In response to Georgia’s Rural Hospital Tax Credit Program, Draffin & Tucker, LLP has announced that with its 2020 contribution of $175,000, the firm has contributed $615,000 to eligible rural hospitals within the state over the last three years.

“As a firm that has worked with rural hospitals for over 40 years, we understand just how important these hospitals are to the rural communities they serve,” said Jeff Wright, firm managing partner. “We feel it is important to support them in any way we can – especially now with the ongoing challenges of COVID-19 – so they can continue to provide the care and services these communities so desperately need.”

House Bill 769, the updated form of SB 258, seeks to drive private contributions to rural hospitals through a tax credit program, designed to bolster the rural hospital community in Georgia by generating total contributions in excess of $300 million over a five-year term. The Rural Hospital Tax Credit Program became effective in Georgia beginning January 1, 2017. From 2018 through 2021, Georgia taxpayers can access $60 million of rural hospital organization (RHO) tax credits each year, with each qualified RHO having access to $4 million of tax credits (until the total annual $60 million cap is met).

To find out more about the tax credit program, eligible hospitals and find out how you can get involved, we invite you to visit https://dch.georgia.gov/rural-hospital-tax-credit.

For any questions regarding the Rural Hospital Tax Credit Program, we invite you to reach out to Bert Bennett, partner at Draffin Tucker, at bbennett@draffin-tucker.com.

ABOUT DRAFFIN & TUCKER, LLP Draffin & Tucker, LLP is a regional CPA and advisory firm serving the Southeastern region of the U.S. since 1948. With a large healthcare practice and expanding commercial practice, Draffin Tucker builds on a disciplined, long-term view through our search for fresh ideas, new services and community-minded professionals. Draffin Tucker’s team provides auditing, income tax and consulting services to meet client needs. The firm has office locations in Albany, Ga., and Atlanta, Ga. More information is available at www.draffin-tucker.com.

Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville has been recertified as a Primary Stroke Center by DNV GL Healthcare (DNV) while NGMC Braselton received a stroke quality award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA).

“At NGMC Gainesville, we’re honored to have been able to serve our community and the entire North Georgia region as a Primary Stroke Center since 2010,” says Dr. Jonathan Kerrick, neurologist and specialty service line director for Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG). “We always want to treat patients who experience stroke symptoms in the best and fastest way we can, and receiving this recertification proves we accomplish that daily.”

In order to receive the recertification, which happens every three years, a hospital must have the staff, infrastructure and programs to stabilize and treat most emergent stroke patients. The hospital must also provide some acute therapies and admit patients to a designated stroke unit or to beds specifically assigned for stroke care.

“The mission at NGHS is to improve the health of our community in all we do,” says Holley Adams, stroke coordinator at NGMC Gainesville. “Our stroke program is continuing to do that by taking care of stroke patients in the community, ensuring they don’t have to travel far to get treatment.”

The Stroke Program at NGMC Gainesville was also awarded the AHA/ASA Get With the Guidelines Gold Plus Quality Award, as well as the Target: Stroke Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.

The Gold Plus Quality Award recognizes hospitals for their commitment to excellent treatment of stroke patients by following national guidelines to ensure quick, quality care for 24 consecutive months.

In order to be recognized for the Target: Stroke Honor Roll award, a hospital must achieve a 60-minute door-to-needle time — the amount of time between when a stroke patient arrives in the emergency room and when they receive the clot-buster drug tPA — for at least 75% of applicable patients. And for the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll, a hospital must demonstrate at least 90% compliance with stroke measures specifically tailored to patients with Type 2 diabetes for 12 consecutive months.

NGMC Braselton was awarded the Get With The Guidelines Silver Plus Quality Award for its commitment to stroke care for 12 consecutive months, as well as the Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.

“Earning these awards is a great thing for us, but we truly care about our patients most,” says Kerrick. “Our patients come first. The awards come second.”

To learn more about stroke care offered at NGMC’s Primary Stroke Center in Gainesville, or our Remote Treatment Stroke Centers in Braselton or Barrow, visit nghs.com/stroke-care.

