PATIENTS FIND HELP FROM DR. ROBERTO NORNIELLA

Patients find help from Dr. Roberto Norniella & staff at Monroe’s Ridgeview Institute

BY BETH SLAUGHTER SEXTON STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Whether it’s help surviving a world-wide pandemic or navigating the dayto-day struggles of living, keeping a check on one’s mental health can be as important as life or death. Since 1976, more than 90,000 people have turned to Ridgeview Institute during crisis, despair and in search of hope.

From its first campus in Smyrna and now with a second campus in Monroe, Ridgeview Institute offers a range of services for youth, young adults, adults, senior adults and professionals in need of behavioral health and/or addiction intervention.

As Dr. Roberto Norniella, M.D. explains, psychiatrists are primary care doctors for the mind. As chief mental health officer and medical director for the hospital, Norniella and other Ridgeview doctors and staff focus on treating the overall mental well-being of patients. They diagnose and treat numerous types of mental illness, such as depression, eating disorders, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorders, to name a few. Treatments may range from medication management plans to different forms of therapy, all designed to help patients and families acquire the courage and skills to begin a new life.

Through its Women’s Connection, Ridgeview has designed a behavioral health program to assist women in overcoming problems stemming from trauma, depression, anxiety, mood disorders and substance abuse.

Located at 709 Breedlove Drive in Monroe, Ridgeview Institute is an 88-bed mental health acute psychiatric hospital.

“Right now, it’s really interesting,” Norniella said. “Some areas have decreased in demand, like the adolescent unit where we usually have 20-26 adolescent patients. We’re now running 8-10. Schools are closed and kids are home. There has been a decrease in the adolescent (unit), however demand for adult beds has increased significantly with depression, people losing their jobs and anxiety because of the pandemic...or an increase in alcohol and drug abuse.”

Some patients are hospitalized at Ridgeview while others come and go for outpatient therapy programs.

The adolescent unit is usually busy this time of year with kids facing such issues as bullying, stress of academic pressure, fighting at school and truancy, as well as drug use in school and suicide concerns, the doctor said. He added that being home all the time due to schools being closed takes away certain components and while Ridgeview is still helping a number of young people, the numbers for that unit are considerably less right now.

Norniella is the father of two daughters, one of whom is an ICU nurse in Alabama working on the front lines of the virus pandemic and his younger daughter is a psychology student at Georgia State University.

Born in Puerto Rico, Norniella graduated from the University of Massachusetts followed by medical school and an internship at Central University of The Caribbean School of Medicine. He did a fellowship at Yale University and is board certified in psychiatry. He had a practice in Alabama before moving to Georgia and is in now in his 26th year in the medical field. He worked at both Ridgeview Institute and was medical director of Lawrenceville’s SummitRidge before being named medical director of Ridgeview. Norniella also has a medical office in Watkinsville.

While his work is demanding, the doctor makes time to relax by playing golf, writing, and traveling, especially going back to Puerto Rico to visit friends.

Norniella’s mental health advice to others is simple.

“In general, one of the most important things is not get overwhelmed with work,” he said. “Get some rest. Sleep is super important not only for mental, but physical health. Eat a balanced diet. Avoid excess alcohol and stay away from drugs.”

For more information, visit Ridgeview’s website at https://ridgeviewinstitute.com/monroe.

Northeast Georgia Health System First In State To Receive Emergency Cardiac Care Center Designation

GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) continues to lead the way in life-saving heart and vascular care by becoming the first health system in the state with hospitals designated as Emergency Cardiac Care Centers (ECCC). This new designation from the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) means that when you or someone you know has a heart attack, you can trust Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) to provide fast and effective treatment.

“Receiving the ECCC designation is such a tremendous accomplishment for our team,” says Jason Grady, NGMC regional STEMI coordinator. “But this achievement extends far beyond the walls of our system – connecting first responders, emergency departments and cardiologists throughout the regions to ensure each patient receives the level of care they need.”

