After a successful first five years, a statewide cancer research consortium has been awarded a six-year grant expected to result in more than $11 million in funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to enroll even more Georgians in important clinical trials.

The Georgia NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) is a collaboration between the two largest community oncology clinical trial programs in Georgia: Northside Hospital Cancer Institute in Atlanta and the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion at St. Joseph’s/Candler in Savannah, and the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education (Georgia CORE) in Atlanta.

NCORP began in 2014 to conduct multi-site cancer clinical trials and cancer delivery studies in their communities. From 2014-2018, approximately 30,000 patients nationwide were enrolled in NCI clinical trials through the NCORP sites.

The Georgia NCORP partnership is one of only 32 Community Sites selected to receive cancer research funding from the NCI for the next six years. Since 2014, Georgia NCORP has enrolled 2,530 cancer patients in clinical trials. It is one of only 10 NCORP networks to receive ‘High Performance” status from the NCI.

“The National Cancer Institute created NCORP as a comprehensive community and academic initiative to provide access to cancer trials, including cutting edge treatment trials, precision medicine, symptom control, cancer prevention, as well as cancer care delivery research, to individuals in their own local communities,” said Northside Hospital Cancer Institute’s Dr. Guilherme Cantuaria, who has served as the principal investigator for this partnership since its inception in 2014. “These studies will have great potential for improving cancer outcomes and reducing disparities in care. We are especially proud that the NCI selection team evaluated the Georgia NCORP capabilities as outstanding.”

“The Georgia NCORP team was one of the most effective groups in the nation at enrolling patients into national clinical trials,” said H.A. Zaren, co-principal investigator for the partnership and medical director at the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion at St. Joseph’s/Candler. “It demonstrates the dedication that the entire team has toward improving cancer outcomes and the optimism that people in Georgia and the nation will have even better treatments to fight cancer. This second grant will help many people, especially minority patients and the medically underserved.”

Georgia NCORP provides Georgians with access to state-of-the-art cancer prevention, screening, control, treatment and post-treatment trials within their own communities. There are more than 100 oncology clinical providers in 41 different locations throughout the state, as well as the clinical trial leadership and research services of Georgia CORE.

“GA NCORP is a unique collaboration that has enhanced the quality of cancer care in Georgia by expanding access to clinical trials,” said Nancy M. Paris, president and CEO of Georgia CORE, which is a non-profit leader in improving the quality of cancer care through clinical research and education. “With new NCI funding we will build on the strengths of committed doctors and cancer centers to deliver research and personalized treatments to those most vulnerable — rural, racial, and ethnic minorities; children and the elderly. Georgia CORE is honored to be a partner in this exemplary statewide effort.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia is ranked 25^th in cancer incidence and 23^rd in cancer deaths in U.S. – and cancer remains the second leading cause of death in Georgia. Among the state’s males, prostate cancer accounts for 30 percent of new cancer cases, with the highest concentration in southwest Georgia. Among the state’s females, breast cancer represents 30 percent of all new cancer cases, with the highest concentration in metro Atlanta. Lung cancer is the second most common among both males and females and is diagnosed most frequently in rural Georgia.

Clinical trials are research studies that involve people. These studies test new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, or treat diseases. People who take part in cancer clinical trials have an opportunity to contribute to scientists’ knowledge about cancer and to help in the development of improved cancer treatments. They also receive state-of-the-art care from cancer experts.

Four additional key cancer programs and Georgia CORE research network affiliates were selected to participate in the Georgia NCORP partnership based on their leadership and track record in community-based oncology research: John B. Amos Cancer Center in Columbus; Harbin Clinic in Rome; Peyton Anderson Cancer Center, Navicent Health in Macon; and Cancer Services at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.

Patients with cancer or increased risks of cancer in Georgia will have access to NCI-funded clinical trials through their cancer physicians at a participating NCORP network site. Through the NCORP network, community physicians will be able to collaborate with the NCI Clinical Trials Network Research Bases (NCTN) and Lead Academic Participating Sites (LAPS) on the development of research studies that impact patients in their communities.

