WellStar’s Safety First Bi-annual Training Schedule

All members of  WellStar’s medical staff and allied health staff are reminded that Safety First training must be completed before April 15, 2013. Training may be completed either by viewing the on-line training program in Success Factors, attending a face-to-face session or participating in an approved simulation program. The schedule for face-to-face programs is below:
WellStar Cobb Hospital Safety First Schedule

Date	Time	Location	Facilitators
Feb. 6	5:30 p.m.	Auditorium	Dr. McNamara/ Dr. Dalton
Feb. 6	7:30 p.m.	Auditorium	Dr. McNamara/ Dr. Dalton
March 6	5:30 p.m.	Auditorium	Terry Palmisano/ Dr. Dalton
March 6	7:30 p.m.	Auditorium	Terry Palmisano/ Dr. Dalton
April 3	5:30 p.m.	Auditorium	Terry Palmisano/ Dr. Dalton
April 3	7:30 p.m.	Auditorium	Terry Palmisano/ Dr. Dalton

WellStar Douglas Hospital Safety First Training Schedule

Date	Time	Location	Facilitators
Feb. 6	5:30  p.m.	Sycamore Rm. (Building B behind hosp)	Dr. Holtz
Feb. 6	7:30 p.m.	Sycamore Rm. (Building B behind hosp)	Dr. Holtz
March 6	5:30 p.m.	Sycamore Rm. (Building B behind hosp)	Dr. Holtz
March 6	7:30 p.m.	Sycamore Rm. (Building B behind hosp)	Dr. Holtz
April 3	5:30 p.m.	Sycamore Rm. (Building B behind hosp)	Dr. Holtz
April 3	7:30 p.m.	Sycamore Rm. (Building B behind hosp)	Dr. Holtz

WellStar Kennestone Hospital Safety First MS Training Schedule

Date	Time	Location	Facilitators
Feb. 6	5:30 p.m.	Auditorium	Laura Caramanica
Feb. 6	7:30 p.m.	Auditorium	Laura Caramanica
Feb. 20	5:30 p.m.	Auditorium	Dr. Lubitz
Feb. 20	7:30 p.m.	Auditorium	Dr. Lubitz
March 6	5:30 p.m.	Auditorium	Laura Caramanica
March 6	7:30 p.m.	Auditorium	Laura Caramanica
March 20	5:30 p.m.	Auditorium	Dr. Lubitz
March 20	7:30 p.m.	Auditorium	Dr. Lubitz
April 3	5:30 p.m.	Auditorium	Laura Caramanica
April 3	7:30 p.m.	Auditorium	Laura Caramanica

WellStar Paulding Hospital Safety First Training Schedule

Date	Time	Location	Facilitators
Feb. 20	5:30 p.m.	Dogwood Rm.	Mark Haney
Feb. 20	7:30 p.m.	Dogwood Rm.	Mark Haney
March 20	5:30 p.m.	Dogwood Rm.	Von Davis
March 20	7:30 p.m.	Dogwood Rm.	Von Davis

 WellStar Windy Hill Hospital Safety First Training Schedule

Date	Time	Location	Facilitators
Feb. 19	7:30 a.m.	3rd Floor Conference Room	Betsy Brakovich
Feb. 19	3 a.m.	3rd Floor Conference Room	Dr Frysh
March 19	7:30 a.m.	3rd Floor Conference Room	Deborah Smiler
March 19	3 p.m.	3rd Floor Conference Room	Dr Frysh

WellStar Administration Building Safety First Training Schedule

Date	Time	Location	Facilitators
Feb. 15	Noon	Board Room	Mary Lou Wesley
March 15	Noon	Board Room	Mary Lou Wesley

WellStar Development Center Safety First Training Schedule

Date	Time	Location	Facilitators
Feb. 11	Noon	Atlantic	Dr. Don Campbell
Feb. 26	Noon	Pacific	Dr. Don Campbell
March 5	Noon	Pacific	Bethany Robertson
March 25	Noon	Pacific	Bethany Robertson

Nominations Sought for Atlanta’s Top Docs

Atlanta magazine, along with New York-based research firm, Castle Connolly, is compiling a list of Atlanta's Top Docs for its July 2013 issue.

