WellStar Nurse Residency Program Welcomes RN Graduates

In October, the Organizational Learning Department welcomed 105 newly-graduated registered nurses to the WellStar Nurse Residency Program.

“The Nurse Residency Program is designed to support WellStar’s mission and vision by assisting new graduate nurses as they transition to professional practice and the delivery of world-class healthcare,” said Ruth Wingel, MSN, RN, residency coordinator, WellStar Organizational Learning.

WellStar has partnered with the University Health Consortium (UHC) /AACN Nurse Residency Program, which was developed by experts from medical centers and schools of nursing across the country. The one-year program is designed to effectively support new graduate nurses as they transition into their first professional roles as caregivers in the acute-care hospital setting. Upon completion, the new graduate nurse gains clinical autonomy at the point of patient care.

The program is built on an evidence-based curriculum that meets national residency accreditation standards. Its core content focuses on three critical areas: leadership, patient outcomes and professional role. Nurse residents complete evidence-based team projects that provide the impetus for practice changes to promote safe, high-quality nursing care. Each nurse resident also develops a career plan to establish future goals within the nursing profession.

In order to maximize the success of the program, Organizational Learning has partnered with Nursing Leadership, Human Resources and Nursing Clinical Practice. Unit educators serve as group facilitators at each residency session to bring bedside nursing expertise to discussions.

WellStar also has partnered with academic institutions, such as the University of West Georgia, Kennesaw State University and Georgia Highlands College, to share knowledge and resources that assist the nurse residents in making a seamless transition into the profession.

January CME Events

With the January opening of the PCI program at WellStar Douglas, you are invited to attend the following CME:

WellStar Douglas Hospital Cardiac Grand Rounds
Jan. 17, 2012
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
The Centre @ Arbor Connection, 7475 Douglas Boulevard, Suite 100-A, Douglasville, Ga. 30135
Presentations by WellStar Medical Group, Cardiovascular Medicine physicians to include:
- Updates on Revascularization Therapies
- The Radial Approach in the Catheterization Lab
- Advances in the Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure
- Management of Arrhythmias

Dinner, drinks and networking in advance of the presentation beginning at 5:55 p.m.

To register, call 770-226-9263

Primary Care Course
Topic: Endocrinology
Jan. 14, 2012
7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
WellStar Development Center

Breakfast will be included

To register, call 770-22-MYCME (69263)

“The Prevention of Surgical Site Infections with Valid Interventions”
Donald E. Fry, M.D.
Michael Pine and Associates
Jan. 18, 2012
6:45 – 8 a.m.
Kennestone Auditorium, 310 Building

• Breast Cancer Tumor Board – Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25; 7 a.m.; Post Stat Cancer Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB) – Jan. 4, 11, 18 and 25; 12 p.m.; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB) – Jan. 6 and 20; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cardiology Case Conference – Jan. 31; 7 a.m.; Kennesaw Mountain Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cardiothoracic Case Conference - Jan. 17; 7 a.m.; Radiology Conference Room
• Cobb Surgical M&M – Jan. 26; 7 a.m.; Wisteria/Jasmine Room
• GI Tumor Board – Jan. 5, 19 and 26; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Kennestone Surgical M&M – Jan. 25; 7:30 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room
• Neuroradiology/General Neurology Patient Care Conference - Jan. 4; 7 a.m.; Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Neurosciences Conference – Jan. 4, 11, 18 and 25; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Safety First Recertification - Kennestone – Jan. 20; 10:30 a.m.; Administrative Conference Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Safety First Recertification – Douglas – Jan. 18; 6 p.m.; Administrative Conference Room; WellStar Douglas Hospital
• Thoracic Clinic – Jan. 4, 11 and 25; 5 p.m.; Post Stat Cancer Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Trauma Grand Rounds – Jan. 26; 7 a.m.; Auditorium; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Wound Case Conference – Jan. 6; 12 p.m.; Cobb Auditorium

WellStar Kennestone Physician Networking Social

WellStar Kennestone Physician Networking Social was held Thursday, Oct. 13 at the Marietta Country Club. More than 100 physicians joined WellStar senior leaders and the Physician Relations Team for this event. Below are some photos.

