Atrium Health Navicent Diabetes Healthways encourages individuals to learn more about diabetes and ways of combatting the chronic disease by observing National Diabetes Alert Day on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.

Diabetes, a condition affecting an estimated 537 million people worldwide, is a metabolic disease in which the body is unable to produce enough insulin to regulate glucose levels in the bloodstream. Many cases of diabetes go undiagnosed. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious and life-threatening conditions including blindness, heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and amputation.

National Diabetes Alert Day

• Tuesday, March 22, 2022

• The American Diabetes Association has dedicated this day to encouraging Americans to take a Type 2 Diabetes risk test.

• Visit www.diabetes.org/risk-test to determine your risk for Type 2 Diabetes.

“National Diabetes Alert Day is a great reminder of the importance of knowing your status. Approximately 96 million American adults, more than 1 in 3, have prediabetes. If you do have higher than normal blood sugar, lifestyle changes can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and other health conditions,” said Dr. Anusha Ramadhas, an internal medicine, endocrinology diabetes & metabolism doctor with Atrium Health Navicent. “If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, Atrium Health Navicent Diabetes Healthways can help you learn how to better manage your blood sugar and live your best life.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 37.3 million Americans have diabetes. That’s 11.3 percent of the population. In central Georgia, 17.2 percent of adults have reported being diagnosed with diabetes. Between 2016 and 2018, there was an annual average diabetes mortality rate of 19.5 deaths per 100,000 people, with numbers significantly higher in Peach and Baldwin counties. Diagnosed cases of diabetes are surging among youth in the United States. From 2001 to 2017, the number of people under age 20 living with Type 1 diabetes increased by 45 percent, and the number living with Type 2 diabetes grew by 95 percent.

For more information about Atrium Health Navicent Diabetes Healthways, call 478-633-1531.

About Atrium Health Navicent Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of healthcare in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 125-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.

Total joint replacement is one of the most commonly performed elective surgical procedures in the United States. South Georgia Medical Center recently began using new technology that allows physicians to better control surgical instrument movement during these surgeries. 

SGMC now offers the Zimmer Biomet’s ROSA^® Knee System, which couples robotic technology and industry-leading knee implants to help surgeons personalize surgical procedures for their patients.  

The system includes features that assist with bone resections and assess the state of soft tissues in order to facilitate implant positioning intraoperatively. System data enables surgeons to make complex decisions while using computer and software technology to control and move surgical instruments—resulting in greater precision and flexibility during procedures.      

SGMC Chief of Orthopedic Surgery Dr. Eric Stiefel states, “We’re thrilled to able to offer this advanced technology to patients. There are many key benefits and advantages to using the surgical system for both the surgeon and the patient. It’s a very well advanced system and we believe our patients are going to be just as impressed as we are.” 

“Total joint replacement surgery is a major surgery and can be a difficult decision for patients to make. We are hopeful that this new technology will help make that decision easier, as our patients can trust they will be well taken care of on the operating table,” explained Dr. Stiefel.   

For more information on orthopedic surgery options available at SGMC, visit sgmc.org. 

No appointment needed for screenings at Tanner Breast Health in Carrollton

Tanner is making it easier for women to check their annual mammogram screening off their to-do list.

Each Wednesday throughout the year, women can walk into Tanner Breast Health’s Carrollton location — on the first floor of the Tanner Health Pavilion across from Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton — from 8 a.m. to noon and get a screening mammogram without an appointment.

A mammogram is an X-ray image of the breast. Doctors use a mammogram to look for early signs of breast cancer. Regular mammograms are the best tests doctors have to find breast cancer early, sometimes up to three years before it can be felt, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The breast cancer specialists at Tanner Cancer Care recommend a baseline, or first, screening mammogram between the ages of 35 and 40 and annual screening mammograms beginning at the age of 40.

Screening mammograms are covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare. Allow one year — or 366 days — in between screening mammograms for insurance coverage.

“Walk-In Wednesdays are a great opportunity to get that important annual mammogram. These screenings save lives by detecting cancer before it can be felt,” said Shannon Couvreur, DO, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist with Tanner Healthcare for Women.

Patients should keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Do not use deodorant, lotions or creams in the breast area or under arms on the day of their mammogram.
• Walk-in appointments are for screening mammograms only. Consult your physician if you have pain or tenderness in the breast, nipple changes or discharge, and lumps or other breast issues.

