WellStar Kennestone Hospital Plans to Become Designated Level II Trauma Center in Summer 2011

At the Thursday, December 9 WellStar Health System Board of Trustees meeting, a resolution was adopted authorizing WellStar Kennestone Hospital to submit an application with the Georgia Department of Community Health to become designated as a Level II Trauma Center by the summer of 2011. If approved, WellStar Kennestone Hospital will be the only designated Trauma Center in WellStar Health System’s five county primary service area. Click here to read the full press release.

New Medical Staff Members - As Approved at the November WellStar Governing Board Meeting

For a complete list of new Medical Staff and Advanced Practitioners, click, "Read more>>."

DEA Mandate Affecting Patients Discharged into LTC Facilities

According to a mandate from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), all Schedule II – Schedule V controlled substance medications for patients discharged to a long-term care (LTC) facility require a separate, written prescription.

WellStar Physicians Featured on Atlanta's Biggest Loser

Scott McKee, M.D., F.A.C.C.

The fifth season of Atlanta’s Biggest Loser wrapped up on Dec. 14 on prime time. Contestants Michelle and Kristine were guided through the process by Dr. Scott McKee of WellStar Cardiovascular Medicine. He supervised the 12 contestants throughout the 12-week contest and was featured on the finale.

A WellStar physician was featured on Atlanta and Company every Friday during the 12-week contest. For a list of physicians who were featured, along with a list of topics they discussed, click "Read more>>."

January Department Meetings

For a list of January department meetings, click "Read more>>."

Quantum Radiology - Radiation Dose Reduction at WellStar

Quantum Radiologists are working hard to reduce radiation dosage received from diagnostic radiology studies at Wellstar. Our goal is to use the least amount of radiation needed to answer the clinical question from the referring physician. Most notably, we are eliminating most multiple phase scan protocols for routine contrast enhanced body CT scans, which cuts the dose in half the affected areas. (This change will not be implemented for relevant urologic histories such as hematuria, or for trauma, and if there is a particular clinical request for delayed images, we will be happy to discuss this with any referring physician.) We are also eliminating “overlap” double-scanning when combining chest and abdomen scans and reducing the dose from additional phases of some of the remaining multiple phase scans, such as dedicated liver protocol studies.) Additionally, we have ensured dose modulation techniques are activated whenever available for body protocols, and have increased internal dose reporting and monitoring to ensure compliance with these changes.

Safety First Re-certification Schedule for Physicians and Mid-Levels

For a list of upcoming Safety First Re-certification dates at WellStar Kennestone and Cobb hospitals, click "Read more>>." 

Critical Care Policy

The Systemwide Critical Care Committee developed a new Critical Care Policy that will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2011. The goal of this policy is to assure that patients in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) receive appropriate, safe, quality care.

Upcoming CME Events

• Breast Tumor Board, 12/22, 12/29, 1/5, 1/12, 1/26, Kennestone, 7 – 8 a.m.
• GI Tumor Board, 12/23, 12/30, 1/6, 1/20, 1/27, Stat Clinic, 7 – 8 a.m. 
• Thoracic Clinic, Kennestone Hospital, every Wednesday, Post Stat Clinic, 5 p.m.
• Tumor Board, Cobb Hospital, every Wednesday, Wisteria/Jasmine, 12 – 1 p.m.
• Surgical M&M Cobb, 1/27, Wisteria/Jasmine, 7 a.m.
• Surgical M&M, Kennestone, 12/29, Camellia Room, 7:30 a.m.

Questions: Petra Young, Director of Physician and Provider Education (CME), 770-956-6412 or petra.young@wellstar.org.

Physician Leadership Academy

A few openings remain for the Physicians Leadership Academy starting on Jan. 8. Please contacts Don Campbell at don.campbell@wellstar.org for information.