Certified Hand Therapists Join Team at WellStar Kennestone Hospital Outpatient Rehab Center

 

Amy Barfield (right) is one of two certified hand therapists who recently joined the team at WellStar Kennestone Hospital’s Outpatient Rehab Center.

 

The menu of patient services offered through WellStar Kennestone Hospital’s Outpatient Rehab Center has expanded with the recent addition of two certified hand therapists: Amy Barfield and Meredith Brunson.

Barfield, who has won multiple awards for outstanding patient care, has 11 years experience as a certified hand therapist. She is a graduate of the Medical College of Georgia Occupational Therapy Program.  She has taught courses on custom splinting, patient care and functional capacity evaluations, as well as guest lectured, at local colleges.

Brunson also has won many awards for her patient care and has taught courses on various hand therapy topics. She has been a certified hand therapist for the past nine years.  She has 14 years of experience as an occupational therapist and is a University of Florida alumnus.

Barfield and Brunson treat all hand and upper extremity diagnoses. Both were formerly with the Outpatient Rehabilitative Services’ team at WellStar Cobb Hospital.

To make a referral, call 770-793-7600. Fax physician orders and patient contact information to 770-793-7910.

Robert Jansen, M.D., Named Senior Vice President & WellStar Medical Group President

Robert Jansen, M.D., has been named president of the WellStar Medical Group (WMG). Dr. Jansen has served admirably as interim president for the past seven months. With more than 27 years of experience within our System, he understands the private practice of medicine and clearly has shown a passion for this role as an advocate for all physicians.

Dr. Jansen is board certified in internal medicine and nephrology and was one of the original leaders
of the WMG when it was formed in 1994. He joined WellStar in 2007 as vice president of medical
affairs for WellStar Kennestone Hospital and assumed the role of interim president of WMG in March
2011. He is a graduate of Emory University School of Medicine and has a master’s degree in
business administration from Kennesaw State University.

Jon Morris, M.D., Named Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer

Jon Morris, M.D., has been named Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer (CIO) for WellStar Health System. Dr. Morris has served as WellStar's Interim CIO for the past eight months and performed outstandingly during this period.

With more than 30 years of emergency room experience (25 years in our System), he understands that the practice of medicine and information technology have clearly intersected and are permanently linked. Dr. Morris is a high energy, tech savvy physician leader with a passion for ensuring the right
tools are in place for our physicians, nurses and other care givers to deliver world-class healthcare.
Dr. Morris is board certified in emergency medicine. He began practicing in 1980 and joined the WellStar Kennestone Medical Staff in 1986. While still practicing as an emergency physician, he became a WellStar Medical Informatics Consultant in 2006 and in 2009 became WellStar’s Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO). He also continues to practice as an emergency physician on a
part-time basis. He is a graduate of Indiana University School of Medicine with undergraduate degrees in biology and chemistry. He also has a master’s degree in business administration from Kennesaw State University.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Morris on his appointment as our new CIO.

WellStar Executive Appointed to AHA Council - Lou Little to Serve on Governing Council of AHA Long-Term Care and Rehabilitation

Lou Little, WellStar senior vice president of post-acute services and WellStar Windy Hill Hospital president, has been appointed to serve on the governing council of the American Hospital Association (AHA) Section on Long-Term Care and Rehabilitation.  Little’s three-year term begins January 1, 2012.

Governing council members help shape AHA services and policy by advising the AHA on public policy matters, advocacy positions and emerging issues.  The AHA’s Long-Term Care and Rehabilitation Section focuses on the interests and concerns of post-acute providers, including long-term acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies.

“It is an honor to help form the policies of an influential organization like the AHA,” said Little.  “Each member of the council brings a unique expertise, and it will be an educational, as well as fulfilling, experience to serve on the council.”

Little has been employed by WellStar Health System for 14 years providing leadership for post-acute services. He will also continue to serve on the board of directors of the National Association of Long Term Hospitals.

Patient Satisfaction Graphs

Health Place January Promotion

Media Coverage

This story on the CyberKnife, featuring an interview with Dr. McLaughlin, aired on Nov. 16 on CBS Atlanta's Better Mornings Atlanta:
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=6459171

Pulmonary Embolism
The MDJ story featuring Dr. Amyn Hirani of WellStar Medical Group, Pulmonary Medicine, and a patient:
http://www.mdjonline.com/view/full_story/16150464/article-Pulmonary-embolism--Know-the-symptoms--risks?

