WellStar Health System Generates $2.2 billion for local, state economies

According to a recent report by the Georgia Hospital Association, the state’s largest hospital trade association, in 2010 WellStar Health System’s five hospitals, WellStar Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone, Paulding and Windy Hill, generated more than $2.2 billion in revenue for the local and state economy. The report also found that, during the same time period, WellStar provided approximately $106,594,815 in uncompensated care.  This is in addition to the unreimbursed cost of care provided by WellStar to Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries of $31 million and $58 million, respectively.  This commitment to our community has occurred, while sustaining more than 10,000 full-time jobs throughout northwest metro-Atlanta.  These jobs are non-WellStar employees, such as vendors and contractors, and are in addition to the more than 12,000 WellStar employees.

The report revealed that WellStar hospitals had direct expenditures of more than $957,000,000 in 2010.  When combined with the an economic multiplier developed by the United States Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, the total economic impact of those expenditures was more than $2.2 billion. This output multiplier considers the “ripple” effect of direct hospital expenditures on other sectors of the economy, such as medical supplies, durable medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. Economic multipliers are used to model the resulting impact of a change in one industry on the “circular flow” of spending within an economy as a whole.

“This new report shows that, even in these difficult economic times, WellStar has an enormous positive impact on our local economy,” said Jim Budzinski, executive vice president and chief financial officer of WellStar Health System. “We thank our community’s unwavering support of WellStar and will continue to work hard to ensure that the citizens of this community have access to health care services that are second to none in quality and affordability.”

While WellStar remains a major component of the area’s economic engine, the System’s leadership, like the rest of the Georgia hospital community, is concerned about a wide array of economic challenges that have made it increasingly difficult to meet the community’s health care needs including continued cuts in Medicare and Medicaid payments and a fast-growing uninsured population. Presently, more than a third of all hospitals in Georgia are operating with negative margins. 

 “We’re extremely concerned with the current operating environment for hospitals,” said Budzinski. “We’ve made a commitment to every citizen of this community to be on call for them 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  But our ability to do so is being compromised when, in many cases, we’re seeing an increasing number of uninsured patients while the state and federal governments are paying us far less than what it actually cost to treat Medicaid and Medicare patients.”

According to Budzinski state lawmakers must work to protect the state’s health care system with the same fervor that they do other initiatives like education and public utilities. 

“Our local health care system is indispensable,” Budzinski said. “It is the primary guardian of health in our community and is the key building block for everything else in our community including education and economic vitality.  It is our hope that, even in these challenging economic times, that our elected lawmakers will do what is necessary to protect our local health care system and preserve access to health care for everyone in our community.”

Diabetes Services Update

Diabetes Services provides inpatient bedside education at WellStar Cobb and Kennestone hospitals for patients newly diagnosed with diabetes, high-risk diabetes, or whose home self-management of their diabetes needs updating and reinforced. The patients are given a new blood glucose monitor and instructed how to use it with a return demonstration from the patient. The patient is also provided a Diabetes Survival Skills book or CD, and given instructions on safe diabetes care until they can follow-up with their primary physician. The Survival Skills curriculum reviews treatment of diabetes, monitoring, target blood ranges, hypo/hyperglycemia signs and symptoms and how to treat. Nutrition and diet information is also taught. Diabetes medications are reviewed, including insulin self-administration.

The goal of inpatient education is for the patient to feel confident in their diabetes care at home whether they feel sick or well. Outpatient diabetes education classes are also a primary goal, and each patient who receives inpatient education is scheduled for outpatient education as well.

To reach a diabetes educator at WellStar Cobb Hospital, call 770-732-4119. To reach a diabetes educator at WellStar Kennestone Hospital, call 770-793-7810 or 770-793-7836.

New Medical Staff as Approved at the June Governing Board Meeting

Medical Staff

Name	Specialty	Group Name	Appointment	Current Staff Membership
Aguilera, Martha X., M.D.	General Surgery	WellStar Surgical Assoc of Marietta	KH, WMG
Chander, Archana V., M.D.	Pediatrics	Kennesaw Pediatrics, PC	KH
Estrella, Eduardo, M.D.	Obstetrics and Gynecology	WellStar Cobb Gynecologists	CH, WMG
Herbst, Jonathon B., M.D.	Anatomic & Clinical Pathology	WellStar Pathologist Group	CH, DH, KH, PH, WH, WMG
Jaglan, Sandeep, M.D.	Nephrology	Georgia Kidney Associates	DH	CH, KH, WH
James, Kimone M., M.D.	Nephrology	Georgia Kidney Associates	DH, KH, WH, CH – App
Parker, Stacey A., M.D.	Family Medicine	Main Street Family Physicians	KH
Patel, Amish N., M.D.	Nephrology	Georgia Kidney Associates	DH	CH, KH, WH
Raines, Allison L., DO	Emergency Medicine	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH
Roseman, Barry J., M.D.	General Surgery	Surgical Oncology of North GA	WH
Silvera-Schwartz, Aixa I., M.D.	Pediatrics	WellStar Smyrna Primary Care Center	CH, WMG

