Robotic knee surgery data indicates the technology has the potential to speed recovery and improve accuracy compared to standard procedures. If you live in Camden County and need knee surgery, Southeast Georgia Health System has some good news– robotic knee surgery technology is now available at the Health System’s Camden Campus.
The ROSA® Knee System provides precision guidance for surgeons who perform Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA), also known as a Total Knee Replacement (TKR), restore mobility to people struggling with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative joint disease, or a traumatic injury. Degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis can cause pain, swelling, knee locking and eventually, bone-on-bone knee pain.
“ROSA’s leading-edge technology reflects the Health System’s commitment to our hospital and community. The Brunswick Campus has successfully used the MAKO robotic technology for years. Our orthopaedic surgeons can now offer Camden County residents the same high-level patient experience,” said Glenn Gann, vice president and administrator of the Camden Campus.
Orthopaedic surgeons J. Melvin Deese Jr., M.D. and Christopher Yonz, M.D., trained in the ROSA method. Both practice at Summit Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery. They see several advantages to the new technology. “Because the ROSA was designed by surgeons, it allows us to make decisions during surgery that result in a well-balanced, well-aligned knee implant,” said Yonz.
“By providing real-time information on how a patient’s knee responds to different movements, we can properly align the limb,” explained Yonz, referring to ROSA’s tracking system which sends patient data to a surgeon during the procedure.
Deese elaborated further. “Using the data on the patient’s anatomy and soft tissue surrounding the knee, we’re able to create a very precise reconstruction plan.” In simplest terms, ROSA helps surgeons understand each patient’s unique anatomy so they can more closely match the size and shape of a knee implant to the patient.
“ROSA even helps match an implant to the patient’s gender, ethnicity and stature,” Yonz added.
Asked to highlight the technology’s most important feature, Deese said, “We can perform a ‘virtual knee replacement’ before making the first incision, which allows for the most accurate position and placement of the total knee components.”
ROSA’s efficient imaging system also reduces the patient’s exposure to radiation and the cost of imaging. “Investing in this technology further demonstrates our commitment to providing service excellence and improving patient care. Our physicians deserve to work with the latest technologies and our patients deserve to have the best care close to home,” said Gann.
To find out if you are a candidate for ROSA knee replacement, schedule a consultation with Dr. Deese or Dr. Yonz by calling Summit Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery at 912-576-6355.
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, three immediate care centers, five family medicine centers and numerous employed physician practices. The Health System has multiple outpatient specialty care centers, including the only CyberKnife® M6 Program in Georgia, and a Cancer Care Center accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. 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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NORTHEAST GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEM PLANS TO ADD NEW TOWER, EXPAND CLINICAL SERVICES, ENHANCE CARE AT NGMC GAINESVILLE 6:33 pmNortheast Georgia Health System (NGHS) plans to grow its hospital in Gainesville to meet the growing needs of the surrounding region by adding a new, multi-story tower as early as 2024. This future tower is part of Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville’s continued evolution into one of the state’s largest and most advanced community-based, non-profit hospitals. The tower, which will be located next to the existing North Patient Tower, will pave the way for several anticipated improvements including:
Timelines may shift depending on potential changes in the overall healthcare needs of the community. Between 700 – 2,000 workers are expected to be on-site for planning and construction at any given time as the project progresses.
“We’ve started referring to our future expansion and improvement projects as ‘Growing the Greater Good,’” says Carol Burrell, president and CEO of Northeast Georgia Health System. “That phrase is a reminder that when we grow facilities to care for more patients and expand our clinical services, we’re ultimately reinvesting in the overall health of our region.
“Any time we add a new building, it’s a new place where we are helping people in many ways – whether it’s providing a new service, creating new jobs or simply lifting the spirits of a community. These projects go way beyond brick and mortar.”
NGMC Gainesville’s Emergency Department is routinely among the busiest in the state. Moving the department to the future tower will create a more efficient space to help meet the growing need for emergency and trauma care in the community. The expanded space will also support training needs for an Emergency Medicine physician residency program, which NGMC hopes to add in the coming year – as it continues to empower the physician leaders of tomorrow.