Dr. Jansen Announcement
The announcement regarding Dr. Jansen's updated title was posted on the Atlanta Business Chronicle Web site on Nov 10.
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2011/11/10/jansen-tapped-as-medical-group.html

Cooler Temps Push Insects Into Homes
Published Nov 1, this article featured Dr. Grace Chiang with WellStar Allergy and Asthma who spoke about spider and other insect bites during this time of year when insects start to come inside the home and out of the cold.
http://www.mdjonline.com/printer_friendly/16240765

Prostate Cancer
This front page story on Monday, Nov 7, featured a former CyberKnife patient who credited the technology with saving his life and an interview with Dr. Kenneth Haile. 
http://www.mdjonline.com/view/full_story/16310788/article-Prostate-cancer-gaining-awareness

WellStar Community Hospice Raises Awareness During Hospice and Palliative Care Month

November was National Hospice Month. Coping with a life-limiting illness is not easy. In fact, it might be the hardest work anyone will ever do. Working with doctors and hospitals, navigating the maze of care needs, figuring out insurance coverage, all in addition to taking care of a family can be overwhelming. WellStar Community Hospice wants the community to know that there’s help.

Hospice providers take the time to talk with patients and loved ones to help them understand their illness and what care options might be available. They make patient wishes a priority and make sure patients get the care they want and deserve.

WellStar to Acquire OrthoSport Physical Therapy

We are very pleased to announce that the WellStar Board of Trustees approved a letter of intent to purchase OrthoSport Physical Therapy. The acquisition is slated to be completed later this month. OrthoSport is a Cobb County-based practice with three locations in Kennesaw, Marietta and Woodstock. It is owned and managed by Kim Chastain, BS, PT, DPT OCS, a board-certified physical therapist with more than 25 years of experience. Niki Groves, DPT, serves as managing chief of operations. Established in 2002, Orthosport employs more than 20 individuals and their operations include aquatic therapy, sports medicine, work injury management, spinal rehab and vestibular and dry needling programs.

Once the acquisition is completed, Chastain will become executive director of outpatient rehabilitation services reporting to Mike Graue and Groves will become director of operations for outpatient rehabilitation services. This acquisition has great synergy with our current rehabilitation services. OrthoSport operations serve injured workers, sports injuries and other low severity patients in community-based locations. These services fit extremely well with our current accredited inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services. WellStar focuses primarily on more intensive rehabilitation programs for stroke patients, patients with traumatic or acquired brain injury or neurological disorders and patients with spinal cord injuries, amputations, hip fractures and multi-trauma. Through this integration, we will be able to provide world-class rehabilitation services to meet the full range of needs within our entire community. We are very fortunate to have found a partner that brings such a successful retail business model to our System. Once the integration is complete, OrthoSport and WellStar’s current outpatient rehabilitation locations will be operated under one management team to facilitate a more cohesive and seamless experience throughout our seven outpatient facilities. This acquisition provides WellStar with an excellent opportunity to expand and grow all of our rehabilitation services. There will be no consolidation of operations or elimination of positions with the integration of OrthoSport. Please join us in welcoming the OrthoSport team to WellStar.

To learn more about OrthoSport visit their website at http://ospthome.com.

Media Coverage: The announced acquisition of this three-location physical therapy practice got placed in the "County by County" section of the AJC on Nov. 10 and in various Patch.com Web sites (one link below).

http://northeastcobb.patch.com/articles/wellstar-to-purchase-orthosport-physical-therapy

Lung Cancer Screenings

Lung cancer screenings are available for $199 per individual or $299 per couple.
To be eligible for the screening, you must be 50 years of age or older with a history of smoking, secondhand tobacco smoke exposure or exposure to occupational or environmental cancer-causing substances.

You are not eligible for this screening exam if you:
• Have had a chest CT within the past 12 months
• Have a history of pulmonary fibrosis
• Are pregnant
• Have a history of cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer) unless disease-free for five years

Lung cancer screenings are available in Austell, Douglasville, East Cobb, Hiram, Marietta and Woodstock. To schedule yours, call 770-956-STAR (7827).