For more information about Georgia NCORP, visit: gancorp.org.

#

St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^®for community hospital accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with Joint Commission performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe, high-quality patient care.

Sacred Heart Hospital underwent a rigorous onsite review earlier this year. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with state-of-the-art national standards spanning areas such as emergency management, environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership effectiveness, and policies and procedures.

The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts, and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help health care organizations measure, assess and improve performance. The surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

“As a private accreditor, The Joint Commission surveys health care organizations to protect the public by identifying deficiencies in care and working with those organizations to correct them as quickly and sustainably as possible,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital for its continuous quality improvement efforts in patient safety and quality of care.”

“The Joint Commission is the nation’s foremost healthcare accrediting agency,” said Sacred Heart President Jeff English. “Joint Commission accreditation gives our patients and community confidence that our hospital is meeting or exceeding the highest standards for safety and quality in America. I could not be prouder of our employees, physicians and volunteers for making our ongoing accreditation possible.”

St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital is a full-service, not-for-profit community hospital in Lavonia, Ga., that is part of St. Mary’s Health Care System and a member of Trinity Health. Sacred Heart Hospital is licensed for 56 beds and features inpatient and outpatient surgical services, emergency services, medical/surgical inpatient nursing care, critical care, a mother-baby unit, advanced diagnostics, rehabilitation services, sleep disorders center, wellness center, and an occupational health service. Learn more at www.stmaryssacredheart.org.

For more information about The Joint Commission, please visit The Joint Commission website.

#   #   #

Southeast Georgia Health System will host an RN Hiring Event on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., in the Linda S. Pinson Conference Center on the Brunswick Campus, 2415 Parkwood Drive, Brunswick.

The Health System has several opportunities for RNs, including long term care, maternity, medical/surgical, oncology, orthopaedics, operating room, post surgical, telemetry and flex team. A sign on bonus as well as relocation reimbursement assistance is available for eligible candidates.

Attendees can speak with Human Resources representatives and complete applications during the event to expedite the hiring process. Applicants should bring license verification and proof of identification.

In addition to free valet parking and smoothies from Smoothie King, guided tours of the Health System’s Brunswick Campus will be available.

Reservation and walk-in appointments are available. For more information, call 912-466-3115 or send an email to nurserecruiter@sghs.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, 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^® Program in the region and one of only four in Georgia, and a Cancer Care Center accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. In 2018, the Health System’s Brunswick and Camden Campus hospitals were recognized in Georgia Trend magazine’s “Top Georgia Hospitals” in the medium-sized and small-sized categories, respectively. For more information, visit sghs.org.

# # #

A free class on childbirth is offered at Wayne Memorial Hospital Saturday, Sept 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the hospital cafeteria conference room. This class is ideal for those expectant mothers 25 weeks pregnant or later by the class date. Those interested in registering may do so by calling (912) 530-3118 or (912) 530-3117.

Topics of the class will include the normal process of pregnancy, labor and delivery with an emphasis on conscious prepared childbirth. Stress is placed on a medically safe delivery in the hospital under the direction of a physician. Additional topics covered are infant care and infant feeding. Attendees are encouraged to invite a support person to the class.

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 two-time winner of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals Small Hospital of the Year Award.

###

South Georgia Medical Center will be offering its popular “Freedom From Smoking” cessation program at the SGMC Main Campus as part of its ongoing efforts to help smokers kick the habit and live smoke free.

The Freedom From Smoking program features sessions led by trained, certified American Lung Association facilitators who understand the motivations and rationalizations of smoking, and use a positive behavior change approach that teaches people how to become permanent non-smokers. Participants attend six weekly sessions where eight interactive lessons are presented.