This is a great opportunity to nominate outstanding physicians in primary, specialty and subspecialty areas of medicine. You may nominate a physician in a specialty other than your own. Also, you can indicate if the physician you are nominating is regionally or nationally outstanding.  Those who are chosen nationally may be eligible for the national listing.

To nominate a physician or physicians, click on the link below to vote.
www.castleconnolly.com/nominations/index.cfm?source=atmag

You will need your NPI# (National Provider Identification number) AND a valid email address.  Physicians cannot nominate themselves.

The nomination deadline is Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013.

Physician and Provider Education (CME) Continuing Medical Education and Library Services Newsletter – Winter 2013 Issue

The Winter 2013 issue of the Physician and Provider Education (CME) Continuing Medical Education and Library Services newsletter is now available.
In this issue:

• Making Safety a Habit
• Important News from MD Consult
• Library Resources for Smartphones
• How to Access Safety Training in Success Factors Learning

To access, click on the link below:
http://wellstar.org/other-topics/Documents/PhysicianProviderEducationCMENewsletter_012512.pdf

Patient Satisfaction

February 2013 Department Meetings

WellStar Cobb Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
OB/GYN	Feb. 4; 12:30 p.m.	Auditorium
Credentials	Feb. 5; noon	ABR
Medical Executive Committee	Feb. 19; noon	Jasmine/Wisteria Room

WellStar Douglas Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Credentials	Feb. 5; noon	Sycamore Room
Medical Executive Committee	Feb. 12; noon	Sycamore Room

WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Credentials	Feb. 6: 7 a.m.	KMR
Medical Executive Committee	Feb. 12; 6 p.m.	KMR
OB/GYN	Feb. 18; 5:30 p.m.	Azalea/Camellia Room
Surgery	Feb. 20; 7 a.m.	Azalea/Camellia Room

WellStar Paulding Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Medical Executive Committee	Feb. 14; 12:30 p.m.	Dogwood Room

WellStar Windy Hill Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Medical Executive Committee	Feb. 20; 5:15 p.m.	Admin. Conference Room

February CME Events

• Breast Cancer Tumor Board-KH: Feb.6, 13 and 27 ; 7 a.m.; Stat Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB)-CH: Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27; noon; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB)-KH: Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cardiology Case Conference-KH: Feb. 26; 7 a.m.; Kennesaw Mtn. Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• GI Tumor Board-KH; Feb. 7, 21 and 28; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Neurosciences Patient Care Conference: Feb. 6; 7 a.m.; Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Surgical M&M-CH: Feb. 28; 7 a.m.; Jasmine/Wisteria Room, WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Surgical M&M-KH: Feb. 27; 7:30 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Thoracic Clinic-CH: Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28: 5 p.m.; STAT Clinic, WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Thoracic Clinic-KH: Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25; 5 p.m., STAT Clinic, WellStar Kennestone Hospital

January CME Events

• Breast Cancer Tumor Board-KH: Jan. 9, 23 and 30; 7 a.m.; Stat Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cardiology Case Conference-KH: Jan. 29; 7 a.m.; Kennesaw Mtn. Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• GI Tumor Board-KH; Jan. 17, 24 and 31; 7 a.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Neurosciences Patient Care Conference: Jan. 17; 7 a.m..; WellStar Development Center
• PCP Update: Gastroenterology: Jan. 19; 7:30 a.m.; Pacific Auditorium-WellStar Development Center
• Surgical M&M-CH: Jan. 24; 7 a.m.; Jasmine/Wisteria Room, WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Surgical M&M-KH: Jan. 30; 7:30 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Thoracic Clinic-CH: Jan. 10,17, 24 and 31: 5 p.m.; Wisteria/Jasmine Room, WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Thoracic Clinic-KH: Jan. 9, 16, 23 and 30; 5 p.m., STAT Clinic, WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Trauma Grand Rounds-KH: Jan. 31; 7 a.m.; Auditorium; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Tumor Board-CH: Jan. 9, 16, 23 and 30; noon; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Tumor Board-KH; Jan. 14, 21 and 28 ; noon; STAT Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Kennestone Campus Renamed WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center

For more than 60 years, WellStar Kennestone Hospital has provided healthcare services to our local community. As the tertiary-care hospital for WellStar Health System, Kennestone has grown to offer a higher level of specialized care to meet the needs of our entire five-county service area.  In recent years, the Kennestone Hospital campus has added critical services to further extend our reach to the entire North Georgia region.