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ABOUT NORTHEAST GEORGIA MEDICAL CENTER

Since 1951, Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) has been on a mission of improving the health of our community in all we do. With hospitals located in Gainesville, Braselton, Winder and Dahlonega, the four NGMC campuses have a total of more than 700 beds and more than 1,100 medical staff members representing more than 50 specialties. NGMC is part of Northeast Georgia Health System, a non-profit that cares for more than 1 million people across more than 18 counties. Learn more at www.nghs.com.

As a gynecologic oncologist and principal investigator for the Gynecologic Clinical Research

Program, Dr. Richards has served in Savannah and the Low Country for the past 8 years

A leader in new medical technologies and the latest cancer treatments is stepping into a new role as Medical Director for the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion (LCRP) at St. Joseph’s/Candler.

Wm. Edward Richards, MD, a gynecologic oncologist and principal investigator for the Gynecologic Clinical Research Program at the LCRP, will take over the leading cancer program in southeast Georgia. He will also serve as the Principal Investigator for the National Cancer Institute’s Community Oncology Research Program at the LCRP.

“In 2012 I joined the medical staff at St. Joseph’s/Candler as the sole Gynecologic Oncologist with the goal of restarting the entire service line for the women in Savannah, the Low Country and beyond,” said Dr. Richards. “I found great joy in that position, in part because I had built several practices in different cities from the ground up and Savannah and the surrounding area afforded me the opportunity to accomplish this again with outstanding success. Today, I am humbled beyond words at the opportunity to serve as the next Medical Director of the Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion.” Dr. Richards succeeds Dr. Howard Zaren, who will move into a new role as Medical Director for Melanoma, Skin and Sarcoma services and Medical Director for Medical Genetics. Dr. Zaren has been the LCRP’s Medical Director since 2008.

Dr. Richards was an early adopter of robotic surgery and is currently one of the top robotic surgeons in the nation.

“Dr. Richards embodies the St. Joseph’s/Candler Mission, Vision and Values,” said Paul P. Hinchey, President & CEO of St. Joseph’s/Candler. “His leadership and considerable experience in private practice, academics and community medicine will serve well to energize and expand upon the existing LCRP platform, built by Dr. Zaren, to mature the cancer services through ongoing surgical and clinical activities.”

Dr. Richards noted the “family of co-workers” at St. Joseph’s/Candler and the LCRP who share his ongoing commitment to serving others. Since arriving at St. Joseph’s/Candler, he’s shared his insight, techniques and extensive knowledge about robotic surgeries by mentoring fellow physicians interested in adding robotics to their repertoire.

He will continue to see both new as well as current patients in his gynecologic oncology practice and will continue to provide them with both clinical and surgical care.

“I am honored on a daily basis to work in the presence of individuals who strive to approach our patients and provide care that reflects our institution’s shared value objectives of compassion, quality, integrity, courtesy, accountability, and teamwork,” he said.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to work with such an incredible team,” he added, “and I am grateful to the SJ/C Board of Trustees, the SJ/C Foundation Board of Trustees, the Medical Staff, the Hospital Senior Administrative Staff and Mr. Hinchey for the trust they have placed in me to lead our great cancer center through our next growth phase and extend Dr. Zaren’s legacy of success.”

Dr. Richard’s background

Wm. Edward Richards, MD, received his medical degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in 1992 followed by a residency at Texas A&M University College of Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynecology through 1996, leading to a fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Kentucky through 1999. Upon completion of his fellowship training, he established his own private practice in Lubbock, Texas and served as Director for the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and Assistant Professor for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. From 2008 to 2012, he served as the Division Director of Gynecologic Oncology and Advanced Pelvic Surgery at The University of Cincinnati School of Medicine. Since joining SJ/C in 2012 as the Director of Gynecologic Oncology and Advanced Pelvic Surgery, Dr. Richards also received a Master of Business Administration from University of Michigan, Ross School of Business while building his service line and recruiting his partner, Dr. Sarah Gill.