While planning for the future tower is underway, other improvement projects will continue.
“We have a team that’s evaluating ways to improve how we move patients through the hospital more efficiently, while maintaining high-quality care that will get them back home to their loved ones as quickly as possible,” says Michael Covert, NGHS chief operating officer. “That includes reducing wait times in all parts of a patient’s journey, often starting with the Emergency Department.”
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NORTHEAST GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEM SEES RECORD NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES AND BRACES FOR SURGE IN TESTING 2:29 pmNortheast Georgia Health System (NGHS) saw a surge in COVID-19 cases over the holiday weekend with 181 confirmed cases admitted on Tuesday, December 1, at its hospitals and long-term care facilities combined. The numbers of those needing testing and care are expected to continue rising in the coming days and weeks.
“Both the percentage of tests coming back positive and the number of people who need to be admitted to the hospital have been steadily climbing all month – to today’s record high for the system,” said Clifton Hastings, MD, Chief of Medical Staff for Northeast Georgia Medical System. “We’re headed for a new peak and the only question is, how high will this peak be?”
NGHS also anticipates an increase in the number of people seeking COVID-19 testing in the coming weeks.
“Not only are more people seeking the test because they’re ill, but we expect many will want to get tested so they’ll know whether it’s safe to see family during the holidays,” said Bobby Norris, vice president of operations for Northeast Georgia Physicians Group. “We absolutely want people who think they’re sick to get tested so they can take precautions to protect others, but we also want to avoid premature testing that gives people a false sense of security.”
While they are more readily available now than they were at the onset of the pandemic, testing supplies are still limited, and for most, there is a two- to three-day wait for test results. To help you navigate COVID-19 testing successfully, here are some frequently asked questions:
The incubation period for COVID-19 is 14 days, and most patients show symptoms between five and seven days after exposure. It is best to wait 7-10 days after exposure – or earlier if symptoms appear – to be tested. Remember, if you’ve been exposed, you should quarantine following CDC guidelines. To find a testing location near you, visit www.nghs.com/covid-19/testing.
Symptomatic first responders, healthcare workers and some high-risk patients may get a rapid test depending on availability.
Rapid tests are processed in a matter of hours. All other COVID-19 tests are sent out for processing and returned within two to three business days when the labs can keep up with demand. We have seen surges in testing that caused additional delays at area labs because there were simply too many tests to keep up – and that kind of surge may be possible if the numbers of cases in our community continue to rise.
If you can find a location with enough supplies to accommodate testing for an asymptomatic patient, it’s important to remember:
“We know people are tired of hearing about wearing masks, washing hands and watching their distance,” said Dr. Hastings. “Trust me, our nurses, doctors and other staff are tired, too. But those are the only actions that can limit the spread of the virus. The entire spirit of the holidays is to think about others first and doing whatever you can to help them, so I hope everyone really takes that to heart and protects the people they love the most.”
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St. Mary’s donates 3 tons of frozen turkeys to those in need 1:37 pmSt. Mary’s Health Care System and its colleagues and volunteers on the Monday before Thanksgiving donated 365 turkeys – weighing more than 6,200 pounds and with a value of more than $9,300 – to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, the Greene County Food Pantry and Iris Chandler Ministries to help families in need this holiday season.
Each year, St. Mary’s gives a free turkey to each colleague and volunteer as a token of appreciation for their dedication and service. During the week before Thanksgiving, St. Mary’s leaders personally hand out frozen turkeys at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens, St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia, and St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Greensboro, as well as at ancillary facilities in Athens, Bogart and Watkinsville. Each turkey comes with safe cooking information and preparation tips provided by St. Mary’s food service partner, Metz Culinary.
St. Mary’s makes it easy for colleagues to donate their turkey to those in need, if they wish to do so, by letting Human Resources know they want to donate their turkey or by simply not picking it up. The Food Bank picks up the majority of the donated turkeys on the Monday before Thanksgiving and the other charities receive their turkeys at roughly the same time.
