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Georgia’s First Lady Visits WellStar Touting Children’s Immunizations

First Lady Deal presents Jennifer Shook and Mays Anderson born on July 11, 2014 one of the Hallmark Immunization cards for her to keep a record of his immunizations in one place.

PLAYFUL ENVIRONMENT CALMS KIDS AT WELLSTAR PEDIATRIC CENTER

Many parents expect some fear and possible lack of cooperation from small children during medical procedures.

with an interactive digital aquarium.

Then it was time for the x-rays. The “nice and friendly” team members took care of Audra and her mom said they provided her daughter with excellent care.

But when 16-month-old Audra Evans arrived to the new “From the moment we walked in, we got everyone’s WellStar Pediatric Center in Kennesaw earlier this month for undivided attention,” she said. “The facility was amazing but a chest x-ray, her mom, Jenna Evans, said she was “captivated the staff far outshined the building.” by the colors” from the time they pulled into the parking lot.

The new WellStar Pediatric Center offers a range of Once inside, the office team members who stood up to medical services for patients from newborns up to 21 years greet the mother and daughter launched old. Patients benefit from low-dose raan immediate game of peek-a-boo with diation imaging tests, sports injury their newest little patient. The game rehabilitation, pediatrician office visits lasted until Audra was distracted by a and afterhours care. fountain that changed colors.

WellStar Pediatric Center is located “It seemed like a playground, not a at 1180 Barrett Parkway NW in doctor’s office,” Audra’s mom said.

Kennesaw.

“Everything revolved around her.”

Visit wellstar.org/forchildren or call When Jenna sat down in the waiting 770-956-STAR (7827) for more room, her daughter did not sit down beinformation. side her. Instead, she jumped and played

Georgia’s First Lady Sandra Deal discussed the importance of immunizing babies with new moms at WellStar Health System hospitals on Monday, July 14.

With the Georgia Children’s Cabinet, Sandra Deal established July as Immunization Awareness Month, advocating the need for children to get immunized to prevent diseases such as polio, whooping cough and the measles from spreading.

As part of the initiative, Deal tours local area hospitals personally handing out Hallmark greeting cards with an immunization chart to mothers for keeping up with their newborn children’s immunization records.

The cards are provided to all new moms when they are in the hospital.

20 August 2014 | thecurrenthub.com

HEALTH

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BACK TO SCHOOL WITH ALLERGIES & ASTHMA

By Grace Chiang, M.D.

The first day of school is an exciting time for children and parents. It can also be a time of anxiety if your child has asthma or allergies.

Before the First Bell Rings Start preparing before the new school year begins so you can feel confident sending your child off to class. Make sure your child takes his asthma or allergy medications as prescribed. Keep this routine every day so doses aren’t missed.

Skipping medications can lead to increased symptoms, which often equals less time learning.

Depending on your child’s allergic condition, you may want to: • Tour the school to identify potential asthma or allergy triggers • Talk with your child’s teacher(s) and other relevant school personnel (such as sports coaches) about your child’s condition and treatment plan • If your child is at risk for lifethreatening reactions, such as those to food or insect stings, complete an Anaphlyaxis Action Plan and show school staff how to administer autoinjectable epinephrine.

In the Classroom There are many potential allergy and asthma triggers in schools. It is very important that your child’s allergies have been accurately diagnosed in order to determine what allergens to avoid. If your child has not been tested, make an appointment with an allergist / immunologist.

Common asthma and allergy triggers in the classroom include: • Dust mites • Mold • Chalk dust • Animal dander

At Recess, Gym Class and After-School Sports Recess may be the favorite time of the school day for many children, but for those with allergies or asthma, it can be a minefield of potential triggers.

If your child has allergic rhinitis (hay fever), sign up for regular National Allergy BureauTM pollen count email alerts.

When levels are very high, plan accordingly if Grace Chiang, M.D. your child takes medication to control symptoms.

When indoors, ask staff to keep windows closed to keep pollen out.

Children with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction may complain about participating in physical activities. However, it is very important for children to stay active, so work with school staff to develop strategies to keep your child symptom-free while exercising.

These may include: • Using a short-acting inhaler 15 minutes prior to exercise • Drinking plenty of water before, during and after exercise • Choosing sports that are less likely to trigger symptoms.

Insect bites can cause severe reactions in children with stinging insect allergy. Explain the symptoms to school staff and make sure your child always carries autoinjectable epinephrine in case of an emergency.

Dr. Grace Chiang, M.D. is a physician with WellStar Allergy & Asthma. For more information can be found at wellstar.org/allergy or by calling 770-33-2027. Dr. Chiang will open an office in the new East Cobb Health Park starting Sept. 15.

WellStar’s Marketing, PR & Internal Communications department was recently honored with four Target Awards from the Georgia Society for Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations at the annual Georgia Hospital Association’s marketing conference.

“WellStar physicians offer worldclass medical care in a range of specialties and thanks to our incredible marketing team, it’s no secret,” said Michelle Robinson, WellStar vice president of Marketing, PR & Internal Communications.

“Through creative marketing strategy and the latest technology, WellStar ensures our existing patients and those moving to our area receive excellent care close to home.”

At the Georgia Hospital Association’s annual marketing andpublic relations conference in June, WellStar was honored for its excellent marketing work in the categories of Patient/Customer Relations, Digital Advertising, Direct Mail and Issues Management.