WellStar Physician Installed as President of American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

Stanley Fineman M.D., was installed last week as the president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The ACAAI is a professional medical organization headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill., that promotes excellence in the practice of the subspecialty of allergy and immunology. The College, comprising more than 5,000 allergists-immunologists and related health care professionals, fosters a culture of collaboration and congeniality in which its members work together and with others toward the common goals of patient care, education, advocacy and research.

Dr. Fineman sees patients in Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Clinic’s Kennestone and East Cobb offices.

Kennestone Outpatient Rehab

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.

Update from WellStar Inpatient Diabetes Teams

WellStar Inpatient Diabetes Teams have had many achievements this year! Thank you to everyone on these Systemwide teams who have helped push these initiatives through and improved patient care. Here is a list of just a few of the accomplishments:

• Revision of Hypoglycemia Standing Orders 
• Creation and pilot of DKA Insulin Infusion Orders at Cobb Hospital
• Creation of Nursing Education Toolkit and roll-out of nursing education for Zynx Adult Basal Bolus Insulin Orders
• Creation of Physician Education Toolkit and roll out of physician education Zynx Adult Basal Bolus Insulin Order
• Poster presentation second place winner for Quality and Safety – Cobb Insulin Infusion Pilot, Evidence Based Glucose Target Range for Insulin Infusions in the ICU. Second place for Clinical Improvement and Innovation. Evidence Based Practice Tool Kit for Bedside Nurses, Research Conference, Marietta, Ga., September 2011
• Creation of Diabetes Best Practice physician follow-up letter
• Participated in the GHA Glycemic Control Statewide Collaborative
• Created action plans for reducing and eliminating Health Care Acquired Conditions related to Manifestations of Poor Glycemic Control

WellStar Featured on Cover of Modern Healthcare Magazine

Getting their appetite back
In need of capital, not-for-profit hospitals take advantage of dropping interest rates
By Melanie Evans for Modern Healthcare Magazine

Investors last week snapped up tax-exempt bonds sold by WellStar Health System, and as they did so erased $4.2 million from the Georgia health system's interest costs.

WellStar, based in Marietta, refinanced $58 million last week while it borrowed another $75 million to expand the system's flagship hospital. The five-hospital system locked in interest rates of 4.58% even after accounting for underwriter fees that add incrementally to borrowing costs.

“We're taking advantage of the current market,” said Jim Budzinski, executive vice president and chief financial officer of WellStar.

Borrowers such as WellStar have moved to take advantage of lower rates in recent weeks after borrowing by not-for-profit hospitals mostly steered clear of municipal bond markets this year. In September and October, hospitals and health systems have issued $4.3 billion in municipal bonds—one-quarter of the amount they issued since Jan. 1.

The amount borrowed and refinanced from municipal investors through mid-September was only 60% of the sum in the same period last year—$14 billion compared with $23.6 billion—and the smallest amount for the January-through-September period during the past decade. With two months remaining this year, hospitals have sold 215 municipal bonds compared with an average of 765 a year during the past two decades, Thomson Reuters data show.

Though activity in the municipal markets has been modest most of this year, healthcare borrowers' appetite for loans directly from banks has grown since 2010. Incentives under the 2009 economic stimulus act sparked interest in the deals, but direct bank loans continued to thrive after incentives expired last December.

“We are cash rich today,” said healthcare banker Mark Huebner, a vice president with Commerce Bank in St. Louis. Healthcare lending offers the bank a better return than other avenues to invest its cash deposits as the Federal Reserve seeks to boost the economy with low interest rates, he said. “We have it on the shelf, ready to be deployed.”

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.

Supply Chain Strategy Delivers Quality Supplies and Services Along With Cost Savings

WellStar’s Value Analysis Department uses a systematic, evidenced-based approach to facilitate the selection and purchase of safe, high-quality medical supplies and services that maintain or improve the quality of patient care at the best possible price.

In order to achieve this, several Value Analysis teams, which are part of WellStar’s Supply Chain Division, work closely with WellStar physicians and clinicians across all service lines to review both current and future medical supply needs.  Value Analysis uses information from several national quality and price benchmarking services to identify potential savings opportunities.