To elevate and signify Kennestone’s presence as a regional healthcare leader, the campus will now be named WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center.  As WellStar looks for ways to differentiate ourselves from our local and regional competitors, this new name will enable us to market the entire campus as a destination for healthcare.

The WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center offers service beyond those of a community hospital. For example, just last year, Kennestone became the only designated Level II Trauma Center in northwest Atlanta.  We now have a highly-specialized team including surgeons to care for traumatic injuries in our region.  Other areas where our level of care sets us apart include:

• State-of-the-art cardiac program
• Advanced neurosciences surgery and radiology
• Leading-edge cancer treatment
• Nationally-recognized NICU
• New ICU mobility program

We are not changing the name of WellStar Kennestone Hospital.  It will anchor the campus which also includes:

• Kennestone Outpatient Pavilion
• Kennestone Physicians Center
• WellStar Kennestone Cancer Center
• Atherton Place – Senior Living Community
• WellStar Health Place – Center for Fitness and Wellness
• WellStar Outpatient Rehabilitation Center
• WellStar Outpatient Imaging Center
• and other campus facilities

New signage to designate the campus will be erected in January and local consumer advertising and direct mail campaigns featuring the new campus name will run in January and February. The naming of the campus also coincides with the opening of the WellStar Kennestone Hospital’s Blue Tower West. 

OrthoSport WellStar Opening Paulding Clinic Jan.14

On Jan. 14, 2013, OrthoSport WellStar will open a new orthopedic and sports physical therapy clinic in the Paulding Physicians Center, located at 148 Bill Carruth Parkway, Suite 160, in Hiram, Ga. New patients currently are being accepted.

OrthoSport WellStar currently has multiple locations, including Marietta, Kennesaw, Woodstock, Austell and Douglasville.

They are the only physical therapy provider in the area that offers aquatic therapy at each location, allowing patients with acute and chronic injuries to heal much faster with less pain.

OrthoSport WellStar also provides hand therapy by certified hand therapists.

Taryn Lilley, DPT

Taryn Lilley, DPT, will serve as the clinical supervisor for the Hiram location. Dr. Lilley graduated with her doctorate of physical therapy from the University of Indianapolis and also has a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, with minors in aquatics and sports medicine. She recently completed her Level II Certification in therapeutic dry needling, and has completed training for her certification in manual therapy.

With advanced training in the treatment of sports injuries, headaches, dizziness, balance disorders and TMJ dysfunction, Dr. Lilley loves to treat all ages and design individual treatment plans that allow her patients to return to their favorite activities as soon as possible.

A Paulding County resident, Dr. Lilley is actively involved in serving her community through her church, ministry for young professionals and local high school sports. She previously served as the clinical supervisor of the OrthoSport WellStar location in Woodstock.

Founded in 2002 by Kim Chastain, BS, PT, OCS, DPT, who has more than 25 years of experience in orthopedics, OrthoSport became part of WellStar Health System in January 2012.

OrthoSport had earned a highly regarded reputation with local physicians and area providers and as a part of WellStar has plans for expansion of locations and services across the WellStar primary service area.

For referrals or additional information, please contact:
OrthoSport WellStar Paulding Clinic
Paulding Physicians Center
148 Bill Carruth Parkway
Suite 160
Hiram, Ga. 30141
Phone: 470-956-8990
Fax: 770-443-7590
*Early morning and evening appointments are available.

Join us Jan. 15 to Celebrate Campus Transformation and New Blue Tower West at WellStar Kennestone Hospital

WellStar physicians are cordially invited to attend a private reception celebrating WellStar Kennestone Hospital’s campus transformation and new patient tower: Blue Tower West

• Tuesday, Jan. 15 ● 6-8 p.m.
• 677 Church Street ● Marietta, Ga.
• RSVP to WellStar PR at 770-793-7010 or pr@wellstar.org by Jan. 7, 2013

Physicians also may attend team member open house events:

• Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013
• 9 a.m. to noon and 9 p.m. to midnight

Move Scheduled for Jan. 18-21: WellStar Kennestone Hospital’s New Blue Tower West

WellStar Kennestone Hospital is scheduled to move existing inpatients into the new Blue Tower West during the weekend of Friday, Jan. 18 through Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013

(PLEASE NOTE: The move schedule is listed below and includes dates and times of specific unit moves).

