners. These women lead our business units and have direct budget responsibilities.

On the clinical side, we recently introduced a Clinical Nurse Leader program for team members interested in careers focusing on patient outcomes strategies. There are also numerous on-site business and leadership courses available through our collaboration with Kennesaw State University’s Coles College of Business.

Those are just a few of the many career development opportunities available to our team members.The connection between WellStar’s reputation as a national leader in healthcare and accolades like the one above is no coincidence. We know that building a culture that encourages the success of all team members across every level is one of the fundamental drivers of world-class patient care.

Avril Beckford, M.D., FAAP, Leads Georgia Pediatrics Chapter to Award

The Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (GAAP), led by chapter president, WellStar’s own Avril Beckford, M.D., FAAP, was selected to receive the outstanding chapter award in the very large chapter category. The award’s selection process included a detailed report and presentation by Dr. Beckford on the chapter’s work, education and advocacy for Georgia’s children and pediatricians. Dr. Beckford, who heads the WellStar pediatric service line, has served as the GAAP president for the past two years.

WellStar Foundation Physician Partners

The WellStar Foundation recently launched a new initiative to create greater awareness of WellStar’s philanthropic efforts throughout our physician community.

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.

Physician Published in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Journal

William D. Lyday II, M.D., with Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates, was published in the April 2009 issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Dr. Lyday is the lead physician on the statement for "Radiofrequency ablation of Barrett’s esophagus: outcomes of 429 patients from a multicenter community practice registry."

WellStar Kennestone Hospital’s Knee and Hip Program Recognized

WellStar Kennestone Hospital has been recognized as a Blue Distinction® Center for Knee and Hip Replacement by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. This designation is awarded to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare, resulting in better overall outcomes for patients who undergo knee and hip replacement procedures.

WellStar Physician Published in Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation

Laura Peno-Green, M.D., was published in the November/December issue of the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention (JCRP). Dr. Peno-Green is the lead physician on the statement for "Patient and Program Outcome Assessment in Pulmonary Rehabilitation." (AN AACVPR STATEMENT)