Results are provided by letter once the mammogram is read by a radiologist, usually within two weeks. Patients who have the Tanner MyChart app will receive their results sooner. Should the radiologist determine that further studies are necessary, a nurse from Tanner Breast Health will contact the patient to schedule a follow-up.

For more information about mammograms at Tanner, visit TannerBreastHealth.org. For more information about women’s care at Tanner, visit TannerWomensCare.org.

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Advanced MRI is empowering physicians and improving the patient experience at Hamilton Diagnostics Center (HDC), the first location in Georgia to begin using the MAGNETOM Lumina 3T MRI.

The MAGNETOM Lumina includes groundbreaking BioMatrix technology. The system accommodates patients’ anatomical and physiological differences – as well as technologist differences. This decreases the need for rescans and increases scan consistency across a diverse patient population.

“Our new state of the art 3T magnet will produce better image quality which will lead to greater diagnostic capabilities in detecting disease processes all while improving the patient’s overall experience during the examination,” said Neil Patel, MD, radiology medical director. “The scanner has new technologies such as noise reduction capabilities and faster scan times which will make scans more tolerable for patients by allowing them to be in the magnet for shorter durations.”

Patel said the improved image quality will allow radiologists to detect smaller abnormalities in many of the major organs they image including the liver and the prostate gland.

“We will also have the ability to provide new quantitative analysis of infiltrative (diverse cardiac) diseases such as hemochromatosis,” he said. “This will allow us to monitor disease progression and help both primary doctors and specialists make sure patients are getting the best care possible.”

The accelerated imaging technology provides a dramatic reduction in exam times.

The scanner’s architecture and innovative applications simplify and accelerate workflows while increasing exam precision and patient comfort. Its GO Technologies automate and streamline workflows from the start of the scan through quality control of the image data, resulting in increased productivity for routine examinations throughout the body.

“By taking automation and personalization to the next level, our new MRI scanner virtually eliminates patient and user variability,” said Terri Sullivan, HDC imaging manager.

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The community is invited to join Atrium Health Navicent in observing American Heart Month, a time for everyone to learn how to be heart-healthy and to learn more about how individuals with heart conditions can live their best lives.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The CDC estimates that 659,000 people in the U.S. die of heart disease each year – approximately 1 in every 4 deaths. Heart disease affects both men and women, with no regard for race or ethnicity. Deaths related to heart disease are particularly high in Georgia and the Southeast.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a new population of heart patients who, after battling the disease, are now suffering from heart failure. Heart failure is a term used to describe a heart that cannot keep up with its workload. The body depends on the heart’s pumping action to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the body’s cells. With heart failure, the weakened heart can’t supply the cells with enough blood, which results in fatigue and shortness of breath during everyday activities. Congestive heart failure is a type of heart failure that requires immediate medical attention.

“In my personal experience, I have seen COVID-19 ravage the heart, either through its direct effect on the heart itself, or indirectly from the lung damage that can cause the heart to do poorly,” said Dr. Erskine James, director of the Advanced Heart Failure Center and medical director of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Atrium Health Navicent.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), studies suggest many COVID-19 survivors experience some type of heart damage, even if they didn’t have underlying heart disease before contracting COVID-19. Nearly 25 percent of those hospitalized with COVID-19 have been diagnosed with cardiovascular complications, which have been shown to contribute to about 40 percent of all COVID-19-related deaths.

The AHA says anyone can develop heart failure, and more than 6 million Americans are living with heart failure. More than 900,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. While heart failure can’t be cured, it can be treated.

Atrium Health Navicent Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation — located on the first floor of the Luce Heart Tower at Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center — offers education, counseling and exercise to help patients who have recently experienced a cardiac event, including heart failure patients, to reach their optimal level of well-being and self-sufficiency.

Benefits of cardiac rehab include combatting the progression of heart disease; reducing risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes; improving cardiac efficiency, as well as physical and psychological well-being; educating patients about heart disease management; and enhancing quality of life.

Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation services are also available at Atrium Health Baldwin.

Even if you haven’t been diagnosed with a heart condition, Heart Month is a great time to begin practicing heart-healthy living. Start by implementing these tips:

• Eat healthy: Choose foods low in saturated fat, trans fat and sodium. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains, fish, nuts, legumes and seeds. Limit sugar-sweetened beverages and red meat.