About the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion

The Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion (LCRP) at St. Joseph’s/Candler is where advanced technology and compassionate care combine to create one of the most innovative clinical oncology programs in the Southeast. The LCRP is home to a team of highly trained cancer specialists that skillfully use high-impact technological screening and treatment options for optimal results. In addition, our team has access to nationally funded research and clinical trials and provides community outreach and education with an outstanding array of services specific to cancer patients and their families.

The LCRP has a robust clinical trials program and participates in state, regional and national collaborations with other research sites including a national collaboration with the National Cancer Institute’s Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP).

About St. Joseph’s/Candler:

St. Joseph’s/Candler is a 714-bed, Magnet-designated facility for nursing excellence, with a focus on the latest technologies and research. It is anchored by St. Joseph’s Hospital and Candler Hospital. Its comprehensive network includes centers of excellence for neurosciences, women’s and children’s services, orthopedics, pulmonary medicine and a variety of other disease specialties.

The Medical Center, Navicent Health (MCNH) has earned its tenth consecutive “Get With the Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus” Quality Achievement Award, an annual award presented by the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association (AHA) for excellence in stroke care. 

In addition, MCNH has also been named to AHA’s “Target: Stroke^SM Honor Roll Elite” for the fourth consecutive year. The awards recognize the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

For the first time this year, AHA also recognized hospitals who are taking steps to help stroke patients control and manage Type 2 diabetes, a well-established risk factor for stroke. MCNH has been named to AHA’s inaugural “Target Type 2 Diabetes” Honor Roll, scoring 98.8 percent on a 100-point scale.  MCNH has made great strides in helping central Georgians manage their diabetes, particularly resolving racial and gender disparities for those with this disease.

MCNH earned the “Get With the Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus” Quality Achievement Award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

MCNH additionally received the association’s “Target: Stroke^SM Honor Roll Elite” designation. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke.

“The Medical Center, Navicent Health’s is dedicated to deliver advanced stroke care to patients quickly and safely. Our stroke team works diligently to provide timely, proven care for our patients, and continues to raise the standard of excellence as we treat stroke patients with evidence-based protocols. The tools and resources provided by the American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines Initiative help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes,” said Tom Oliver, M.D., President of Hospitals and Clinics for Navicent Health.   

These quality measures are designed to help hospital teams follow the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients.

According to AHA, stroke is the fifth leading causes of death and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, someone dies of a stroke every four minutes, and nearly 800,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.  

“The number of acute ischemic stroke patients eligible for treatment is expected to grow over the next decade due to increasing stroke incidence and an aging population. The Medical Center, Navicent Health remains focused on improving the quality of stroke care by implementing evidence-based guidelines, including Get With The Guidelines–Stroke,” said Denise Goings, RN, MSN, SCRN, ASC-BC Stroke Coordinator for MCNH.  

About Get With The Guidelines^®

Get With The Guidelines^® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with tools and resources to increase adherence to the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 6 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

About Navicent Health
Navicent Health, the leading provider of healthcare in central and south Georgia, is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Providing more than 1,000 beds and offering care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region, Navicent Health provides care for healthcare consumers’ through an academic medical center; community, pediatric and rehabilitation hospitals; urgent care centers; physician practices; diagnostic centers; home health; hospice and palliative care; and a life plan community. Navicent Health is dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. For more information, please visit www.navicenthealth.org.

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In an attempt to help mitigate the increasing spread of COVID-19, Southeast Georgia Health System continues to strongly encourage everyone to protect their friends, family and neighbors by wearing a face covering and practicing social distancing when in public.

Hopeful that sharing personal stories on social media will serve as an influential tool to flatten the curve, the Health System has created a social media challenge to inspire the community to wear face masks. Participants are encouraged to share photos and videos on Facebook and Instagram with #COVIDendswithme along with a message on why they choose to wear a mask.

“The increase in positive cases is certainly cause for concern,” says Michael D. Scherneck, president and CEO, Southeast Georgia Health System. “The only effective ways that we know will help to reduce the spread of coronavirus is social distancing and wearing a face covering when in public. If you’re in an environment where you cannot be six feet away from others, you absolutely should be wearing a mask.”

