Piedmont Profiles Magazine - Winter 2009 by Piedmont Healthcare

Piedmont Healthcare Year in Review

PIEDMONT

WINTER 2008-09 VOLUME 19, NO. 1

A publication of Piedmont Healthcare

A LSO I NSIDE :

What is Quality Healthcare? Cancer Care Coming to Fayette

Within Our Reach C OMMUNITIES B ENEFIT FROM P IEDMONT ’ S P ROMISE TO R EACH O UT

L ET TER

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PIEDMONT HEALTHCARE Chairman of the Board: Bruce A. Cassidy, M.D. President and CEO: R. Timothy Stack PIEDMONT HOSPITAL Chairman of the Board: William A. Blincoe, M.D. President & CEO: Robert W. Maynard PIEDMONT FAYETTE HOSPITAL Chairman of the Board: Frank N. Cole, M.D. President & CEO: W. Darrell Cutts PIEDMONT MOUNTAINSIDE HOSPITAL Chairman of the Board: Gregory A. Hurst Interim President & CEO: Mike Robertson PIEDMONT NEWNAN HOSPITAL Chairman of the Board: Gregory A. Hurst President & CEO: G. Michael Bass PIEDMONT HEART INSTITUTE Chairman of the Board, President and CEO: Michele M. Molden PIEDMONT MEDICAL CARE CORPORATION Chairman of the Board: Ronnie Brownsworth, M.D. President & CEO: Berney Crane PIEDMONT CLINIC Chairman of the Board: Quentin Pirkle, M.D. President & CEO: Ronnie Brownsworth, M.D. PIEDMONT HOSPITAL FOUNDATION Chairman of the Board: Mrs. Dameron (Jane) Black VP, Development: Mendal A. Bouknight VP, Marketing & PR: Nina Montanaro Director, PR: Diana Lewis Editor: Derek Toomey Contributing Editor: Neil Keener Graphic Design: Fusion Designworks Photography: Caroline Joe

FROM THE

CEO

What is quality healthcare? At Piedmont Healthcare, we pride ourselves in providing those we serve with quality healthcare. But what does quality mean? We use four key indicators in our definition of quality: World-class customer service – Whether it’s related to how the food tastes or nurse attentiveness, we track patient satisfaction through ongoing surveys and make improvements where necessary. Clinical excellence – We continually measure clinical outcomes, adhere to best medical practices and work to ensure patient safety. Leadership and staff – Hospital administrators, board members and physicians strive for quality in areas such as finance, corporate compliance and operations. Community benefit – We reach out to our communities by providing diverse health screenings and educational programs. I’m proud to say that the work we do at Piedmont Healthcare is recognized nationally as quality healthcare. Our commitment to world-class, quality care and patient safety has resulted in an impressive downward trend in mortality rates across the system over the past three years. Focus on early sepsis identification and intervention, efforts to minimize ventilator-associated pneumonia, implementation of rapid response teams to work with patients experiencing decline, and hand hygiene have all been factors in that trend. See our feature story on quality on page 24. In service quality, Piedmont Hospital ranked first, Piedmont Fayette ranked third and Piedmont Mountainside ranked fourth among 38 Atlanta hospitals in a national, standardized, publicly-reported survey of patient satisfaction in Spring of 2008. In addition, all three hospitals were named among the nation’s Most Wired hospitals, reflecting our focus on information technology supporting patient care. And in the Atlanta market, Piedmont Hospital was named Best in Atlanta for Overall Cardiac Care and Cardiac Surgery for 2008, and recently for 2009, by HealthGrades®. I encourage you to compare Piedmont’s quality data with other hospitals. We publish all of our quality measures on our website. Visit piedmont.org and click on “Quality Report.” There you will find clinical and service quality reports, and links to information about pricing and healthcare quality. Reports cover core measures for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical infection prevention. Piedmont compares its results to benchmarking and national average for surgical-site infection rates, hospital-acquired infection rates and risk-adjusted mortality. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to seek the quality healthcare you deserve. And we owe it to you to provide it. Quality healthcare – that’s a Piedmont Promise. Sincerely,

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WINTER 2008-09

Around the Region

Communities Benefit from Piedmont’s Promise Have You Seen Piedmont in Your Community?

Piedmont Hospital News

Piedmont Healthcare News

Piedmont Heart Institute News

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital News

8 Patients benefit from grants for breast cancer screenings.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital News

Piedmont Newnan Hospital News

Piedmont Physicians Group News

Commitment to Clinical Quality

Helping consumers make educated choices and saving lives.

Living the Piedmont Promise

27 Find out how far this employee took the Piedmont Promise to help a patient.

Piedmont employee makes speedy delivery for patient.

Quality Cancer Care, Close to Home Piedmont Fayette plans comprehensive cancer center.

Year In Review

Piedmont Healthcare highlights for fiscal year 2008.

Piedmont Philanthropy News and Giving piedmont.org

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Within Our Reach COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM PIEDMONT’S PROMISE TO REACH OUT

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The Piedmont Promise assures you will receive world-class care that feels down to earth. Our renowned doctors, nurses and staff understand that true healing comes not only from advanced medical technology, but also from a warm, caring touch. That touch can be seen in Piedmont Healthcare’s diverse community outreach programs. As a not-for-profit organization, Piedmont Healthcare’s earnings are always reinvested directly into maintaining and improving services and facilities, as well as funding valuable outreach, educational and research activities. Reaching out to the communities we serve is another way we can fulfill our promise to provide the perfect balance between health and care.

by Tricia Molloy

GRANT PARK AND GOOD SAMARITAN CLINICS RECEIVE FREE LAB WORK ince 2005, Piedmont Hospital has been providing free lab work for Atlanta’s Grant Park Clinic and, since 2007, for Good Samaritan Health Center. In the past year, Piedmont Hospital’s laboratory performed more than 20,000 tests for an average outpatient charge savings of more than half a million dollars. The majority of those tests were comprehensive metabolic panels and lipid panels. “Piedmont’s pro-bono services take considerable fundraising pressure off us,” says Terry Wood, M.D., director of the Grant Park Clinic. “We have more money to spend on other essentials, like pharmaceuticals, supplies and patient education materials.” Some of the lab tests Piedmont provides free of charge include metabolic panel, hemoglobin, lipid panel, pregnancy, PSA and urinalysis. “Piedmont helps us complete the healthcare circle, which includes a patient’s history, physical exam and lab work so we can assess the situation and make the right diagnosis and

t Piedmont Mountainside Hospital (PMH), community outreach is a top priority. The following are examples of ways the hospital gave back the past year.

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PIEDMONT MOUNTAINSIDE HOSPITAL IS COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH

• The hospital co-sponsored a health fair at Appalachian Technical College in Jasper for 800 attendees. They provided discounted blood profiles, including prostate screenings, and conducted free EKGs and pulse oximetry to test the oxygen level in the blood. They also offered discounted mammogram certificates.

Bill Warren, M.D., consulting with a young patient at Good Samaritan Health Center.

treatment,” says Bill Warren, M.D., founder and president of Good Samaritan Health Center in downtown Atlanta. Lab costs accounted for more than two percent of the clinic’s budget. That money now goes to caring for

more patients and expanding the staff from a full-time and part-time nurse practitioner to two full-timers. “As a non-profit organization, all the money we bring in or save goes back to serving our patients,” he says.

“Piedmont helps us complete the healthcare circle…” piedmont.org

• At the 5th annual Women’s Seminar, 120 participants learned how to take care of their hearts and many received blood pressure, glucose level and pulse oximetry screenings. At “Dessert and Discussions,” a monthly program the hospital has offered for four years, members of the medical staff cover a variety of topics, from breast cancer awareness to orthopaedic care. Nearly 100 people attend each month. PMH also offers classes in smoking cessation, childbirth, first aid and CPR.

• At open house events, members of the community are invited to tour hospital departments, such as the Clinical Decision Unit, Intensive Care Unit, Interventional Radiology Suite and Sleep Center.

• The PMH Speaker’s Bureau provides medical experts for presentations at local clubs, organizations, schools, churches, and TV and radio stations. PMH participated in the local Sheriff ’s Department Safety Day by distributing outlet covers and safety literature.

• For Home Depot Safety Month, hospital staff distributed safety literature and helped train people on how to safely use fire extinguishers. • At the Relay for Life, PMH sponsored the Survivors’ Banquet and manned phones at the local TV station’s fundraising telethon.

• For the March of Dimes and Heart Walk, PMH sponsored teams and raised money. • When the Pickens Pregnancy Center requested diapers for needy mothers, PMH responded.

• On Veteran’s Day, PMH provided lunch and a speaker on senior health issues. • Hospital staff provided care for the indigent at Good Samaritan Health and Wellness Center, a walk-in clinic.

• PMH distributed first-aid supplies for the nurses’ offices in seven schools throughout the Pickens County School System and provided staff and supplies for athletic physicals for middle school students.

“I know how hard our people have worked to make all of this possible,” says Regina Camp, director of community relations. “This represents an awesome number of employee hours and lives possibly saved. Through these programs, we encouraged many in our community to pay closer attention to health issues.”

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Piedmont’s Diabetes Resource Center Offers Scholarships “DIABETES RUNS HEAVILY IN MY FAMILY AND I'M OVERWEIGHT, SO MY DOCTOR RECOMMENDED I LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS DISEASE AT PIEDMONT HOSPITAL,” SAYS HATTIE EVANS, 70, FROM SOUTHWEST ATLANTA. “I FOUGHT IT ALL THE WAY, THINKING THEY COULDN’T TEACH ME ANYTHING NEW. I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED.”

Avid bowler Hattie Evans is one of many to benefit from a Diabetes Resource Center scholarship.