Leo Reichert to Lead WellStar Legal Team

Leo Reichert has been named executive vice president & chief legal counsel for WellStar. He will be joining us on Jan. 1, 2011. In this position, Leo will serve as part of our senior leadership team and provide legal advice, services and counsel to our entire System and all our business units.

Leo is currently a partner at Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs L.L.P.  His practice focuses on representing hospitals, physicians and other healthcare providers in a broad range of matters including commercial litigation, fraud litigation, government investigations, reimbursement disputes and certificate of need litigation.  He also advises clients on the development and implementation of compliance programs.

Crysty Cornett Joins Cancer Data Center

Crysty Cornett joined WellStar on Nov. 29, 2010 as manager of the Cancer Data Center. She reports to the executive director of the Cancer Network Service Line and will work closely with our oncology medical director, Robert Hermann, M.D., and all of our cancer physicians and staff.

Crysty has Systemwide responsibility for planning and managing the Cancer Data Center, changes in the data-related Standards of the American College of Surgeons, and continuing to find ways to assist physicians in measuring quality through its database.

Previously, she served as cancer registry manager in Rome, Ga. and Memorial Health Care System in Chattanooga, Tenn. She has a Bachelor's degree in organization management and is a Certified Tumor Registrar.

Kennestone Blood Bank Stat Requests

In order to improve communication between the Blood Bank and the clinical services, the Blood Bank has devised a flow sheet to process stat requests for red blood cell units.  It is important that the individual ordering the blood has the pertinent clinical information listed below when calling the Blood Bank (770-793-5479). This improved communication will allow the Blood Bank to appropriately and efficiently deliver blood to your patients.

WellStar Honors Patients' Rights and Wishes Through New POLST

On Nov. 8, WellStar rolled out an updated Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) – a pink, user-friendly form that will ensure patients’ treatment wishes regarding end-of-life care are honored and they are provided only the care they want. Decisions on end-of-life care include CPR, antibiotics, IV fluids, feeding tubes, etc.

The ethics committee at each facility will assist in coordinating the rollout of the new POLST form which will replace the current goldenrod form that’s been used by WellStar for more than five year. This new POLST form should be utilized and any unused goldenrod forms should be destroyed.

New Medical Staff Members - As Approved at the October WellStar Governing Board Meeting

For a complete list of new Medical Staff and Advanced Practitioners, click "Read more>>."

STAT Cancer Clinic Serves Its Thousandth Patient

Bill Mayfield, M.D.

WellStar Health System designed the STAT Cancer Clinic, a multidisciplinary program that not only delivers the best results possible, but also streamlines patient care so patients spend less time waiting.

“WellStar is the only organization in the region with a comprehensive, multidis­ciplinary clinic specifically designed for patients with cancer,” said thoracic surgeon William Mayfield, M.D. “What’s more, this patient-focused approach signifi­cantly reduces the amount of time between diagnosis and treatment.”

Mindy Gentry, M.D., Joins WellStar Cardiovascular Medicine

Mindy Gentry, M.D.

WellStar Cardiac Network is pleased to announce that Mindy Gentry, M.D., joined WellStar Cardiovascular Medicine and began seeing patients at the East Cobb location on Oct. 11.

Dr. Gentry received her bachelor’s degree with specialization in genetics at Georgia Institute of Technology and her doctorate of medicine at Medical College of Georgia. Prior to joining WellStar Cardiovascular, she was an assistant professor of medicine, section cardiology, in the department of medicine, at Medical College of Georgia. She is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular diseases, nuclear cardiology, and echocardiography. She also has been published in multiple publications, such as Preventative Cardiology and American Journal of Cardiology.

November and December CME Events

For a complete listing of October and November CME events, click "Read more>>."

November and December Department Meetings

For a complete list of November and December department meetings, click "Read more>>."

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Amyn Hirani, M.D.

Amyn Hirani, M.D. with WellStar Pulmonary Medicine, was recently published in the October issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery. The original article, titled “The Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Postoperative Complications,” can be viewed here. Click "Read more>>" for a summary of the article's findings.