Our primary concern is for safety as we relocate nearly 400 patients over the course of the three days. During the move, a command center will be opened to oversee operations and ensure the safety of all patients and team members. If you have any questions for the command center during this time, please dial the IT Service desk at 770-956-6000 and follow the prompt for the Blue Tower West Move Support Line.

To help ensure safe and appropriate care, we are asking all providers to discharge inpatients who are ready to be discharged as early in the day as possible.  For all planned discharges, please attempt to coordinate the discharge plan (with other providers, nursing, pharmacy and care coordination) the day prior to discharge, write orders the night before to activate in the morning, or write them prior to 7 a.m. on move day so that your patient can be discharged from their current room, and not moved then discharged.  This will avoid confusion and a potentially risky handoff just prior to discharge.

The census will be updated on a real-time basis.  Patients can be located by calling the main WellStar Kennestone Hospital line at 770-793-5000 or you can reprint your census frequently throughout the day. Be aware that nursing leaders may be contacting you more frequently during the move dates. 
A hospitality suite, located in the Green Tower waiting area, will be available for family members to enjoy while their loved ones are being moved. A temporary discharge area will be located in the Blue Tower waiting area for those patients being discharged during move times. Both areas will be staffed with members of the hospital’s clinical team and refreshments will be provided.


See Below for Detailed Move Schedule:

Piedmont Healthcare and WellStar Health System Partner on Health Plan

On Dec. 16, 2012, Piedmont Healthcare and WellStar Health System announced a partnership to develop a new health-system-based health insurance plan. The initial goals for the health plan include offering Medicare Advantage, commercial and self-funded products to the general public that will launch in 2014, as well as making the plan available to the two health systems’ combined employee and family base of more than 35,000.

This partnership comes on the heels of last month’s announcement that the two leaders in the
metro-Atlanta healthcare market had formed the Georgia Health Collaborative, a first of its kind in the state, focused on the development of innovative healthcare delivery models such as population management.

Piedmont began development of a health-system-based health insurance plan in late July 2012 when it partnered with Evolent Health, a Washington, D.C. company created by the Advisory
Board and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), to create and launch the health plan. UPMC has one of the country’s most successful health-system-based health plans and through Evolent will be helping other systems across the country develop health-system-based health plans.

”We believe our industry’s future relies on successfully implementing a population health model of care – delivering disease prevention and care management with higher quality at lower costs,” said Gregory A. Hurst, president and interim chief operating officer at Piedmont. “Launching a health plan helps us move more quickly toward that future, and we consider this yet another area where we can demonstrate vision and leadership in Georgia’s healthcare industry.”

 “As leaders in the Atlanta healthcare market, Piedmont and WellStar are uniquely positioned to work together to achieve improved clinical results and reduction in costs as dictated in the 2010 federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” said Reynold J. Jennings, president and CEO of WellStar. “Health systems that have a broader geographic reach and larger population base will be best suited to react to and sustain operations regardless of future federal and state legislative outcomes.”

Both Piedmont and WellStar have been successful at creating Accountable Care Organizations
(ACOs), including patient medical homes, which address the disease prevention and management aspect of a population health model. Success of such programs hinge on the support and coaching health systems provide to patients, particularly those with chronic illnesses.

WellStar began its journey with population health management starting in July 2012, when the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services awarded WellStar with the ACO designation, assigning over 35,000 Medicare beneficiaries to the WellStar ACO. Piedmont began its work in population management in 2010 when it partnered with Cigna on an ACO pilot that has expanded and continues today.

Piedmont Healthcare’s Ronnie Brownsworth, M.D., CEO of the newly formed health plan, has expertise in population health models as well as experience negotiating with managed care companies. A practicing neurologist for 12 years, Dr. Brownsworth earned his MBA with an emphasis on healthcare while gaining experience in physician practice administration and integration. He soon found himself on the hospital side as chief medical officer and vice president of quality as well as developing and running a highly successful health-system-based health plan for Saint John’s Health System in Springfield, Mo.

