WellStar Joins Mayo Clinic Care Network

WellStar announced in early February that it will join the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

“Our participation in the Mayo Clinic Care Network will enrich the level of care we provide through collaboration and innovation,” said Robert Jansen, M.D., executive vice president, WellStar Medical Group President & Chief Administrative Medical Officer. “This collaboration offers our physicians a new resource to ensure the kind of leading care patients have grown to expect from WellStar.”

Through their WellStar physicians, patients will have access to the Mayo Clinic’s expertise in all specialties, while continuing to receive close-to-home healthcare at WellStar.

WellStar staff will now be able to access Mayo Clinic knowledge and expertise using a variety of electronic tools and services and connect directly with Mayo Clinic experts on complex diagnosis and treatment plans.
All WellStar Medical Staff, nurses and other clinicians will have round-the-clock access to Mayo-vetted medical information and guidelines through AskMayoExpert, a web-based provider resource available through eSource (or www.mayoclinic.org with a member login).

Specialists in the WellStar Independent Physician Association can request a consultation through WellStar Connect or via paper order process. Physicians can usually complete a consultation request in two minutes – eConsult is convenient and easy to use. Providers will log on to Epic and click on Mayo eConsult; they will indicate discipline, subspecialty and tests performed. 

For providers not yet utilizing WellStar Connect, physicians will complete the Mayo eConsult paper order and submit along with supporting documentation and tests to Lori Heilman, our eConsult coordinator, who will assist physicians in submitting all appropriate information to Mayo. The consulting Mayo physicians usually respond with feedback in two business days. 

Quick reference guides, providing step-by-step instructions for accessing AskMayoExpert and for submitting an eConsult, can be found on eSource by clicking the Mayo Clinic Care Network icon from the home page.

“We don’t want to interfere with physicians’ current relationships with colleagues and mentors at other systems,” said David Hayes, M.D., medical director, Mayo Clinic Care Network. “We want to offer another convenient option. The electronic consultation gets to a granular level – with ready access to the patient information, it can be more complete, quicker and easier.”

According to Dr. Hayes, the most popular requests are in the specialty areas of oncology, neurology and cardiology.

“We want to support WellStar providers when they are dealing with rare diagnoses, have uncertainties or need validation,” said Dr. Hayes. “We also hope they will utilize our expertise when patients request second opinions.”

Joseph Hormes, M.D., co-chief of WellStar’s Neurosciences service line, said he “can’t wait” to begin using the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

“I trained there and already make one or two calls a month to Mayo colleagues. They do a great job. I’m excited all our physicians will have access to the experts at Mayo.”

Patients are not charged for the additional input and patient care remains at WellStar; WellStar physicians are not required to send their patients to Mayo Clinic.

“Working together, we can ensure patients have access to the finest medical knowledge available while staying closer to home,” said Stephen Lange, M.D., southeast medical director of Mayo Clinic Care Network.

“Mayo believes healthcare is best when regional providers are strong and independent, like WellStar,” added Hayes. “Our network was formed to support regional providers so they can best serve their patients and families.”

WellStar is the largest health system in the Southeast and only one in Metro Atlanta to be selected as a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.  The network, which began in 2011, has 23 member organizations throughout the continental U.S., one in Mexico City and one in Puerto Rico.

WellStar First in Georgia to offer Breakthrough New Fibroid Surgery

WellStar Kennestone Hospital is the first hospital in Georgia to treat women with symptomatic fibroids using the Acessa™ Procedure. This new minimally-invasive procedure enables a woman to obtain relief from fibroid symptoms while avoiding a hysterectomy and keeping her uterus intact.

The outpatient surgery was performed by Kevin Windom, M.D., with OB/GYN Associates of Marietta at the WellStar Kennestone Outpatient Surgery Center.

This fibroid procedure is highly effective, less invasive than most surgical alternatives with faster recovery and symptom relief. Also the need for further fibroid treatment is low, as demonstrated by clinical studies in which 90 percent of patients three years after the procedure did not require further medical or surgical treatment.

“We are excited to offer our patients a new option for treatment of fibroids,” said Kevin Windom, M.D. “Often times, patients find that the medications used to treat fibroid symptoms only provide short-term relief, and then they usually have to make the tough choice of a more-invasive procedure that requires incisions in the uterus or removing the uterus altogether. What patients like about the Acessa™ Procedure is that it destroys only the fibroid tissue, not the surrounding uterus or healthy tissue.”

