WellStar Health System Acquires Rights to the Center for Health Transformation

WellStar Health System has acquired the rights to the trademark, trade name and website address of the Center for Health Transformation (CHT), the former healthcare think tank established by Newt Gingrich in 2003.  The CHT was a for-profit entity whose primary mission was to be a non-partisan collaboration of private and public sector leaders committed to creating a 21st century intelligent health system that saves lives and saves money for all Americans.

Through WellStar, the CHT will begin as an invitation-only, collaborative network limited to 20 non-competing, not-for-profit health systems, which will evaluate and share best transformational and innovative practices aimed at delivering higher quality healthcare at lower costs and with increased access for all Americans.

“The Center for Health Transformation will be a collaboration of top-tier health systems to meet in a non-partisan manner with a goal of discovering and sharing best practice solutions to improve quality, decrease costs and improve access,” said Reynold Jennings, president & CEO of WellStar. “As the fifth most integrated healthcare delivery system in the country, WellStar values the original intent of the Center and is dedicated to continuing this mission.”

Robin T. Wilson, M.D., WellStar’s senior vice president for medical management and Chief Health Innovation Officer, has been named executive director of the CHT. Dr. Wilson, who received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee’s Center for the Health Sciences and a master’s degree in health administration from the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, has been with WellStar for three years. He is dual-board certified, a certified physician executive and a fellow in the American Institute of Healthcare Quality.

The CHT will operate as an independent, member controlled, non-partisan, not-for-profit entity with funding coming from memberships. To be considered for membership, health systems must be not-for-profit, a multi-facility health system with complimentary ancillary services, and commit to active participation by its president/CEO and other senior executives.

Initially, the membership will concentrate on the southeast United States to include Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
“WellStar is striving to be a transformer of healthcare and not simply a transactor,” said Jennings. “Building on the original mission of the CHT allows the best and brightest in the industry to come together and shape the future of healthcare delivery in our country.”

Physicians to Have Major Role in WellStar Connect Design and Implementation

WellStar Health System believes physicians’ perspectives, engagement and leadership are essential requirements for a successful Epic EMR implementation.

Given the importance of the physician’s role, Epic’s implementation methodology requires identification of an overall project physician leader or champion as well as additional physician leaders for each Epic application area.

After an extensive search and interview process, WellStar leadership has formally engaged nine physicians to serve as physician champions throughout our 24-month WellStar Connect build and implementation period.

Each of these physicians has made a commitment to dedicate time away from his/her practice every week to work with our team.

These physicians’ responsibilities include actively participating in the build’s decision-making process, organizing additional provider resources, co-leading clinical advisory groups, participating in review and update of relevant by-laws, policies and procedures, coordinating with other project team resources, acting as a liaison between the WellStar Connect Project Team and WellStar hospitals’ medical staff and helping us drive this implementation forward as it relates to physicians. All physician champions will travel to Epic in Verona, Wis. for additional training to facilitate their roles.

Epic Module Physician Champions:
Overall Project: Murphy Townsend, M.D.
OpTime: (OR) Matt Grabowski, M.D.
Stork: (OB/GYN) Paula Greaves, M.D.
Radiant: (Radiology) Brian Kaineg, M.D.
Epic Ambulatory: Tom Gearhard, M.D.
Epic Ambulatory (Pediatrics): Aixa Silvera-Schwartz, M.D.
Cupid: (Cardiology) Micah Tepper, M.D.
ASAP: (ED) Rayan Rouhizad, M.D.
Epic Inpatient: Hindia Tahir, M.D.

WellStar Connect Subject Matter Experts (SMEs): Helping Shape our System’s Future

Since late August, approximately 300 WellStar team members have been hard at work helping to adapt, design and develop WellStar Connect, our EpicCare customized electronic medical record (EMR) system. These subject matter experts (SMEs) were selected to represent departments/areas with regard to the EMR’s content, workflow and policy.

WellStar Connect will allow for a single patient record across the care continuum – from the physician office to the hospital and event to the patient’s home. It will be world-class information technology – and will transform our System, providing a ‘one patient, one record’ approach that will improve the coordination of care, increase patient safety and enhance the patient experience.

SMEs provide input and attend validation sessions to review and react to specific applications.