#COVIDendswithme Mask Challenge

• Take a photo or video of yourself wearing a face covering or mask.
• Explain why you wear it.
• Post it on social media with #COVIDendswithme
• Tag Southeast Georgia Health System: @sghscares

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 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. For more information, visit sghs.org.

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For an 11^th consecutive year, The Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute has been recognized as having among the best survival outcomes in the United States for bone marrow transplants.

The data was reported in the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research Final 2019 Transplant Center Survival Report and from Be The Match®.

One hundred seventy adult and pediatric transplant centers were included in the analysis of patients who received their first allogeneic transplant between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2017 using unrelated or related donors and who had reported follow-up. The one-year survival of patients transplanted at Northside was 81.1%.

Northside is one of only two adult BMT programs in the U.S. that has achieved survival outcomes that significantly exceeded their expected survival rate for the last 11 consecutive annual reporting cycles, and Northside is the only program in Georgia to over perform.

“The BMT Program at Northside is the largest allogeneic transplant program in Georgia,” said H. Kent Holland, M.D., medical director of The BMT Program at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute. “Our success is a direct reflection of the combined experience and expertise of the teams in our inpatient and outpatient BMT units, our stem-cell laboratory and blood donor center.”

Innovative treatments and research are major components of the BMT Program at Northside. Northside offers chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and other immunotherapy treatment options including novel clinical research trials, and recently began studying an investigational treatment that uses convalescent plasma in patients currently fighting COVID-19.

Northside’s Cancer Institute receives sixth straight award for outstanding cancer care

For the sixth consecutive time, the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons has granted its annual Outstanding Achievement Award to the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute.

Forty-eight accredited cancer programs throughout the United States received the 2019 Outstanding Achievement Award, representing approximately seven percent of programs surveyed by the CoC January 1–December 31, 2019. Northside Hospital is the only program to have received the award six times. Northside has received the recognition for every survey performed since the award’s inception in 2004 (2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019).

“These cancer programs currently represent the best of the best when it comes to cancer care,” said Lawrence N. Shulman, MD, MACP, chair of the CoC. “Each of these facilities is not just meeting nationally recognized standards for the delivery of quality cancer care, they are exceeding them.”

“This award is a direct result of the hard work of our medical staff and their ongoing commitment to provide high quality, multidisciplinary cancer care,” said Patti Owen, director of the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute. “We couldn’t be more pleased to have received it a sixth time.”

The Northside Hospital Cancer Institute is the largest and most comprehensive cancer hospital network in Georgia and a leader in cancer care. Northside ranks in the top five in the nation for newly diagnosed and/or treated cancer cases and diagnoses and treat the most new cases of cancer in Georgia.

For more information about the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute, visit builttobeatcancer.com.

Administered through Georgia CORE, the CDC-funded program will bring colorectal screening, navigation and colonoscopies to 15,000 people in southeast and southwest Georgia.

ATLANTA – The Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University is on a team of cancer care providers that received a five-year grant from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the amount of $795,560 per year to provide colorectal screening, education, navigation and colonoscopies to 15,000 Georgians. The Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education will provide administrative and fiscal oversight for the program, and the services will be provided by the Georgia Cancer Center and three cancer care providers in the Albany area – Albany Area Primary Care, Horizons Community Solutions, and Phoebe Putney Health System, as well as designated Federally Qualified Health Centers throughout southeast and southwest Georgia.

“Georgia CORE works to leverage state and federal dollars to advance cancer care for all Georgians, and data show that rural and African American residents have higher incidence and mortality rates from colorectal cancer,” said Nancy M. Paris, MS, FACHE, and president and CEO of Georgia CORE. “With our national healthcare system currently being overtaxed, this opportunity couldn’t have been more timely. The CDC grant will support essential cancer education, screening and navigation services for those Georgians who need it the most, and we will save lives.”

Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cancer killer in Georgia, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health, but also one of the state’s five most preventable. The defined patient population who will receive these free prevention services through the CDC grant are between the ages of 50 and 75, below the federal poverty level, ineligible for Medicaid, Medicare or ACA and receive care in one of the FQHCs.