Fibroids are benign, non-cancerous tumors in a woman’s uterus that, when symptomatic, can be very painful and cause heavy bleeding, pressure on the bladder or rectum, and abdominal discomfort and distention.
The Acessa™ Procedure is a laparoscopic surgical procedure. Using a small scope and ultrasound guidance, the surgeon first locates the patient's fibroids. Then each fibroid is treated individually with radiofrequency energy to destroy it and leave the surrounding tissue unharmed.

Patients treated with the procedure typically experience a rapid recovery, returning home the same day and back to work or normal activities within three to four days. Those that need pain medication after surgery typically use only over-the-counter pain relievers. Most patients experience relief from fibroid symptoms, such as pelvic pain and pressure, shortly after undergoing the procedure with heavy bleeding noticeably improved in three to six months.

New Gynecologic Oncology Specialty Expands WellStar Services

A new specialty for the WellStar Medical Group is gynecologic oncology. WellStar Gynecologic Oncology, led by Jeffrey Hines, M.D., and Amy Carroll, M.D., focuses on cancers of the female reproductive system, including ovarian, uterine, vaginal, cervical and vulvar cancers. The duo also treats patients with abnormal pap smears, vaginal lesions, complicated endometriosis, benign tumors and counsels patients with BRCA (breast cancer gene) and HNPCC (Hereditary Non-polyposis Colorectal Cancer or Lynch syndrome.)

Dr. Carroll, who started with WellStar in August, explained the importance of seeing patients quickly when it comes to abnormal results. “It’s critical to take care of these issues quickly because it’s a very frightening experience for the patient. We try very hard to get them in within a week, sometimes even same day,” she explained.

Referring physicians may also have questions on a specific case or need a sounding board. Dr. Carroll is available to assist in those instances. “In some cases where OB physicians are unsure on whether or not to refer a patient, I’m happy to answer questions,” she explained. Dr. Carroll’s preferred method of communication is email, and she can be reached at amy.carroll2@wellstar.org.
WellStar Gynecologic Oncology is located at the following locations:

WellStar Kennestone Hospital
699 Church Street
Suite 500
Marietta, Ga. 30060
770-590-4177
Fax: 770-590-4187

1700 Hospital South Drive
Suite 102
Austell, Ga. 30106
770-792-6262
Fax: 770-907-6608

116 Upper Riverdale Road, SW
Riverdale, Ga. 30274-2527
770-907-3570
Fax: 770-907-6608

Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

For additional information on Dr. Carroll, click here.
For additional information on Dr. Hines, click here.

Navigating WellStar Connect Tips & Tricks

WellStar Connect trainers have compiled an array of information on the wellconnected.wellstar.org site to assist providers and practices with issues that arise when using Epic. The "Tips & Tricks" section of the website is a valuable resource and can be used to answer many of your questions quickly.

Here is a step-by-step guide to using the Tips & Tricks section of the WellStar Connect website:

http://wellconnected.wellstar.org/Documents/Navigating%20WellStar%20Connect%20Tips.pdf

WellStar Winter Storm Forum

During the recent snow storm, there were many incredible stories of the effort and commitment that WellStar team members put forth in order to serve our community. To capture and share these stories with the entire WellStar team, we have created a WellStar Winter Storm Forum.

Please use this forum to share your stories and photos and recognize team members who went above and beyond.

To access the forum, go to www.wellstar.org/winterstorm2014.

New Providers

Akif Ahmad, M.D.
Dr. Ahmad received his medical degree from Dow Medical University in Karachi, Pakistan. He completed his internship and residency at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pa.

Certified by the American Board of Family Medicine, he is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Ahmad is currently in practice with WellStar Family Medicine in Acworth.





Anant G. Dalvi, M.D.
Dr. Dalvi received his medical degree from K. J. Somaiya Medical College in Bombay, India. He completed his residency and fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, N.Y.

Board certified, he is a member of the American College of Chest Physicians. Dr. Dalvi is currently in practice with WellStar Pulmonary Group.

Alice I. Lawver, M.D.
Dr. Lawver earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. and her medical degree from the University of Florida Medical School in Gainesville. She completed her internship at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta and her residency at the Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.

Board certified, she is a member of the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Lawver is in practice with WellStar Palliative Medicine.

Chhavi Vig Noohani, M.D.
Dr. Noohani received her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University in Auburn, Ala. and her medical degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. She completed her internship at Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Darby, Pa. and her residency at St. Luke’s Family Practice in Bethlehem, Pa.

Board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine, she is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Ostepathic Family Physicians, the American Osteopathic Associations and the American Medical Association. Dr. Noohani is in practice with WellStar Acworth Family Medicine.