WellStar’s “New Movers” campaign took the gold Target award in two categories: Patient/Customer Relations and Digital Advertising. Families moving to the area received a mailed invitation to visit personalized websites. The closest primary care physicians, OB-GYNs, pediatricians, urgent care centers and any other medical providers relevant to the family were included on

the sites, making it easier for families new to the area to choose their new physicians.

WellStar’s “Screening & Immunization” campaign won the highest recognition in the Direct Mail category. By reaching out to patients through customized mailings, WellStar was able to boost the recommended age-appropriate screenings and immunizations that keep WellStar patients healthy.

Lastly, WellStar earned the top prize in the Issues Management category for its “OB to Pediatric Campaign.” OB/GYN patients were guided through the process of choosing a pediatrician during their third trimesters and after giving birth through a series of individualized mailers showing the three closest WellStar pediatricians’ offices relative to the patient’s home.

“This is the one time of year where we recognize the creativity and quality of work that is being done throughout the state of Georgia and these are prestigious awards to win,” said Cathleen Caldwell, president of the GSHMPR board of professionals.

21 August 2014 | thecurrenthub.com

WELLSTAR GARNERS TOP TARGET AWARDS FOR HELPING PATIENTS THROUGH MARKETING

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HEALTH

August 2014 | thecurrenthub.com

! TEENS, TEXTING, AND TRAUMA WellStar Educates to Prevent Death

In July, a call came into the Emergency Department Command Center and the trauma team had four minutes to prepare. An unrestrained 19-yearold female driver was in a motor vehicle crash

that struck a tree at approximately 50 miles per hour. She had severe internal injuries to her chest, fractures to her right femur and right ankle. This was a result of texting and not wearing a seatbelt. while driving.

The good news: the patient is really an actor and in fine health. She was helping create a trauma scenario at WellStar Health System for a group of high school volunteers called the VolunTeens who are considering healthcare as a career.

The bad news: crashes are the leading cause of death in the 15 to 20 age group. And most of these deaths are preventable.

“Trauma is very predictable.

If you don’t wear your seatbelt, you’re going to get hurt. If you drink alcohol and you drive, there will be an accident. If you don’t text while driving, you can maintain control of your vehicle,” said Laura Garlow, trauma program man-

WellStar Trauma Program Manager Laura Garlow (left) and Allatoona High School junior Abby Bartolick “respond” to an actor serving as a patient with severe injuries during a mock trauma at WellStar.

ager at WellStar Kennestone Hospital. She shared with the audience of future health care team members what it’s like to work in trauma.

“We’re on an adrenaline high when trauma patients come in because we’re doing everything we can to save them,” said Garlow who has 28 years’ experience treating trauma patients.

“It’s not pretty. It’s pretty messy. And there’s nothing more rewarding than when our patients walk out.”

She explained that WellStar Kennestone Hospital is a Level II Trauma Center, the only trauma hospital in WellStar’s five-county service area (Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas, and Paulding).

Trauma Centers must meet guidelines to become a “designated” trauma center and are ranked at Levels I - IV. A designated Level II Trauma Center offers 24-hour, seven-days-aweek in-house availability to an attending surgeon. Level II Trauma Centers have the same standard of care as a Level I, but the difference is they do not provide training programs for surgery residents or fellows.

“Our doctors were all trained in Level I trauma centers.

That’s unique. Many hospitals have general surgeons who rotate in to trauma periodically,” Garlow explained.

During the mock trauma, Garlow asked her team to report to the trauma bay and nearly 20 teens with assigned badges showed up.

“When you put this many people on a team, you’d expect it to be chaotic. But we work like a well-oiled machine,” she said.

The team surrounded their patient. She had labored breathing and a diminished level of consciousness. Abby Bartolick, the trauma team’s respiratory therapist, “intubated” the patient and placed her on a ventilator.

A teenage mock trauma team at WellStar treats an actor playing the part of a 19year-old motor vehicle crash female driver with injuries to her chest, femur and ankle.

Thanks to Bartolick and fellow VolunTeens, the patient was stabilized.

Bartolick is a rising junior at Allatoona High School and has decided from her time as a VolunTeen that she wants to be a midwife. Before the end of the summer, she plans to witness the delivery of a baby.

But presently, she’s a member of the trauma team and more importantly to Garlow, part of a captive teen audience.

“As teen leaders in our community, you have a responsibility for our families and friends,” said Garlow.

“Make sure everyone in the car is wearing seat belts. Don’t point at stuff on the side of the road that will distract the driver. Don’t text. I want each of you to leave here and make a positive impact. I want you to put me—and the trauma team—out of business.”

Georgia Chamber Chooses WellStar Exec to Head Healthcare Committee WellStar’s Brandon Reese will head up the Georgia Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Healthcare committee.

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce recently appointed WellStar Government Relations Executive Director Brandon Reese to serve as chair of the Healthcare Committee of its Government Affairs Council in 2015.

As healthcare-related measures arise in the state legislature, Reese will lead the Healthcare Committee to recommend the Georgia Chamber supports or opposes bills with its lobbying efforts.

“I’m honored to serve the Chamber as we lead on pressing healthcare issues at the Capitol,” Reese said. “Across

the state, job creators have rising employment costs top of mind. We look to work with lawmakers representing those employers to reign in some of those costs while guaranteeing a healthy workforce. It will be a strong focus in the coming year.”

The Governmental Affairs Council is made up of more than 400 government affairs professionals throughout the state of Georgia. Nine standing committees function similarly to the committees in the State Legislature.