Sleep Medicine Boards

Congratulations to Patrick C. Melder, M.D. (ENT Associates of North Georgia) and Vivek Gupta, M.D. (WellStar Bi-County ENT) for passing their Sleep Medicine Boards!

Dr. Gupta completed his undergraduate degree in biology at Washington University in St. Louis. He obtained his medical degree at Washington University School of Medicine, one of the top five medical schools in the country. While in medical school, Dr. Gupta also obtained a master's degree in molecular biology doing cutting-edge research on head and neck cancer. He completed his general surgery internship and residency in otolaryngology head and neck surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. Since finishing his residency in 2003, Dr. Gupta has been in practice in Austell and Douglasville.

As a board-certified otolaryngologist, Dr. Gupta treats both adult and pediatric patients. He has a special interest in sinus surgery and utilizes the latest technologies, including computer-guided sinus surgery and minimally invasive balloon sinus surgery. Dr. Gupta also has an interest in office treatment of inner ear disorders. Dr. Gupta is an active member of the medical staff and has served on multiple committees at WellStar Cobb and Douglas hospitals. He is married with three children.

Dr. Melder received his undergraduate degree from Houston Baptist University and his medical degree from Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. He served on active duty in the U.S. Army, completing a general surgical internship at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas. He completed his training in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he was later named chief of the Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Service. During his tenure at Walter Reed, Dr. Melder was a pioneer in the application of robotic surgery in the field of head and neck surgery.

Dr. Melder served 13 years on active duty and was honorably discharged as a lieutenant colonel. He has a unique interest in the applications of digital technologies in the field of endoscopy. He is also an expert in the field of sleep-disordered breathing: snoring and sleep apnea. Dr. Melder established the first surgical sleep-disordered breathing clinic during his tenure at Walter Reed. He is the founder of Envisionier Medical Technologies, developers of the world’s first palm-held endoscopic imaging system. He is a board-certified otolaryngologist.

Physician Lunch and Learn: Glycemic Control in the Hospital

Presented by: WellStar Diabetes Services and Ann P. Ward, M.D.
WellStar Cobb Hospital
Feb. 1, 2012
12-1 p.m.
Auditorium

New Medical Staff as Approved at the December Governing Board Meeting

Medical Staff

Name	Specialty	Group Name	Appointment	Current Staff Membership
Campbell, Devin S., MD	Hospitalist/ Internal Medicine	Hospitalist Group	CH, DH, KH, PH, WH, GRP
Elsass, Amy L., MD	Cardiovascular Disease	Cardiovascular Medicine	CH, DH	KH, PH, GRP
Goo, David J., MD	Pediatric Emergency Medicine	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, KH
Johnson, Rodney M., MD	Allergy and Immunology	Atlanta ENT Sinus & Allergy	KH
Martin-Ross, Amber, MD	Anesthesiology	Tri-County Anesthesia	CH, DH
Nelson, Crystal L., MD	Psychiatry	WS Psychiatry	CH, KH, WH, GRP
Ortiz, Narmo L., Jr., DPM	Podiatry	Marietta Podiatry Group	KH, WH
Syed, Abdul H., MD	Psychiatry	WS Psychiatry	CH, KH, GRP

Advanced Practice Professionals

Name	Specialty	Group Name	Appointment	Current Staff Membership
Bishop, Diana R., NP	Nurse Practitioner	Southeastern Gynecologic Oncology	CH, KH
Daly, Serena H., NP	Nurse Practitioner	WS Neurosurgery	GRP	KH
Dugan, Shannon C., PA	Physician Assistant	WS Cardiovascular Medicine/The Bortolazzo Group	CH, DH, PH, GRP	KH
Goodner, Andrew W., PA	Physician Assistant	WS Cardiovascular Medicine	CH, DH, GRP	KH
Kirkland, Meghan R., PA	Physician Assistant	Georgia Lung Associates, P.C./The Bortolazzo Group	DH, PH	CH, KH
Markwell, Maggi, PAA	Physician Anesthesia Asst	Tri-County Anesthesia	CH
McHargue, Nicole M., NP	Nurse Practitioner	East Paulding Pediatric Center	KH, GRP
Perrett, Jade N., PA	Physician Assistant	Hospitalist Group	CH, PH, GRP
Rast, Jean L., NP	Nurse Practitioner	WS Cardiovascular Medicine	CH, DH, GRP	KH
Rodie, Jonathan P., PA	Physician Assistant	WS Cardiovascular Medicine	CH, DH, GRP	KH
Scouten, Haley B., PA	Physician Assistant	WS Cardiovascular Medicine	CH, DH, GRP	KH
Sullivan, Virginia T., NP	Nurse Practitioner	WS Cardiovascular Medicine	CH, DH, GRP	KH
Weeks, Scott A., PA	Physician Assistant	WS Cardiovascular Medicine	CH, DH, GRP	KH

December New Provider

The following provider joined WellStar Medical Group in December.