Sreedhar Maddineni, M.D.
Dr. Maddineni received his medical degree from Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, India. He completed his internship at Kingston Public Hospital in Kingston, Jamaica and his residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science in Little Rock, Ark.

Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, he is a member of the Society of Hospital Medicine, the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians. Dr. Maddineni is currently in practice with WellStar Hospitalist Group.

Kartik Reddy, M.D.
Dr. Reddy received his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J. and his medical degree from Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College in Gulbarga, Karnataka, India. He completed his internship at Gandi General Hospital in Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India and his residency at West Lake Medical Center in Melrose Park, Ill.

Board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, he is a member of the Society of Hospital Medicine and the American College of Physicians. Dr. Reddy is in practice with WellStar Cobb Hospital and WellStar Paulding Hospital.

February 2014 CME Events

Kennestone Surgical M&M: Feb. 26; 7:30 a.m.; Azalea/Camelia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Cobb Surgical M&M: Feb. 27; 7 a.m.; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital

Trauma Grand Rounds – Kennestone: Feb. 27; 7 a.m.; Auditorium; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Cancer Conference (TB)-KH: Feb. 17, 24; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Cancer Conference (TB)-CH: Feb. 12, 19, 26; noon; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital

Breast Cancer Tumor Board-KH: Feb. 26; 7 a.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Thoracic Clinic Kennestone-KH: Feb. 19, 26; 5 p.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Thoracic Clinic Cobb-CH: Feb. 13, 20, 27; 5 p.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Cobb Hospital

GI Tumor Board Kennestone-KH: Feb. 13, 20, 27; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Anesthesia M&M: Feb. 19; 7 a.m.; Anesthesia Conf. Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Making CME More Convenient for Providers
The Physician Education Program at WellStar strives to meet the continuing education needs of all providers. Given the need for WellStar Connect training over the next several months, we want to be sure you know that there are many online CME opportunities available. Please do not hesitate to call (770-22-MYCME (69263)) and let us help you with your CME needs.

WellStar Connect Training
Providers will be receiving CME credit for the e-Learning modules and classroom time of WellStar Connect Training. CME credit will be automatically added to each provider’s SuccessFactors Learning transcript. If you need a CME certificate please contact Jennifer Reagan at jennifer.reagan@wellstar.org.

Get Connected with your Patients with MyChart

With WellStar Kennestone Hospital and several WellStar Medical Group practices live on WellStar Connect, it’s important to remember how critical MyChart activation is, as well as the many benefits for patients and providers. Many practices are succeeding at MyChart sign-up, but one practice has worked diligently to create a system that will be helpful to other WMG practices.

Tami Breton, M.D., and her team at WellStar Kennesaw Medical Center, have developed a process to make sure their patients are fully aware of the usefulness of MyChart and encourage activation at many steps throughout their patient interaction. Here are some tips on MyChart activation currently in practice by their team:

• Scheduling
• First point of contact is when a patient calls. Schedulers check to verify if MyChart is active for the patient. If not, an email address is obtained and benefits of service are explained.
• An email activation code is sent before the end of the phone call and the patient is informed of the time sensitive code and encouraged to register as soon as possible.
• Appointment Confirmation Calls
• Part of the appointment confirmation process is to confirm MyChart activation.
• If the status is inactive, the patient is encouraged to sign up, activation code is resent if expired and the benefits of MyChart are explained once more.
• Check In
• During check in, MyChart activation is verified.
• If not active, the patient is given the print out of the MyChart letter with the activation code highlighted.
• Laptop computers are stationed at the front desk and patients are encouraged to sign up while waiting.
• If a patient needs assistance, staff acts as “concierge” to help with sign up and activation.
• Clinical
• If patients are uncomfortable using the laptops provided in the lobby, clinical staff will encourage them to sign up in the room while waiting on the provider.
• At this point, clinical staff act as the “concierge” explaining the benefits of MyChart and assisting with activation.
• If the patient is still hesitant, the provider will encourage activation again by explaining the benefits.
• Checkout
• If MyChart is still inactive at the end of the visit, patients are reminded of the time sensitivity of the activation code and offered one last opportunity in office to sign up.

“MyChart provides another communication tool for our patients,” explained Dr. Breton.  “It allows us to provide patients testing results much quicker than in the past. The key to getting our patients on MyChart, is to sign them up while they are still in the office.”

