Wayne Memorial Hospital in Jesup has been awarded two state level awards due to their increased focus on maternal and infant health. As part of their commitment to quality improvement and as a member of the Georgia Perinatal Quality Collaborative (GaPQC), Wayne Memorial was a winner of the Dedication to Maternal Quality Improvement Award from GaPQC, as the hospital achieved a 72 percent reduction in severe maternal morbidity for hypertension from 2016-2022 The hospital also met the qualifications to attain GaPQC’s Rural Hospitals Maternal Outcomes Achievement Award. Wayne is one of 14 winning hospitals in the state to qualify for this award. Hospital Nurse Lois Hershberger shares that Drs. Jeffrey Harris and Sandra Mager found the GaPQC state grant in 2018 and brought it to the hospital for consideration.  The program brings hospitals together in a formal collaboration to share strategies for improvement, data collection and educational opportunities. There are 37 hospitals total in the state of Georgia that deliver babies.

“Wayne Memorial’s physicians and Obstetrics Staff have always looked and continue to look at improvement. They do so by weighing current policies for improved assessment, early recognition and treatment strategies – strategies that are effective, quickly accessed and then standardized for all patients across the continuum of care,” said Dr. Jeffrey Harris of Wayne Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Hershberger added, “Two-thirds of women in Georgia must travel outside of their home county to obtain prenatal care and to deliver their baby, because the care is unavailable otherwise. In fact, 37% of Wayne Memorial’s deliveries in 2021 were from patients living in counties without a delivering hospital. And, 23% live in counties with delivery hospitals, but chose to come to Wayne Memorial instead.” Currently, there are 37 hospitals total in the state of Georgia that deliver babies.

Maternal and infant health has been a focus globally and locally. According to the World Health Organization, the maternal mortality ratio (the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births) decreased by approximately 38 percent between 2000 and 2017. In the state of Georgia, lawmakers have chosen to address the issue via HR 589.

GaPQC’s mission is to establish and maintain a robust statewide perinatal data and quality improvement system that engages stakeholders in evidence-based practices to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies throughout Georgia. Their vision is for all perinatal stakeholders in Georgia coming together to improve health and outcomes for all Georgia mothers and babies.

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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When it comes to birthing babies, one local hospital is among the best.

Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton was one of just four hospitals in Georgia named to Newsweek’s list of the top performing maternity hospitals in the nation.

The evaluation is based on three data sources:

• A nationwide online survey of hospital managers and maternity healthcare professionals (neonatal care providers and obstetricians)
• Medical key performance indicator data relevant to maternity care (including the hospital’s rate of cesarean births); and
• Patient satisfaction data (such as how patients rated a hospital’s medical staff for responsiveness and communication)

“Our first patient was a mother in labor,” said Loy Howard, president and CEO of Tanner Health System, recalling the first patient admitted to Tanner Memorial Hospital in Carrollton in 1949. “Ever since, maternity care has had a special place in our hearts. It’s our chance to be part of our community’s happiest days.”

Memorial Health Meadows Hospital in Vidalia, Northside Hospital in Atlanta and Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center in Athens were also on the list for Georgia. Three-hundred fifty hospitals were listed nationwide.

In recent years, Tanner has stepped up its maternity programs, recruiting additional obstetricians to its staff and launching the Sally and John Francis Tanner Neonatal ICU (NICU) at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton. The NICU allowed the hospital to provide extended care for pre-term births and multiple births.

“Helping new mothers get a healthy start is key to our mission as a health system,” said Howard. “This designation ensures our community that we’re on the right course.”

For more on Tanner’s maternity services, visit TannerMaternityCare.org.

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The Northside Hospital system and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Georgia today announced they have finalized a new agreement that provides access to care at Northside for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s members.

“Northside Hospital has an unwavering focus on patients and their families, and that always is our mission,” said Scott Wade, vice president of Northside Hospital. “The outcome of our discussions is great news for our partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and our patients.”

Northside Hospital and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Georgia have enjoyed a partnership for more than 30 years. The successful resolution of these discussions represents a commitment to further strengthening a partnership that potentially will develop into a model for the Atlanta region and all of Georgia.

“I’m pleased we were able to come to a resolution on behalf of our members. Our new agreement with Northside continues and enhances our partnership, continuing access to quality care for Georgians, which is our focus,” said Robert Bunch, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Georgia. “I want to thank Northside’s Bob Quattrocchi and Scott Wade for their partnership and efforts to find common ground.”