“Every year I’m amazed and moved by the number of colleagues who choose to donate their turkey, but especially this year,” said Montez Carter, St. Mary’s President and CEO. “We have been doing this for more than 10 years, and this is one of the biggest donations we have ever made.
“St. Mary’s and our colleagues are keenly aware that the pandemic has left many more people struggling with food insecurity,” Carter said. “We’re thrilled that hundreds of colleagues and volunteers love getting these turkeys, and we’re just as thrilled that so many donated them to help others in this time of need. It’s a true testament to our core value of commitment to those who are poor.”
Chuck Toney, executive director of the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, said the Food Bank
distributed the 290 turkeys it received to partner agencies for distribution to people in need in the communities those agencies serve.
“St. Mary’s has blessed the community and hundreds of families for many years through the donation of turkeys for Thanksgiving,” Toney said, noting that the charity has seen a 40 percent increase in need this year due to the pandemic. “God bless all of you and thank you for working through the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia to feed our neighbors in need.”
The Food Bank in 2019 provided 12 million pounds of food to families through more than 225 soup kitchens, food pantries, senior centers, churches and other non-profit hunger relief organizations in 14 counties: Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Habersham, Hart, Jackson, Madison, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Rabun, Stephens, Towns and White.
In Greene County, colleagues and volunteers with St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital donated 50 turkeys to the Greene County Food Pantry. Since its founding in 2007, the charity has served more than 5,500 families, and over 60 percent of those assisted are senior citizens living below the poverty level.
New this year, St. Mary’s also donated 25 turkeys to Iris Chandler Ministries, a nonprofit outreach ministry in the Athens area that provides financial and other forms of support to disadvantaged families, visits the sick, assists those in nursing homes, and helps those who have suffered a loss.
For more information about the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and the agencies with which it partners, visit www.foodbanknega.org. For more information about the Greene County Food Pantry, visit https://locc.co/serving/hunger/greene-county-food-pantry/. For more information about Iris Chandler Ministries, please visit their Facebook page.
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MALCOLM BALDRIGE NATIONAL QUALITY AWARD – NATION’S HIGHEST RECOGNITION FOR PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE – AWARDED TO WELLSTAR PAULDING HOSPITAL 3:43 pm
Hospital is first healthcare organization in Georgia – and second organization in the state – to receive the award
Wellstar Health System, one of Georgia’s largest and most integrated healthcare systems, today announced that Wellstar Paulding Hospital has been awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest level of recognition for performance excellence. Wellstar Paulding Hospital is the first healthcare organization in the state of Georgia to receive this award and the second organization in Georgia to ever receive it. The award is the nation’s only presidential award for performance excellence, recognizing U.S. organizations and businesses that have shown an unceasing drive for innovative solutions to complex challenges, visionary leadership, and operational excellence.
“We are honored that Wellstar Paulding Hospital, one of 11 hospitals in our system, is the first healthcare organization in the state to receive this award,” said Candice L. Saunders, president and CEO of Wellstar Health System. “This recognition is the result of our physicians, caregivers, and team members uniting around our shared vision – to deliver world-class healthcare to every person, every time. We are so proud of the Wellstar Paulding team for exemplifying what it means to be neighbors caring for neighbors and we are also grateful for the important work they do caring for their community.”
Named after Malcolm Baldrige, the 26th Secretary of Commerce, the Baldrige Award was established by Congress in 1987 to enhance the competitiveness and performance of U.S. businesses. Since the first group was recognized in 1988, 134 national-level awards have been presented to 124 organizations. The awards are handed out annually by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and are considered the most prestigious U.S. recognition of quality performance. The six categories in which the awards are given include manufacturing, service, small business, education, nonprofit and healthcare — the category in which Wellstar Paulding Hospital won.
“Our team at Wellstar Paulding Hospital is honored and humbled to receive this award. Participating in the Baldrige program has challenged us to meet and exceed the high standards set by the organization,” said Wellstar Paulding Hospital President John Kueven. “We are committed to continually pursuing excellence and improving our processes while remaining focused on our mission to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve.”