• Be physically active: Get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week, like brisk walking, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic activity every week, like jogging.

• Learn the warning signs: Heart attack symptoms in women can be different than men. Knowing when you’re having a heart attack or stroke means you’re more likely to get immediate help. Quick treatment can save your life. • Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke: It’s never too late to quit smoking. Even exposure to secondhand smoke poses a serious health hazard.

• Have regular wellness exams: Establishing a relationship with a physician means you can start heart-health screenings now.

“Prevention is the best treatment for heart disease. It is far easier to prevent heart attacks than to treat the aftereffects,” James said. “The problem with heart disease is that frequently the first sign is a fatal sign. Live healthy and love your heart.”

Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center has been recognized by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients with heart conditions. The hospital was the first in the state to receive ACC accreditation for three heart care programs: Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation, Heart Failure Accreditation and Atrial Fibrillation with EPS Accreditation.

To find out more about our world class heart care, or for help finding a doctor, visit navicenthealth.org.

About Atrium Health Navicent Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of healthcare in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 125-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.

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After nearly two decades of leadership roles with Southeast Georgia Health System, including more than six years as president and chief executive officer, Michael D. Scherneck retired on January 7, 2022.

Scherneck joined the Health System in 2003 as executive vice president and chief financial officer. In 2015, he was appointed president & chief executive officer by the Southeast Georgia Health System, Inc. Board of Directors.

“I’m very proud to have served the Health System, my fellow team members, and this community,” said Scherneck. “From the time my wife, Kathy, and I arrived here in 2003, we have developed a great affinity for our community. It has proven to be a wonderful opportunity, both professionally and personally, one for which I will be forever grateful. Our community is such that we are friends and family caring for friends and family and I am honored to have played a part in that service commitment.”

During his tenure, Scherneck led numerous initiatives focused on enhancing the Health System’s ability to provide quality health care to the communities it serves, including the growth of the Health System’s affiliated physician practice group, Southeast Georgia Physician Associates. Scherneck also helped create partnerships, such as Coastal Community Health, a regional alliance with Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Florida, to share best practices, optimize resources and achieve greater efficiency, higher quality of care and better patient outcomes.

A significant highlight of Scherneck’s tenure includes the $142 million Master Renovation and Expansion Project of its Brunswick Campus, launched in 2018. Along with the expansion of the Emergency Care Center, which increased the number of treatment rooms from 35 to 50, the project included 16 new operating rooms for the Surgical Services department and a new 32-bed inpatient floor. It also included renovating two existing patient floors, adding a new Parkwood Drive main entrance and lobby, and a covered visitor/patient parking area.

In early 2019, COVID-19 became a primary focus for everyone at the Health System. Scherneck worked with leadership teams to expand the Health System’s intensive care capabilities; secure necessary supplies and equipment; dedicate resources for community COVID-19 testing; recruit additional critical care physicians to the community; and invest in resources to provide more than 50,000 COVID-19 vaccinations to area residents. He also developed collaborative relationships with the Department of Public Health’s Coastal Health District to provide testing, vaccination and education events to the community.

“While we have faced a number of challenges, we have accomplished so very much,” said Scherneck. “I appreciate all the grace and expertise exhibited by team members during several hurricanes, multiple Joint Commission surveys, a major construction project and, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic. What in hindsight may have seemed impossible at the start was dealt with effectively because of the dedication of our Board of Directors, medical staff, volunteers and most especially, our team members throughout both hospitals, Senior Care Centers and our many physician practices.”

Scherneck added, “I welcome my successor, Scott Raynes, and trust he will enjoy the same sense of accomplishment and success with which I have been blessed.”

In addition to his Health System role, Scherneck has served on several professional and community boards, including the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals, Vizient Southern States, Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Coastal Georgia, Morningstar Children and Family Services, Inc., and St. Francis Xavier Catholic School Finance Council.