Advanced Practice Professionals

Name	Specialty	Group Name	Appointment	Current Staff Membership
Adham, Sarah C., NP	Nurse Practitioner	Marietta Neurology & Headache	KH
Blackwood, Elizabeth P., NP	Nurse Practitioner	Pulmonary Medicine	WH, WMG – App	CH, DH, KH, PH,
Fort, Keith W., PA	Physician Assistant	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH
Howard, Rebecca L., PA	Physician Assistant	WellStar Pulmonary Medicine	CH, DH, KH, WMG
Naidu, Rammohan K., PA	Physician Assistant	Tariq Javed, MD	KH
Reardon, Elizabeth J., NP	Nurse Practitioner	WellStar Rheumatology	WMG

July CME Events

• Breast Cancer Tumor Board: July 11 and 25; 7 a.m.; Post Stat Cancer Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB): July 11, 18 and 25; 12 p.m.; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB): July 6 and 20; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• GI Tumor Board: July 5, 12, 19 and 26; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Safety First Recertification – July 23; 5:30 p.m.; Chestnut Room; WellStar Paulding Hospital
• Thoracic Clinic – July 11, 18 and 25; 5 p.m.; Post Stat Cancer Clinic, WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Trauma Grand Rounds – Kennestone: July 29; 7 a.m.; Auditorium
• Wound Case Conference – July 6; 12 p.m.; Auditorium; WellStar Cobb Hospital

WellStar Health System Performs First Percutaneous Aortic Valve Replacement Surgeries

Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter heart valve

In a multidisciplinary approach to cardiac care that is synonymous with the WellStar Cardiovascular Network, four physicians -- two heart surgeons and two interventional cardiologists -- performed two successful percutaneous aortic valve replacement surgeries on Thursday, May 17, at WellStar Kennestone Hospital. These procedures offer an alternative for patients who previously were unable to have traditional aortic valve replacement due to co-morbidities or other issues.

The team of physicians who participated in the two surgeries included interventional cardiologists Arthur Reitman, M.D.,  and Amar Patel, M.D., and heart surgeons William A. Cooper, M.D. and Richard Myung, M.D., Echocardiographer Sarita Kansal, M.D., and cardiac anesthesiologist Matt Grabowski, M.D., also participated. Both patients had successful procedures and are recovering at WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

During these surgeries, the replacement valve, called the Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter heart valve (pictured above) and developed by Edwards Lifesciences, was passed through the femoral artery in the groin and advanced up to the patient’s heart. It substitutes for a much more invasive procedure in which the chest has to be opened in order to replace the valve.

"These collaborative efforts between cardiology and cardiac surgery are a new paradigm for innovative therapies and transformative care delivery for patients who might not qualify for traditional valve surgery," according to Dr. Reitman,  Medical Director for Cardiac Catheterization, and Dr. Cooper, Medical Director for Cardiac Surgery for WellStar Health System. "WellStar's highly integrated physician network forms the foundation for this patient-centered, comprehensive approach to structural heart disease."

The Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter heart valve received FDA approval for the treatment of certain inoperable patients in November 2011.

"These procedures mark a pivotal moment in the ongoing evolution of expanding cardiovascular services available to the WellStar community," said Drs. Reitman and Cooper.  "These efforts were initiated with cardiac surgery and angioplasty programs at WellStar Kennestone Hospital in December 2004."

New WellStar Medical Group May Providers

The following providers joined WellStar in May.

Jennifer D. Conde, M.D. - Dr. Conde received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. She earned her medical degree from Medical College of Georgia in Augusta and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C.

Dr. Conde is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and the Gynecology and American Medical Association.



 

Aixa Isabel Silvera-Schwartz, M.D., FAAP -  Dr. Silvera-Schwartz earned her medical degree from the University of Panama School of Medicine in Panama City, Panama. She completed internships at Hospital Caja del Seguro Social and Rafael Hernandez Hospital, both located in the Republic of Panama. She completed her residency in pediatrics at Hospital Caja del Seguro Social and also at Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Dr. Silvera-Schwartz was previously employed by Grady Health System as a lead pediatrician for the ambulatory department. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the Georgia American Academy of Pediatrics. She is proficient in Spanish.