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Thanks to the Wilbur and Hilda Glenn Family Endowment for Diabetes, the Piedmont Hospital Diabetes Resource Center can now provide diabetes self-management education at little or no cost for more people like Evans living with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Medicare and most private insurance cover the costs of diabetes education for people diagnosed with diabetes. However, Medicare does not cover the costs of education for people living with pre-diabetes. Coverage with private insurers varies. Each year, as many as 30 scholarships will be awarded to people with diabetes and pre-diabetes who have been referred to the Diabetes Resource Center for education but would otherwise decline because they lack financial resources. Evans learned the difference between activity and exercise. “I used to just walk around my house cleaning up, and I’d walk to the mailbox. My pedometer would Understanding the count my steps, and I thought I was exercising. Then, Different Kinds of Diabetes I learned that exercise meant moving without stopping Diabetes Type 1 develops when the body stops producing and getting your heart rate up. Now, I walk the track insulin, the hormone that regulates blood glucose. near my home for 30 minutes about four times a week. There is no known way to prevent Type 1 diabetes. When the weather turns cold, I’ll walk on a treadmill Diabetes Type 2 develops over a period of time and is inside.” She also bowls and continues to go to Weight usually preceded by prediabetes. About 90% of all cases Watchers. Evans expects to see a more significant of diabetes are Type 2. weight loss now that she's exercising. Prediabetes is a condition in which individuals have blood “We are grateful for the opportunity to support glucose levels higher than normal but not high enough Piedmont Hospital as it expands its role in providing to be classified as diabetes. People with prediabetes healthcare for Atlantans,” says Lou Glenn. “And we are have an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, especially thankful for Piedmont's efforts to address heart disease, and stroke. this disease which is now approaching epidemic Gestational diabetes can occur during pregnancy. Women proportions. Classes in the Diabetes Resource Center who have had gestational diabetes have about a 50% provided worthwhile information to help me meet this chance of developing diabetes in the next 5 to 10 years. challenge on a daily basis, and I am indebted to the staff for giving me courage and support.” The money also funds community involvement, increased screenings, professional education and database management. “About 24 million people suffer from diabetes in the United States and another 57 million are at risk for diabetes,” says Mary Ransbotham, RN, CDE, manager of the Diabetes Resource Center. “When we educate the community about healthy eating, being active and monitoring blood glucose, we help prevent more cases and assist others in managing their disease.” Diabetes can lead to serious complications, such as blindness, kidney damage, cardiovascular disease and lower-limb amputations. People with diabetes can prevent these and other complications by controlling blood glucose, blood pressure and blood lipids. For more information, contact the Diabetes Resource Center at 404-605-3823.

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CENTER FOR HEALTH AND LEARNING: A PIEDMONT HEALTHCARE/MERCER UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP

hrough the Center for Health and Learning, Piedmont Healthcare

and Mercer University are committed to improving the future of healthcare. This unique and innovative partnership helps bring more nurses and other healthcare professionals into the healthcare system and enhance research. It leverages each organization’s demonstrated strengths in the areas of clinical care, research and educational services to improve the quality of health professionals and the health of our communities throughout Georgia.

and 39 are now employed at Piedmont. Fifty more scholars are expected to graduate by the end of 2009. A Mercer University-accredited physician assistant (PA) program is now underway with 26 students. There are more than 300 applicants for the PA Class of 2009, and that total is expected to exceed 500. In January, 32 more students will begin. Enrollment is expected to increase by six students a year with a maximum of 50 students. Piedmont Healthcare PAs are currently mentoring the first-year students, and

Former Piedmont nursing scholar, Hannah Oliver, RN, with a newborn.

Through the Piedmont Nursing Scholars program, Piedmont pays the tuition of high-achieving nursing students in exchange for an average of a two-year commitment to work at Piedmont upon graduation. As part of their training, the students receive valuable, real-world clinical experience at the hospital. Since 2005, 42 scholars have graduated from this program,

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several Piedmont physicians are preceptors for student clinical rotations. A preceptor is an expert or specialist who gives practical experience and training to a student. The Center for Health and Learning sponsored a Preceptor Recognition Dinner in October at Anthony’s Restaurant in Buckhead to express appreciation to all physicians and healthcare

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professionals who have volunteered to become preceptors. Tim Stack, president and CEO of Piedmont Healthcare, and William Underwood, president of Mercer University, spoke at the dinner. Mercer University School of Medicine’s Family Therapy Graduate Program at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta began its first full class this fall with 20 students. “Program director Steve Livingston has been working with various Piedmont programs and units to set up internship opportunities for students who want a clinical experience in medical family therapy,” says Sharon Nieb, executive director of the Center for Health and Learning. “Patients from various departments will benefit from the opportunity for family therapy services.” About 25 Mercer and Piedmont faculty and staff are attending a series of research collaboration meetings. They are reviewing current research in medicine, pharmacy, nursing and bio-engineering to identify areas of potential collaboration. As a result of the first meeting, two new research projects have emerged: hyperthermic treatment mechanisms (between Piedmont Hospital nursing and Mercer University department of bio-engineering) and patient specific computational hemodynamics modeling (between the Piedmont Heart Institute and Mercer University department of bio-engineering). “There is potential to create additional research projects and professional development programs that will enhance healthcare delivery and strengthen both institutions’ research agendas,” says Nieb.

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SPARC FUELS PREVENTIVE CARE

ess than 30 percent of adults over 50 receive cancer

screenings, immunizations and cardiovascular disease prevention education – services that could dramatically enhance the quality and span of their lives and reduce rising Medicare costs. SPARC Atlanta (sickness prevention achieved through regional collaboration) is a collaborative effort with the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Fulton County Health and Human Services Office of Aging, Fulton County Health and Wellness, Piedmont Hospital and other local partner agencies designed to increase the use of preventive health services by older adults. “SPARC programs act as a local bridge between medicine and public health,” says Regine Denis, Fulton County’s aging services program manager and Fulton County SPARC Atlanta coordinator. “We consider physician practices as one element in a community-wide network of activities to improve and maintain the health of our citizens.” SPARC seeks to prevent and diagnose diseases at early and more treatable stages by offering a bundle of services where people gather, such as at health fairs, senior centers, health departments and churches. “Piedmont Hospital helps with the development, creation and implementation of these events and goes way beyond providing the essential medical services,” Denis says. “For example, we found that if we served fresh fruits and vegetables from a local farmer’s market, we’d attract more people. Piedmont stepped up to secure sponsors to offset the cost of this food. They help out wherever there is a need.”

SPARC Clinic Services include: Immunizations: flu, tetanus and pneumonia Women’s Health: pap test, clinical breast exam, mammography referrals Dental Health Screenings: education and referral to low-cost services Other Health Screenings: cholesterol, blood glucose, bone mass, blood pressure, glaucoma and depression screening Health Education and Referral Financial Consulting: help with saving money on Medicare prescription drug coverage

“I have benefitted personally from assisting with the SPARC clinics,” says DeAnna Gilliam, geriatric specialist for Sixty Plus Older Adult Services at Piedmont Hospital. “My heart is encouraged when I see those in such great need receiving life-preserving services. From a professional perspective, it’s a privilege to be a part of this outstanding collaborative group effort.” Other partners are APS Healthcare, Core Improvements/ VNHS, Fulton County Mental Health, Georgia Cares, Health First Medical Supplies, Open Hand, Prevent Blindness Georgia, Right at Home – In-home Care Assistance and Wesley Woods Fuqua Center. Medicare/Medicaid and some private insurance are accepted. All services are for adults only, and no one will be turned away. To find out more abut SPARC and upcoming events, call the Fulton County Office of Aging at 404-730-6000.

PIEDMONT PHYSICIANS IN COWETA COUNTY SUPPORT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

iedmont Physicians at Newnan, Newnan Crossing East, Senoia, Sharpsburg, Tyrone and White Oak are doing their part to keep the citizens of Coweta County healthy. During a recent teacher workday, physicians and their office

staff were on hand at all three local high schools and the central office to offer health screenings, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose checks. They also provided a two-day health fair for the 1,400 employees of the Yamaha plant in Newnan, followed by participation in the Coweta-Fayette EMC Annual Community Health Fair with over 3,000 attendees. From sponsoring local events, such as the first-aid tent at the City of Newnan Labor Day race, to speaking at a variety of local senior centers and civic organizations, the Piedmont Physicians Group physicians in Coweta County are dedicated to enhancing the well-being of all community members.

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Within Our Reach Komen Grants Save Lives through Breast Cancer Screenings

Around The Komen For the Cure® Diagnostic Mammogram Grant provides imaging services to uninsured/underinsured low-income women, a population that otherwise may not receive adequate screening and diagnostic measures. The services covered include screening and diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds and image-guided biopsies with associated pathologies. The Komen For the Cure® Diagnostic MRI Grant provides magnetic resonance imaging to the uninsured/underinsured low-income women who meet the high-risk criteria as evidenced by personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing or increased risk factors identified on a validated risk assessment tool. This grant provides mammograms, ultrasounds, image-guided biopsies with associated pathologies and magnetic resonance imaging. Both $75,000 grants began in April and run through next March or until the money is gone. More than 100 patients have been served so far, and another 100 are expected. The services are provided at Piedmont Hospital, Piedmont Fayette Hospital and Piedmont Hospital Mammography Center at Macy’s Perimeter Mall. “I am so grateful to Susan G. Komen For the Cure® and Piedmont,” Erlichman says. “I’ve told all my friends about these grants. It gave me peace of mind and may save someone else’s life.” For more information about how to access grant funding, contact Nikki Cooper at 404-605-4427.

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Access to Care Makes All the Difference “I’ve been out of work for a while and dropped my private health insurance when the rates got too high,” explains Allison Young, 44, of Atlanta. “So, I’m jobless, broke and hoping that nothing goes wrong.” She struck up an Internet friendship with a woman in New York who sent her money to see a gynecologist to treat a problem she was having. At that appointment in March, her gynecologist detected a lump in her breast. “I went into survival mode and started searching online for ‘free mammograms.’ Each time I found a source, it had expired or I didn’t qualify. Finally, the Georgia Cancer Foundation referred me to Piedmont.” At Piedmont, Young had a mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy and MRI, all covered by the Komen grant. She was diagnosed with Stage IIA IDC (invasive ductal carcinoma) breast cancer. Since the grants do not cover treatment, Young was able to get funding through the Women’s Health Medicaid program for women with breast and cervical cancer. At another hospital affiliated with her surgeon, she had a lumpectomy and is finishing up eight rounds of chemotherapy to be followed by

Judy Erlichman, a 49-year-old professional pet sitter from Peachtree City, had a

radiation. She should be done by February.

baseline mammogram when she was 35. Over the next 15 years, she chose not to

The staff is so committed and dedicated to their

get another one because she didn’t have health insurance. “I saw an article in the

patients. It’s much more than a job to them. They

“My experience with Piedmont was phenomenal.

answered all my questions and were always friendly and

local paper about the Susan G. Komen grant and decided it was time,” she says. At the Piedmont Fayette Hospital Women’s Imaging Center, a mammogram revealed images thought to be calcifications and nodularities. An ultrasound was performed, and it looked like the growth was a benign tumor, known as fibroadenoma. A biopsy confirmed it. There was no cancer. “I felt a giant weight lifted off my shoulders,” she says.