Additional highlights of Scherneck’s CEO tenure include:

• 2021: Camden Campus earns an A rating for patient safety from Leapfrog
• 2021: Georgia Trend includes Brunswick Campus in its Top Medium Hospital List
• 2021: Brunswick Campus is designated an Advanced Primary Stroke Center and Camden Campus is designated an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital by The Joint Commission
• 2017-2021: Georgia Trend includes Camden Campus in its Top Small Hospital List
• 2020: Brunswick Campus is ranked high performing in “Heart Failure” and “COPD” by U.S. News & World Report
• 2020: Health System receives American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines^® Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award
• 2020: Health System receives LifeLink^® of Georgia Workplace Partnership for Life Platinum Awards for both Brunswick and Camden campuses.
• 2019: Brunswick Campus is designated a Baby-Friendly hospital by Baby-Friendly USA, Inc.
• 2019: Brunswick Campus is awarded American Orthopaedic Association’s^® Own the Bone Program Star Performer
• 2018: Georgia Trend includes Brunswick Campus in its Top Medium Hospital List
• 2017: Scherneck named CEO/Administrator of the Year by the Council on Auxiliaries/Volunteers of the Georgia Hospital Association.

About Southeast Georgia Health System
Southeast Georgia Health System is a not-for-profit health system comprised of two acute care hospitals, two long term care facilities, two comprehensive Cancer Care Centers and multiple specialty care centers, including orthopaedic and spine care, joint replacement, breast care, maternity, outpatient rehabilitation, sleep management and wound care. The Brunswick Campus Cancer Care Center is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and offers the only CyberKnife^® M6 with MLC technology in Georgia. Additionally, the Southeast Georgia Physician Associates medical group includes more than 150 providers working in 20 different medical specialties at more than 50 locations. The Health System is part of Coastal Community Health, a regional affiliation between Baptist Health and Southeast Georgia Health System forming a highly integrated hospital network focused on significant initiatives designed to enhance the quality and value of care provided to our contiguous communities. For more information, visit sghs.org.

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In its January edition, Georgia Trend has named Tifton’s Monty Veazey, President and CEO of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals, as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians.

“Georgia Trend’s 24th annual list of Most Influential Georgians features a group of remarkable leaders who have had a tremendous positive impact on the strength and character of our state,” said Georgia Trend publisher Ben Young. “Our year-round process involves vetting and selecting 100 outstanding individuals out of thousands who work tirelessly to create a better Georgia.

“Monty Veazey is a prime example of the leaders we are fortunate to have who are passionate about improving the daily lives of our state’s citizens. His ongoing work helps ensure Georgians in rural areas continue to have access to quality healthcare.”

A leading voice on healthcare policy in Georgia for many years, Veazey’s work focuses on protecting access to comprehensive hospital care Georgians in every corner of the state.

“I appreciate Georgia Trend’s recognition because it shines a light on the crucial service that community hospitals provide,” Veazey said. “Over the past two years, hospitals have provided the frontline in the battle against COVID and undoubtedly saved thousands of lives at a time when many healthcare providers had closed their doors. I’m honored to have my name included on a list with so many distinguished Georgians I admire and in a publication that, like community hospitals, has statewide reach and understands the importance of each county and region.”

Georgia Trend has recognized Southeast Georgia Health System’s Brunswick and Camden campuses as two of the 2021 Top Hospitals in the state. The leading business and lifestyle magazine featured the hospital rankings in its December 2021 issue; the Brunswick Campus ranked 9^th in the large hospital category (250 or more patient beds) and the Camden Campus ranked 5^th in the small hospital category (fewer than 100 patient beds).

Michael D. Scherneck, president and chief executive officer, stated, “Despite all the challenges this past year has brought, our team members upheld our values to remain customer-focused, caring professionals, making Southeast Georgia Health System a top-ranking health care provider for the state.”

The Brunswick Campus is a 300-bed hospital nestled in the heart of Georgia’s Golden Isles. With more than 300 physicians on its medical staff representing nearly every major medical specialty, patients have access to a myriad of treatment options close to home. Among the wide range of services offered, specialty services include orthopaedic and spine care, maternity care, cancer care, robotic surgery (including CyberKnife®, da Vinci, and Mako), wound care with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and outpatient rehabilitation. The Health System also owns and operates Senior Care Center-Brunswick, a long-term care facility.

Located in St. Marys, the Camden Campus is a 40-bed acute care hospital with extensive quality services in a warm, welcoming setting. In addition to the 24-hour Emergency Care Center, specialty services include cancer care, orthopaedic and robotic joint replacement surgery, maternity care, outpatient rehabilitation, wound care with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and Senior Care Center-St. Marys.