Micah Tepper, M.D. – WellStar Cardiovascular Medicine
Micah R. Tepper, M.D., F.A.C.C, received his medical degree from the University of Missouri School of Medicine in 2000, and then went on to complete an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/HarvardMedical School. This was followed by a Cardiovascular Disease fellowship at the University of Virginia, which was completed in 2006.

Dr. Tepper is an invasive cardiologist board certified in both Cardiovascular Disease and Internal Medicine. He joined WellStarCardiovascular Medicine in December 2011 after practicing in Georgia with The Heart Clinic, P.C. since 2006. He is trained in cardiac catheterization, echocardiography, transthoracic/esophageal echocardiography,cardiovascular computed tomography and nuclear cardiology.

He is currently on staff at WellStar Cobb and Douglas hospitals where he also serves on the Cardiac Performance Improvement Committees. Dr. Tepper is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

January New Providers

The following providers joined WellStar Medical Group in January.

Dauda Griffin, M.D. – Psychiatry – WellStar Psychiatry

Dr. Griffin obtained a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from The George Washington University and a medical degree from The George Washington University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in adult psychiatry at Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance, and his fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Emory University School of Medicine.
Dr. Griffin is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is a member of the American Psychiatric Association where he has held numerous leadership positions. In his spare time, Dr. Griffin enjoys photography, movies, music and exercise.

Fritz Jean-Pierre, M.D. – bariatric surgery, WellStar Comprehensive Bariatric Services

Dr. Jean-Pierre obtained his bachelor’s degree in microbiology and cell sciences from the University of Florida and his medical degree from Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School. He completed his fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at Atlanta Medical Center. Prior to that, he completed the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago’s Mount Sinai Program from 2003-2009.



Rhonda Latif, M.D. – OB/GYN – WellStar Northwest Women’s Care at Windy Hill (no photo available)

Dr. Latif earned her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Georgia and her Doctorate of Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia. She completed her internship and residency at Georgia Baptist Medical Center in the Department of OB/GYN. Dr. Latif is board certified in OB/GYN. She is a member of the North American Menopause Society, Georgia Obstetrical Gynecological Society, Medical Association of Georgia, Medical Association of Atlanta, and a fellow of American College of OB/GYN. Prior to joining WellStar, Dr. Latif worked at Atlanta Gynecology Associates.

Doctor Dialogue

WellStar joins Spirit of Women ® Hospital Network

WellStar Health System is a new member of Spirit of Women®, an elite coalition of hospitals and healthcare providers across the United States that ascribe to the highest standards of excellence in women’s health, education and community outreach. Their mission is to inspire women in all stages of their lives to take action for better health for themselves and their families. To execute this mission, each year Spirit of Women develops a national education platform with topics based on critical areas of women's health that parallel hospital business building strategies across all service lines. As our community's exclusive Spirit of Women hospital system, we have direct access to evidence-based, best practice programming that will build loyalty and drive women to our physicians, hospitals and other key services we provide. By joining Spirit of Women, we have an opportunity to further differentiate WellStar as the provider of choice for women in our community. 

This partnership will provide a wide variety of programs, including:

• A quarterly seminar series: Offered through our Speaking about Wellness for Women programs, this series will pair fun activities with educational health messages for women of all ages.  Please call 770-956-STAR (7827) for schedule information and to register to participate in these programs. These seminars will be a great opportunity to earn points for HealthStart.
•  eNewsletter subscription: Sign up to receive a free monthly newsletter and information on other special events; to request a subscription or to be added to our mailing list, please visit www.wellstar.org/SpiritofWomen or e-mail SpiritofWomen@wellstar.org.
• National Signature events: Through events held annually, WellStar Health System and other Spirit of Women member hospitals come together to address critical women’s health issues. Through fun and camaraderie with other women, signature events provide attendees with education on how to live vibrantly while maintaining best cardiac, breast and overall health. We will share more information about these events in the future.  

