EXCEPTIONAL HEALTHCARE

The new Northside Hospital Cherokee celebrated its fifth anniversary in May 2022. Over the past five years the Canton hospital has seen tremendous growth, and recently completed the latest major expansion of its facilities and services.

In November 2021, the hospital completed the final phases of its newly expanded emergency department and radiology services, and opened two more floors atop the hospital’s main patient tower.

Billy Hayes, CEO of Northside Hospital Cherokee, says the projects added more beds and greater patient access to high quality care for the community and region.

“Our continued expansion of the hospital and its services are a direct reflection of our commitment to our community,” Hayes says. “With this latest expansion, our 10-year growth plan was completed in a little more than four years.”

According to the Atlanta Regional Commission, Cherokee County has grown rapidly over the past 15 years and is now the sixth largest county in the Atlanta region. That growth is certainly reflected at Northside Hospital Cherokee.

Nearly 60,000 patients visit the hospital’s emergency department each year. The expanded department features twenty-two new treatment rooms to meet future growth, and a redesigned entrance and lobby, with a “Fast Track” that streamlines patients with less severe injuries (once triaged) to a registered nurse, physician assistant or nurse practitioner, making their visit easier and faster.

More space in the adjacent radiology department allows select imaging services, including X-ray and computed tomography (CT), to be dedicated to emergency patients.

The county’s population growth is reflected in the continued expansion of Northside Hospital Cherokee.

While a new, dedicated interventional radiology suite frees up the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab for patients experiencing heart attacks.

The hospital’s new ninth and tenth floors added 53 inpatient beds, increasing the hospital’s total beds to 211, and serves patients receiving oncology, pulmonary, renal and general medical/ surgical services.

Hayes says more people are moving into the area, and more patients are choosing Northside Hospital Cherokee for their health care.

“Northside Hospital Cherokee looks forward to the continued expansion of access and diversity of services for our community,” he says.

Within the last six months, the hospital opened an innovative Lung Nodule Clinic that is dedicated to the evaluation of lung nodules in order to detect lung cancer earlier and lead to better outcomes. The hospital also has opened four more operating rooms and expanded the pharmacy, and will begin construction on a third cardiac catheterization lab soon.

State-of-the-art medical equipment and high-tech operating rooms are the standard at Northside Cherokee.

The Northside Hospital system is one of Georgia’s leading health care providers, with five acute-care hospitals in Lawrenceville, Duluth, Atlanta, Canton, and Cumming, and more than 250 outpatient locations across the state. Throughout Cherokee, patients have access to Northside providers and specialty services, including cancer care, cardiovascular care, maternity and women’s services, sports medicine and orthopedics, weight management, rehabilitation, pediatric and adult imaging, primary care, urgent care, and other specialty care services.

Please follow @NorthsideHosp on social media, and for more information, including free community health screenings and virtual webinars, visit Northside.com.

Recent Accomplishments

• Recognized for providing an Outstanding Patient Experience in 2018 and 2019 by Healthgrades

• Earned Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers from the Joint Commission, as well as multiple Disease-Specific Care Certifications for joint replacement, pneumonia, and heart attacks

• Received multiple awards from American Heart Association Lifeline and Get With The Guidelines© programs for treatment of heart attack and stroke

• Named one of the nation’s Best Places to Work by job sites Glassdoor.com and Comparably.com.

• Follow @NorthsideHosp on social media, and for more information, including free community health screenings, visit Northside.com.

• Nor thside Hospital Cherokee 450 Northside Cherokee Blvd. Canton, 30115 770-224-1000

Will health services in high demand lead to expansion?

Residents of Cherokee and surrounding communities have turned Wellstar Cherokee Health Park in Holly Springs into a health care destination. Patients appreciate the “one-stopshop” approach where they can see a physician, have the imaging and lab work needed for diagnosis done, and get treatment—all in the same place, often on the same day.

“Wellstar is pleased to provide a facility offering high-quality healthcare and convenience to the community,” says Varma Rameswar, vice president of pediatric operations and health parks. “The aesthetics of the Cherokee Health Park are inviting and coupled with the excellent care, people make this a healthcare destination of choice.”

The modern facility’s design aims to lower anxiety by incorporating water features, plant life and natural light.

Growth leads to expansion talks

People in Holly Springs, Woodstock, Canton, and surrounding communities have certainly made Wellstar Cherokee Health Park a facility of choice. Last year, the facility had 20% year-on-year growth.

“We are proud to be a part of this community providing needed healthcare services,” exclaimed Rameswar.

While the facility opened in 2019, she says leaders are already planning to expand with a fourth-floor buildout of 22,000 square feet.

Hospital-quality care closer to home

Children and adults who have minor accidents and illnesses can get diagnosed and treated through the health park’s urgent care and imaging centers.

“Because of the health park, Kennestone Medical Regional Center is able to offer its services to the Cherokee community closer to home,” says Rameswar.

Leading-edge emergency care at Kennestone

For critical situations, Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center has a state-of-the-art Emergency Department just 15 miles away. It is home to a Level I Cardiac Care Center, a Level II Trauma Center, a Comprehensive Stroke Center and a dedicated Pediatric Emergency Department.

Plans for constructing a new tower at the hospital are also underway and slated for completion in 2025. The state-of-theart tower will improve patient care by providing next-generation neonatal intensive care services and continue building upon the hospital’s cutting-edge cardiovascular and neuro care. Kennestone will also improve the patient experience with private rooms and new dietary and in-room dining services.

“We’re excited to be able to continue meeting the healthcare needs of an expanding and growing community in an impactful way,” says Callie Andrews, senior vice president and chief operating officer for Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center. “Our mission is to continue building a world-class experience and provide life-saving care for patients throughout the community today, tomorrow and in the future.” • top

10%

PATIENT SATISFACTION

Patients rank care at this facility in the top 10% when compared with like-size facilities across the U.S.

22,000

SQUARE FEET

Facility leaders are currently exploring developing a fourth floor to expand services that are in high demand.

365

DAYS OF URGENT CARE

A high level of urgent care with advanced imaging is available daily, with shorter-than-average wait times and expanded hours, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

3x

CANCER CARE VISITS

Compassionate cancer experts provided personalized cancer care during 3,700 visits—three times as many as the previous year. 25

ACCESSIBLE PHYSICIANS

Our primary care physicians and specialists make care more accessible with next-day appointments.

8 out of 10

LOCAL STAFF

Health park employees live, work and play in Cherokee, which contributes to their work-life balance. 135

FRIENDLY, HELPFUL PEOPLE

The health park team provides exceptional service from the time patients walk in the door to their appointment.

SERVICES:

• Primary care (family medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics)

• Urgent care

• Imaging (including walk-in mammograms and X-rays)

• Lab services

• Cardiac diagnostics

• Specialty care (cancer, heart, ENT, endocrinology, urology, general surgery)

• Sleep center

• Physical therapy

Wellstar.org/CherokeeHealthPark