Dr. Breton’s team also shared an email from a patient regarding the ease of signing up:
“I just wanted you all to know about a very positive experience my husband had yesterday when he went to see his PCP Dr. Breton. While he was being roomed and waiting to see the doctor, the nurse asked him if he wanted to activate his MyChart right then and he said yes, so the nurse pulled up his MyChart, put in his activation code and had him complete his activation right then and there! Took one minute!”

The benefits of MyChart should be shared with all of our WellStar patients.

• View your medical information online;
• Stay in touch with your physician;
• Access your family’s records; and
• Keep records safe and secure.

For all things WellStar Connect, visit wellconnected.wellstar.org.

Are you Registered for Phase Three Training Yet?

In an effort to assure our Phase 3 providers are properly assigned and registered with the most appropriate training track, the Wellstar Connect Training Team will be hosting Training Registration Fairs at each of the facilities the week of Jan. 20.

Our trainers will be available to
• answer any training questions
• assist physicians and advanced practice professionals through the registration process
• enable each provider to be certain they have ample time and opportunity to satisfy their Epic learning requirements

Location                                 Date                Time
Douglas Hospital                1/22/14           11a – 2p
Paulding Hospital               1/23/14           11a – 2p
Windy Hill Hospital           1/24/14           11a – 2p

If you are unable to attend one of these sessions or have further questions on what you need to sign up for, please email connecttraining@wellstar.org.

WellStar Physicians: Help Determine Atlanta Magazine’s Top Doctors by Participating in the Nomination Process

Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. invites all licensed physicians to participate in the nomination process, which will help Castle Connolly identify regionally and nationally outstanding top doctors. Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 9, 2014.

A physician you nominate should be someone you would go to or would want a family member to go – not just because of their excellent training and clinical skills, but also because of the time, care and concern they give to their patients. Those nominated doctors who are ultimately chosen by the Castle Connolly physician-led research team would be eligible to appear online at CastleConnolly.com and may be eligible to appear in other Castle Connolly Top Doctors print publications and/or online distribution channels.

Click here for details or to submit a nomination online. http://www.castleconnolly.com/nominations/index.cfm?source=atmag

WellStar Welcomes Urology Associates to WellStar Medical Group

Urology Associates has recently joined WellStar Medical Group (WMG). The practice will be known as WellStar Medical Group, Urology, and will remain in their current office locations at:

• 55 Whitcher St., Suite 250, Marietta, Ga., 30060
• 1700 Hospital South Dr., Suite 404, Austell, Ga., 30106
• 6002 Professional Pkwy., Suite 280, Douglasville, Ga., 30134
• 148 Bill Carruth Pkwy., Suite 340, Hiram, Ga., 30141
• WellStar Urology Procedure Center 300 Tower Rd., Suite 150, Marietta, Ga., 30060

 “WellStar is focused on bringing innovative service to its patients,” said Robert Jansen, M.D., executive vice president, WellStar Medical Group president and chief administrative medical officer.  “Urology Associates has built a stellar practice and will continue to provide remarkable care to patients as a part of the WellStar Medical Group.”

The newly named WellStar Medical Group, Urology includes Drs. Chun, Dusseault, Emerson, Evans-Theiss, Kouzova, McCowan, Mygatt, Roper, Schmidt, Symbas, Townsend, Watson and their team. The group will continue to provide a full range of diagnostic tests and procedures including cystoscopy, semen analysis, TRUS/prostate biopsy, circumcision, lithotripsy, vasectomy and vasectomy reversal.

“Urology Associates is proud to be a part of the WellStar Medical Group,” said Ronald Roper, M.D.  “By joining forces with the leading health system in north Georgia, we will be able to provide world-class care to our patients and stay on top of the latest technological advances.”

WellStar Cancer Network Earns National Accreditation with Commendation from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons

The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has granted Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the cancer program at WellStar Health System.  To earn voluntary CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet or exceed 34 CoC quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care.  Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation is only awarded to a facility that exceeds standard requirements at the time of its triennial survey.

“This accreditation is the result of a tremendous amount of collaboration among the talented physicians, nurses and team members throughout the WellStar Cancer Network,” said Michael Andrews, M.D., chief cancer network officer.  “The CoC is very well-respected within the healthcare industry and this accreditation reinforces the high quality of care we deliver to our patients every day.”

Because it is a CoC-accredited cancer center, the WellStar program takes a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists.  This multidisciplinary partnership results in improved patient care.