“We strive to provide the communities we serve with top quality, safe, accessible care,” said Glenn Gann, R.N., MSN, vice president and administrator, Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus. “Being recognized as one of the Top Hospitals by Georgia Trend further demonstrates how committed our team members are to serving with excellence.”

For the 2021 Top Hospitals list, Georgia Trend evaluated each hospital in Georgia that participates in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Value Based Purchasing program. A total performance score based on information including clinical process, patient experience, outcome and efficiency (CMS data downloaded on August 14, 2021) was used to rank hospitals of similar size and mission.

South Georgia Medical Center continues to make vaccinations available at its Smith Northview campus and encourages all eligible citizens to receive their COVID-19 vaccination or booster shot. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recent data shows that those unvaccinated are at 10-times greater risk of testing positive for COVID-19, and 20-times greater risk of dying from the virus compared to the fully vaccinated and boosted.   

“This is a serious statistic and mimics what we’ve seen here locally within our health system,” said SGMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Dawson. Since Dec. 1, of those hospitalized with COVID-19, 90 percent were unvaccinated. Furthermore, of those requiring a mechanical ventilator to support breathing, 100 percent had not been vaccinated.   

SGMC saw its lowest census for COVID-19 inpatients on Dec. 14 at three patients, but today is treating 9. There’s also been a rise in flu cases, the system diagnosed more than 800 cases over the last four weeks.  

“We want to encourage everyone to continue to practice recommended safety measures to avoid getting sick, especially over the holidays when more people are traveling and attending gatherings,” said Dawson. “So far, the vaccine has shown to provide the best protection.”  

Additionally, the CDC recommends wearing a mask, staying 6 feet away from others, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, testing to prevent the spread to others, washing your hands often, covering coughs and sneezes, cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces, and monitoring your health often. 

COVID-19 vaccinations, testing and monoclonal antibody infusions continue to be administered at the SGMC Smith Northview Campus. Vaccines are available for anyone 5 and older, boosters are available for those 16 and older. Boosters are recommended for fully vaccinated individuals who received their last dose more than six months ago.   

For more information on COVID-19 services, visit sgmc.org/COVID-19-information.   

Food insecurity is a major barrier to health for central and south Georgia residents

Community partners joined Atrium Health Navicent on Monday for the grand opening of the health system’s new Healthy Communities Food as Medicine Market and Food Farmacy program.

“Our most recent community health needs assessment identified food insecurity as a major barrier to health care in our area and found that there’s a need for not only increased access to healthy food, but also knowledge about how to make healthier food choices,” said Delvecchio Finley, President and CEO of Atrium Health Navicent. “The Food as Medicine Market and Food Farmacy program will give individuals in our community tools to live healthier, prevent illness and address serious health conditions that can be caused or worsened by insufficient intake of certain foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables.”

The market will be accessed by appointment and available for persons in need of food assistance with special services for anyone with a medical condition for which nutrition could affect their overall well-being. Patients will be able to select foods and place them in a cart, just like at a grocery store, so they can supplement their pantries and refrigerators. They will also receive one-on-one mentoring from nutritionists, nurses, social workers and others who will provide education on how to choose and prepare healthy foods.

“Not only is food insecurity an issue for our community, but how we eat and prepare food is leading to both heart disease and diabetes,” said Carol Babcock, Atrium Health Navicent’s director of Palliative Care and Community Services. “The Food as Medicine Market and Food Farmacy is a collaboration with our downtown community neighbors to begin a journey to healthier living.”

Community partners include the Navicent Health Foundation, Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, Macon Outreach, the Society of St. Andrews, Mercer University, High Street Unitarian Universalist Church, Community Foundation of Central Georgia and the Macon-Bibb County Economic Opportunity Council.

“Middle Georgia Community Food Bank serves 102,080 food insecure persons in a 24-county area through a network of agencies and we are delighted that Atrium Health Navicent is becoming a partner in this effort with the Food as Medicine Market in downtown Macon,” said Middle Georgia Community Food Bank President and CEO Kathy McCollum. “By combining access to food with advice tailored to individual health conditions, the market will help middle Georgians improve their diets and live healthier lives.”

About Atrium Health Navicent

Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of healthcare in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and well-being through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 125-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.

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