“Validation sessions are intense!” said Vedetta Caldwell, operations manager, WellStar Medical Group, Cardiovascular Medicine, a practice management (front office) SME. “To prepare for the sessions, we list every report known to man – current and dream reports. We create flow charts for current work, review flow charts for future work and tweak them till they squeak.

“During the sessions, we review the process, ask questions and review again. Then comes the vote: We hold up green plates to indicate it’s a go, yellow to indicate ‘needs tweaking,’ and red means ‘no way – back to the drawing board.’”

Kimberly Penn, RN, clinical nurse educator, 7 Blue Cardiovascular Progressive Care Unit, WellStar Kennestone Hospital, is a SME providing the bedside nurse perspective.

“I’ve been able to share how we document everything from assessments and procedures to medication reconciliation and administration,” said Penn. “I know what has worked successfully and what has been a rocky, frustrating road. I’ve given feedback on our best practices and how we can integrate what we now do manually into an automated system so we can be proactive instead of reactive.

“The validation sessions are amazing. The teams are multidisciplinary and the collaboration between everyone from nurses to physicians and Care Coordination to Pharmacy really forces us to see how our workflow impacts each other.”

SMEs and Physician Champions feel they are making valuable contributions to world-class healthcare.
“The true winner will be the patient,” said Penn. “To be a world-class System, we need world-class technology. I absolutely feel my contribution is valuable – I am not just making suggestions from my experience, I am taking note of requests from other Kennestone team members.”

“I am proud of how all WellStar departments are coming together to come up with the best workflow for our patients,” said Caldwell. “The project requires everyone’s participation, as we strive to improve processes on every level.”

“The decision to adopt Epic is perhaps the most significant and profoundly important decision made by WellStar in my 27-year involvement with the System,” said Tom Gearhard, M.D., Ambulatory Physician Champion. “As a member of the WellStar Board of Trustees I had the privilege to participate in the selection of Epic. In my leadership role within the WellStar Medical Group I saw the potential of using Epic to dramatically improve communication, standardization of patient care and adoption of best practices by all WellStar providers.

“As a family physician, I saw that Epic is patient centric and places the health and safety of patients as its primary driver. Revolutionary? Transformational? Absolutely! I did not hesitate in agreeing to be the Ambulatory Physician Champion, as I felt this was an unparalleled opportunity to help make WellStar's goal of world-class healthcare a reality.”

Safety First Training Now Available

Medical and allied health staff members must complete Safety First Training every two years. You may complete this requirement either by attending a live training session or by completing an online learning module or approved simulation training. 

The online learning module is available on Success Factors Learning. Instructions for accessing Success Factors Learning is posted on eSource>Medical Staff.

You must complete Safety First Training before April 15, 2013 to avoid an administrative suspension.

PLEASE NOTE: New medical and allied health staff members must attend a live presentation of Safety First Training.

WellStar Foundation Physician Partners Event

On Nov. 8, more than 100 WellStar Foundation Physician Partners and their guests met at The Georgian Club to hear guest speaker, Paul Keckley, M.D., executive director for the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions and one of the country’s leading experts on healthcare reform.

“We are two days post-election and I cannot think of a more timely or relevant topic,” said Executive Vice President of WellStar Medical Group and Chief Administrative Medical Officer, Robert D. Jansen, M.D. as he welcomed everyone.

The event was held to thank physicians who give back to the community through their support of the WellStar Foundation. Several new members were introduced by WellStar Foundation President, Tracey Atwater.

 “It is my experience that to be a great health system you must have strong physician leadership,” Reynold Jennings, WellStar President and CEO, said as he introduced Dr. Keckley. Many pertinent questions were asked by physicians and the topics discussed provided further insight into potential opportunities to work together to provide world-class healthcare.

WellStar Hosts Healthcare Performance Improvement Summit

WellStar hosted the Ninth Annual Healthcare Performance Improvement (HPI) Summit Oct. 9-11 at the Hilton Marietta Hotel & Conference Center. The Summit is an annual collegial forum for networking, building relationships, expanding knowledge and exchanging best practices among organizations that share a common goal: zero events of preventable harm.

Keynote speakers included Reynold Jennings, WellStar president & CEO; Marcia Delk, M.D., WellStar senior vice president, Safety & Quality, Credentialing & chief quality officer; and Timothy J. Herrick, executive chief engineer, General Motors.

