Thursday, June 21, 2012
Trupiano Selected to Serve on National Healthcare Supply Contract Council
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| Anthony Trupiano |
"WellStar continues to grow in order to meet the heathcare needs of the communities we serve, including development of state of the art facilities, such as the new Paulding hospital and the medical park in Acworth," said Trupiano. "Participating in this new VHA council will allow me to work with peers from around the country to develop a contract portfolio that can assist WellStar in managing the cost of capital and construction, while also gaining insight into new and innovative technology as it is introduced to the market."
Trupiano will serve as an advisor for the development and enhancement of supply contracts and programs. In this capacity, he will represent WellStar as he helps hospitals across the nation contain costs and better serve their patients.
Northwest Neurology is Fourth Lab to Receive AANEM Accreditation in Georgia
Northwest Neurology has received Laboratory Accreditation status from the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM). Saba Bejanishvili, M.D., certified by the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine (ABEM), is the laboratory’s medical director.
“I am excited to receive AANEM Laboratory Accreditation status”, explained Saba Bejanishvili, M.D. The AANEM Electrodiagnostic (EDX) Laboratory Accreditation Program is a voluntary, peer review process that identifies and acknowledges EDX laboratories that achieve and maintain the highest level of quality, performance, and integrity based on professional standards. Accreditation provides laboratories specializing in EDX medicine with a structured mechanism to assess, evaluate, and improve the quality of care provided to their patients.
The AANEM established laboratory accreditation criteria for electrodiagnostic (EDX) laboratories to ensure patients receive quality medical care in a safe environment. Laboratory accreditation provides patients, referral sources, and payers with a credible measure to differentiate the laboratory’s quality of care. The accreditation standards evaluate the diagnostic services and clinical operations essential to providing quality patient care, which include:
“I am excited to receive AANEM Laboratory Accreditation status”, explained Saba Bejanishvili, M.D. The AANEM Electrodiagnostic (EDX) Laboratory Accreditation Program is a voluntary, peer review process that identifies and acknowledges EDX laboratories that achieve and maintain the highest level of quality, performance, and integrity based on professional standards. Accreditation provides laboratories specializing in EDX medicine with a structured mechanism to assess, evaluate, and improve the quality of care provided to their patients.
The AANEM established laboratory accreditation criteria for electrodiagnostic (EDX) laboratories to ensure patients receive quality medical care in a safe environment. Laboratory accreditation provides patients, referral sources, and payers with a credible measure to differentiate the laboratory’s quality of care. The accreditation standards evaluate the diagnostic services and clinical operations essential to providing quality patient care, which include:
- Clinical staff qualifications and continuing education
- Physical facilities
- EDX equipment
- Protocols for performing EDX studies
- Patient reports
- Policies for ensuring the health and safety of every patient
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.”
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.
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
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
WellStar Health System Performs First Percutaneous Aortic Valve Replacement Surgeries
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| Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter heart valve |
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.
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Dr. Conde is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and the Gynecology and American Medical Association.
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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.
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 |
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.
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.
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:
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 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.
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:
To contact the office directly, please call 770-479-4847. To schedule your next imaging appointment, please call 678-581-5900.
- CT Scan (16-Slice)
- DEXA Bone Densitometry
- Digital Screening Mammography
- Digital Radiography
- Heart Screening
- Lung Screening
- MRI (1.5T)
- Ultrasound
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.”
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.”
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