Highlights of Award-Winning Achievements Following a comprehensive virtual site visit, Baldrige Award examiners noted several outstanding achievements that led to their choice of Wellstar Paulding Hospital as one of the six national award recipients for 2020, including:
• Top 10% performance for its mortality index and for inpatient complications index within the national IBM Watson Health Top 100 Hospitals ® index.
• Top 10% in the nation for a sustained pressure ulcer rate of zero.
• Top 10% performance in the nation and rates in the top 100 of 1,800 organizations in all industries for team member engagement based on The Great Place to Work ® Trust Index © survey results.
Previously, Wellstar Paulding Hospital received the 2019 Oglethorpe Award – Georgia’s highest level of recognition for organizational performance excellence and a milestone on the national Baldrige Award journey.
NIST manages the Baldrige Award in cooperation with the private sector. An independent panel of judges reviewed the evaluations performed by the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program’s all-volunteer Board of Examiners and recommended this year’s award recipients from a field of 20 applicants. The expert Baldrige judges evaluate organizations in seven areas defined by the Baldrige Excellence Framework: leadership; strategy; customers; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; workforce; operations; and results.
ABOUT WELLSTAR HEALTH SYSTEM At Wellstar, people are at the center of everything we do. By listening actively to what people want, need and expect from their healthcare, Wellstar is able to provide “More than Healthcare. PeopleCare.” — at every age and stage. Nationally ranked and locally recognized for our personal, high-quality care, inclusive culture, and exceptional doctors and team members, Wellstar provides access to compassionate, high-quality care through our: 11 hospitals; 300+ medical office locations; 9 cancer centers; 74 rehabilitation centers; 3 hospice facilities; 1 retirement village; 29 imaging centers; 16 urgent care locations; and 5 health parks. As one of the largest and most integrated healthcare systems in Georgia, Wellstar is growing our services, footprint, capabilities, and ability to meet evolving patient needs. Our passion for people extends into the communities we serve. As a not-for-profit health system, we thoughtfully reinvest annually in prevention and wellness programs, as well as charity care for eligible patients. Our Wellstar Foundation also supports our mission to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve with funding for equipment, services, and programs that provide more than healthcare. To learn more about how Wellstar is always listening, learning, and tailoring care to meet patients’ individual needs, visit wellstar.org.
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November is National Home Care and Hospice Month 2:28 pmDuring November, the National Association for Home Care (NAHC) encourages all communities to celebrate National Home Care and Hospice Month, honoring the millions of nurses, home care aides, therapists and social workers who make a difference for the patients and families they serve.
“For the aged, disabled or ill, staying in the homes they know and love can become increasingly difficult unless they can get services they need to support them,” says Blake Nelson, director of Hamilton Home Health.
Home health care is medical care that is appropriate for people suffering from chronic illness or recovering from acute injury or illness who need skilled care to remain at home. Services include medication management, wound care, physical therapy, occupational therapy and other skilled services provided by licensed individuals. Some patients qualify for additional services such as home health aides and medical social workers when necessary to support skilled services.
Care requires a physician’s order and requires that the patient be under the care of a physician. Most insurers also require that the patient be homebound, meaning the patient only leaves home infrequently and it is very difficult to do so.
Home health care can be mistaken for personal or companion care (or non-medical care), which includes transportation, errands, light housekeeping, meal preparation and assistance with activities of daily living. Private sitters and some private and government agencies provide this type of care.
When a disease process has become terminal and patients and families are ready to shift the focus of care from curative treatment to comfort care and symptom control, hospice care allows patients to remain in familiar surroundings at the end of life. Hospice care provides support and education to the patient’s family during the patient’s time on hospice and for a specified time after the death of the patient.
Hospice provides four levels of care, including routine home care, respite care, general inpatient care and continuous home care. These levels are determined based on the patient’s needs and can be provided in the home, in a nursing home or assisted living facility or, in some cases, in the hospital.