“This health plan will keep patients and physicians at the center of our care model with the ultimate goal of improved health in our patient populations,” said Dr. Brownsworth. “We also look forward to continuing our work with other insurance plans in finding ways to deliver the best results for our patients.”

“Health-system-sponsored health plans and their participating physicians, have the unique ability to provide high quality “patient centered” care, that results in a healthier population, which will allow us to bring healthcare inflation more in-line with general inflation,” said Jim Budzinski, president of the WellStar Health Network ACO and WellStar’s executive vice president & chief financial officer, who previously worked closely with Dr. Brownsworth.

POLST Statewide Initiative

Georgia POLST is here!
The form for the Georgia Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment
(POLST) is now available on the Department of Public Health's website. To view this form, please click here. http://www.dph.ga.gov/POLST/

What is a POLST?
POLST is a set of physician orders that can be used by any healthcare provider in the state to carry out the medical components of a person's advance directives.

Who needs a POLST?
Generally speaking, a POLST is only necessary for those persons who may frequently be hospitalized and who have little ability to communicate their wishes with the health care team.  The POLST was initially developed for frail, chronically ill, institutionalized persons who were frequently returning to the emergency department for procedures, which may have been excluded in an advance directive.

Now it is used primarily for those who are in the last year of their lives with a chronic condition.

Can anyone use a POLST?Generally, yes, any person can ask their health care provider about a POLST and one can be initiated as part of the overall advance care planning process.

Does the POLST replace other advance directives?
No. The POLST is a set of medical orders which provides guidance to the healthcare team regarding medical interventions for care. The POLST is based on either a written Advance Directive or conversation the physician has with the person or their representative(s). The POLST can be a substitute for an AND/DNR order.

Can any provider/facility use the POLST?
YES! The beauty of this form is it is a universal form, which meets the Georgia statutes for AND/DNR orders and recent legislation provides the same immunities and protections for healthcare practitioners and providers as for following advance directives or an AND/ DNR order. The POLST form is intended to facilitate communication and ensure the wishes of the patient are met regardless of where care is being provided.

Is this form required?
No. This is not a mandatory form. However, the Department of Public Health has created this form according to the law and endorses the use of this form as a method of improving quality care, care transitions and communication. A Georgia POLST Collaborative consisting of the Medical Association of Georgia, Georgia Association of Family Practitioners, Georgia Health Decisions, Georgia Health Decisions, GHPCO, Georgia Hospital Association, Georgia State University Health Policy Center, Georgia AARP, Georgia Healthcare Association, Georgia EMS Association and many others is working on education and publication of materials to support the implementation of this form across the state

Mitzi Rubin, M.D., FAAFP Named Vice President of the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians

Mitzi Rubin, M.D.

Mitzi Rubin, M.D., FAAFP, of Marietta, has been named vice president of the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. Rubin is in practice with WellStar Medical Group Family and Internal Medicine/Pediatrics in Marietta.  She has fulfilled numerous leadership roles with the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians as a member of its Board of Directors.  Additionally, Dr. Rubin is past chair of the WellStar Kennestone Hospital Department of Family Medicine and has served as a faculty physician at Emory University School of Medicine as a Family Medicine Preceptor since 2009. 

Dr. Rubin received her bachelor’s degree in Family Consumer Science from the University of Georgia. She earned her medical degree from Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School and completed her residency in family and preventative medicine with Emory University School of Medicine. 

Dr. Rubin is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

WellStar Hosts First in Georgia Trauma Care After Resuscitation Course

On Dec. 3-4, 2012, the WellStar Kennestone Hospital Trauma Center (WKHTC) hosted the first in Georgia Trauma Care After Resuscitation (TCAR) course, dedicated to the fundamental nursing care of the trauma population after the initial resuscitation phase. The course, which was held at the WellStar Development Center, was co-sponsored by the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission and Trauma Associates of Georgia.