The free program begins on Tuesdays, beginning October 1 in the conference room at the SGMC Pearlman Cancer Center.  The classes begin at 6pm and last for approximately one hour for 6 consecutive Tuesdays. It is important for participants to complete the entire series of classes to get the most benefit.

“In this step-by-step program, participants will receive instruction and peer support to help them quit smoking,” says Mary Ann Griffith, RN, smoking program facilitator.

As a special incentive, the $25 program fee is waived for all participants. Visit sgmc.org to register or call 229-259-4022. Space is limited.

According to the American Cancer Society, tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US, yet millions of Americans still smoke. For more information about smoking and its dangers, visit the American Cancer Society website at www.cancer.org

# # #

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and South Georgia Medical Center will be holding a free prostate cancer screening on Tuesday, September 17 at 5:30pm at the Pearlman Cancer Center.

The screening will include a lab test for the prostate specific antigen (PSA test) and a prostate exam provided by SGMC affiliated Urologist Dr. Mike Chiang, Dr. Patrick Parker, Dr. Jacek Sosnowski and Physicians’ Assistant Brad Ridge, PA-C.

Pre-registration is required by calling 229-433-4022. Men must meet the American Cancer Society Screening criteria to be eligible for this free program.  As an added incentive this year, screening participants may register for a drawing to win a 55 inch smart television.

# # #

The loss of a loved one can be an emotional roller coaster, filled with an intense and sometimes debilitating mix of emotions such as sadness, relief, anger, depression, worry, and loneliness. For adults grieving the loss of a loved one, St. Mary’s Health Care System offers Life After Loss, a free bereavement and grief support group, on the first, third, and fifth Thursdays of each month from 7-8 p.m. at St. Mary’s Hospital on Baxter Street.

Life After Loss is designed to help those who are experiencing the loss of a loved one work through their experience, express their feelings, and find support among others facing a similar loss. People can attend as many sessions as they wish and no registration is required. At each meeting, facilitator Rev. Jessica Chicken will help pose thoughtful questions and guide discussion of healthy and meaningful ways to cope with grief.

Rev. Chicken is a critical care and palliative care chaplain with St. Mary’s who holds master’s degrees in divinity and thanatology, a field focused specifically on grief and loss. She has more than six years of experience as a hospital chaplain, including extensive work with grieving families. Rev. Chicken is also a certified therapy dog handler who often works with her trained Schnauzer, Ollie.

“We offered a six-week trial version of Life after Loss last fall and it was well attended,” Rev. Chicken said. “We have made the group permanent so that we can continue to assist people in learning healthy and effective ways to cope with the loss of someone they love.”

Life After Loss is free and open to any adult who would like to attend. Meetings are held in the Lobby Conference Room of St. Mary’s Hospital, 1230 Baxter St., Athens. The meeting room is easily accessible from the hospital’s parking deck and main entrance.

For information, please call 706.389.3426. If Rev. Chicken is not at her desk, please leave a message and she will return your call as soon as possible.

#   #   #

ATLANTA – Northside Hospital and the Gwinnett Health System are completing arrangements to combine their health care operations. The effective date of the new system is Wednesday, August 28.

The expanded Northside Hospital system will have 1,636 inpatient beds; more than 250 outpatient locations throughout Georgia; and nearly 21,000 employees and 3,500 physicians on staff.

Debbie Mitcham, longtime Chief Financial Officer and 25-year veteran of Northside Hospital, will be the new president and CEO of Northside’s Gwinnett health care campuses. Phil Wolfe, who served as president and CEO of the Gwinnett system for the past 13 years, has announced his retirement effective August 28. Other important leadership changes are occurring – all with the single goal of seamlessly integrating operations to strengthen this new, expanded system.

Patients of the Gwinnett Health System will notice virtually no changes in their regimen of treatment and care. Patient and family care is the central priority of the two systems, which are led by strong medical professionals with great passion for health care service.

Also, beginning on August 28:

· The Gwinnett Medical Center-Lawrenceville, located at 1000 Medical Center Blvd., will be called Northside Hospital Gwinnett.