“Choosing to receive hospice care does not mean you are giving up hope or that death is imminent. Hospice care allows the patient to live every day to the fullest,” says Lauren Jones, administrator and clinical manager for Hamilton Hospice. “The earlier someone receives hospice care, the more opportunity there is to stabilize his or her medical condition and address other needs. Some patients actually improve and may be discharged from hospice care.
Jones says one of the biggest fears of terminally ill patients is losing control of making their own decisions. “Utilizing a hospice program allows the patient and their loved ones to voice their opinions and concerns while being a part of creating their own plan of care with our interdisciplinary team as a whole,” she says.
Hospice focuses on comfort, dignity and emotional support.
“The quality of life for the patient, but also family members and others, who are caregivers, is the highest priority,” says Jones.
Hospice is appropriate when patients with a life-limiting illness discover that continued aggressive disease treatment is no longer effective, beneficial or desired.
“This type of care not only ensures that symptoms are managed and medications and equipment are provided, but it also supports families and assists them in dealing with the emotional and physical strain that can accompany end-of-life situations,” Jones says.
Hospice care is a benefit of Medicare and most private insurers as long as the patient continues to meet the necessary criteria. The benefit pays for all care, equipment (including hospital beds and oxygen) and medications associated with the patient’s terminal diagnosis. Hamilton Hospice is committed to caring for all patients, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
Patients may revoke their hospice benefit at any time if they feel the need to resume more aggressive care. Patients can also re-enroll in hospice as their condition worsens.
For more information, please visit hamiltonhealth.com/services or call Hamilton Home Health at 706-226-2848 or Hamilton Hospice at 706-278-2848.
Home health and hospice are part of the continuum of services that are provided by Hamilton Health Care System, which also includes hospital care, cardiovascular services, rehabilitation and wellness, ambulatory infusion, cancer care, behavioral health, long-term care, wound care and others.
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SGMC Lab Professionals Honored as Hospital Heroes 7:18 pmSouth Georgia Medical Center honored its laboratory professionals as the November Hospital Heroes at its monthly Board of Directors meeting.
According to Chief Nursing Officer Randy Smith, “Nurses and doctors all over the world are doing a phenomenal job day in and day out, but the role of lab professionals can not be overlooked as they have truly been some of the unsung heroes in the fight against COVID-19.”
It was the foresight of Laboratory leadership in obtaining necessary equipment and testing platforms early on that set the stage for appropriate treatment and triage of patients within the hospital. To date, SGMC has three in-house testing platforms and more than 40,800 samples have been collected and tested.
Additionally, the laboratory plays a critical role in the antibody testing and collection of convalescent plasma, providing blood products to help treat hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
Smith said, “Thank you for your commitment, dedication, critical-thinking and your problem solving skills. You have shown amazing resilience as you have adapted to evolutionary changes that have come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies regarding the understanding of this virus. You are all amazing and true heroes!”
The Future of Hometown Health Care 7:24 pm
Although coronavirus has brought some aspects in life to a standstill, the Southeast Georgia Health System Brunswick Campus Master Renovation and Expansion Project has not missed a beat. “We’ve been very fortunate that coronavirus has minimally impacted the project. Years of planning were dedicated to this project, and good planning often creates good luck,” said Tripp Stephens, vice president, Support Services, Southeast Georgia Health System.
Stephens explained, “From the start, we approached this project with the goal of minimizing its impact on hospital operations. When the pandemic started, we were fortunate that construction had progressed to a point where we could continue isolating construction activities from hospital operations and minimize the number of contractors entering the hospital.”
On November 9, the Health System celebrated a major milestone in its expansion project timeline, opening the new Surgical Services rooms, main entrance and lobby, and covered visitor/patient parking areas.
As part of its Master Renovation and Expansion Project, the Health System is expanding and renovating four significant areas of the Brunswick Campus:
The projected $142.2 million budget includes construction, infrastructure, medical equipment, and information technology as well as architecture and engineering fees.