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upbeat. They even check in with me to see how my treatment is going.”

“Over those months, the care I received was superb. I was so impressed with the quality of people – the doctors, technicians and office help. I had all the confidence in the world that I would be taken care of. And, I never saw one bill.” She’ll return in six months for another ultrasound.

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Young plans to share her story of survival with others. “The Internet and that grant saved my life. I want people to know that there’s always a way.”

Judy and Gary Erlichman on a stroll with their two dogs.

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Within Our Reach

PIEDMONT FAYETTE HOSPITAL HOSTS MEN'S HEALTH FORUM his fall, Piedmont Fayette Hospital (PFH) expanded its

“Dessert and Discussion with a Doctor” series and presented “Discussion with a Doctor on Men’s Health.” The program featured a five-doctor panel and covered the latest developments in prostate health, testicular cancer, erectile dysfunction, colorectal cancer, cardiac health, sleep health, and nutrition and fitness. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests and digital rectal exam (DRE) screenings were offered before the discussion. The event launched the Prostate Cancer Information Group which meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at PFH. Meetings are free to the public and open to anyone interested or concerned about prostate cancer. The group is part of the American Cancer Society’s “Man to Man” program and has met since 1999 at another location. James O’Hara, a prostate cancer survivor, and Marc Bramblett, a retired minister and hospital chaplain, cofacilitate the group. “When you’re diagnosed with prostate cancer, unlike many other cancers, there is no one path to take,” says O’Hara. “You’re offered an array of good treatment options to consider, each with their own potential side effects. This is a very interactive, caring group. It’s a good place to hear from medical professionals and those who have been there so you can make your own best decision.” O’Hara also is an educational facilitator with the Prostate Cancer Research Institute.

Around BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS MADE EASY

James O’Hara, prostate cancer survivor group leader (left), with Ricky Norwood (center) and Jonathan Bender, M.D., (right) at the Piedmont Fayette Dessert and Discussion with a Doctor.

Through the organization’s hotline, he has counseled prostate cancer patients in 69 countries and all 50 states since 2001. For more information, call the local American Cancer Society office in Peachtree City at 770-631-0625 or O’Hara at 770-632-2898. At PFH’s other discussion events, participants have learned how to care for their hearts, and mothers and daughters were invited to explore the life stages of a woman. Catered refreshments are provided, and there are door prizes. To learn more about these programs, call 770-719-6060.

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iedmont Hospital and the Piedmont Heart Institute

are helping the Buckhead Coalition provide blood pressure monitors to condominium and rental apartment buildings in Buckhead in support of a recent recommendation from the American Heart Association (AHA). “We estimate that 25,000 people, one-third of the population of Buckhead, will have access to these monitors,” says Sam Massell, president of the Buckhead Coalition, a nonprofit organization. “There are 118 elevator-served multifamily buildings in Buckhead, and all that have inhouse staff will qualify for the program. Our mission is to nurture the quality of life in Buckhead, and what could be more important than saving lives?” AHA urges regular blood pressure checks between doctor visits. The AHA recommendations state that blood pressure checks a few times per year do not provide enough information to people and their doctors to get the true blood pressure picture and prevent heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and death. “Most Americans are overweight, and 25 percent are hypertensive and don’t know it,” says cardiologist Charles I. Wilmer, M.D., with Piedmont Heart Institute Physicians. “It only takes a couple of minutes, and doing it at home makes it practical and easy for people to have the information they need to share with their doctors. Ideal blood pressure is consistently below 120/80.”

Pictured left to right, Sam Massell, president of the Buckhead Coalition; Michele Molden, president and CEO of the Piedmont Heart Institute; and cardiologist Charles I. Wilmer, M.D., Piedmont Heart Institute Physicians.

Once high blood pressure is known to exist consistently during a person’s daily life, physicians can provide life-saving advice and medication. “High blood pressure is a lot easier to treat when recognized early, preventing heart attacks and strokes,” Dr. Wilmer explains. “At home, you can test at varying times of the day eliminating the explanations of white-coat syndrome or stress caused by a visit to the physician’s office. In addition, people can learn the behavioral actions that have positive or negative effects on their blood pressure – regular exercise is good, and eating salty foods is bad.”

PIEDMONT NEWNAN HOSPITAL BREAKS GROUND ON NEW HOSPITAL ore than 250 community leaders, elected officials, hospital

executives, medical staff members and members of the Coweta County community helped Piedmont Newnan Hospital break ground on a new facility on October 31, 2008. Pictured left to right is Michael Bass, president and CEO of Piedmont Newnan Hospital; Tom Moat, chair of Newnan Hospital Inc. Board; Greg Hurst, chairman of the Board of Piedmont Newnan Hospital; U.S. Congressman Lynn Westmoreland; and Tim Stack, president and CEO of Piedmont Healthcare.

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The new Piedmont Newnan Hospital will be built on more than 100 acres on Poplar Road near Interstate 85. It’s scheduled to open in 2011.

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Have You Seen Piedmont in Your Community? FOURTH ANNUAL PIEDMONT HOSPITAL GOLF INVITATIONAL Proceeds from the Fourth Annual Piedmont Hospital Golf Invitational will benefit cancer programs at Piedmont Hospital. The tournament was October 27 at Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta.

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FERIA HISPANICA DE LA SALUD

KING & SPALDING HEALTH FAIR

Piedmont Healthcare participated in the 2008 Feria Hispanica de la Salud at Plaza Fiesta in Atlanta by offering cholesterol and glucose screenings. Nearly 400 people attended the health fair in October.

More than 100 employees with King & Spalding took advantage of screenings provided by Piedmont Hospital at the Atlanta law firm’s benefits and health fair in August. Prostate cancer screenings were offered, in addition to educational information about stroke, spine, nutrition, diabetes, smoking cessation, fitness and older adult services.

LEADERSHIP FAYETTE BENCH DONATION The Fayette County Chamber of Commerce 2007-2008 Leadership Fayette class donated benches to Piedmont Fayette Hospital for patients and guests. The team raised money to purchase four park benches for the growing hospital campus.

ATLANTA TWO-DAY WALK SPIRIT GIRLS NIGHT OUT Pictured left to right: Doug Smith, Piedmont Foundation Board member; Wright Alcorn, vice president of patient services for Piedmont Hospital; Dustin Wisenhunt, vice president of specialty sales and support for Eclipsys; and William A. Blincoe, M.D., Piedmont Hospital Board chairman.

Pictured left to right: Cecil Pittman, Allan Vigil Ford and Vicki Turner, AIS Computers; Myrna White, Department of Aviation at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport; Diane Sartini, Piedmont Fayette Hospital Auxiliary president; and Dana Flowers, Peachtree Immediate Care.

PIEDMONT SHOWS ITS HEART AND “SOLE” Piedmont Hospital was a proud sponsor of the Atlanta Two-Day Walk for Breast Cancer in October. Pictured left to right are Doris Shaheen representing the Doris Shaheen Breast Health Center at Piedmont Hospital, and Karyn Greer and Donna Lowry with WXIA-TV.

WORLD AIRWAYS HEALTH FAIR

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Piedmont Hospital employees in green T-shirts huddled together at Turner Field for the 2008 American Heart Association’s Heart Walk on November 1. With more than 110 team captains, Piedmont was one of the top 10 fundraising teams to take part.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital physical therapy and rehabilitation employees Beverly Blakely and Gina Nelkie attend an employee benefits fair at World Airways. Blakely and Nelkie shared information and ideas on the importance of staying healthy with regular physical activity.

More than 250 women attended Piedmont Hospital’s inaugural Spirit of Women® event, Spirit Girls Night Out, at TWELVE Atlantic Station on November 6, 2008. They had an opportunity to talk to Piedmont physicians one-on-one, hear important information on women’s health issues, receive health screenings, as well as see the latest styles during a fashion show and be pampered with massages and makeovers. Save the date for the next Spirit event, Day of Dance, on Saturday, February 28, 2009. To become a member of the Spirit of Women Rewards Program, visit piedmonthospital.org/spiritofwomen.

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news

PIEDMONT HOSPITAL Piedmont Hospital is a 481-bed acute-care facility in the north Atlanta community of Buckhead. Piedmont Hospital offers all major medical, surgical and diagnostic services and was named Best in Atlanta for Overall Cardiac Care and Cardiac Surgery (2008 and 2009) by HealthGrades® (a leading healthcare ratings company). Piedmont is one of the nation’s Most Wired hospitals for five consecutive years in the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study. For more information, visit piedmonthospital.org.

SECOND SATELLITE TRANSPLANT CLINIC TO OPEN hanks to the success of the Piedmont Transplant

Center in Savannah, a second satellite clinic is being developed to provide care to end-stage kidney and liver disease patients in Albany. A $435,000 grant from the Carlos and Marguerite Mason Trust made it possible for Piedmont Hospital to bring Albany its first transplant clinic. Located at 210 North Jefferson Street in an education and training facility, the Albany Piedmont Transplant Clinic will give residents access to pre-transplant evaluation as well as outpatient follow-up after receiving their transplant at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. Satellite staffing frequency will be determined by community need. Initially, plans are to offer services for patients with kidney and liver disease on an alternating basis. Piedmont Hospital has one of only two liver transplant programs and one of three kidney transplant programs in Georgia. “Having transplant services closer to home minimizes patient stress, travel time and expense, and keeps patients where they have family and friends at a time when that support system is so important,” says John D. Whelchel, M.D., medical director of Piedmont Hospital Transplant Services. “The Albany medical community has been very welcoming.”