“With a state incidence rate that exceeds the national average, we know we have to be more aggressive with our prevention measures for colorectal cancer, particularly in rural Georgia where screening is much less common,” explained Jorge Cortes, MD and Director, Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University.

Earning the CDC award reflects the strong partnership between Georgia CORE and AU. In addition to Dr. Cortes’ leadership in the colorectal screening program, AU’s Dr. Sharad Ghamande and Dr. Anand Jillella are board members of Georgia CORE.

Published by Georgia CORE earlier this year, a report — 5 Actions to Save More Lives — cites that in the late 1990s, only half of Georgians 50 and older were screened for colorectal cancer. That rate is now 66%, while the Healthy People 2020 target goal is 85%. If Georgia were to reach this goal, a projected 8,800 lives would be saved, and healthcare costs would lower by $1.3 billion.

About Georgia CORE

The Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education was created in 2010 to serve as a catalyst for strengthening Georgia’s national leadership in cancer care and research. Advancing cancer care through partnerships and innovation, Georgia CORE’s statewide network connects cancer care providers, leaders, and advocates to improve the quality of care for patients and quality of life for survivors. Led by a board of directors of cancer experts from academic institutions, hospitals and cancer centers, collaboration orchestrated by Georgia CORE increases access to clinical trials and improves equity of cancer care, resources and research with a focus on serving racial and ethnic minorities and engaging rural and underserved communities. Georgia CORE created GeorgiaCancerInfo.org, the only statewide online information center of its kind, where details can be found on oncologists, clinical trials, treatment centers and survivorship resources throughout the state.

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“If you build it, they will come.” Most everyone is familiar with this takeoff of the phrase used in the 1989 film Field of Dreams, starring Kevin Costner. And most likely, one has also heard of the nursing shortage countrywide. Reasons for that shortage vary from an aging Baby Boomer population (including nurses nearing retirement) to advancements in medicine lengthening life, resulting in greater care needed overall.

Director of Hospital Education Rosa Brown shares, “According to the latest United States Registered Nurse Workforce Report Card and Shortages Forecast, Georgia will need an additional 32,868 nurses by 2030.” What does that mean locally? Colleges and hospitals are seeing those numbers and collaborating to provide educational, clinical experiences to meet that challenge. In Jesup, Coastal Pines Technical College (CPTC) responded by implementing in 2018 an Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) program. The ADN program will complete its final phase of the accreditation process with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing in 2021.

Recently in Jesup, CPTC brought their first group of students in the Associate Degree of Nursing program to Wayne Memorial for a presentation. With their instructors, 33 students attended a brief orientation of the current nursing opportunities within the organization and were given a tour of the facility. Welcomed by the Administrative Team, clinical managers and directors, each of the associates provided an overview of their work areas. This class of aspiring nurses graduates in May 2021.

“Wayne Memorial is a clinical training site for approximately 225-250 students in various fields including nursing, respiratory therapy, radiology and laboratory,” Brown said. “Most of the students are coming to us from CPTC. We also serve as a preceptorship site for other surrounding colleges for the final semester of Nursing School. We wish all of these students a wonderful year and invite them to take a closer look at Wayne Memorial in the future.”

Wayne Memorial Hospital, whose mission is to provide high quality health care services to all patients, built a state-of-the-art facility in 2007. It is the third largest employer in Wayne County with 500 employees, 84 beds and is a three-time winner of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals Small Hospital of the Year Award.

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Due to the success of preventive measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our region, all hospitals, outpatient centers and physician offices in the St. Mary’s system are taking steps to safely accommodate ongoing patient needs, including elective surgeries, tests and procedures, and patient visitation.

“We are prepared so that our patients are protected,” said President and CEO Montez Carter. “We have adequate personal protective equipment and are taking a phased approach to resuming services. As we do so, the safety of our patients, colleagues, providers, and community is our top priority.”