WellStar Douglas Hospital Cath Lab Performs 100th PCI

WellStar Douglas Hospital Cath Lab team

The WellStar Douglas Hospital Cath Lab team performed its 100th percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on Sept. 26, 2012.

The PCI program began providing lifesaving angioplasty to cardiac patients on March 5, 2012. Prior to that time, cardiac patients were stabilized and diagnosed before being transferred to either WellStar Cobb or Kennestone hospitals for treatment.

Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates is WellStar’s Preferred Oral Surgery Provider

Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates (NWOMSA) is WellStar’s exclusive on-call oral surgery provider for trauma patients and our preferred provider for all patients and team members.

As oral and maxillofacial surgeons, Manuel A. Davila, D.M.D.; Chris Vandewater, D.M.D.; Scott P. Rose, D.M.D., M.D.; Neysa A. Coker, D.M.D., M.D.; Michael M. Demo, D.D.S.; Jonathan M.C. Threadgill, D.M.D.; and Richard W. Kinsey, D.M.D., manage a wide variety of problems relating to the mouth, teeth and face. The surgeons are highly skilled and practice a full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Expertise ranges from repair of facial fractures and oral and maxillofacial surgery pathology to corrective jaw surgery, wisdom tooth removal and dental implants.

NWOMSA surgeons care for children and adults and work closely with referring dentists and orthodontists to ensure complete coordination of care. WellStar team members (and their immediate family) without insurance receive a 10 percent discount for dental extractions, and complimentary doctor consultation/X-ray for dental implants. Financing is available through Care Credit.

The practice has seven locations in Acworth, Blue Ridge, Dallas, Douglasville, Marietta, Powder Springs and Woodstock. For more information, visit www.nworalmax.com.

WellStar Community Hospice Celebrates 30 Years

On Nov. 13, the WellStar Foundation hosted a 30th Anniversary Celebration for WellStar Community Hospice at The Cobb Energy Center. 

Bestselling author, Rabbi Harold Kushner, was the guest speaker and guests of all ages were able to relate to the moving insights he shared.  Rabbi Kushner is rabbi laureate of Temple Israel in Natick, Mass.  He is the author of more than a dozen books on coping with life’s challenges, including most recently, Conquering Fear and The Book of Job: When Bad Things Happened to a Good Person.

As one of the first hospital-based hospice programs in the state of Georgia, WellStar Community Hospice was a pioneer program.  Today, care is provided to residents in six counties including Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas, Paulding, and the most recent addition, Carroll. 

In addition to the home hospice program, the program has now grown to include two inpatient hospices:  Tranquility at Cobb, and the newest inpatient hospice, Tranquility at Kennesaw Mountain, which opened this past June.  Tranquility at Cobb was the first inpatient hospice in northwest Georgia and became a model for other programs throughout the state. 

Event sponsorship proceeds benefited the WellStar Community Hospice Angel Fund Endowment, which helps those in need of care who do not have the ability to pay.  WellStar Community Hospice remains committed to caring for all eligible patients regardless of their financial resources.  Hospice is a sacred gift to those in need of care, connection, and a peaceful and loving transition. 

With its coordinated program of services provided by a team of skilled medical professionals including physicians, nurses, clergy, social workers, and valuable assistance from trained volunteers, WellStar Community Hospice is a model in the industry and has received extensive regional and national acclaim.  Knowing that WellStar Community Hospice is close to home is a comfort to so many in our community. 

November Patient Satisfaction Scores

November New Providers

Zenobia JonesFoster, M.D.

Sandra Milagros Rodriguez-Sfeir, M.D.

Zenobia JonesFoster, M.D.

Dr. JonesFoster received her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and behavioral biology and her master’s degree in public health, health policy and management from Emory University. After earning her medical degree from Marshall University, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in Huntington, W. Va., she completed her residency in internal medicine at Emory University.

Sandra Milagros Rodriguez-Sfeir, M.D.

Dr. Rodriguez-Sfeir received her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Bacteriology and her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Georgia. She earned her medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Student Association.