· The Gwinnett Medical Center-Duluth, located at 3620 Howell Ferry Road, will be called Northside Hospital Duluth.

· The Gwinnett Extended Care Center at GMC-Lawrenceville, located at 650 Professional Drive, will be called the Northside Gwinnett Extended Care Center.

· The Glancy Rehabilitation Center, located at 3215 McClure Bridge Road in Duluth, will be called Northside Gwinnett Joan Glancy.

However, you will not see any rapid signage changes at these or other Gwinnett Health System locations – this process will be conducted gradually and with appropriate research, input, and planning. For care provided at Gwinnett locations beginning August 28, patient bills and statements will be addressed from Northside Hospital, and payments will be made to the same. For care received at Gwinnett locations prior to August 28, patient bills will come from and be payable to Gwinnett Medical Center.

For more information about patient billing and other updates, visit northsidegwinnett.com.

###

Registration has opened for Camp Lean On Me, a children’s grief support event for kids who have lost a loved one.  The camp will be held on October 5^th and 6^th at the 4H Campground in Lake Park.  During this camp, kids will be engaged with professional counselors in age appropriate activities, including arts and crafts, that help explore and process their feelings of loss in a safe, supportive environment.  Camp Lean On Me is free to any child attending, and offered to children ages 6-17 years old.

Camp Lean On Me is part of Hospice of South Georgia’s Healing Hearts Youth Program.  Children who have experienced loss need support, encouragement, and healthy coping skills. The Healing Hearts Youth Program is designed to create a safe environment for kids to share their feelings with fun activities, and relate with other children experiencing a similar journey.  Other events offered to children attending Camp Lean On Me include a Spring Fling, Back to School Party, and Christmas party.

To register a child for Camp Lean On Me, contact Sherry Tierney, Bereavement Coordinator at Hospice of South Georgia- (229) 433-7039. The deadline to register for this year’s camp is September 17th, 2019.  Children participating in Camp Lean On Me do not need any affiliation to Hospice of South Georgia.

The Volunteer Auxiliary at South Georgia Medical Center recently contributed funds for hospital-based and community projects. The funds came from various Auxiliary fundraisers.

The Volunteer Auxilians, or Pink Ladies and Red Coats as they are called, work hard to sponsor fundraising projects at SGMC such as book sales, jewelry sales, linen sales, uniform sales and the Golden Galleria Gift Shop.  Profit goes back into the community in the form of donations to enhance healthcare services, scholarships and health-related programs.

This year, the Auxiliary used some of its funds to purchase 13 Staxi wheelchairs at a cost of $16,465. Staxi wheelchairs are designed to make transport safe, secure and quiet.  Staxi chairs are stackable, adjustable to the size and needs of patients and much easier to maneuver than traditional wheelchairs.

The SGMC Auxiliary also presented a check to the local Hungry at Home project. Hungry at Home was established to bridge the gap between home and school so children do not have to be hungry while away from school.

According to Jan Newton, Auxiliary President, 20 percent of families in Lowndes County are below the poverty level and struggle to meet the basic needs of their families. Many children do not receive proper meals away from school. This “nutritional gap” results not only in increased health risks but also diminished learning capacity and behavioral problems.

The Auxilians contributed $1,000 to support meeting the needs of these children.  Hungry at Home volunteers provide children with backpacks on Friday afternoon packed with meals and snacks for the weekend.  The children return the empty backpacks to school on Monday for replenishing.

According to Assistant Administrator for Communication & Public Affairs, Johnny Ball, the Auxilians donate hundreds of hours annually to perform tasks and assist with fundraisers.  “Our hospital and community benefits greatly from the services of these loyal volunteers,” he said. “For over 63 years, the Auxilians have raised money, morale and levels of care for patients and their families.”

Additional information on the Auxiliary is available on the hospital’s website, www.sgmc.org/volunteer-services.

# # #