The CoC Accreditation Program provides the framework for WellStar to improve its quality of patient care through various cancer-related programs that focus on the full spectrum of cancer care including prevention, early diagnosis, cancer staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, life-long followup for recurrent disease, and end-of-life care.  When patients receive care at a CoC facility, they also have access to information on clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling, and patient centered services including psycho-social support, a patient navigation process, and a survivorship care plan that documents the care each patient receives and seeks to improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.  

Like all CoC-accredited facilities, WellStar maintains a cancer registry and contributes data to the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), a joint program of the CoC and American Cancer Society (ACS).  This nationwide oncology outcomes database is the largest clinical disease registry in the world.  Data on all types of cancer are tracked and analyzed through the NCDB and used to explore trends in cancer care.  CoC-accredited cancer centers, in turn, have access to information derived from this type of data analysis, which is used to create national, regional, and state benchmark reports.  These reports help CoC facilities with their quality improvement efforts.
 
ACS estimates that more than 1.6 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2013.  There are currently more than 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the U.S.  and Puerto Rico, representing 30 percent of all hospitals.  CoC-accredited facilities diagnose and/or treat more than 70 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer patients.  When cancer patients choose to seek care locally at a CoC-accredited cancer center,  they are gaining access to comprehensive, state-of-the-art cancer care close to home. The CoC provides the public with information on the resources, services, and cancer treatment experience for each CoC-accredited cancer program through the CoC Hospital Locator at http://www.facs.org/cancerprogram/index.html.

Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving patient outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care.  Its membership includes Fellows of the American College of Surgeons.  For more information, visit: www.facs.org/cancer.

Melissa Schepp, M.D., named Medical Director of WellStar Palliative Medicine and Hospice Program

Melissa Schepp, M.D., recently joined the WellStar Medical Group as the Medical Director of the WellStar Palliative Medicine and Hospice Program. In this role Dr. Schepp is responsible for the operations and strategic development of the Palliative Medicine consultative services across WellStar, including the WellStar Hospice Tranquility facilities and Home Hospice.

As a board-certified physician in both Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Dr. Schepp has devoted her efforts over the past decade to the comprehensive medical, psychosocial and spiritual care to patients and their families facing serious illness in the Atlanta area. Dr. Schepp was a founding member of the palliative care team at Emory Healthcare in 2005 and served as a medical director until 2008. She then served as medical director of palliative care at St. Joseph’s Hospital from 2008 to 2013. Dr. Schepp brings expertise in caring for patients and families who are coping with life-limiting illness and in coordinating care across a complex healthcare system for this vulnerable group of patients.

Dr. Schepp earned her undergraduate and medical degree from the University of Florida. She completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. She has resided in Atlanta since 2001 with her husband and two children.

OptiFast Open House Rescheduled

Linda Venis to Retire as Library Supervisor

After 18 years at WellStar and thousands of literature searches for physicians and nurses, Linda Venis will retire in mid-February. Stop by the Library and give Linda your best wishes.

New Providers

Thomas B. O’Barr, Jr., M.D.
Dr. O’Barr received his bachelor’s degree from Duke University in Durham, N.C. and his medical degree from Bowman-Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C. He completed his residency at Presbyterian Hospital at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh and at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.

Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, he is currently in practice with WellStar Internal Medicine.


 
Manogna Maddineni, M.D.
Dr. Maddineni received her medical degree from Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, India. She completed her internship at North Shore Medical Center/Salem Hospital in Salem, Mass. and her residency at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Chattanooga, Tenn.

She is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Maddineni is in practice with WellStar Douglas Hospital. 


 
Albert G. Lintel III, M.D.
Dr. Lintel received his bachelor’s degree from Denison University in Granville, OH and his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. He completed his internship and residency at Wake Forest/North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine, he is a member of the Urgent Care Association of America. Dr. Lintel is currently in practice with Wellstar Urgent Care.

January 2014 CME Events

Kennestone Surgical M&M: Jan. 29; 7:30 a.m.; Azalea/Camelia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Cobb Surgical M&M: Jan. 23; 7 a.m.; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital

Trauma Grand Rounds – Kennestone: Jan. 30; 7 a.m.; Auditorium; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Cancer Conference (TB)-KH: Jan. 27; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Cancer Conference (TB)-CH: Jan. 22, 29; noon; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital

Breast Cancer Tumor Board-KH: Jan. 22, 29; 7 a.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Thoracic Clinic Kennestone-KH: Jan. 22, 29; 5 p.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Thoracic Clinic Cobb-CH: Jan. 23, 30 ; 5 p.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Cobb Hospital

GI Tumor Board Kennestone-KH: Jan. 23, 30; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Making CME More Convenient for Providers
The Physician Education Program at WellStar strives to meet the continuing education needs of all providers.  Given the need for WellStar Connect training over the next several months, we want to be sure you know that there are many online CME opportunities available. Please do not hesitate to call (770-22-MYCME (69263)) and let us help you with your CME needs.