New Medical Staff as Approved at the November Governing Board Meeting

Alawabdy, Basil, M.D.	Gastroenterology	Atlanta Gastroenterology Assoc	KH, WH
Benayoun, Joana I., M.D.	Pediatrics ER	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, KH
Brody, Evan M., DPM	Podiatry	West Cobb Foot & Ankle Center	KH	CH, PH
Choy-Hee, Leslie, M.D.	Hospitalist  (Obstetrics & Gynecology)	WellStar OB/GYN Hospitalist Group	CH, MG
Cruz, Mark P., M.D.	Emergency Medicine	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH
Griffin, Dauda A., M.D.	Psychiatry (Telepsychiatry)	WellStar Psychiatry	DH	CH, KH, WH, MG
Jobe, Rayna T., M.D.	Urgent Care	WellStar Urgent Care (Delk Road)	MG
Johnson, Samuel A., M.D.	Nephrology	Georgia Kidney Associates	CH, DH, KH, PH, WH
JonesFoster, Zenobia W., M.D.	Hospitalist (Internal Medicine)	WellStar Hospitalist Group	CH, DH, KH, PH, MG
King, Richard W., Jr., M.D.	Hyperbaric Medicine	HyOx Medical Treatment Center	DH	CH, KH, WH
Lamm, Maureen A., M.D.	Urgent Care	WellStar Urgent Care (Acworth HP)	MG
Lovett, Louis, M.D.	Pulmonary Medicine	WellStar Pulmonary Medicine	MG	KH
Nygren, Henry C., M.D.	Emergency Medicine	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH
Raphael, Rafik M., M.D.	General Practice	WellStar Internal Medicine	MG
Roseman, Barry J., M.D.	Breast Surgery	Surgical Oncology of North GA	DH	KH, WH
Schmidt, Marcia M., M.D.	Gynecologic Oncology	Atlanta Gynecologic Oncology	KH
Sundborg, Michael J., M.D.	Gynecologic Oncology	Atlanta Gynecologic Oncology	KH
Taryla, Marianne F., M.D.	Hyperbaric Medicine	HyOx Medical Treatment Center	DH	CH, KH, WH
Thomas, Linda L., M.D.	Psychiatry (Telepsychiatry)	WellStar Psychiatry	DH	CH, KH, WH, MG

Advanced Practice Professionals

Agbede, Olubunmi O., NP	Nurse Practitioner	WellStar Hospitalist Group	CH, MG
Ayeni, Regina F., NP	Nurse Practitioner	Cobb County Adult Detention Center	MG
Bassey, Shirley E., PA	Physician Assistant	WellStar Pulmonary Medicine	CH, DH, KH, PH, WH, MG
Coghlan, Cassandra L., PA	Physician Assistant	NW Georgia Oncology Centers	CH, DH, KH, WH
Cole, Jennifer M., PA	Physician Assistant	Pinnacle Orthopaedics & Sports	KH
Dugan, Shannon C., PA	Physician Assistant	WellStar Cardiovascular Medicine	MG	CH, DH, KH
Efune, Jade B., PA	Physician Assistant	WellStar Pulmonary Medicine	CH, DH, KH, PH, WH, MG
Marshall, Andrea, PA-A	Physician Anesthesia Assistant	Georgia Anesthesiologists, PC	KH, PH
Mohammed, Nadia, PA	Physician Assistant	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH
Ramsey, Edwina A., NP	Nurse Practitioner	WellStar Medical Group (Clinic)	MG
Thompson, Nathan, PA-A	Physician Anesthesia Asst	Tri-County Anesthesia	DH
Tran, Tam H., PA	Physician Assistant	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH
York, Christina G., PA	Physician Assistant	The Bortolazzo Group, LLC	CH, DH, KH, PH

December Department Meetings

WellStar Cobb Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
OB/GYN	Dec. 3; 12:30 p.m.	Auditorium
Surgery	Dec. 10; 5:30 p.m.	ABR
Internal Medicine	Dec. 10; 5:30 p.m.	Jasmine/Wisteria Room
Family Practice	Dec. 10; 5:45 p.m.	Dogwood Room
General Staff	Dec. 10; 6;30 p.m.	Auditorium
Credentials	Dec. 11; noon	Magnolia Room
APP General	Dec. 12; noon	Oran Conference Room
Medical Executive Committee	Dec. 18; noon	J/W Room