When a trauma patient arrives in the WKHTC, a specialized, multidisciplinary Trauma Response Team identifies and treats life-threatening injuries. This initial phase of care is known as resuscitation and can last for hours to days. But what happens next? What happens over the next few days or weeks? How does care progress beyond the Emergency Department?

The interactive TCAR course provided the foundational, evidence-based information and critical thinking skills necessary to meet the complex nursing care requirements for this patient population. The presenter, Laura M. Criddle, Ph.D., RN-BC, CCRN, CEN, CNRN, FAEN, co-founded the course in 2008 and has presented the course throughout the country.

More than 100 nurses, representing the operating room, post-anesthesia recovery, critical care, acute care and clinical education at WellStar and other hospitals throughout Georgia, attended the course.
Nurses who attended provided positive feedback on the course including such comments as “… one of the best conferences I have attended” and “Excellent!”

Trauma is the leading cause of death in the first four decades of life, making care of the injured patient an important service at WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

Since the designation of our Trauma Center in November 2011, more than 2000 patients with traumatic injuries have been treated.

The WKHTC also provides monthly trauma education to trauma team members with Trauma Grand Rounds and the Trauma Education Series.

For more information on trauma education, contact Anne Rigdon, RN, BSN, CCRN at 770-793-5777 or anne.rigdon@wellstar.org.

WellStar Diabetes Services Now Offering Weight Management Course at WellStar Cobb Hospital

Beginning Thursday, Jan, 17, WellStar Diabetes Services will offer a Weight Management course for the first time at WellStar Cobb Hospital.

The eight-week course, which meets weekly from 6 - 7:30 p.m., is open to anyone in the community with pre-diabetes or diabetes who is looking to lose weight in a fun, supportive atmosphere. It is hosted by a licensed social worker and a registered dietitian, who also is a certified diabetes educator. Participants learn to eat right, exercise and modify their negative behaviors.

The cost for the course is $64. Payroll deduction is available. No doctor order is needed. To register, call 770-956-STAR (7827).

Patient Satisfaction Scores

December New Providers

Rediet Habtemarkos, M.D.

Rediet Habtemarkos, M.D.
Dr. Habtemarkos earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the Hollins University in Roanoke, Va., and her medical degree from Northwestern University in Chicago. She completed her internship and residency at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

Dr. Habtemarkos is board certified in internal medicine. She is a member of the American College of Physicians and Society of Hospital Medicine. She is serving as a WellStar Health System hospitalist.

Vijay Lakkappa, M.D.

Vijay Lakkappa, M.D.
Dr. Lakkappa earned his medical degree from Bangalore Medical College in India. He completed his internship and residency at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County in Chicago.

Board certified in internal medicine, Dr. Lakkappa also is certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. He is serving as a WellStar Health System hospitalist.

Christopher Watts, M.D.

Christopher Watts, M.D.
Dr. Watts earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the College of Charleston in South Carolina and his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. He completed his residency and internship at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. Dr. Watts completed a fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin in infectious disease.

Board certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases, he is a member of the American College of Physicians and American Medical Association. He is practicing at WellStar Infectious Disease in Douglasville

New Medical Staff as Approved at the December Governing Board Meeting

Name	Specialty	Group Name	Appt.	Current Staff membership
Bansal, Shalabh S., M.D.	Pediatrics ER	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	KH	CH
Basani, Samata, M.D.	Hospitalist (Internal Medicine)	Hospitalist Group	CH, KH, WMG
Bidus, Michael A., M.D.	Gynecologic Oncology	Atlanta Gynecologic Oncology	KH
Cantrell, Forrest C., Jr., M.D.	Pediatrics	Summit Pediatrics LLC	WMG	CH
Eatmon, Natalie R., M.D.	Anesthesiology	MAK Anesthesia LLC	CH
Goodwin, Mary C., M.D.	Breast Surgery	The Breast Center	DH	CH, KH, WH
Gupta, Daisy, D.O.	Emergency Medicine	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH
Hamilton, Karen T., M.D.	Hospitalist  (Obstetrics & Gynecology)	OB/GYN Hospitalist Group	CH, WMG
Harmon, Khary O., M.D.	Emergency Medicine	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH
Helms, Gerald A., M.D.	Thoracic Surgery	Thoracic Surgery	DH	CH, KH, WMG
Herrin, Brent E., DMD	Pediatric Dentistry	Brent E. Herrin, DMD	WH
Homsombath, Bounthavy, M.D.	Burn Surgery	Joseph M. Still Burn Centers	CH
Houck, Ward V., M.D.	Thoracic Surgery	Thoracic Surgery	DH	CH, KH, WMG
Mayfield, William R., M.D.	Thoracic Surgery	Thoracic Surgery	DH	CH, KH, WMG
McClinton, Mark E., M.D.	Otolaryngology	Northwest ENT Associates, PC	KH
Powell, Donald R., DPM	Podiatry	Marietta Podiatry Group	KH, WH
Rodriguez-Sfeir, Sandra M., M.D.	Pediatrics	Kennestone Pediatric Assoc	KH, WMG
Schneider, Robert A., M.D.	Emergency Medicine	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH
Sims, Stacy L., M.D.	Obstetrics and Gynecology	Marietta OB/GYN Affiliates	KH
Watts, Christopher J., M.D.	Infectious Disease	Infectious Disease	WMG	DH