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PIEDMONT’S SAVANNAH SATELLITE TRANSPLANT CLINIC CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY iedmont Hospital Transplant

to a conference unit in Savannah, and

Services is celebrating the one-

physicians in Atlanta can listen to the

year anniversary of its satellite clinic in

patient’s heart rate and respirations,

Savannah. The clinic, which offers

evaluate their incision and assess their

kidney and liver transplant services,

overall well-being via a second unit

is housed at Memorial University

located in the Transplant Clinic at

Medical Center in Savannah and sees

Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. “We are the only program in the

approximately 20 patients a month. Proceeds from the 2007 Piedmont Ball

area that offers telemedicine,” says Jan

helped to provide initial funding for

Lorentz, RN, satellite clinical manager

the clinic.

in Savannah. “This way, the patient does not always have to travel to Atlanta

“Piedmont continues to focus on

Roshan Shrestha, M.D., medical director of liver transplantation at Piedmont Hospital, with a patient.

The focus of the Mason Trust is meeting organ transplantation needs and improving access for residents of Georgia. Piedmont’s Atlanta-based Transplant Clinic already bears the Mason name. Albany was selected as the second satellite site based on epidemiological data – the percentage of the population with end-stage renal disease or potential for liver transplant – that showed the area as being underserved. Piedmont Hospital plans to develop additional transplant satellite clinics in other areas of the state.

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community outreach, and this clinic is

to be seen, making telemedicine a

a perfect example of the hospital

wonderful option for our patients.”

reaching out to patients and offering

The clinic started with quarterly

services close to home,” says John D.

visits and now conducts monthly clinics.

Whelchel, M.D., medical director of

The clinic has seen 66 patients for a

Transplant Services at Piedmont Hospital. A team of transplant nephrologists

transplant support group that provides support to patients and their families

total of 87 visits though September. “In the past, many Georgia residents

and hepatologists along with transplant

as they wait for a transplant or have

have chosen to drive outside the state

surgeons, social workers, psychologists

recently undergone a transplant.

to get transplant services. Now that

and nurses provide monthly clinics for

In addition, telemedicine, where

we have this clinic, they can get quality

pre- and post-organ transplant patients.

the doctor can evaluate a patient

transplant services in their own com-

The clinic also offers monthly educational

virtually using the Internet, helps

munity,” says Lorentz. “We ease the

programs for kidney and liver transplant

Piedmont improve access to care in the

transplant process for both the

candidates along with a monthly

Savannah area. The patient is attached

patients and their families.”

PIONEERING NEW TREATMENT FOR LIVER, GALLBLADDER AND BILE DUCT CONDITIONS hen the doctor at his local hospital diagnosed Ira

Crawford with bile duct cancer and said he was discharging him so he could spend his final days at home, the 82-year-old from Griffin, Georgia, replied, “No, I’m going to discharge you.” Crawford had witnessed the end stages of cancer before and knew he was not that sick. He had been in the hospital 19 days, and his condition was getting worse; his urine was black and his stool was gray. Fortunately for Crawford, another doctor researched his condition and discovered that physicians at Piedmont Hospital were

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using new technology to diagnose and treat conditions such as obstructions due to mass, strictures and stones within the biliary tract. Using a special fiber-optic probe which is part of the SpyGlass™ Direct Visualization System, Roshan Shrestha, M.D., therapeutic endoscopist and medical director of liver transplantation, Piedmont Hospital Transplant Services, was able to visualize the area in Crawford’s liver and diagnose that it was a stone in his bile duct located deep inside the liver – and not cancer. Piedmont Hospital is one of just 25 medical centers in

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the nation to be selected to use the Spyglass System in the second phase of clinical release for the device and is the first of its kind in metro Atlanta. While direct visualization of the biliary system (cholangioscopy) has been possible for more than 30 years, the technology has not been widely adopted due to the cost and limitations of available devices. Boston Scientific Corporation designed the SpyGlass System to help therapeutic endoscopists overcome these hurdles and to make cholangioscopy feasible for a larger number of physicians. “Preliminary studies, along with my personal experience

on more than a dozen patients, suggest that the direct visualization provided by the SpyGlass System offers tremendous advantages that until now have not been possible with traditional systems,” says Dr. Shrestha. “In addition, the SpyGlass System eliminates a significant clinical staffing requirement, provides the potential to improve the efficiency of the procedure, and will allow us to improve the quality of care to our patients.” “I can’t recommend Dr. Shrestha highly enough. He saved my life,” says Crawford. “It’s great that he and his team got in there in time because I was in bad, bad shape.”

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PIEDMONT HOSPITAL

Piedmont Healthcare, a not-for-profit organization, is the parent company of Piedmont Hospital, Piedmont Fayette Hospital, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, Piedmont Newnan Hospital, the Piedmont Heart Institute, Piedmont Philanthropy, the Piedmont Physicians Group and the Piedmont Clinic. For more information, visit piedmont.org.

MAYO CLINIC SURGEON JOINS PIEDMONT HOSPITAL TRANSPLANT SERVICES arrison S. Pollinger, D.O., has joined

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Piedmont Hospital Transplant Services. Dr. Pollinger specializes in abdominal transplant surgery and performs liver, kidney and pancreas transplants as well as laparoscopic procedures for living kidney donors. “We are pleased to add Dr. Pollinger to the Piedmont transplant team,” says John D. Whelchel, M.D., medical director for Piedmont Hospital Transplant Services. “With his extensive research background, he is an asset to our team and to all Georgians on the transplant waiting list.” Prior to joining Piedmont Hospital Transplant Services, Dr. Pollinger practiced in the division of transplant surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and completed

a two-year abdominal transplant surgery fellowship at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, American Society of Transplant Surgeons and the American Medical Association. He received the Young Investigators Forum Award from the American Transplant Congress and the Resident Teacher of the Year Award from Carolinas Medical Center. “Piedmont’s Transplant Services has a reputation for being one of the best in the Southeast, and I am proud to join a distinguished team that first and foremost values patient care,” says Dr. Pollinger. For more information about Piedmont’s Transplant Services, visit piedmonttransplant.org.

PIEDMONT HOSPITAL RECEIVES CARDIAC SURGERY AWARD

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EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES

or your convenience, Piedmont Healthcare offers mammography services

by appointment at these facilities, offering plenty of parking and easy access. Your personal physician will receive the results of your mammogram. If you do not have insurance, you may qualify for free breast imaging services. Call Nikki Cooper at 404-605-4427 for more information about the Susan G. Komen Grant. Doris Shaheen Breast Health Center at Piedmont Hospital* 77 Building, Third Floor 1968 Peachtree Road, N.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30309 404-605-4400 Women’s Imaging Center at Piedmont Fayette Hospital 1279 Highway 54 West, Suite 120 Fayetteville, Georgia 30214 770-719-7007 Piedmont Mountainside Hospital 1266 Highway 515 South Jasper, Georgia 30143 706-301-5401

Piedmont Hospital Mammography Center at Macy’s Perimeter Mall* (Screening mammography only) 4400 Ashford Dunwoody Road Atlanta, Georgia 30346 404-605-4400 Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Walk-in patients accepted, appointments are suggested. Piedmont Newnan Hospital Women’s Imaging Center** 60 Hospital Road Newnan, Georgia 30263

About the Doris Shaheen Breast Health Center

The Doris Shaheen Breast Health Center at Piedmont Hospital is recognized as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the Commission on Quality and Safety and the Commission on Breast Imaging. In order to receive this recognition, a breast center must be fully accredited in all of its modalities. The Doris Shaheen Breast Health Center was the first center in the state of Georgia to be accredited in all of its modalities and is currently one of two breast imaging centers to be recognized as a Breast Center of Excellence – only five centers in the state of Georgia have this recognition.

*These facilities offer digital mammography. **Digital mammography coming soon.

iedmont Hospital has received the 2009 Clinical Excellence Award for Cardiac Surgery from HealthGrades®, the leading healthcare ratings company. The

award places Piedmont Hospital’s clinical outcomes in the top 10 percent nationally.

NEW SANDY SPRINGS LOCATION

PIEDMONT OUTPATIENT CENTER TO OPEN

In October, Piedmont Healthcare celebrated the opening of its newest facilities at Perimeter Town Center office park in Sandy Springs (corner of Hammond Drive and Peachtree Dunwoody Road). The space includes offices for Piedmont Heart Institute Physicians at Perimeter, Cardiovascular Services of Atlanta cath lab and the Piedmont Hospital Cardiovascular Imaging Center. The event included free cardiovascular screenings for the public.

Piedmont Hospital's new Outpatient Center at Piedmont West Medical Office Park on Howell Mill Road at Interstate 75 will be fully operational in April 2009. Piedmont is leasing more than 91,000 square feet, which will house outpatient services including imaging services, radiation oncology and the Piedmont Hospital Cancer Center. The office park also will feature restaurants and retail space with valet parking and 24-hour security.

In addition, Piedmont was named Best in Atlanta for Overall Cardiac Care and Cardiac Surgery for the second consecutive year. Piedmont Hospital received five-star ratings in the categories of coronary bypass surgery, treatment of heart attack and treatment of heart failure. Piedmont Hospital’s outcomes place it among the top five hospitals in Georgia for cardiac surgery, cardiology and overall cardiac services. “Piedmont Hospital is honored to be recognized again by HealthGrades for our commitment to excellence in cardiac care,” says Robert W. Maynard, President and CEO. “As Piedmont increases the services available through its hospitals and the Piedmont Heart Institute, our physicians and staff will continue to provide the highest quality of care for our patients.” The Clinical Excellence Award for Cardiac Surgery was announced in conjunction with the 11th annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study, which is the most comprehensive study of its kind, analyzing more than 41 million Medicare hospitalization records from 2005 to 2007 at approximately 5,000 hospitals. According to the study, if all hospitals performed at the level of five-star rated hospitals, more than 237,000 Medicare deaths could potentially have been prevented over the three years studied.