WellStar Douglas Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Credentials	Dec. 4; noon	Sycamore Room
Medical Executive Committee	Dec. 11; noon	Sycamore Room
QRC PI	Dec. 13; 7:30 a.m.	Sweetwater Room

WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Credentials	Dec. 5: 7 a.m.	KMR
Safety First Initial Training	Dec. 7; 8 a.m.-- noon	KMR
Medical Executive Committee	Dec. 11; 6 p.m.	KMR

WellStar Paulding Hospital

Committee/Dept.	Date & Time	Place
Medical Executive Committee	Dec. 13; 12:30 p.m.	Dogwood Room

WellStar Windy Hill Hospital- None scheduled

December CME Events

• Breast Cancer Tumor Board: Dec. 5, 12 and 26; 7 a.m.; Stat Clinic; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB): Dec. 5, 12, 19 and 26; noon.; Wisteria/Jasmine Room; WellStar Cobb Hospital
• Cancer Conference (TB): Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Cobb Surgical M&M: Dec. 27; 7 a.m.; Jasmine/Wisteria Room, WellStar Cobb Hospital
• GI Tumor Board; Dec. 6, 20 and 27; 7 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Kennestone Surgical M&M: Dec. 26; 7:30 a.m.; Azalea/Camellia Room
• Neurosciences Patient Care Conference: Dec. 5; 7 a.m.; Camellia Room; WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Safety First Re-Certification - Kennestone; Dec. 7; 10:30 a.m. Admin. Conference Room;  WellStar Kennestone Hospital
• Thoracic Clinic: Dec. 5, 12, 19 and 26; 5 p.m., STAT Clinic, WellStar Kennestone Hospital

Fall General Medical Staff Meeting Update

The fall 2012 WellStar General Medical Staff meeting was held Wednesday evening, Oct. 17, 2012, at the Cobb Galleria Centre. More than 200 physicians and advanced practice professionals (APPs) from our five hospitals were in attendance.  For those of you who were unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts, the highlights from the various senior leaders’ strategic updates are as follows:

WellStar Connect (EPIC):  Jon Morris, M.D., Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer and Murphy Townsend M.D., WellStar Connect Lead Physician Champion

1. WellStar's implementation of the EpicCare electronic medical record (EMR), titled WellStar Connect, will replace all WellStar inpatient and ambulatory clinical information technology systems by the end of CY 2014. 
2. Our investment in this single patient, single record system will improve patient safety and satisfaction by improving and promoting access to clinical data for both patients and providers.
3. Physicians will play a critical role in assuring we understand how to optimally configure these applications.
4. Optimal implementation will require mandated training and universal adoption by all clinicians in all venues of care.

Implications of Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (PPACA): Reynold Jennings,       President & CEO

1. WellStar is actively pursuing both local and regional collaborative efforts to ensure our future success.
2. Georgia’s political scene will impact WellStar, both on the Medicaid funding issue and on the uncertainty of Certificate of Need (CON).
3. WellStar senior leadership has initiated rapid action teams referred to Accelerated Results Teams (ART) to oversee key initiatives.
   
4. Physician Engagement and Integration: Robert Jansen, M.D., Executive Vice President, WellStar Medical Group (WMG) President & Chief Administrative Medical Officer
5. We have 10 service lines at present, each lead by a dyad consisting of an administrative vice president and a physician leader(s).
6. Currently, service line focus is on growth opportunities and development of quality initiatives.
7. In the future, service lines will focus on providing value to our patients and improving coordination of care across the continuum.
8. Future success will depend on seamless collaboration between all stakeholders; primary care physicians, specialists, service lines, WMG, private physicians and hospital medical staffs.

Accountable Care: Jim Budzinski, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

1. WellStar Health Network (WHN) was approved by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services as a Medicare Shared Savings Accountable Care Organization (ACO), effective July 1, 2012.
2. For the 2011 baseline period, our ACO was assigned 36,560 beneficiaries with approximately $346,513,905 total yearly spend. This was almost evenly distributed between hospital, physician and pharmacy costs.
3. The WHN has already initiated population management components of patient identification and risk stratification.
4. This fall, WellStar will roll out an Independent Practice Association (IPA) as a physician-driven organization of both WMG and private practice providers to provide a venue for payment innovation to support population management.