Healthcare organizations seeking ECCC designation by the Georgia DPH undergo a thorough evaluation process, including a site inspection and an assessment of emergency cardiac care processes and equipment. Once these steps are complete, the Georgia DPH uses a three-level designation system to rank the capabilities of each facility: • Level 1 hospitals perform open heart surgery and interventional cardiac catheterizations • Level 2 hospitals perform interventional cardiac catheterizations • Level 3 hospitals stabilize patients until they are transported to a

Level 1 or Level 2 center. Based on these specifications, NGMC Gainesville received Level 1 designation, NGMC Braselton received Level 2 designation and NGMC Barrow and NGMC Lumpkin both received Level 3 designation.

“Receiving ECCC designation speaks volumes about the level of cardiac care NGHS provides,” says Ryan T. Whitney, MD, FACC, interventional cardiologist and chairman of The Heart Center of NGMC. “Our continued dedication to excellent heart and vascular care – both routine and in emergency situations – is saving lives throughout our community and beyond.”

The designation comes almost three years after legislation that created the concept of Emergency Cardiac Care Centers in Georgia was signed into law at NGMC Gainesville on May 3, 2017. “Jason, our cardiologists and our entire team worked tirelessly for this designation to become a reality – and we had strong support from Gov. Nathan Deal, Sen. Butch Miller, Sen. Renee Unterman and Rep. Lee Hawkins,” says Carol Burrell, president and CEO of Northeast Georgia Health System. “NGHS has a rich history of being the leader in cardiac care, and that legacy continues today.” Cardiologists with The Heart Center of NGMC continue to provide routine heart care during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can even schedule an appointment via video chat, so you don’t have to come to the office. Schedule your video visit today by calling 770-534-2020 or request an appointment at heartNGMC.org.

ABOUT NORTHEAST GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEM

Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is a non-profit on a mission of improving the health of our community in all we do. Our team cares for more than 1 million people across the region through four hospitals and a variety of outpatient locations. Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) has campuses in Gainesville, Braselton, Winder and Dahlonega – with a total of more than 700 beds and more than 1,100 medical staff members representing more than 50 specialties. Learn more at www.nghs.com.

What Causes Cataracts?

When a brand new car is driven off a dealership lot, its plastic headlight lenses are clear and pristine. Over time, due to contaminants in the environment and oxidation from ultraviolet rays, those same lenses can become cloudy, yellow and opaque. Cloudy headlights can decrease visibility and potentially put drivers at risk. Similar scenarios sometimes unfold involving the human eye. Starting around age 40, proteins in the eye may begin to break down and cause lenses to become cloudy. UV rays can be damaging to the eyes and contribute to this natural protein degradation. While pronounced vision problems may not occur immediately, the American Academy of Ophthalmology says vision can be impaired later in life. The organization All About Vision states cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over age 40 and also are the principal cause of blindness in the world. Unprotected exposure to the sun is just one contributor to cataracts. Certain medical problems, such as diabetes, also can cause cataracts. An eye injury, eye surgery or radiation treatments on the upper body also can cause cataracts, as can corticosteroids, advises the AAO. Congenital cataracts, which occur when infants are born with cataracts, may be caused by infection, injury or poor development in the womb; otherwise, they can form in childhood. Cataracts form in various regions depending on the cause, according to AAV. • Subcapsular cataract: A subcapsular cataract occurs at the back of the lens. People with diabetes or those who take high doses of steroid medications have a greater risk of developing this type of cataract. • Nuclear cataract: This cataract forms in the central zone of the lens and is often associated with aging. • Cortical cataract: This cataract is characterized by opacities that are white and wedge-like, which form on the periphery of the lens. Eventually they work to the center in a spoke-like fashion. Cortical cataracts can result from aging. Symptoms of cataracts often can be slow to form, so people may not even notice they have cataracts until they start to block light, while others may learn of their presence during vision exams. Cataracts may cause vision that is filmy, blurry or foggy, indicates WebMD. In older adults, nearsightedness may be attributed to cataracts. Glare, both during the day and at night, also may affect vision due to cataracts. Double vision or changes in the way one sees color can be symptoms of cataracts as well. Eye professionals can diagnose cataracts and make recommendations on the course of treatment. Cataract removal surgery is highly effective. More than 95 percent of people who have undergone the surgery experience improvements. Such surgeries are often performed on an outpatient basis.