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PIEDMONT HEART INSTITUTE The Piedmont Heart Institute (PHI) – the first integrated cardiovascular healthcare delivery program affiliated with a community health system in greater Atlanta – offers a continuum of patient care, including primary and secondary prevention, outpatient and inpatient cardiovascular care, and appropriate quality measures and metrics to demonstrate enhanced outcomes. Headquartered on the campus of Piedmont Hospital, PHI combines renowned cardiologists and the 162-bed Fuqua Heart Center of Atlanta to propel new programs in cardiovascular research, education and excellence in prevention, arrhythmias, coronary and vascular intervention, stroke and cardiac imaging. For more information, visit piedmontheart.org.

PIEDMONT HEART INSTITUTE LAUNCHES PIEDMONT HEART HEALTH ADVANTAGE

he Piedmont Heart Institute (PHI) launched a new program to help predict and prevent heart disease.

The Piedmont Heart Health Advantage goes beyond standard screening techniques to identify dangerous plaques in the arteries, the kind that can be responsible for sudden death. Of the 700,000 Americans who die from heart disease, 325,000 die suddenly without symptoms. The program’s screening, diagnostic and treatment approach is called iCARE (individualized comprehensive atherosclerosis risk evaluation). “iCARE is a novel, comprehensive approach to heart disease prevention and treatment, in that it measures an individual’s risk for heart disease through family history, advanced imaging and extensive blood tests – beyond the traditional management of heart disease,” says cardiologist Joseph Miller III, M.D., of the Piedmont Heart Institute Physicians. “We will be better able to treat patients and determine who needs aggressive care or who needs to be monitored with diet and exercise. Each person is provided with an individualized plan of care that he or she can take to his or her primary care physician.”

BE AWARE: What You Don’t Know Can Kill You. Half who will die of heart attacks don't know they are at risk. A free, seven-minute test may save your life. Visit piedmontheart.org to take the HeartAware online risk evaluation.

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PIEDMONT HEART INSTITUTE

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The Piedmont Heart Health Advantage offers special care for families, adults with early onset heart disease, tertiary care for complex lipid abnormalities and secondary prevention referrals.

The Piedmont Heart Health Advantage offers special care for families, adults with early onset heart disease, tertiary care for complex lipid abnormalities and secondary prevention referrals. “iCARE is a major service of the Piedmont Heart Health Advantage because it gives those interested in finding out more about their risk an advantage in the fight against heart disease,” says Szilard Voros, M.D., a Piedmont cardiologist and research scientist. “Even people who have been diagnosed as ‘low risk’ are of special interest to us. Many may have soft plaques building in their arteries that can break free, block the artery and cause sudden cardiac arrest. We can provide more information about risk than is traditionally offered.” Voros recently published research findings on soft plaques in two prestigious cardiology journals. Participants undergo a complete family history and genetic testing that will identify heart disease markers, including cholesterol, inflammation, high blood pressure and blood clotting. They also will undergo blood work, including cholesterol screening, and calcium CT scoring, a non-invasive CT test that measures calcium build-up in the arteries, a marker for heart disease. Patients also may benefit from a CT scan requiring contrast dye to detect levels of soft plaque. MRI, which uses no radiation, also may be performed for those with no known heart disease or symptoms but with strong risk factors (such as diabetes). This fall, Piedmont installed Toshiba’s Aquilion® One, the first CT scanner of its kind to save time and cost as well as reduce the amount of contrast needed for a comprehensive assessment through imaging and thus radiation exposure to the patient. The results are unparalleled in diagnostic imaging today providing a 3D clinical video showing enough anatomical coverage to capture the entire brain or heart as well as movement and blood flow. While some of the preventive testing provided by the Piedmont Heart Health Advantage is not covered by insurance, services have been reasonably priced for self-pay patients. Patients may self-refer or may be referred by their primary care physician or cardiologist. The Piedmont Heart Health Advantage also offers the Family Heart Disease Program, a research study currently underway. Under the program, two first-degree relatives of a family member with known heart disease can be evaluated for the study. The program educates family members about the risks of heart disease as well as prevention. It includes a family history and genetic counseling, blood tests and calcium CT scoring. The Family Heart Disease Program, funded by a grant from an anonymous Piedmont Hospital donor, is currently limited to 50 families and 150 people. For more information about Piedmont Heart Health Advantage or to take our online HeartAware® risk evaluation, visit piedmontheart.org. To make an appointment, call 404-605-5222. For a referral to a cardiologist with Piedmont Heart Institute Physicians, call toll free at 1-877-900-1207.

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PIEDMONT MOUNTAINSIDE HOSPITAL Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, a 42-bed community hospital in Jasper and one of the nation’s Most Wired hospitals (2008), received the 2007 Press Ganey Compass Award for improvement in patient satisfaction and was named 2006 Hospital of the Year by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals. For more information, visit piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.

THE HEARTBEAT OF NORTH GEORGIA PMH OPENS CARDIAC IMAGING CENTERS iedmont Mountainside Hospital (PMH) has opened

Cardiac Imaging Centers in Jasper, Canton and Ellijay. The imaging centers offer cardiac imaging methods such as nuclear medicine and echo services. Both modalities allow physicians to take a closer look at the heart and blood vessels. “We are proud to be introducing the latest cardiac technology to the surrounding communities,” says Mike Robertson, interim CEO of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital. “We can now provide diagnostic services, consultations and interpretations close to home, so patients don’t have to travel long distances to get the care they need.” Nuclear medicine imaging procedures are noninvasive and usually painless and help physicians diagnose medical conditions. These imaging scans use radioactive materials called a radiopharmaceutical or radiotracer. An echocardiogram is a test in which ultrasound is used to examine the heart. It is noninvasive, entirely safe and is very accurate. In addition to providing single-dimension images, known as M-mode echo that allows accurate

measurement of the heart chambers, the echo-cardiogram also offers far more sophisticated and advanced imaging. This is known as two-dimensional Echo and is capable of displaying a cross-sectional “slice” of the beating heart, including the chambers, valves and the major blood vessels that exit from the left and right ventricle.

PMH MEDICAL STAFF GROWS

o better serve the community, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital expanded

its medical staff by adding 24 new physicians in 2008. The new physicians’ specialties include a wide range of services such as cardiology, neurology, radiology, oncology, OB/Gyn, sleep medicine, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, internal medicine and family practice.

PIEDMONT MOUNTAINSIDE HOSPITAL

GIVING FROM THE HEART

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AUXILIARY DONATES FUNDS FOR CARDIAC REHAB

he Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Auxiliary recently donated more than $60,000 to establish

cardiac rehabilitation services at the hospital. It is the largest single donation ever made by the Auxiliary to the hospital since the Auxiliary was chartered in 1970. “This is a much needed service for our community, and we are pleased to be able to provide the funds for this new service,” says Margo Coleman, president of the PMH Auxiliary, which has more than 90 volunteers. “Establishing cardiac rehab here at Piedmont Mountainside should lessen the drive for those seeking rehab. Currently, the nearest rehab facility is nearly 40 miles away.” The Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Center will be housed in one of the physician office buildings adjacent to the hospital. Cardiac Rehabilitation is designed to help patients with heart disease recover faster and return to full and productive lives. The outpatient program is designed for the diagnosed heart patient, as well as those who are at high risk for developing heart disease. Under the supervision of a physician, the rehabilitation staff combines prescriptive exercise training with coronary risk factor modification educational services. “The PMH Auxiliary continues to be a vital part of this hospital and this community,” says Mike Robertson, interim CEO of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital. “This is an invaluable service for all of our cardiology patients.”

Piedmont Fayette Hospital, a 143-bed, acute-care community hospital in Fayetteville, is one of the nation’s Most Wired hospitals for four consecutive years. For more information, visit fayettehospital.org.

PIEDMONT FAYETTE HOSPITAL

NEW LAPAROSCOPIC PROCEDURE PERFORMED AT PFH ary Finnegan woke up feeling

They return to the office two weeks

nauseated every morning for six

later and are completely back to their

this advanced minimally invasive proce-

normal lives.”

dure, the benefits will expand to other

weeks. Her doctor informed her that to feel better, she would have to have

Unlike traditional surgery on the

As surgeons continue to develop

applications like exploratory surgeries,

her gallbladder removed. Finnegan under-

colon or other parts of the intestines

appendectomies and removing ovaries.

went a laparoscopic procedure through

where a long incision down the center

Laparoscopy is usually done under

a single incision at her belly button at

of the abdomen is required, laparo-

general anesthesia, although sometimes

Piedmont Fayette Hospital (PFH).

scopic surgery requires only small

a spinal anesthetic may be used.

“This innovative, single-incision

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“keyhole” incisions in the abdomen.

“I was waterskiing two weeks after

laparoscopic cholecystectomy is an

The standard procedure is to make four

my surgery,” says Finnegan. “I feel great,

improvement because it looks better,

incisions through the abdominal muscle.

and I am happy to report that my scar

creates less stress, less pain and a

With the new single site incision, a

is practically hidden in my belly button.”

quicker recovery time for patients,”

surgeon makes only one small incision

says John Goza, M.D. “It’s awesome –

approximately two centimeters in

six surgeons in metro Atlanta performing

my patients leave the recovery room

length at the belly button, cutting

this single-site laparoscopic cholecys-

one hour after surgery, and you cannot

recovery time from about six weeks to

tectomy. He is on staff at Piedmont

tell that they have even had surgery.

only one week.

Fayette Hospital.

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Dr. Goza is one of approximately

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PIEDMONT NEWNAN HOSPITAL Piedmont Newnan Hospital is a 143-bed, acute-care community hospital in Newnan offering 24-hour emergency services, women’s services including OB, and general medical, surgical, diagnostic and rehabilitation services. For more information, visit piedmontnewnan.org.

PIEDMONT PHYSICIANS GROUP The Piedmont Physicians Group (PPG) has more than 90 primary care physicians in 30 offices throughout metro Atlanta. A member of Piedmont Healthcare, the PPG is governed by the Piedmont Medical Care Corporation and was named a Better Performer for the sixth consecutive year by the Medical Group Management Association for superior operational service compared with similar medical group practices nationwide. For more information, visit piedmontphysicians.org.