 Safety and Quality: Marcia Delk, M.D., Senior Vice President, Safety & Quality and           Credentialing & Chief Safety Officer

1. In our journey to provide world-class healthcare, WellStar has targeted to be within the Premier top decile in outcomes by 2020.
2. WellStar already is realizing gains in the areas of length of stay, readmissions, mortality, complications and cost/case.
3. Successful WellStar Connect (Epic) implementation and adoption of evidence-based medicine, along with other initiatives, will be key drivers to achieve this goal by 2020.

Acute Care Management: Candice Saunders, Executive Vice President & WellStar  Kennestone Hospital President

1. A multi-hospital team of presidents, operational leaders and physicians will focus on patient centered care and quality outcomes.
2. Our care delivery model will be repositioned from volume-based to value-based.
3. Value-based purchasing (VBP) and public-reported programs promote patient experience as measured by HCAHPS.

 External Growth: Mike Graue, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

1. We will be changing our approach from REACTIVE to PROACTIVE.
2. Growth will be focused on acquiring/expanding high margin services that are relatively                                    easy to develop.

Once again, thank you to the physicians and APPs who were able to attend in person. WellStar is actively repositioning itself for success in the near-term as well as in the long-term, despite the outcome of the election or whether the PPACA is upheld or modified. WellStar values our physicians and other direct care partners, both WMG and affiliated, as we serve our patients and communities.
We fully understand that our physicians have limited time. Therefore, our job is to obtain, analyze and codify data, plus best practices, and to make meetings efficient and productive.

WellStar Connect Launches New Website

WellStar recently launched a WellStar Connect website to keep team members informed about the details and progress of the implementation of WellStar’s EpicCare, electronic medical record (EMR).

“The WellStar Connect name represents the many connections that will be made across our System as we use the software’s one patient, one record approach to improve the coordination of care, increase patient safety and enhance the patient experience,” said Jon Morris, M.D., senior vice president and chief information officer.

The WellStar Connect website now is available from any computer located within the WellStar network at https://wellstarconnect.wellstar.org. The site contains Roles and Responsibilities, Guiding Principles, EpicCare Product List and Frequently Asked Questions. A video of the kick-off event, including President & CEO Reynold Jennings’s comments and the integrated demo, also is available for viewing. If you have questions related to the WellStar Connect project, an application is available on the site to submit questions.

The website also features the first edition of the WellStar Connect newsletter, WellStar Connect Link, which may be viewed by clicking the Newsletter tab near the top of the home page.

PerfectServe System Update

The implementation of the PerfectServe System is now complete at all hospitals.  Physicians now have the technology to directly connect to other physicians and providers using the 855-DocLink number or through their PerfectServe mobile app.  As groups begin to fine-tune their contact algorithms, the system is capable of efficiently connecting callers to the provider most needed. 

Problems with cell phone connectivity continue to exist in some areas of the hospitals, particularly for those providers whose cellular carrier is not Verizon. Verizon Wireless has recently connected to the Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) at WellStar Douglas and Kennestone Hospitals.  The DAS at WellStar Cobb Hospital is near completion.  Other cellular carriers have not yet connected to the DAS system. For those providers whose cellular reception is poor, PerfectServe can mirror some communications to an e-mail to avoid missing connections.

The purpose for the implementation of the PerfectServe system is to enable provider-to-provider conversations about patient care that will improve patient and provider satisfaction.  Early use of the system has identified that some groups continue to structure their contact algorithms to route all calls to an office number or an answering service. Medical Staff leadership continues to work with PerfectServe to construct contact algorithms that respect the existing workflow of the providers, yet does not lose sight of the goal of enabling provider-to-provider conversations about patient care. 

Many providers have identified that texting is an efficient way to deliver messages about patient care between providers. As currently configured, texts are most often sent and received through the existing SMS function on the provider’s cell phone. Because those text messages are not secure, providers are reminded that identifiable Patient Healthcare Information (PHI) should not be included in texts. Because providers cannot control the information in texts that may be received from others, it is strongly recommended that all providers enable a password or PIN number on their phones to prevent the inadvertent disclosure of PHI. WellStar plans to enable the PerfectServe secure texting feature in the near future, which will help to protect patient privacy and protect providers from HIPAA claims. 