WellStar Connect Training
Providers will be receiving CME credit for the e-Learning modules and classroom time of WellStar Connect Training.  CME credit will be automatically added to each provider’s success factors learning transcript.  If you need a CME certificate please contact Jennifer Reagan at jennifer.reagan@wellstar.org.    

December CME

• Cancer Conference (TB)-KH: December 23, 30; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB)-CH: December 18; noon; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Thoracic Clinic Kennestone-KH: December 18; 5 p.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Thoracic Clinic Cobb-CH: December 18; 5 p.m.; STAT Clinic; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• GI Tumor Board Kennestone-KH: December 18; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cardiology Case Conference: December 31; 7 a.m.; Kennesaw Mountain Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Anesthesia M&M: December 18; 7 a.m.; Anesthesia Conf. Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• WellStar Connect Training: Providers will be receiving CME credit for the e-Learning modules and classroom time of WellStar Connect Training. CME credit will be automatically added to each provider's success factors learning transcript. If you need a CME certificate, please contact Jennifer Reagan at jennifer.reagan@wellstar.org.

WellStar Connect Phase Two Go Live Dec. 1

On Dec. 1, WellStar Connect “went live” at WellStar Kennestone Hospital and 40+ WellStar Medical Group practices including Urgent Care Centers. As with any major change in systems, anticipation was high, but with the weeks of training, the months of planning and the support staff on hand, the launch of Epic went very smoothly.

Successes have been pouring in from physicians and team members who have found Epic as a welcomed change:

WellStar Cardiovascular Medicine Acworth reports, “On Dec. 3, Dr. Nydia Bladuell's first day in the office with EPIC and the staff's second day on the new system, we had an elderly patient and her two daughters show up at 4:15 p.m. stating they had an appointment. We could not see anywhere in our system where the patient had been scheduled. After such a long day, I anticipated at least some slight resistance from my team about staying late. They said yes, they were tired, but this is ‘what we do.’ We pulled together obtaining records from the referring practice (in Cartersville) and the clinical team worked to get her chart ready. Dr. Bladuell saw the patient, who was in heart failure and needed labs and treatment to begin quickly. We could not have done it without everyone's engagement and our EPIC support.”

WellStar Cartersville Surgical reports,“Dr. Grant Taylor was scheduled at the GI LAB Dec. 3 and he felt the process worked well for him.  He and our staff in Cartersville were all able to access their view only processes this morning for his notes! The referring physician’s office confirmed receipt of their copy into their EMR also! Success in Cartersville!! Thanks to everyone’s hard work!!!”

“As a veteran of the first ED EHR launch and realizing we have a ways to go, I’m impressed, in comparison, with its functionality, information sharing and no click speeds of 3+ seconds!”  – Mike Ray, M.D.

From Kennestone Cath Lab: “Epic team told Dr. Art Reitman they have never seen such a smooth cath lab transition before.”  

To share your WellStar Connect successes, email KimberlyJ.Johnson@wellstar.org. 

WellStar, the Cobb County Medical Society and KSU bring you the Business of Medicine, New Realities

“Accountable Care”, “High Deductible Plans”, “ACOs”, “Pay for Performance”…
Are you prepared for the tidal wave of change that will impact how consumers and insurers value your services and how you are paid for those services?  

WellStar has partnered with the Cobb County Medical Society and the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University (KSU) to develop a program that aims to bring a better understanding of the Business of Medicine in the context of a changing medical economic landscape. 

Sessions will deal with the basics of strategy formation, accounting and finance. Special attention will be given to the principles of practice valuations and to leveraging social media when marketing medical services. There will be a strong focus on how you can change your business processes to avoid revenue cycle problems that may come with new payment plans.

Attendees can expect to leave with a clear understanding of how to plan and implement new business processes that aim to give them an edge as they deal with new regulations, new payment programs and a new workforce. 

The program will be composed of two Saturday sessions one on Jan. 18, 2014, and the other on Feb. 1, 2014.  The program will be held at KSU’s Executive Education Center, 3333 Busbee Drive, Kennesaw, GA 30144, in Room 300. The cost of the program is $95 for Cobb County Medical Society members. 

Register online at www.KSUExecEd.com/Medicine.