Physicians and other clinical team members will have numerous opportunities to be involved in Spirit including:

• Contribute articles to the monthly Spirit eNewsletter and quarterly national Spirit Magazine.
• Participate as a presenter for WellStar’s Speaking about Wellness for Women programs and other monthly health promotions.
• Participate in future national signature events. 
• In working towards achieving the National Standards of Excellence in Women’s Health designation, it will also be in asset in our journey toward MAGNET status.
• Physician/clinician led community presentation opportunities under future new OB programming (coming in FY13).

For more information about our Spirit of Women partnership, please contact Kristin Caudell, Director of Corporate & Community Health/Women’s & Children’s Resources and Spirit of Women coordinator at 770-793-7385 or kristin.caudell@wellstar.org.

February Department Meetings

WellStar Cobb Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
OB/GYN	2/6 - 12:30 p.m.	Auditorium
Credentials	2/7 – 12 p.m.	ABR
Medical Executive Committee	2/21 – 12 p.m.	Admin Conference Room

WellStar Douglas Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
PI Committee	2/2 - 7:30 a.m.	Sweetwater Room
Credentials	2/7 - 12 p.m.	Sycamore Room
APP Meeting	2/13 - 12 p.m.	Sycamore Room
Medical Executive Committee	2/14 - 12 p.m.	Sycamore Room

WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Credentials	2/1 - 7 a.m.	Kennesaw Mountain Room
Medical Executive Committee	2/7 – 6 p.m.	Kennesaw Mountain Room
APP Leadership Council	2/8 – 7 a.m.	Admin. Conference Room
Surgery Department	2/15 – 7 a.m.	Azalea/Camellia Room
Pediatrics Department	2/15 - 12:30 p.m.	Kennesaw Mountain Room
New Provider Orientation and Safety First Training	2/17 - 8 a.m.	Admin. Conference Room
OB/GYN Department	2/20 - 5:30 p.m.	Azalea/Camellia Room
APP General Meeting	2/29 - 7 a.m.	Auditorium

WellStar Paulding Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Medical Executive Committee	2/16 - 12:30 p.m.	Dogwood Room

WellStar Windy Hill Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Medical Executive Committee	2/21 - 5:15 p.m.	Admin Conference Room

February CME Events

• Breast Cancer Tumor Board – Feb. 1, 8, 22 and 29; 7 a.m.; Stat Clinic Conference Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB) – Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29; 12 p.m.; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB) – Feb. 3 and 17; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cardiology Case Conference – Feb. 28; 7 a.m.; Kennesaw Mountain Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cardiothoracic Case Conference – Feb. 21; 7 a.m.; Radiology Conference Room
• Cobb Network Tumor Board – Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29; 12 p.m.; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Cobb Surgical M&M – Feb. 23; 7 a.m.; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• GI Tumor Board – Feb, 2, 16 and 23; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Kennestone Network Conference – Feb. 3 and 17; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Kennestone Surgical M&M – Feb. 29; 7:30 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Neuroradiology/General Neurology Patient Care Conference – Feb. 1; 7 a.m.; Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Neurosciences Conference – Feb. 1; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital – Purple Tower
• Safety First Recertification - Kennestone – Feb. 17; 10:30 a.m.; Admin Conference Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Thoracic Clinic – Feb. 1, 8, 22 and 29; 5 p.m.; Post Stat Cancer Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Trauma Grand Rounds – Feb. 23; 7 a.m.; Auditorium; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Illuminating the Right Path has Been Postponed

Illuminating the Right Path is an event that will inform providers about how Right Orders, our CPOE system, and other technology will change and improve patient care. Originally scheduled for Feb. 11, 2012, the event has been postponed since we are revising the CPOE implementation timeline. It is our desire to present the information when it will have the most value to our providers. When the timeline is finalized and a new event date is set, we will send a new Save the Date and will post the information here on Medical Staff News. If you have any questions, please contact Jon Morris, M.D. at jon.morris@wellstar.org.

Breast, GI and Lung Cancer Support Groups

Patient Satisfaction Graphs

WellStar Appoints Vice President and Chief of Hospitalist Services

Val Akopov, M.D., has joined WellStar as vice president and chief of hospitalist services. In his new role, which began Jan. 3, Dr. Akopov will oversee 35 hospitalists at WellStar Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone, Paulding and Windy Hill Hospitals.