Patient Satisfaction Graphs

New Medical Staff as Approved at the May Governing Board Meeting

Name	Specialty	Group Name	Appointment	Current Staff Membership
Brown, Sheree E., M.D.	Radiation Oncology	Radiation Oncology	WMG	KH, PH
Crisco, Larry Van-Thomas, M.D.	Cardiovascular Disease/IC	Saint Joseph’s Medical Group	CH, DH
Edupuganti, Ravindra, M.D.	Cardiovascular Disease	Saint Joseph’s Medical Group	CH, DH
Gardner, Erinn, M.D.	Allergy & Immunology	Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Cl.	DH, KH
Haile, Kenneth L., Jr., M.D.	Radiation Oncology	Radiation Oncology	WMG	CH, KH, PH, WH
Hart, Justin P., M.D.	Radiation Oncology	Radiation Oncology	WMG	KH, PH
Hughes, Lorie L., M.D.	Radiation Oncology	Radiation Oncology	WMG	KH, PH
McLaughlin, Mark P., M.D.	Radiation Oncology	Radiation Oncology	WMG	KH, PH
Meadows, Adam C., M.D.	Psychiatry	Psychiatry	CH, KH, WH, WMG
Memark, Janet P., M.D.	Internal Medicine	WellStar Medical Group	WMG	CH, KH
Momin, Kamela, M.D.	Pediatrics	Pediatric Hospitalist Group	CH
Thomas, John S., M.D.	Sleep Medicine	John S. Thomas, MD, PC	PH
Thoms, William W., M.D.	Radiation Oncology	Radiation Oncology	WMG	KH, PH

Advanced Practice Professionals

Name	Specialty	Group Name	Appointment	Current Staff Membership
Adams, Denise L., NP	Nurse Practitioner	WS Creekside Pediatrics	WMG
Cusumano, Nicolle, PA	Physician Assistant	WS Cobb Surgical Associates	CH, WMG
Kushner, Lauren M., NP	Nurse Practitioner	WS Northwest Women’s Care	WMG
Massey, Elizabeth K., PA	Physician Assistant	Georgia Lung Associates, P.C.	CH, KH
Pulaski, Sandra B., NP	Nurse Practitioner	WS Northwest Women’s Care	WH, WMG
Range, Linda J., CNM	Nurse Midwife	WS Cobb Gynecologists	CH, WMG
Shiver, Kristi R., NP	Nurse Practitioner	WS Pulmonary Medicine	PH, WH, WMG	CH, DH, KH
St. Charles, Richard, PA	Physician Assistant	Georgia Lung Associates, P.C.	CH, KH
Westercamp, Nathan A., PA	Physician Assistant	Surgical Assoc of Marietta	WMG	KH

June Department Meetings

To view the schedule of department meetings in June, click "read more>>"

CME Events

• Breast Cancer Tumor Board: June 6, 13 and 27; 7 a.m.; Post Stat Cancer Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB): June 6, 13, 20 and 27; 12 p.m.; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB): June 8 and 22; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• GI Tumor Board: June 7, 21 and 28; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Neuroradiology/General Neurology Patient Care Conference: June 6; 7 a.m.; Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Neurosciences Conference: June 6, 13, 20 and 27; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Safety First Recertification – Kennestone: June 22; 10:30 a.m.; Administrative Conference Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

New On-Demand Advance Directive Care Planning Video Educates Patients on End-of-Life Healthcare Decisions

Many patients, despite their desire to remain in control of the final stages of life, never document their wishes or even express them to family members or close friends.
All too often, an end-of-life decision is left to someone who isn’t clear on what the patient would have wanted and therefore, they are unable to take appropriate action, thus leaving loved ones with doubt and guilt after the patient has passed.

However, many of these situations may be remedied by completing an Advance Directive (AD) and appointing a healthcare advocate who will honor the wishes of the patient.

By law, upon admissions, all patients must be asked if they have an AD. As a healthcare institution and individual providers, we are obligated to honor the AD and act in accordance with their wishes.

If a patient indicates that they do not have an AD, but would like more information, WellStar has developed some new and improved tools to help with this process.

One such tool is the Patient Information Booklet, set to replace the Critical Conditions Pamphlet, currently distributed at admissions, in 2013.

More recently, a powerful addition to the ethics toolkit is a new video, available on-demand in patient rooms, labeled #810 - Advance Directive: “Who Will Speak for You?” 

This 11-minute video brings home the powerful point that no matter your age or illness, it’s important to start thinking about how you want to live, even at the end of your life

Clinical team members may contact Care Coordination with any questions on ADs, or to speak with any patient who may have questions about how to complete an AD.

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.

WellStar Health System’s Gold Standards of Clinical Documentation Improvement

General and Respiratory-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:

• Clarification by the attending is necessary when there is conflicting or inconsistent documentation in the medical record. (i.e., attending physician documents bacteremia and consultant documents sepsis)
• Discharge summary: Include all the diagnoses that were clinically evaluated, therapeutically treated, diagnostically tested, or caused an increase in length of stay or nursing care throughout the patient’s stay.