“When the pandemic began, we shifted our construction efforts to prioritize aspects of the project that impacted direct patient care and emergency services,” said Michael D. Scherneck, president and CEO, Southeast Georgia Health System. “As a result, the inpatient floor of the new tower opened in July, three months ahead of schedule. The early opening allowed access to additional beds, which was instrumental in caring for the increase of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19.”
Also completed this summer was an overhaul of the hospital’s central energy plant. The plant houses heating and cooling systems, generators and other components vital to our operations. In preparation for the additional square footage being added to the hospital, the central energy plant required equipment with more capacity and greater energy efficiency to accommodate the expansion. “Our existing equipment was approaching end of life, so the timing worked well,” Stephens said.
Two major phases of construction were completed on the Health System’s Brunswick Campus Emergency Care Center (ECC) this summer as well, including the addition of the two trauma rooms, multiple patient treatment spaces, a new main entrance and lobby, patient registration, triage spaces, a CT scanner and an ambulance entrance. Additionally, directly connected to the ECC is a new elevator tower that will improve patient flow and provide direct connectivity to Surgical Services and the inpatient floors. This feature greatly enhances patient privacy. The Brunswick Campus ECC currently treats approximately 50,000 patients annually. That number is expected to increase as the community grows. When complete, the ECC’s expansion will add approximately 12,000 square feet and 15 new treatment rooms, including two trauma rooms. Construction is being completed in phases to prevent disruptions to patient care and is scheduled for completion by the summer of 2021.
Construction of the Surgical Services rooms wrapped up in October. Sixteen spacious, state-of-the-art operating suites will house newer technologies, including robotic surgical systems. Once the new tower is online, the existing surgical services area will also be renovated to provide additional post-anesthesia and pre- and post-recovery bays for greater privacy and patient comfort. Completion for that phase of construction is slated for early 2022. “We structured this space to enhance efficiency and cost savings while streamlining care and improving technology,” Stephens said.
The renovation of the two existing patient floors in the St. Simons Tower will include 32 spacious, aesthetically pleasing, private patient rooms per floor as well as internal zones for staff, the patient and family members. Construction on that phase is scheduled to begin in early 2021 and will finish by the end of 2022, with a year of construction activities anticipated per floor.
“So many elements of this project support our ability to recruit and retain the best physicians and caregivers, expand our services to the community, and ultimately, improve patient experience and the environment,” said Stephens.
To support the 20-20 Vision Campaign, please call Southeast Georgia Health System Foundation at 912-466-3360 or visit wearethefoundation.org.
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. In 2020, the Brunswick Campus was rated High Performing in COPD and Heart Failure by the U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit sghs.org.
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NORTHEAST GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEM NOW PROVIDING STROKE PROCEDURES THAT SAVE LIVES, KEEP PEOPLE CLOSER TO HOME 7:04 pmWhen it comes to strokes, seconds could be the difference between full recovery and long-term effects. For decades, people could rely on Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) to provide clot-busting drugs that might save their lives, but they would have to be transferred to other hospitals outside the region if other critical procedures were needed. Now – thanks to NGMC adding new technology and welcoming a new stroke expert – people can receive all the stroke care they need closer to home, saving valuable time and increasing the chances for recovery.
Sung Lee, MD, will perform critical stroke intervention procedures in NGMC Gainesville’s new Neurointerventional Lab. The lab features the latest stroke-fighting technology to perform mechanical thrombectomies, a procedure that uses small catheters and wires to remove blood clots from the brain. He is the only doctor in the northeast Georgia region performing the procedure, and the lab is the only one of its kind in the region.
“Even though we are grateful for our colleagues in Atlanta, the delay in getting to timely treatment was a real detriment to our community,” said Dr. Lee, a neurointerventional surgeon with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) and NGMC’s medical director of Neurointerventional Surgery. “This is a game-changer for how we not only treat strokes, but it also gives us the ability to perform other complex brain, spinal and vascular procedures. It’s the dawn of a new era of neurological care in Hall County and the surrounding region.”