Carter said the decision to resume services is based on the reality that many patients need care that has been postponed. “We want patients to have confidence to not delay care they need and certainly don’t want them to wait until their disease progresses to the point of a crisis state,” he said.

“At the same time, we realize there are some who want to continue to postpone their procedures for the time being. We urge them to talk with their doctor to assess their individual needs and how long it is safe for them to postpone care. We are committed to providing a safe environment for those who choose to move forward with their procedure.”

Similarly, St. Mary’s is now allowing limited visitation for inpatients who do not have COVID-19. Under the new policy, most inpatients may have one adult patient per day between the hours of 2-6 p.m., seven days a week. Visitation for COVID patients may be permitted in certain circumstances if approved by the clinical team, and other exceptions are possible for patients delivering a baby, nearing the end of life, or with cognitive deficits. All visitors will be screened for signs of illness, including a fever, before being allowed to visit.

When in-person visitation is not possible, St. Mary’s Chaplains can assist in setting up virtual visits with patients, Carter noted.

“Virtual patient visitation is another way that we are using telehealth technology to promote healing and connectivity during this difficult time,” he said. “It has also become very popular with our Medical Group patients, who can use it to have virtual visits with their provider for sick care, wellness check-ups and chronic condition management without having to go to the office.”

All St. Mary’s facilities have implemented extensive measures to protect the safety of patients, colleagues and providers. Key measures include:

• Screening everyone who enters a St. Mary’s facility for signs of illness, including fever.
• Requiring all colleagues, providers, vendors and visitors to wear a mask at all times while in the building.
• Requiring inpatients to wear a mask anytime they leave their room and when staff are present.
• Creating COVID-free zones, which are areas where staff provide care only for people not known to have COVID-19 symptoms.
• Facilitating rapid testing of patients with symptoms and those whose surgical procedure requires an overnight stay.
• Continuing to clean and sanitize with increased frequency, paying special attention to surfaces that are frequently touched.
• Continuing to follow the latest guidance from the CDC, Georgia Department of Public Health, and other state and federal authorities.

In addition, St. Mary’s Medical Group has implemented precautions to protect patients, staff and providers at its medical practice offices throughout Northeast Georgia.

“Safety is the top priority in our practices, too,” said Brandt Halbach, director of physician services. “We screen patients for fever and other symptoms as they enter our offices. We ask most patients to wait in their car and then escort them directly to their exam room. If that’s not possible, we have set up our waiting areas to provide the recommended social distancing.”

Halbach said St. Mary’s Medical Group staff and providers wear masks at all times, have additional PPE available when needed, and sanitize furniture, equipment and rooms regularly.

“We also ask patients to wear a mask and will provide them with a mask if they don’t have one,” he said. “Further, we encourage our patients – especially those who are most vulnerable – to take advantage of our telehealth visits whenever possible.”

Carter urged people in the community to continue practicing preventive measures.

“Local or regional flare-ups remain a real possibility and can happen quickly,” he said. “We urge everyone to continue taking the precautions recommended by the CDC: maintain social distance of 6 feet or more, wear a mask over your mouth and nose in public, avoid gatherings, wash or sanitize your hands often, and if you develop symptoms, stay home and call your doctor.”

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When guests enter Peeples Cancer Institute (PCI), they are welcomed by a greeter who is equipped to answer questions and escort them where needed. The institute has a spacious lobby that was specifically designed to provide a calm, relaxing atmosphere.

“First impressions are important and our intent is to clearly convey confidence, tranquility and healing,” says Ernie Elemento, vice president.

The 46,000-square-foot facility opened in January. Accredited by the Commission on Cancer (CoC), the institute centralizes patient-centered care and outpatient cancer services in one convenient location.

Patient experience is a significant focus of the institute.

“Every aspect of Peeples Cancer Institute is focused on the needs of our patients and families so that we provide an outstanding patient experience and the best clinical outcomes,” says Jeff Myers, president and CEO of Hamilton Health Care System. “Our goal is to foster collaboration, communication and education among physicians and our medical teams to advance and enhance our care for patients. They are our number one priority.”