Respiratory-Specific Tips:

• Respiratory failure diagnosis: Differentiate if condition is acute respiratory failure or chronic respiratory failure
• If a chronic condition requires admission for treatment, clarify if it is an acute event or exacerbation of chronic condition
• Clarify causative organism of pneumonia (i.e., gram negative, MRSA, pseudomonas, fungus or if aspiration pneumonia)
• Provide most specific diagnosis/condition causing a symptoms (i.e., hypoxia, dyspnea, respiratory distress or hemoptysis)
• Cor pulmonale: Clarify acute or chronic
• Clarify if an evolving diagnosis/condition was present on admission, if after further study it is documented later in the stay
• If diagnosis of end stage COPD and/or O2 dependent, clarify if it is chronic respiratory failure

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.

WellStar Canton Imaging Center Now Open in Cherokee County

On March 5, WellStar welcomed WellStar Canton Imaging Center, the second WellStar imaging center located in Cherokee County. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Located at 720 Transit Avenue, Suite 201, the office's state-of-the-art imaging services include:

• CT Scan (16-Slice)
• DEXA Bone Densitometry
• Digital Screening Mammography
• Digital Radiography
• Heart Screening
• Lung Screening
• MRI (1.5T)
• Ultrasound

The new upgraded CT scanner now allows us to perform Heart Screens, Lung Screens and other advanced CT exams. Lab Services will be available at the beginning of June.

To contact the office directly, please call 770-479-4847. To schedule your next imaging appointment, please call 678-581-5900.

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.”

Update on Epic Team Hiring

We have been very excited to see the enthusiasm and support for the Epic Project from across WellStar. We had a tremendous response to our call for internal candidates to be on the Epic Team.

Approximately 675 internal candidates have applied and taken the assessment. We believe we will meet our target of having 80 percent of the positions filled internally. In addition, we have received more than 1,000 external applications.

The offer process for members of the Epic Team will begin on Wednesday, May 16 and we will notify all applicants no later than Friday, June 1. For candidates not selected, there will be future opportunities to be part of the project as part of your current position. We also are finalizing our Epic leadership team and will be announcing those individuals soon.

A home has been secured for our Epic Team at 2700 Cumberland Parkway in the Cobb Galleria area. The entire third floor and part of the second floor will be used to house the Epic team during project implementation. The space includes offices, conference rooms and training facilities. The team will move-in beginning in early June. Thank you for your support of this important project.

The Blood Drive Challenge

The recent WellStar Cardiovascular Medicine Blood Drives have sparked a challenge for all physician offices to host blood drives and donate blood at their offices.

At the March and April CVM blood drives, several doctors in the practice were present and donated blood. This shows that CVM physicians have a passion for not only the heart, but blood donations, as well!

There are multiple blood drives each month at various organizations and offices. To find a blood drive near you, please visit eSource > Departments > Blood Drive.

For more information, please contact Melanie Duncan at melanie.duncan@wellstar.org

WellStar Diabetes Services

WellStar’s Diabetes Services provides a nationally recognized educational program for our diabetes and pre-diabetes population. The diabetes team has registered dietitians and registered nurses, certified in diabetes education (CDE), a licensed master of social work and -support staff. Outpatient classes are taught at WellStar Kennestone, Douglas and Paulding hospitals and soon-to-come WellStar Health Park locations. Free support groups are available in multiple locations throughout the community. To reach any member of this team, or to refer a patient, call 770-793-7828.

 WellStar Diabetes High Risk Disease Management program is a free telephonic program for any patient with an A1C > 8 percent, who has either WellStar Humana or Medicare insurance, and a WellStar physician. The disease management team is staffed by a registered nurse CDE and a licensed master of social work. To reach anyone on this team, or to refer a patient, call 770-793-7823.

WellStar Diabetes Inpatient Education is available at WellStar Cobb and Kennestone hospitals. The staff is comprised of registered nurse CDEs. In addition to educating high risk patients at bedside, the role of the inpatient educators is to promote and administer the system hospital glycemic initiatives. To reach a member of the WellStar Cobb Hospital team, call 770-732-4119.To reach a member of the WellStar Kennestone Hospital team, call 770-793-7810 or 770-793-7836.

WellStar has diabetes teams at all facilities whose focus is to drive and improve the system’s glycemic initiatives. The teams work to improve patient care by promoting best practice through the utilization of the Zynx order sets to standardize care. Kimberly Roberts facilitates the diabetes team and can be contacted at 770-793-7829 or kimberly.roberts@wellstar.org.

Visit the department website on either www.wellstar.org or eSource > Departments > Diabetes Services for further information.