The new agreement is effective immediately, meaning Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield members will have in-network access to Northside’s hospitals, physicians, and other outpatient locations in Georgia for the foreseeable future.

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Hospice of South Georgia, an affiliate of South Georgia Medical Center, is hosting Living with ALS, an educational session for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients and their caregivers. The event will be held on Tuesday, July 26, at 6pm at SGMC’s Smith Northview campus. Dr. Hernan Posas, Jr., SGMC Neurologist, and Emily DeCesare, NP-C, Hospice Palliative Care Nurse will share insights and discuss strategies for preserving the independence and quality of life of those impacted by ALS. Registration is limited and required by visiting sgmc.org/ALS or calling 229-433-4127.  

ALS is a rare neurological disease that affects nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movement such as chewing or swallowing, speaking, or any intentional body movement. It affects as many as 30,000 people in the United States, with 5,000 new cases diagnosed each year.  As cases grow nationally, support and education are essential for enhancing care and quality of life for those facing treatments. 

Living with ALS is one of the many educational events offered by HOSG’s caregiver support series. According to HOSG Executive Director Kevin Moore, “As the area’s only not-for-profit hospice provider, it’s important for us to provide guidance and resources to caregivers in our communities so they can ensure their loved ones experience the best quality of life possible.”   

Caregiver support is essential in hospice and palliative care. “This educational event series allows the SGMC’s health system to extend support for a better patient experience and quality of life throughout the entire process of a disease,” he shared. Past support events focused on dementia awareness, palliative care, and post-pandemic trauma. 

For more information on HOSG or SGMC visit sgmc.org.  

Patients in and around Jackson County now have more convenient access to urgent and specialty healthcare, as Northeast Georgia Health System’s (NGHS) new Medical Plaza opened in Jefferson on Monday, July 11.

“We’re thrilled to finally see this building come to life, as we continue to invest in improving care across the region,” said Carol Burrell, President and CEO of NGHS. “We’re now able to offer better and quicker access to people in Jackson County, as well as provide one central location for all of their healthcare needs.”

The single-story, 11,000-square-foot building, which is easily accessible from U.S. 129, is home to the new Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Urgent Care location, along with other NGPG services like Family Medicine, Sports Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery and General Surgery. Cardiology services are provided at the new building by Georgia Heart Institute. The Medical Plaza also offers digital X-ray services and an on-site lab.

“With more space comes more providers,” said Daniel Tuffy, President and Chief Administrative Officer of NGPG. “That means patients will have greater access to all the services available at this new location — and with everything housed under one roof, patients won’t have to drive far or to multiple locations to get the care they’ve come to know and trust.”

The new Medical Plaza is located at 1496 Winder Highway in Jefferson, Georgia. Urgent Care is open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. To save your spot online, visit ngpg.org/urgent-care. To learn more about the other practices in the building, visit nghs.com/jefferson.

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Hamilton Medical Center (HMC) has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry Gold Performance Achievement Award for 2022. HMC is one of only 81 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor.

The award recognizes HMC’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients and signifies that HMC has reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to standard levels of care as outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.

To receive the Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry Gold Performance Achievement Award, Hamilton has demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry for two consecutive years (2020 and 2021), and performed at the top level for specific performance measures. Full participation in the registry engages hospitals in a robust quality improvement process using data to drive improvements in adherence to guideline recommendations and overall quality of care provided to heart attack patients.

“It is an honor to award Hamilton with the Gold Performance Award for their valuable national leadership and dedication to meeting comprehensive performance measures in patient care,” said Michael C. Kontos, MD, FACC, chair of the NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Steering Subcommittee, and cardiologist at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. “The receipt of this award indicates that Hamilton remains committed to providing top quality, guideline-driven care for heart attack patients. Their success ensures patients are receiving the highest quality cardiovascular care.”

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that over 800,000 Americans suffer a heart attack each year. A heart attack occurs when a blood clot in a coronary artery partially or completely blocks blood flow to the heart muscle. Treatment guidelines include administering aspirin upon arrival and discharge, timely restoration of blood flow to the blocked artery, smoking cessation counseling and cardiac rehabilitation, among others.

Chest Pain  ̶  MI Registry empowers health care provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients.

As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the American College of Cardiology and its more than 56,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions.

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South Georgia Medical Center, in partnership with Mercer University School of Medicine, is pleased to welcome its inaugural class of Internal Medicine residents. 