In addition to providing round-the-clock care at NGMC Gainesville, Dr. Lee is also seeing patients at his NGPG practice in Gainesville. He received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia before completing a residency in neurology at the Mayo Clinic, a sub-specialty fellowship in neurocritical care and stroke at the University of California in San Francisco and an additional fellowship in neurointerventional radiology at Emory University. He is board certified in Neurology, Vascular Neurology and Neurocritical Care.
“We’re excited that Dr. Lee is helping lead our stroke team, as we continually push the boundaries to improve our services and make sure patients who come in with stroke symptoms receive the best and quickest treatment possible,” said Holley Adams, Stroke Program coordinator at NGMC Gainesville. “Our community is truly a safer place now that we offer this level of care.”
If you or a loved one suspect a stroke, remember the acronym BE FAST:
For more information about recognizing the signs of stroke and to learn more about stroke care at NGMC, visit nghs.com/stroke-care. To learn more about NGPG Neurointerventional Surgery, call 770-219-6520 or visit ngpg.org.
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Georgia HEART Gives Taxpayers Opportunity to Earn Tax Credit When Supporting Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus 3:22 pmYou have to pay taxes, but do you know what your tax dollars are used for? It’s your money, and whether you’re taxed $50 or $50,000, you should have a choice on how it’s used or who it benefits, and now you do.
Georgia is the only state in the nation which is afforded the opportunity to financially support its rural hospitals–at no cost. Enacted by the Georgia General Assembly, the HEART (Helping to Enhance Access to Rural Treatment) rural hospital tax credit program allows a 100% state tax credit for individuals, married couples and corporations who redirect their tax liability to a designated rural hospital. Lawmakers enacted the HEART tax credit program to encourage taxpayers throughout Georgia to learn more about the financial and other challenges rural hospitals face and to contribute to improve their financial condition and patient offerings.
In other words, you can choose to help improve health care in your community by redirecting your state tax to the Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus through the Georgia HEART program.
Southeastern Bank recently took advantage of the HEART program, and graciously contributed $100,000 to the Health System’s Camden Campus.
“Southeastern Bank is proud to support the Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus through the rural hospital tax credit program,” said Con Holland, President and CEO of Southeastern Bank. “Our donation and others like it provide the means for rural hospitals to expand services, specialties and treatments so that one day patients in rural communities can receive all the care they need in hometown hospitals like the Camden Campus. When patients can get the skilled care they need locally, we all benefit from improved quality of life, economic growth and peace of mind. This is of particular interest to us because many of our customers and employees live in the rural markets we serve through our network of bank offices in southeast Georgia and northeast Florida.”
In 2019, the Health System used its HEART contributions to add 3D Mammography to the Camden Campus. Contributions received in 2020 have been applied towards the new Wound Care Center and ROSA, robotic surgical technology used for knee replacements.
Currently, 58 rural hospitals are eligible to receive HEART tax credit-eligible contributions from individuals and businesses across the state. Ameris Bank has donated $2,000,000 in financial support to 19 rural hospitals located throughout the bank’s footprint in Georgia, including $300,000 to the Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus.
“Contributions through the Georgia HEART program furthers our ability to provide quality health care for our community and the families we serve,” said Michael D. Scherneck, president and CEO, Southeast Georgia Health System. “It doesn’t matter how little the contribution is, it will truly make a difference by helping us better serve our patients, and improving the quality of life for our entire service area.”
But the 2020 opportunity will soon end. Applications must be submitted and approved by the Georgia Department of Revenue and tax liability contributions completed by December 31, 2020.
Follow these easy steps to sign up for your 100% tax credit:
Your contribution will increase Southeast Georgia Health System’s funding and ability to add new services, programs and technology to the Camden Campus.
For more information about the Georgia HEART rural hospital tax credit program, please visit GeorgiaHeart.org or sghs.org/gaheart.
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 orthopedic 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 140 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. In 2020, the Brunswick Campus was rated High Performing in COPD and Heart Failure by the U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit sghs.org.
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