Piedmont NEWNAN

When Treating Strokes, Every Minute Counts

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. As a result, Piedmont Newnan Hospital is on a mission to increase awareness of stroke signs, symptoms and risk factors. While Piedmont Newnan can provide excellent care for patients suffering from stroke, the biggest factor in creating positive outcomes is for a person to act quickly at the first signs of symptoms.

“Time means everything when it comes to a patient’s potential recovery from a stroke,” said Robin Baker, RN, BSN, SCRN, CEN, Stroke Program Manager at Piedmont Newnan. “If you are experiencing any symptoms of a stroke or other cardiac event, call 9-1-1 immediately. Your outcomes are far worse from a heart attack or stroke if you delay care or do not come to the hospital.”

A stroke is when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted due to a blockage or a ruptured blood vessel. When this happens, the brain does not receive oxygen that is required to prevent brain cells from dying.

The key of optimal recovery of a stroke and decreasing disability is to B.E.F.A.S.T.:

 Balance - sudden dizziness or loss of balance

 Eyes - sudden vision loss or double vision

 Face - look for an uneven smile

 Arm - check if one arm or leg is weak

 Speech - listen for slurred speech or difficulty speaking

 Time - call 9-1-1 right away

Community Impact

Piedmont’s Community Impact Brings Its Purpose to Life

Piedmont Newnan and other nearby Piedmont hospitals performed more than 130 community involvement activities, more than 100 health education and awareness activities, and over 20 community health services.

Each year, in accordance with government requirements as a nonprofit health system, Piedmont prepares a community benefit report narrowly defined by the federal government, with fixed dollar amounts and time directly related to improving the health of its communities.

Nevertheless, Piedmont’s efforts extend beyond quantifiable financial benefits. That is why for the past two years, Piedmont has prepared a Community Impact Report that highlights the myriad ways its team members — physicians, nurses, executives, staff and beyond — fulfill Piedmont’s purpose to make a positive difference in every life and every community we touch, showing the qualitative depth of its impact in the communities we serve across the state.

During Piedmont’s Fiscal Year 2022 (July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022), Piedmont performed more than 345 community involvement activities, 110 health education and awareness activities, 55 community health services, 50 Physician Enterprise activities and 20 Diversity Equity and Inclusion activities. In addition, Piedmont employees were represented on more than 265 board or committee memberships. Piedmont provided nearly $360 million in Community Benefit in FY 2022, including approximately $310 million in uncompensated care.

At the local level, Piedmont Newnan provided medical screenings and supplies to patients of the Coweta Samaritan Clinic, including 500 COVID-19 test kits in partnership with Georgia-Pacific, free screening mammograms, diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, free lab testing and diagnostic imaging. Over the course of 2022, Piedmont Newnan served 117 Coweta Samaritan women through free screening mammograms. The Coweta Samaritan Clinic is a local, nonprofit organization that provides free medical care in a faith-based environment to adult residents of Coweta County who lack health insurance.

Piedmont Newnan also participated in the Newnan Utilities Health Fair, Coweta County Employees Health and Wellness Fair, and the CowetaFayette EMC Health Fair, where staff provided informational materials on strokes, oncology services, breast health, rehabilitation services, cardiovascular and dietary information and health services including blood pressure checks and hands-only CPR. More than 2,000 at-home COVID-19 test kits were distributed to attendees. Piedmont Newnan also hosted “Discussion with a Doc,” during which a few physicians raised community awareness and discussed the latest screenings and technologies for breast, lung and urology patients.

“The impact Piedmont makes in our communities makes me so proud to be a part of this organization,” said Vicki Kaiser, COO at Piedmont Newnan. “Our purpose to make a positive difference is lived out every day across our state and beyond. At Piedmont, Real Change Lives Here.”

According to the Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention Center, Georgia is part of a group of 11 states, call the Stroke Belt, where the risk of having a stroke is 34 percent higher than in other areas of the country. Researchers attribute this to higher rates of obesity, smoking and cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

“The faster a stroke is recognized and treatment is provided to restore blood flow to the brain the greater chance disability will be reduced. Every minute nearly 2 million brain cells can die. Recognizing the symptoms and calling 9-1-1 immediately are the first steps to improving outcomes, “said Baker.

To learn more about strokes, visit piedmont.org/neurosciences

Piedmont team members supported hundreds of other community partners and their work in its communities. Among these activities are: providing health and wellness services and education, partnering with other non-profits to sponsor their events, volunteering alongside other non-profits in their work, and serving in a leadership capacity of community Boards or other professional and civic organizations.

“At Piedmont Newnan, we strive to not only take great care of our community members when they are inside our facility but also to get out into the community to provide some basic health services to those who may not otherwise have access,” said Kaiser. “In addition, we hope that connecting with local residents before they are in need of acute care helps put them at ease when they do need to come to our hospital.”