Over the next three years, the resident physicians will complete their training under the guidance of Internal Medicine Program Director Dr. Gregory Beale and a host of skilled physicians and staff. They will see patients both in the hospital setting and in the clinic setting at SGMC Adult Primary Care in Valdosta. 

 “We are thrilled to welcome our premier class of residents to SGMC and introduce them to the community,” said Beale. “Our residency program will challenge these physicians to grow and develop their skills. We look forward to helping them excel in their careers and achieve the SGMC standard of providing the highest level of patient care.” 

 SGMC’s inaugural class of Internal Medicine residents includes: 

·         Rija Chaudhary, MD 

·         Venkata Gandi, MD 

·         Priyanka Kalan, MD 

·         Monica Kovuri, MD 

·         Dwayne Mohan, MD 

·         Anum Munir, MD 

·         Shilpa Reddy, MD 

·         Rosaida Silverio-Lopez, MD 

 The program will welcome eight residents each year who will spend three years with the system. Each year another eight will join the program, with a total of 24 when at full capacity. SGMC looks forward to becoming a leader in training and medical education. 

 SGMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Dawson said that the program exemplifies SGMC’s commitment to providing unequaled access to care throughout the region. “Rural Georgia is an underserved area for physicians, including primary care doctors. These providers will fill a need in the community and make a difference in the lives of their patients.” 

 The residency program will also provide a long-term economic impact for South Georgia. Not only will the community have a steady stream of new health care providers each year, but it will also see a boost in the local economy from new job creation and the everyday spending that comes along with it. 

 SGMC launched its residency program in 2021 with approval from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. It received more than 2,000 applications for the first class, conducted 103 interviews, and ultimately matched with eight physicians in 2022. 

 To learn more, visit sgmc.org. 

Physicians urge caution in fireworks use and discourage celebratory gunfire

As our nation prepares to celebrate the Independence Day holiday, Atrium Health Navicent physicians urge everyone to keep safety in mind.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 15,600 people were treated for fireworks-related injuries in U.S. hospital emergency departments in 2020. Two thirds of those injuries occurred in the weeks immediately before and immediately after the Independence Day holiday.

The most common injuries include burns to the hands and fingers, followed by injuries that involve the head, face, ears and eyes. Fireworks, including sparklers and flares, can cause serious burns as well as blast injuries that can permanently impair vision and hearing.

Physicians at Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center, central and south Georgia’s only nationally-verified Level I Trauma Center, encourage individuals to prevent firework injuries by following these tips:

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.

• Adults should supervise all fireworks activities.

• Handle and use fireworks in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and all warning labels.

• Light fireworks on smooth, flat surfaces, and aim them away from buildings, dry leaves, flammable materials and spectators.

• Do not try to relight fireworks that malfunction.

• Do not modify fireworks or use homemade fireworks.

• Light fireworks one at a time, then quickly move back.

• Keep a phone and a bucket of water or fire extinguisher within reach, and know first aid for burns.

“Physicians at Atrium Health Navicent treat fireworks-related injuries each year, with more patients coming in with these injuries in the days closest to Independence Day and New Years,” said Dr. John Wood, Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center’s emergency center medical director. “If you plan to use fireworks, follow safety precautions such as using eye protection, not lighting fireworks indoors and never holding a firework while lighting it to ensure your holiday celebration is safe.”

Physicians also urge revelers to avoid firing guns in celebration of the holiday. Bullets returning to the ground due to celebratory gunfire can cause serious injury or death for bystanders. Atrium Health Navicent is participating in the Georgia Stay SAFE campaign, which promotes safe gun storage and the prevention of firearm injuries in children.

If an accident or injury occurs, seek appropriate medical treatment. For emergency situations, call 911 or seek care at the nearest emergency center. Atrium Health Navicent offers emergency care at the following locations:

• Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center (770 Pine St., Macon)

• Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital (888 Pine St., Macon)

• Atrium Health Navicent Peach Emergency Department (1960 Hwy 247 Connector, Byron)

• Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin (821 North Cobb St., Milledgeville)

• Monroe County Hospital, Atrium Health Navicent Partner (88 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Forsyth)

• Putnam General Hospital, Atrium Health Navicent Partner (101 Greensboro Road, Eatonton)

For non-life-threatening injuries, visit your nearest urgent care provider. Atrium Health Navicent provides urgent care at three Macon locations. • Atrium Health Navicent Urgent Care North (3400 Riverside Drive, Macon)

• Atrium Health Navicent Urgent Care East (1339 Gray Highway, Macon)

• Atrium Health Navicent Urgent Care Northwest (5925 Zebulon Road, Macon)

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.