Advanced Practice Professionals

Name	Specialty	Group Name	Appt.	Current Staff Membership
Alatise, Shakirat J., PA	Physician Assistant	Hospitalist Group	KH, WMG
Baker, Derek L., PA	Physician Assistant	Neurosurgery	KH, WMG
Beddard, Crystal P., NP	Nurse Practitioner	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH
Bell, Gilbert L., NP	Nurse Practitioner	Cobb County Adult Detention Center	WMG
Bender, Natoya N., NP	Nurse Practitioner	Palliative Medicine	CH, DH, KH, WMG
Davis, Frankie E., PA	Physician Assistant	Pain Solutions Treatment Centers	KH
Hall, Ashley A., CRNA	Nurse Anesthetist	Georgia Anesthesiologists, PC	KH, PH
Kumar, Serena P., NP	Nurse Practitioner	Family Medicine (Bridgemill)	WMG
Lovering, Carole J., NP	Nurse Practitioner	Georgia Lung Associates, P.C.	CH, KH
Ludwig, Raquel V., PA	Physician Assistant	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH
Markwell, Maggi S., PAA	Physician Anesthesia Asst	Georgia Anesthesiologists, PC	KH, PH
McGee, Jeffery R., PA	Physician Assistant	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH
McGordon, Shaina, PA	Physician Assistant	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH
Reynolds, Joseph C., II, PA	Physician Assistant	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH
Schneider, Cynthia K., NP	Nurse Practitioner	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH
Searcy, Laura J., PNP	Nurse Practitioner	Marietta Neonatology	CH, KH
Shim, Sora, PA	Physician Assistant	Family Medicine (Bridgemill)	WMG
Sollie, Michael E., NP	Nurse Practitioner	Georgia Kidney Associates	CH, KH, WH
Strain II, John W., PA	Physician Assistant	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH
Taank, Reena A., PA	Physician Assistant	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH

January Department Meetings

WellStar Cobb Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Credentials	Jan. 8; noon	ABR
APP General	Jan. 30; 6 p.m.	Jasmine/Wisteria Room
Medical Executive Committee	Jan. 15; noon	Jasmine/Wisteria Room
Pediatrics	Jan. 22; 12:30 p.m.	Magnolia Room

WellStar Douglas Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Credentials	Jan. 8; noon	Sycamore Room
Medical Executive Committee	Jan. 15; noon	Sycamore Room
General Staff and  Medical and Surgery	Jan. 17; noon	DMC Community Room

WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Credentials	Jan. 8: 7 a.m.	KMR
Medical Executive Committee	Jan. 8; 6 p.m.	KMR
Surgery	Jan. 16; 7 a.m.	Azalea/Camellia Room
OB/GYN	Jan. 21; 5:30 p.m.	Azalea/Camellia Room

WellStar Paulding Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Medical Executive Committee	Jan.10; 12:30 p.m.	Dogwood Room
Surgery	Jan. 23; 6 p.m.	Marietta Country Club Kennesaw Mtn. Room

WellStar Windy Hill Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Medical Executive Committee	Jan.16; 5:15 p.m.	WH Board Room