An FAQ has been posted on the Medical Staff page on eSource to answer your questions. The PerfectServe Help Desk also is available 24/7 to help with any problems you may be having with connecting to a provider. You can reach the help desk by dialing 855-DocLink and answering affirmatively to the prompt for assistance or pressing the link on your DocLink APP. You are encouraged to use the Help Desk without delay if you are having problems connecting with another provider during an urgent situation.  For problems with connecting using equipment in the hospitals the WellStar IT Service Desk at 470-956-6500 is available to assist you. 

Joseph Hormes, M.D. Appointed Neurosciences Service Line Co-Chief

Joseph Hormes, M.D

WellStar is proud to announce that Joseph Hormes, M.D., has joined William “Bill” Benedict, M.D., as co-chief of the new WellStar Neurosciences Service Line.

Dr. Hormes has been with the Marietta Neurology and Headache Center since 1987 and is affiliated with WellStar Kennestone Hospital. He also is a member of the clinical faculty at Emory University’s Department of Neurology and is an active member of a number of professional organizations, such as the American Academy of Neurology, the American Association of Electromyography & Electro-diagnosis and the American Society of Neuroimaging.

Dr. Hormes received his medical degree from St. John's Medical School, Bangalore, India, and his DM Neurology from National Institute of Neurosciences, India. He completed his neurology residency at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, and fellowship in Neurophysiology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. He is board-certified by the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, the American Board of Clinical Neurophysiology and the American Board of Electro-Diagnostic Medicine.

William “Bill” Benedict, M.D.

Dr. Benedict joined WellStar Neurosurgery in August 2010, after spending three years as an assistant professor of Neurosurgery at Emory University. He received his medical degree and did his internship and residency at Loyola University Medical Center. In addition, he has specialty training in complex spinal disease, adult spinal deformity and spinal oncology.

WellStar Cobb Hospital Opens STAT Cancer Clinic

WellStar is geographically extending its innovative STAT Cancer Clinic concept to WellStar Cobb Hospital. The clinic, which opened at WellStar Cobb in early September 2012, operates exactly like WellStar’s original STAT Cancer Clinic at Kennestone Hospital: patients see all members of the treatment and support team in one place in one afternoon.

WellStar STAT Cancer Clinics offer the only true multidisciplinary service of its kind in metro Atlanta. WellStar Kennestone Hospital’s STAT Cancer Clinic opened in 2006.

Andrew Helms, M.D., will head WellStar Cobb’s new STAT Cancer Clinic, which will serve patients with lung, esophageal or chest abnormalities.

“We can help patients with chest or esophageal abnormalities, those diagnosed with cancer seeking a treatment plan, patients with recurrence or those who want a second opinion,” said Suzie Allen, RN, OCN, WellStar thoracic oncology nurse navigator.

The new clinic gives patients in the WellStar Cobb service area a closer-to-home alternative. The STAT team includes specialists in thoracic surgery, pulmonary, medical oncology and radiation oncology, providing expertise in each cancer discipline, and a nurse navigator to guide patients through the treatment process. The clinic team also includes a medical social worker, a licensed certified counselor, a dietitian who works exclusively with cancer patients and other support staff. The clinic’s goal is for patients to start treatment quickly – in days, not weeks or months.

Referrals are accepted from any physician or patient. To make an appointment, call the WellStar STAT Cancer Clinic at 770-793-7470 or e-mail STATcancerclinic@wellstar.org.

WellStar Kennestone Hospital Honored for its Commitment to Saving Lives by the Georgia Donation Collaborative

WellStar Kennestone Hospital was honored with a Department of Health and Human Services Bronze Medal of Honor at the National Learning Congress in Grapevine, Texas for having outstanding organ donation rates from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2012.

Attaining a Medal of Honor for conversion rate means that 75 percent or more of people who could become an organ donor did.  WellStar Kennestone reached a 79 percent conversion rate by recovering 80 life-saving organs for people in end-stage organ failure.

Nationally, there are more than 115,000 people waiting for a life-saving organ donor; of those people 3,500 are listed in Georgia. 

The goal of the National Learning Congress is to hasten the spread of leading practices to continue breakthrough improvements in donation and transplantation, and to promote the adoption of performance improvement practices that optimize organ viability and increase the number of organs transplanted from each donor.  Success is achieved when grieving families find comfort in their decision to donate and end-stage organ failure patients receive the life-sustaining organ they need.