New on the Physician Portal

For a description of new Physician Portal enhancements, including screen shots, click "Read more>>."

Upcoming CME Events

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

NextGen EPM Phase 2 Training and Go-live

As the WellStar Medical Group continues with its conversion to electronic medical records, training sessions have started for Phase 2 of the NextGen EPM (electronic practice management) go-live scheduled for Friday, April 1, 2011. The training sessions, being held now through Friday, March 25, 2011, include clinical scheduling, check-in and check-out processes for the following WellStar Medical Group practices:

East Paulding Pediatrics; North Cobb Women’s Health; Northwest Women’s Care; Cousins and Cantrell; Medical Specialists; South Cobb OB/GYN – Austell; South Cobb OB/GYN – Douglasville; Creekside Pediatrics; KenMar Pediatrics – Marietta; KenMar Pediatrics – Acworth; Kennestone Pediatric Associates; North Cobb Pediatrics; North Douglas OB/GYN – Douglasville; North Douglas OB/GYN – Villa Rica; Pediatric and Adolescent Center – Austell; Pediatric and Adolescent Center – Smyrna; Pediatric Professionals Pediatrics at Brookstone; Thoracic Surgery Associates – Marietta; Towne Lake Pediatrics.

All individuals working in scheduling, check-in and check-out at the locations above must be trained prior to the April 1 go-live.

Save the Date for WellStar’s Annual Ethics Forum

WellStar’s Annual Ethics Forum is on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 in the Pacific Auditorium at the WellStar Development Center. This daylong event will be held from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. with the keynote presentation beginning at 11 a.m.

In its 10th year, the Ethics Forum is meant to educate and create awareness of the issues around medical ethics, specifically on end-of-life and palliative care issues. The entire healthcare team, from physicians to nurses to care coordinators, is encouraged to attend.

For 2011 Ethics Forum highlights and for details on how to reserve your spot, click "Read more>>."

History and Physical Requirements

The following History and Physical (H&P) requirements were pulled from WellStar Medical Staff’s Medical Record Policy, which was last updated in February 2011. In addition to complying with The Joint Commission and Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services requirements, this is a patient safety issue. Physicians need to know the risks ahead of time in order to make the next decision regarding a patient’s medical care. Please note that items in bold and underlined represent new wording or additional content.

FAQ About Patient Satisfaction

For an overview on the importance of patient satisfaction, how the data is reported and how Press Ganey compares to HCAHPS, click "Read more>>."

Gift Cards for a Cause

The WellStar Foundation has partnered with Gift Cards For A Cause, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in Norcross, Ga. You can help raise money for the WellStar Foundation simply by shopping at GiftCardsForACause.com. Each time you make a purchase, Gift Cards for a Cause will donate up to 17 percent of your order total to the WellStar Foundation.

March for Babies 2011 Commencement

Every year, more than 10,000 babies are delivered at WellStar hospitals. We strive for each of those babies to arrive healthy and strong. We are committed to supporting the March of Dimes research and the annual West Metro March for Babies to help improve the health of all babies in our community.

Atlanta's Biggest Loser

The sixth season of Atlanta's Biggest Loser started on Friday, March 11. This is the fifth straight year with WellStar as the title sponsor. For the next 12 Fridays, a WellStar physician will appear on Atlanta & Co at 11 a.m. to discuss their specialty and how it relates to obesity and weight loss. Mindy Gentry, M.D., a cardiologist with WellStar Medical Group Cardiovascular Medicine, will serve as the "medical advisor" for the 12 contestants. Other physicians scheduled to appear this season are Drs.Stan Dysart, Gary Jacobsen, Madhavi Jordan and Mitzi Rubin. Click here to watch the segments a couple days after they air.

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.

Coming Soon - UpToDate

An enterprise-wide contract for UpToDate has been signed for all WellStar Medical Staff. IT system configuration is in process and the UpToDate System should be available during the upcoming fiscal year. The system includes CME credits, and also provides answers to clinical questions, the latest clinical findings, treatment recommendations, patient education and more.

Physician Relations Team Becomes Part of WellStar Medical Group

The Physician Relations team has moved to the WellStar Medical Group. Dee Hammond and her team will work closely with Cam Crow in practice acquisitions and physician recruitment as well as with Ellen Langford and operations.

WellStar Cobb Hospital Unveils New Lobby

WellStar Cobb Hospital hosted a preview reception for its newly renovated lobby on March 8. The new lobby features a hospital history exhibit, WellStar Foundation donor recognition area, a special recognition wall for medical providers, and a remodeled gift shop and Cobbucino Café, featuring Starbucks coffee and ready-to-eat gourmet meals.

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.