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PIEDMONT NEWNAN HOSPITAL ENHANCES EMERGENCY CARE

ith an average of 2,800 emergency visits a month,

freeing up beds,” Quinn says. “We also take admissions in this

Piedmont Newnan Hospital is making changes to

area when we have no readily available beds in the hospital.”

provide more efficient, effective care. Two patient rooms in

This area has multiple uses for outpatient treatments such as

the Emergency Department were renovated and converted

chemotherapy, blood transfusions, antibiotic injections and IV

to fast-track rooms. “We are able to see patients who are not

fluids for hydration.

classified as an emergency in a timely manner,” says Kathy

The Emergency Department lobby also has been renovated with new seating. A patient care technician at the

Quinn, RN, BSN, emergency services director. A Clinical Decision Unit (CDU) has been established as an

in-take desk now helps patients from their cars and helps

extension of the Emergency Department with dedicated staff.

them complete appropriate forms. “Our patients appreciate

“We are able to move some patients out of the Emergency

the personal service,” Quinn says.

Department for further treatment and observation, thus

2008 VHA GEORGIA REGIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD iedmont Newnan Hospital (PNH) has been selected as a

winner of the 2008 VHA Georgia Regional Leadership Awards in the Operational Excellence category for improvements in the operating room that increased patient care, and improved patient and physician satisfaction. In conjunction with Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute, PNH applied a set of tools widely used in manufacturing to help identify and steadily eliminate waste from an organization’s operations. That process is

called LEAN. As a result, PNH successfully achieved decreased operating room turnaround times and continues to increase operating room utilization. “We are thrilled to be recognized by VHA Georgia for our LEAN initiative in the operating room,” says Michael Bass, president and CEO of PNH. “The LEAN project was initiated in November 2007 to improve our operating room’s service and quality, and it feels great to be recognized for our efforts.”

APPROVAL FOR OUTPATIENT IMAGING CENTER

PREVENTING THE FLU STARTS WITH YOU What’s the difference between a cold and flu?

By Gregory L. Hopkins, M.D. Piedmont Physicians at Sharpsburg 678-633-3260 IF YOU HAVEN’T HAD YOUR FLU SHOT, it’s not too late. Flu season extends from winter to early spring. Getting a flu vaccination each year is the single best way to prevent the flu. About two weeks after you are vaccinated, antibodies develop to protect you against an infection. The flu spreads mainly from person to person through coughing and sneezing. You also can become infected after touching something with the flu virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes. That’s why it’s important for you to take steps to prevent the flu, aside from getting your flu shot. Other ways to keep from getting or spreading the flu include: • Continually disinfect your kitchen and bathrooms. • Clean other areas where the flu bug can spread such as door knobs, the computer mouse and keyboard, telephones, remote controls, toys, etc. • Practice healthy hygiene habits like covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, then immediately washing your hands with warm, soapy water for 15 seconds. • Get out of the habit of touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

The common cold and flu are both contagious viral infections of the respiratory tract. Although the symptoms can be similar, flu is much worse. A cold may drag you down a bit, but the flu can make you shudder at the very thought of getting out of bed. Congestion, sore throat and sneezing are common with colds. Both cold and flu bring coughing, headache and chest discomfort. With the flu, though, you are likely to run a high fever for several days and have headache, fatigue and weakness. Usually, complications from colds are relatively minor, but a severe case of flu can lead to a life-threatening illness such as pneumonia.

Who’s at high risk for flu?

Individuals who are at high risk for serious flu complications include young children; people with certain health conditions, such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease; seniors; and people who live with or care for those at high risk.

What are the symptoms of flu?

Flu symptoms include fever, headache, extreme fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches and stomach symptoms (nausea, vomiting and diarrhea) which are more common in children. Complications of the flu include sinus infections, dehydration, ear infections, bacterial pneumonia, and worsening of chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma and congestive heart failure.

iedmont Newnan Hospital will open an outpatient imaging center at the Summit Healthplex on Highway 34 East thanks to

Certificate of Need (CON) approval from the Georgia Department of Community Health, Division of Planning. The project, which will upgrade the hospital’s current outpatient radiology services, includes renovation of 9,670 square feet

of space in the bottom floor of the Summit Healthplex. The fully-digital center will have on-site radiologists and will provide CT, MRI, diagnostic X-ray, ultrasound, mammography and laboratory services, as well as stereotactic procedures. “Our focus is on the creation of an outpatient diagnostic experience that provides the quality and convenience our community deserves,” says Nathan Nipper, vice president and chief operating officer of Piedmont Newnan Hospital. The first phase of development will create a new women’s diagnostics center scheduled to open in early 2009.

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DID YOU KNOW? Every year in the United States… • 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu. • More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications. • About 36,000 people die from the flu.

For a physician referral, call 1-866-900-4321. To browse our physician directory or for more information about Piedmont Physicians Group, visit piedmontphysicians.org.

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Piedmont’s Commitment to Clinical Quality W

Helping Consumers Make Educated Choices and Saving Lives

hen consumers are faced with a major decision, they often do extensive research on the options available so they can make informed choices. Fortunately for healthcare consumers in the Atlanta region, Piedmont Healthcare’s commitment to transparency has made it easy to learn about the organization’s quality initiatives and the impact they have on patient care.

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Another successful key of the sepsis initiative at Piedmont Fayette Hospital has been evaluation of medical literature for best practices and using that information in order sets and clinical pathways, says Frederick Willms, M.D., vice president of medical affairs and chief quality officer. “That way, at 3 a.m., the physician does not have to recall all the medical literature,” Dr. Willms says. “The order set already reflects best practices and acts as a checklist to ensure we have done everything for that patient to maximize outcomes.”

“Simply put, facilities in the top 10 percent have better survival rates than 90 percent of all hospitals in the United States. We are working to have all four of our hospitals in the top 10 percent consistently.”

“The measures work,” says Dr. Willms, “and are part of the reason Piedmont Fayette has a hospital specific low mortality rate in the 96th percentile for the United States, which is an overall index of quality.”

Rapid response teams – The creation of rapid response teams is another effective initiative helping to save lives. The team consists of a respiratory therapist and critical care nurse who are available for calls from nurses, physicians or any staff member who is concerned about the well-being of a patient. Piedmont deploys a rapid response team to assess the patient and recommend appropriate interventions at the first sign of patient decline.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) can occur in up to 15 percent of patients receiving mechanical ventilation. However, Piedmont has implemented a set of interventions developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement directed at eliminating or minimizing cases of VAP, as well as preventing other complications related to mechanical ventilation. These interventions, known as the “ventilator bundle,” have been successful at Piedmont. For example, before Piedmont Newnan Hospital initiated the ventilator bundle, it recorded four patients with VAP in 2006. After December 2006, when the program was put in place, there has been only one patient with ventilator-associated pneumonia (through October 2008). And, since the interventions were implemented at Piedmont Fayette Hospital, the hospital has not had a patient with VAP since March 2007. That’s despite a 50 percent increase in both frequency of ventilator use and duration of ventilator use.

Piedmont Healthcare’s Low Mortality Rate Compared with Other U.S. Hospitals

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Piedmont Hospital, Piedmont Fayette Hospital, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital and Piedmont Newnan Hospital made the top 10 percent among 800-plus U.S. hospitals in low inpatient mortality rates in a review of Hospital Standardized Mortality Ratio (HSMR) data collected from April through June 2008. The graph (left) shows mortality rate calculations for Piedmont Healthcare, from the first quarter of 2006 through the third quarter of 2008. The calculations are based on a review of HSMR data collected from Piedmont’s four hospitals and reflect a 15 percent reduction in mortality. The HSMR is adjusted for factors such as patient age, sex, diagnoses and admission.

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Piedmont Healthcare Hospitals 2008 Q3

2008 Q2

2008 Q1

2007 Q4

2007 Q3

2007 Q2

2007 Q1

2006 Q4

2006 Q3

40 2006 Q2

Hand hygiene – Piedmont has implemented a hand-hygiene campaign to educate the hospital community about the link between clean hands and reducing hospital-acquired infections. Hand-sanitizing stations are available throughout Piedmont facilities for staff and visitors. For generations, hand-washing with soap and water has been considered a measure of personal hygiene. The concept of cleansing hands with an antiseptic agent probably emerged in the early 19th century. Recent developments in the field have stimulated a review of the scientific data regarding hand hygiene and the development of new guidelines designed to improve hand-hygiene practices in

2006 Q1

Piedmont’s goal is for its hospitals to consistently perform in the top 10 percent among all U.S. hospitals in low inpatient mortality rates. In fact, Piedmont Hospital, Piedmont Fayette Hospital, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital and Piedmont Newnan Hospital all made the top 10 percent in a review of Hospital Standardized Mortality Ratio data collected from April through June 2008. In addition, Piedmont Healthcare reduced its system-wide risk-adjusted mortality rates by 15 percent over the recent 12-month period, resulting in 77 additional lives being saved. “That is a significant accomplishment,” says Leigh Hamby, M.D., MHA, executive vice president and chief quality officer for Piedmont Healthcare. “Simply put, facilities in the top 10 percent have better survival rates than 90 percent of all hospitals in the United States. We are working to have all four of our hospitals in the top 10 percent consistently.” Piedmont’s commitment to world-class, quality care and patient safety can be summed up in a line from the Piedmont Promise – to do everything in our power to make you well and keep you well. But to understand just how Piedmont has achieved this kind of recognition, you have to go behind the scenes and look at the quality initiatives in place. Sepsis – In 2006, Piedmont began a series of standardized, system-wide protocols to identify and treat patients with sepsis, a condition in which the body is fighting a severe infection. When a patient is diagnosed with sepsis, our goal is for Piedmont staff to begin appropriate fluid resuscitation, initiation of antibiotics and blood work within 60 minutes – compared to the industry standard of four to 24 hours. At Piedmont Newnan Hospital, the sepsis initiative has enabled early identification of patients at risk, and nursing staff and physicians to act quickly. “We’ve worked closely with our information systems staff to hardwire a lot of these flags into our assessments,” says Anna Ivory, vice president of quality care at Piedmont Newnan Hospital.

healthcare facilities. Evidence supports the belief that improved hand hygiene can reduce healthcare-associated infection rates. Piedmont employees are expected to use an alcoholbased sanitizer every time they enter and exit a patient room; before and after patient contact; after removing gloves; after contact with any contaminated object; and between procedures on the same patient. If their hands are visibly soiled, employees wash them with soap and water. In addition, patients are encouraged to ask Piedmont staff members if they cleaned their hands before providing care.