Expert Care

Eric Turner, MD (medical director) and Qin Zhang, MD, recently joined PCI. Both are board-certified medical oncologists and specialize in adult cancer and hematology disorders. They join Lisa Duhaime, MD, and Freda Hoffman, APRN, on the medical oncology side. Arif Ali, MD, and Nick Galanopoulus, MD, are both board certified and provide radiation oncology treatment and services.

Surgeons from Hamilton Physician Group – General Surgery all participate in cancer-related surgeries. Surgeons include Richard Fromm, MD; James Gable, MD; Eric Manahan, MD; Steven Paynter, MD; and Rod Rodriguez, MD. Fromm, Manahan, Paynter and Rodriguez are breast cancer specialists.

Other members of the clinical care team include radiologists, pharmacists, clinic nurses, infusion nurses, nurse navigators, radiation therapists, mammography technologists, social workers, researchers, tumor registrars, and other vital staff members.

Under one roof

The goal of integrating all outpatient cancer care services under one roof was the driving force behind the expansion of the oncology program into its newly constructed building. The process was conducted with the needs of the patient, community and staff in mind.

As the planning process for the new cancer institute began, Hamilton’s leadership and staff engaged the community to provide feedback throughout every step of its design. For example, the initial design did not include a physical connection to the main hospital. After hearing the concerns of the focus group, Hamilton’s leadership worked with the city council to close a public road and allow the construction of a walkway physically connecting the new cancer institute to the main hospital.

PCI centralizes all oncology care in one location, further enhancing physician collaboration and quality patient care. With Hamilton Medical Center connected directly to the institute, in-patient care is enhanced by ease of patient transport.

The community feedback is also reflected in the interior design of the new facility. Patients and caregivers, including those who received cancer care elsewhere, provided their input.

“We heard them loud and clear,” says Elemento. “They did not want to sit in an infusion chair for hours receiving chemotherapy while staring at a wall.” Today, patients receiving treatment in one of the 20 semi-private infusion recliners have expansive views of Dalton through floor-to-ceiling windows that provide abundant natural light. Six additional chairs are private, allowing patients privacy if they prefer.

The latest technology

Equipped with a state-of-the-art Varian™ Truebeam™ Linac and 4D CT simulator, the cancer institute offers a variety of radiation therapy treatment modalities, including IMRT, SRS, SBRT, 3D and HDR brachytherapy.

The Women’s Imaging area offers the latest in 3D mammography, stereotactic biopsy and ultrasound.

Looking to the future, the institute is already looking to expand capabilities.

Looking ahead

The institute continues to work on opportunities to provide additional treatments and ways to support patients and family members.

The pharmacy is working toward an accredited specialty pharmacy that would include oral oncolytics, specialty drugs that kill cancer cells.

PCI will soon offer patients access to participate in clinical trials. The PCI employs a research coordinator to enroll patients into clinical trials when appropriate, and the institute’s medical oncologists will provide oversight as principle investigators for all trial patients.

As part of the high-risk genetics program, patients will be followed in a high-risk genetics clinic at PCI and receive additional needed services such as annual breast MRI screening or other imaging and testing when appropriate.

The institute will soon offer genetic screening and genetic counseling services. Patients identified as high-risk are given immediate access to a certified genetic counselor through tele-genetics. The new facility is completely wired and ready for telehealth, and its tele-genetics program is the first step in utilizing these new features.

PCI has been working on increasing its menu of supportive care programs for patients.

“Growing these services allows the program to support patients emotionally, mentally and physically throughout their cancer treatment journey,” says Rita Harris, oncology service line administrator.

A donor’s gift is making it possible for the institute to begin planning an arts and healing program that will bring music and art to its patients and caregivers. A therapy dog visits the infusion center weekly, and the Institute is developing a pet therapy program that will allow therapy dogs to visit with patients throughout the facility, thanks to a gift from Dalton Box. The institute will soon welcome a specialized oncology nutritionist to provide nutrition and wellness counseling and services. All supportive care services at PCI are offered free as part of a cohesive cancer-fighting strategy for patients, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and survivorship.

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