Dr. Akopov brings more than 25 years of healthcare experience to WellStar. Most recently, he served as director of hospital medicine services for Emory University Hospital Midtown (EUHM) where he helped establish the facility’s academic hospitalist program. Under his leadership, EUHM’s hospital medicine program grew from eight full-time employees to more than 30. His leadership will have a positive impact on our hospitalists’ ability to provide the highest quality care to the inpatients at WellStar’s hospitals.

WellStar’s hospitalists play an important role in inpatient care and are typically trained in internal medicine. From admission through discharge, they focus exclusively on inpatient care and may order tests, monitor a patient’s recovery from surgery, prescribe medicine, and implement treatment options to ensure a patient’s best outcome.

Prior to his position as EUHM’s director of hospital medicine, Dr. Akopov was the hospital’s director of care coordination, where he oversaw operations of Social Services and the Utilization Review Department. Under his supervision, the hospital improved key metrics including mortality, length of
stay and core measures compliance.

In 2009, Dr. Akopov was appointed EUMH Associate Chief of Medicine. Academically, he served as assistant professor of medicine for Emory University School of Medicine and associate program director with the J. Willis Hurst Internal Medicine Residency Program at EUHM. While at Emory, Dr. Akopov received a number of teaching awards including multiple Golden Apple Teaching Awards, Emory Hospital Medicine teaching Award and Overall Excellence in Hospital Medicine Award.

Dr. Akopov is board certified in internal medicine. He received his medical degree from Tbilisi (Republic of Georgia) Medical Institute and completed his residency in internal medicine at Emory University Hospital.

Mammography Screening Direct Mail Campaign

A new mammography screening direct mail campaign began this month. Approximately 1,500 pieces are being mailed monthly across our service area, and ROI will be determined on an ongoing basis. As with the colonoscopy campaign, this effort will support volume for the WellStar Cancer Network as well as other service lines.

WellStar Health System Acquires OrthoSport Physical Therapy

WellStar Health System has completed its purchase of OrthoSport Physical Therapy, a Cobb County-based practice with locations in Kennesaw, Marietta and Woodstock.
Owned and managed by Kim Chastain, a board-certified physical therapist with more than 25 years of orthopedics experience, OrthoSport was established in 2002 and employs more than 20 individuals. Therapies and programs include aquatic therapy, sports medicine, work injury management, spinal rehab and vestibular and dry needling programs.

Chastain is now executive director of outpatient rehabilitation services for WellStar and all OrthoSport employees have become WellStar team members. OrthoSport and WellStar’s current outpatient rehabilitation locations will be managed by one management team. For patients, this will mean a more cohesive and seamless experience throughout WellStar’s seven outpatient facilities.
WellStar currently offers inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services focused primarily on intensive rehabilitation programs for stroke patients, patients with traumatic or acquired brain injury or neurological disorders.  Patients with spinal cord injuries, amputations, hip fractures and multi-trauma also are treated within the current program. With the addition of OrthoSport, WellStar will be able to expand access to world-class rehabilitation services to meet the full range of needs within the community.

OrthoSport’s three locations are 3450 Acworth Due West Rd. in Kennesaw – Acworth, 3855 Shallowford Rd. in Marietta and 209 Towne Lake Parkway in Woodstock/Towne Lake. WellStar currently provides outpatient rehab services at WellStar Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone and Windy Hill Hospitals.

Stroke Program Receives Gold Plus Performance Award

 Congratulations to the members of the WellStar Kennestone Hospital stroke program team for receiving the 2011 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) Get with the Guidelines® - Target: Stroke Gold Plus Performance Award.

The AHA/ASA Get with the Guidelines® - Target: Stroke campaign was created to help hospital teams achieve the goal of door-to-needle times of 60 minutes or less for ischemic stroke patients who receive thrombolytic therapy (t-PA), by providing evidence-based strategies, clinical decision support, measurement tools and other resources.

WellStar Kennestone Hospital is one of only seven hospitals in Georgia to have been designated as an AHA/ASA Target: Stroke facility. This designation means that 50 percent, or more, of our patients who receive thrombolytic therapy (t-PA), receive it in less than 60 minutes.

The Gold Plus Performance Award is a tribute to the outstanding efforts of this inter-disciplinary team, which is comprised of physicians and team members from the Emergency Department, Neurology, Radiology, Lab, 3 West ICU/IMCU, 7 West Neuro, Pharmacy, Rehabilitation Services and emergency medical services providers. Together, they work to provide the highest quality of care to our stroke patients.