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Dr. Hamby also credits Piedmont Healthcare’s relationship with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), and its Move Your Dot™ analytical tool that helps hospitals evaluate the raw data that makes up their mortality rate and analyze in real time the factors that reduce hospital deaths. For more information on IHI, visit ihi.org.

Leigh Hamby, M.D., demonstrates the ease of Piedmont’s handsanitizing stations, which are available throughout Piedmont facilities for staff and visitors as part of the hand-hygiene campaign.

Hospitalists – Piedmont uses hospitalist physicians to improve clinical outcomes and enhance patient satisfaction. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, hospitalists provide and coordinate patient care during the hospital stay, as well as facilitate communication between a patient’s personal physician and the care team, ensuring that any unfavorable change in condition is immediately addressed by the attending physician. “Since Piedmont Mountainside Hospital started its hospitalist program in 2004, our mortality rate has shown a marked decrease,” says Linda Stead, chief nursing officer and vice president of nursing services at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital.

Advances in technology at Piedmont also have had significant impact in these quality initiatives. In 2008, three of the four Most Wired Georgia hospitals named in the 100 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study are part of the Piedmont system. Piedmont Hospital has been one of the nation’s Most Wired hospitals five years in a row, while Piedmont Fayette has received the honor for four consecutive years. Piedmont Mountainside was named Most Wired for the first time in 2008, after being named in the Most Improved category in 2006. “Incorporating new technology has helped us reach our quality and patient safety goals,” says Nancy Wedig, director of performance improvement for Piedmont Hospital. “Technological advances have made it easier for hospital-wide staff and physicians to comply with nationally recognized best practice guidelines.”

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Transparency – Piedmont not only has a strong commitment to quality, it has a philosophy of providing consumers with accurate and honest information about clinical processes and the patient experience. In fact, Piedmont’s willingness to make the essential consumer tool of outcomes data readily available has received much attention. Piedmont, which publishes many of its quality measures on its website, has been called the leader in transparency in the Atlanta area by healthcare colleagues and elected officials. To compare Piedmont’s quality data with other hospitals, visit piedmont.org and click on “Quality Report.” There, you will find clinical and service quality reports, and links to information about pricing and healthcare quality. Piedmont compares its results to benchmarking and national average for surgical-site infection rates, hospital-acquired infection rates and risk-adjusted mortality.

Piedmont’s Quality Report is available at piedmont.org

Quality Healthcare – Consumers often choose hospitals that are focused on best-in-class quality and improving mortality rates, because it clearly demonstrates that the hospital is focused on other core aspects of care. Good quality means that care is provided by skilled and knowledgeable healthcare professionals who communicate clearly and involve patients in decisions about their care. It means that the care provided is what medical research has shown to work best for the patient’s condition. Good quality also means that patient care is safe and timely. It is Piedmont’s goal to consistently deliver care that not only satisfies the clinical needs of our patients but also exceeds industry standards.

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By Wendy Alpine

Living the Piedmont Promise ARTEMUS “RAHN” EVANS

gives new meaning to the phrase, “going beyond the call of duty.” One morning, he received a call from a staff worker at a cardiology office in Macon, who said that a patient was scheduled to undergo a cardiac catheterization procedure at the local hospital, but the doctor didn’t have the correct exam images. The patient had undergone a prior cardiac catheterization at Piedmont Hospital, and several images were taken. Several days prior to the procedure in Macon, a staffer inadvertently requested the wrong films. When Evans, a records technician in the Piedmont Hospital Cardiac Catheterization Lab, heard the

urgency in the staffer’s voice, he grabbed the CD containing the images and jumped in his car, leaving his wallet and identification behind. He checked with his supervisor who had given him the okay to leave. “I didn’t realize how far Macon was,” Evans recalls of the two-hour drive. “I just thought, ‘what if it were my mom or dad?’ I wanted them to have what they needed.” In his haste, Evans drove over the speed limit and was stopped by a Georgia state trooper for speeding. Because he didn’t have his wallet, he was only able to show his Piedmont Hospital scrubs for identification. The officer, upon hearing Evans’ story, gave him a police escort to Macon, so that he wouldn’t get stopped again for driving without a license. The films were delivered to the patient’s doctor in time, and the doctor’s office staffer thanked Evans for saving her job. A week later, a check arrived from the doctor’s office for the $38 in gas.

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“This was the first time I ever had to do something like that,” says Evans, who has worked at Piedmont for the past four years. “Usually, I courier the images to a local facility; that day, I became the courier. I just wanted the patient to be okay, and I felt that I had the ability to get it done.” “Rahn will absolutely go the extra mile for any of our patients,” says Joann Eller, clinical manager in the cath lab and Rahn’s supervisor. “He is eager to do whatever it takes to make sure everyone is happy. He’s definitely a caregiver, and understands the importance of having the correct records when you are delivering care.” Eller says Evans is a great example of the Piedmont Promise, delivering the “perfect balance between health and care.” “It’s the way he does his job every day,” Eller says. “Whatever you ask of him, he will make sure it happens. He takes personal ownership of everything; he’s one of our extraordinary people with extraordinary stories.” PIEDMONT

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Dr. Bender, chairman of the Piedmont Fayette Hospital Cancer Committee, says he expects the new center to provide “one-stop shopping” for cancer patients, making it easier for them to seek diagnostic, treatment and support services. In Fayette County, 1,883 new cases of cancer were diagnosed from 1999 to 2003, according to American Cancer Society statistics published in 2006. “Cancer is unique in that the treatment often includes weekly chemotherapy and daily radiation therapy treatments,” Dr. Bender says. “When people are sick, it is hard for them to travel long distances, let alone find parking. Our goal is to have all of the Piedmont Fayette Hospital cancer services under one roof, so that doctors and caregivers can communicate with each other, on the patient’s behalf, in a fluid process.” The new cancer center will include medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation therapy, genetic testing, and social work, as well as a wellness center that will offer services such as nutritional counseling and support groups, as well as many other services in partnership with the community. Toward their goal to provide comprehensive cancer services, Piedmont Fayette Hospital welcomed Nicole L. Sroka, M.D., a breast cancer surgeon, who completed a fellowship in breast surgical oncology at Memorial SloanKettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City. Dr. Sroka is part of the Piedmont Breast Surgical Specialists.

Lori and Jamie Walker with sons Mica, Jonas, and Joshua.

QUALITY CANCER CARE, CLOSE TO HOME

Two years ago, 35-five-year-old Lori Walker of Sharpsburg was nursing her youngest child, Joshua, when she felt a lump in her breast. After a mammogram and core needle biopsy, she learned she had Stage III infiltrating ductal carcinoma (cancer of the milk ducts that invades surrounding tissue).

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After her mastectomy, she underwent four months of chemotherapy at the office of Jonathan Bender, M.D., an oncologist at Piedmont Fayette. Walker also underwent six weeks of radiation therapy, having to drive 45 minutes each way, since there wasn’t a facility in the Fayette community. That put a strain on her family, since she was homeschooling her other two children. “If I had been able to have radiation therapy treatments at Piedmont Fayette Hospital, it would have taken me 15 to 20 minutes tops,” Walker recalls. Walker said she and many other women would benefit from a comprehensive cancer center at Piedmont Fayette Hospital. “When I was having chemo, the chairs were full, and I know many had to travel long distances for radiation treatment,” she says. Piedmont Fayette Hospital recently received Certificate of Need (CON) approval from the Georgia Department of Community Health to purchase a linear accelerator for radiation therapy. The hospital will offer this service in a comprehensive cancer center on campus. Construction of the cancer center is expected to begin in spring 2009, with completion targeted for winter 2010.

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Prior to her fellowship, Dr. Sroka completed a five-year internship and residency at Piedmont Fayette Hospital and CANCER SERVICES ALSO ARE AVAILABLE AT also practiced at Atlanta Medical Center. Piedmont Hospital “I’m glad to be back at Piedmont Fayette after having piedmonthospital.org the opportunity to receive invaluable experience and training piedmontcancerconnection.org at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, an academic Piedmont Mountainside Hospital medical center dedicated to the treatment of cancer and piedmontmountainsidehospital.org focusing on cancer research, patient care, and community Piedmont Newnan Hospital education,” Dr. Sroka says. “The treatment of breast cancer piedmontnewnan.org has changed greatly in the past 20 years, taking on an integrated and multidisciplinary approach. My training at Memorial Sloan-Kettering has prepared me to provide the latest diagnostic and surgical treatment to breast cancer patients in Fayette County.” Michael Burnett, chief operating officer of Piedmont Fayette Hospital, says the new cancer center will enhance the hospital’s existing services for the community. “Assuring that our patients receive the best in quality care and service is a top priority for Piedmont Fayette Hospital,” he says. “This new cancer center will allow us to provide state-of-the-art cancer services all in one location, close to home.” For more information on cancer services at Piedmont Fayette, visit fayettehospital.org.