The future of healthcare in Lumpkin County and the anchor of the Gateway Corridor is now officially under construction. Hundreds of people, community leaders, healthcare workers and project members gathered this morning to break and bless the ground at the future campus of Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Lumpkin.

            “This hospital is a big win for rural healthcare, in a time when many other communities are not sure they can rely on a local hospital,” said Senator Steve Gooch. “Today is a historic one for our community, and it’s also sacred in its significance.”

The future hospital campus sits along Georgia 400, just south of the Highway 60 intersection, and has been in the planning phase since 2019. That’s when the current NGMC Lumpkin hospital opened in Dahlonega – thanks to quick collaboration by Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), local leaders and state officials after the previous hospital owner closed its doors. Sights were immediately set on how to move the hospital to the future campus and grow its services to care for more people, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays.

“If things had gone according to the original plan, we’d be opening this year, not just breaking ground,” said Carol Burrell, NGHS president & CEO. “We appreciate this community’s patience, understanding and support – and we look forward to the future NGMC Lumpkin opening in 2024.”

NGMC Lumpkin provides 24/7/365 emergency care to Dahlonega and surrounding communities. The hospital also provides inpatient care and supporting imaging, lab and pharmacy services. Plans call for the future 66,000 square-foot building to be home to:

• 16 private inpatient rooms
• 10 state-of-the-art emergency treatment rooms, four dedicated observation rooms, a fast-track area and separate entrance and exit
• 3 operating rooms and one procedural suite to support Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, General Surgery and other services
• Café and Dining Area

“As we prepare to put shovels in the earth, it’s hard not to draw the parallel to the miners who came here two centuries ago – or even the indigenous people before them – who came to hunt, fish and reap from the soil the bounty of this region,” says Spence Price. “We are acutely aware of the profound significance of what we are doing here today and what it will mean for generations.”

NGMC Lumpkin is an economic driver for the county and surrounding area. According to a study by the Georgia Hospital Association in 2020, the hospital employed nearly 150 people, supported another 500+ jobs across the state and generated an overall economic impact of more than $66 million.

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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 750 beds and more than 1,200 medical staff members representing more than 60 specialties. NGMC is part of Northeast Georgia Health System, a non-profit that cares for more than one million people across more than 19 counties. Learn more at www.nghs.com.

Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin is pleased to announce its receipt of a $150,000 donation from Morris Bank in partnership with the Georgia HEART Rural Tax Credit Program.

“This contribution through the Georgia HEART Rural Tax Credit Program will help Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin continue to provide high-quality care to patients in Milledgeville, and elevate the services we offer as we meet the needs of patients in the Baldwin County and Lake Oconee region,” said Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin CEO Todd Dixon. Thank you Morris Bank for your generosity and support.”

Morris Bank is a community bank rooted in middle and south Georgia with nine branches in Dublin, Gray, Houston County and Bulloch County, and a mortgage services center in Milledgeville. In an effort to give back and support the communities it serves, Morris Bank partnered with the Georgia HEART Rural Tax Credit Program to assist Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin in serving area families.

“We are fortunate to have quality health care here in Milledgeville-Baldwin County, and we believe this is an essential driver to developing and growing this community,” said Chairman and CEO of Morris Bank, Spence Mullis. “We appreciate all that Atrium Health Navicent provides to this area and are proud to partner with them through the Georgia HEART Hospital Program to continue serving the health care needs of this community.”

Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin is a 140-bed, acute care facility located in Milledgeville that provides 24/7 emergency services, radiology services, women’s services and general medical and surgical services to the 150,000 residents living in Baldwin and surrounding counties, and the Lake Oconee region.

Georgia businesses and individuals can contribute to the Georgia HEART Rural Tax Credit Program through June 30, 2022, or until a $60 million cap on contributions is met. By directing state taxes to qualified rural hospitals, taxpayers receive a 100 percent state income tax credit.

Fifty-five Georgia hospitals benefit from contributions, including Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin, Atrium Health Navicent Peach, Monroe County Hospital and Putnam General Hospital. For more information, or to contribute, visit www.georgiaheart.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.

About Morris Bank

In an ever-changing banking environment, Morris Bank still takes a common-sense approach and leverages practical financial solutions and mortgage

services. Decisions have been made locally since 1954, and the Morris Bank team is ready to make banking easy for you. To learn what it means to

Bank Blue or to find out more about our Code Blue philosophy, visit www.morris.bank. Member FDIC.

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