According to the AHA/ASA, the Gold Plus Performance award represents a current gold or silver award and additional 75 percent compliance with module-specific quality measures for at least 12 consecutive months.

WellStar Health System’s Gold Standards of Clinical Documentation Improvement

General and Neurology-Specific Clinical Documentation Tips
WellStar Health System’s Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) Program is designed to ensure that clinical documentation in a patient’s medical record appropriately reflects the care provided. The most vital role of the CDI program is facilitating a true representation of healthcare services provided, through accurate reporting of the principal diagnosis, co-morbidities and any treatments or procedures.

As part of the program’s ongoing efforts, the CDI team offers specific tips monthly from the Program’s Gold Standards of Clinical Documentation Improvement. 

General Tips

• Indicate acuity, even when it is obvious, i.e. congenital, chronic, acute, acute or chronic (exacerbation).
• When radiology/pathology/laboratory findings are clinically significant they need to be referenced in the progress notes by a physician or mid-level provider.

Neurology

• Altered mental status: Clarify if related to encephalopathy, dementia with acute confusional state, acute delirium/dementia.
• Link late effect to CVA, if appropriate, i.e. dysphagia, hemiplegia.
• Dementia: Indicate if presenile or senile and whether it is related to delirium, delusional features or depressive features.
• Dementia: Indicate behavioral disturbance i.e. aggressive, combative, violent or wandering.
• TIA:  Clarify cause i.e. arrhythmia, carotid artery occlusion, electrolyte imbalance, CVA, DM. 

WellStar Kennestone Outpatient Rehab Center Begins Program for Breast Cancer Survivors

A new educational program for breast cancer survivors, called S.E.L.F. (Survivors Learning About  Exercise Lymphedema and Fatigue Management) is being offered by the WellStar Kennestone Outpatient Rehab Center. The program will be led by physical therapy certified lyphedema therapists.

Class dates:

• Thursday, Feb. 9, 6-7 p.m.

• Thursday, May 10, 6-7 p.m.

• Thursday, Aug. 9, 6-7 p.m.

• Thursday, Nov. 8, 6-7 p.m.

Call 770-793-7600 for more information.

LifeVest Saves Patient’s Life

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in the United States, claiming up to 450,000 lives a year. Five hundred Americans suffer SCA every day and only 30 survive. Acworth, Georgia resident Sean Mazza would have been part of that statistic if he had not been wearing a wearable defibrillator – a one-of-a-kind therapy used to prevent sudden death for patients who are at risk of sudden cardiac arrest, but aren’t eligible for an implantable defibrillator.

Mr. Sean Mazza is 26 years old and began wearing the LifeVest after his implantable defibrillator was removed.  Sean had been wearing the LifeVest for just over two weeks when he received two lifesaving treatment shocks. Sean was playing a Nintendo game when he lost consciousness and was treated by the LifeVest. His caretaker Sharon Mazotti heard the alarms from another room.  She went to Sean’s side and discovered that he had already been treated. Ms. Mazotti called Sean’s doctor and reported that he had regained consciousness and felt fine.

Ms.  Mazotti expressed “We are very grateful to Dr. Kanuru for prescribing the LifeVest for Sean.”  She continued, “We feel very fortunate that Sean was wearing the LifeVest at the time of his cardiac arrest.” 
Sean is looking forward to getting back to some of his favorite activities, including going out to eat, going to local festivals, and playing video games from his favorite store GameStop.
Below is some additional information on the LifeVest wearable defibrillator.

LifeVest wearable defibrillator backgrounder and Q&A

LifeVest wearable defibrillator animation

Traveling Exhibit Comes to WellStar

WellStar Health System will host “Opening Doors: Contemporary African American Academic Surgeons”through early February. The exhibition is a celebration of the contributions of African American academic surgeons to medicine and medical education. It showcases four pioneering surgeons and educators who exemplify excellence in their fields through education and mentoring of younger physicians and surgeons. Everyone is invited to stop by and view the exhibit.

Jan. 23 – Feb. 3
Kennestone Hospital - Opposite Gift Shop

For more information, contact Stephanie Taylor, Director, Cultural Competency at 770-956-6419 or Stephanie.taylor@wellstar.org.

Opening Doors is a collaborative effort between the National Library of Medicine, the largest medical library in the world and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture in Baltimore, the largest African American museum on the east coast of the United States.