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{ year in review } FY 2008

PIEDMONT HOSPITAL in Atlanta continued to expand its services and achieve national

recognition for medical excellence in fiscal year 2008. The private, not-for-profit, community hospital has 481 beds, 3,700 employees, a medical staff of more than 900 physicians, and offers all major medical, surgical and diagnostic services. Named Best in Atlanta for Overall Cardiac Care and Cardiac Surgery in 2008 and 2009 by HealthGrades® (a leading healthcare ratings company), Piedmont Hospital also has been recognized as one of the nation’s Most Wired hospitals for the last five consecutive years by the 100 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study. Fiscal Year 2008 Highlights for Piedmont Hospital Oncology Services introduced a destination for cancer care in Atlanta with the Piedmont Hospital Cancer Center located in the Physicians Plaza at 275 Collier Road. With more than 50 physicians caring for cancer patients, the center expanded opportunities for clinical collaboration and multidisciplinary cancer care. Patients and physicians have benefited from the integration of Cancer Center services, which include Cancer Wellness at Piedmont, imaging, infusion, patient navigation, research, genetic counseling, social work and boutique. Visit piedmontcancerconnection.org to learn more about the Piedmont Cancer Center. Transplant Services at Piedmont Hospital performed 15.3% more total transplants in fiscal year 2008 over the previous fiscal year, and 37.5% more liver transplants. The program’s outcomes (graft and patient survival) continue to be among the best in the nation, and Piedmont’s percentage of living donor transplants continues to exceed those of the region. In addition, Piedmont celebrated the one-year anniversary of its satellite transplant clinic in Savannah with plans to open satellite clinics in Macon and Albany.

Piedmont Heart Institute, the first heart program of its kind affiliated with a community hospital system in greater Atlanta, was established in October 2007 to initiate new programs in cardiovascular research, education and excellence in prevention, arrhythmias, coronary and vascular intervention, stroke and cardiac imaging. With the addition of Atlanta Cardiology Group (ACG), Cardiology of Georgia (COG) and Cardiac Disease Specialists, P.C. (CDS) to the Piedmont Heart Institute, Piedmont Heart Institute Physicians became one of the largest groups of cardiovascular specialists in the Southeast.

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Neurosciences Services continued development of the Piedmont Spine Center, a 15,500-square-foot facility that will offer physician office space, imaging services, a comprehensive education and resource center, conference room, and private, pre-operative consultative rooms. The Spine Center will be dedicated to educating patients and the community on preventive spine care, problem diagnoses, available treatment options (operative and non-operative) and essential rehabilitation.

The Emergency Department expanded in December 2007, adding 29 emergency beds and state-of-the-art equipment. In addition, an Express Admission Center opened in November 2007 with the goal of admitting patients efficiently and transferring them to available inpatient beds. And, the Discharge Support Center opened in March 2008 to assist in making beds available by moving patients from inpatient care areas to a discharge environment.

Major Services at Piedmont Hospital ORTHOPAEDICS/SPORTS MEDICINE includes the Reconstructive Joint Center of Atlanta, one of the busiest total joint centers in Georgia. Team physicians for many of Atlanta’s major professional sports teams practice at Piedmont Hospital. FUQUA HEART CENTER OF ATLANTA AT PIEDMONT HOSPITAL, an important component of the Piedmont Heart Institute (PHI), offers an expansive range of cardiac services, including the Fuqua Heart Failure Resource Center, Fuqua Cardiovascular Imaging Center and Cardiac Rehabilitation. WOMEN’S SERVICES includes obstetrics and gynecology, the Jan and John Portman Newborn Nurseries and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Doris Shaheen Breast Health Center and the A.C. Richardson Center for Pelvic Health.

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EMERGENCY SERVICES includes a 24-hour Emergency Department with helipad.

NEUROSCIENCE SERVICES provides treatment of spine problems, stroke, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy, as well as sleep studies and pain management.

ONCOLOGY SERVICES consists of the Cancer Center (including the unique, comprehensive Cancer Wellness at Piedmont program) and Radiation Oncology Services, which houses the Trilogy® Accelerator System, an imageguided radiation therapy system that combines several treatment approaches and radiosurgery techniques into one efficient tool, making it one of the most powerful, precise and versatile non-invasive cancer treatment technologies in the world.

RADIOLOGY SERVICES provides MRI; 10-, 16- and 64-slice CT scan and PET/CT scan, as well as vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty and uterine fibroid embolization.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH at Piedmont Hospital provides a wide range of free or low-cost services and programs to the community. Physicians and hospital staff work with various organizations to provide health education, screenings and support activities for people struggling with chronic or serious health conditions. Piedmont Hospital offers annual early detection and disease prevention screenings at no or low cost to the community. Some screenings are coordinated with other health-related organizations, such as the Atlanta Regional Commission and Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. Other community screenings target blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, prostate cancer and risks for falls. Classes and programs also are offered on such topics as maternity and childbirth education, CPR, arthritis exercise, diabetes and heart health. For more information, visit piedmonthospital.org.

TRANSPLANT SERVICES includes kidney, pancreas and liver transplantation. Piedmont Hospital has performed more than 2,000 transplants since 1986. REHABILITATION SERVICES offers CARF-accredited inpatient rehabilitation, wound care, occupational therapy, speech therapy and more. THE DIABETES RESOURCE CENTER provides community education and services such as grocery store tours, health fairs and support groups.

SIXTY PLUS OLDER ADULT SERVICES provides wellness and disease-management programs, health fairs and senior health outreach.

CLINICAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES at Piedmont Hospital includes a partnership between Piedmont Healthcare and Mercer University, a virtual Center for Health and Learning offering several joint initiatives such as nursing, pharmacy, physician assistants, research and other medical and allied health education programs. Each year, more than 600 students serve clinical rotations at Piedmont Hospital.

Piedmont Hospital Fiscal Year 2008 at a Glance Inpatient admissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26,416 Inpatient rehabilitation admissions . . . . . . . . . . . . .282 Newborn deliveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,562 Emergency Department visits . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47,900 Outpatient visits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .275,656 Open-heart/thoracic surgeries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,374 Cardiac catheterizations (including angioplasty) . .8,259 Inpatient and outpatient surgeries . . . . . . . . . .22,518 Organ transplants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218 Radiation therapy treatments . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14,945

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{ year in review } FY 2008

PIEDMONT MOUNTAINSIDE HOSPITAL continued to expand its services and earn distinction within the Piedmont Healthcare system in fiscal year 2008. The private, not-for-profit, 42-bed acute-care facility in Jasper, Georgia, has 374 employees, more than 130 physicians on the medical staff, and is fully accredited by The Joint Commission.

Fiscal Year 2008 Highlights for Piedmont Mountainside Hospital

PIEDMONT FAYETTE HOSPITAL unveiled exciting new services, relocated some of its facilities and enhanced existing programs in fiscal year 2008. The private, not-for-profit community hospital has 143 beds, more than 1,100 employees and a medical staff of more than 360 physicians. Fully accredited by The Joint Commission, Piedmont Fayette Hospital has been named among the Most Wired U.S. hospitals for the last four consecutive years.

Major Services at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital’s laboratory became fully digital with the addition of new computerized technology allowing patients’ test results to be automatically available to doctors via computers. Piedmont Mountainside Hospital expanded its medical staff by adding more than 20 new physicians with a wide range of specialties.

The Clinical Decisions Unit expanded with a new six-bed short-stay observation unit adjacent to the Emergency Department. Piedmont Mountainside Hospital was awarded a 2007 Press Ganey Compass Award for improvement in outpatient satisfaction scores.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital features 24-hour emergency care and an INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.

WOMEN’S SERVICES includes OB, mammography, ultrasound and general medical/surgical services. DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES include a 16-slice CT, nuclear medicine, MRI, ultrasound and mammography.

Full-spectrum OUTPATIENT SERVICES, including endoscopy with a GI Lab, arthroscopic and laparoscopic surgery, physical therapy, respiratory therapy and pulmonary function, sleep studies and cardiac testing. T HE S PECIALTY C LINIC , which provides pediatric cardiology, nephrology, oncology and ENT services. The clinic also provides infusion therapy, outpatient blood transfusions and injections. For more information, visit piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.

Fiscal Year 2008 Highlights for Piedmont Fayette Hospital

Major Services at Piedmont Fayette Hospital

Piedmont Fayette Hospital celebrated its 10th anniversary on September 17, 2007. The Maternity Center celebrated its one-year anniversary on September 20, 2007. Piedmont Fayette Hospital received approval for an additional 37 beds. Construction is scheduled for completion in spring 2009.

The Georgia Department of Community Health approved an application by Piedmont Fayette Hospital for a linear accelerator, which administers radiation to kill or shrink cancer cells in patients.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital was awarded a three-year accreditation by the American College of Radiology in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), ultrasound (obstetrical, gynecological, general and vascular), and general and cardiac nuclear medicine.

A state-of-the-art Heart Failure Center opened to treat patients living with heart failure, a condition where the heart is unable to pump enough blood throughout the body.

EMERGENCY SERVICES provides 24-hour emergency care. An OFFSITE MINOR EMERGENCY CARE CENTER (MECC) provides treatment of non-life-threatening injuries or illnesses. FULL DIAGNOSTICS include a 64-slice CT, nuclear medicine, MRI (mobile), ultrasound and mammography. COMPREHENSIVE OUTPATIENT SERVICES are available.

The WOMEN’S IMAGING CENTER offers full-spectrum screening and diagnostic breast health services. Other services include the following: • A diagnostic cardiac catheterization laboratory • Seven-bed OB unit • Fitness Center (for employees and the community) For more information, visit fayettehospital.org.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Fiscal Year 2008 at a Glance Inpatient admissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,542 Outpatient registrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117,346 Emergency Department visits, including MECC . . .54,035 Surgeries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,755 Newborn deliveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,755 Cardiac catheterizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .882

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Fiscal Year 2008 at a Glance Inpatient admissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,543 Emergency Department visits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16,378 Surgeries/procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,365 Outpatient registrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27,961 Newborn deliveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .314

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{ year in review } FY 2008

PIEDMONT NEWNAN HOSPITAL, a member of Piedmont Healthcare since March

2007, continues to serve the healthcare needs of Coweta County and surrounding communities. With a broad range of services, including general surgery, inpatient care, women’s services, cardiac care and diagnostics, Piedmont Newnan provides quality care, combined with a personal touch, to all of its patients. Piedmont Newnan Hospital is a Joint Commission-accredited, private, not-for-profit, 143-bed acute-care facility with more than 1,000 employees and 150 physicians.

Fiscal Year 2008 Highlights for Piedmont Newnan Hospital

Major Services at Piedmont Newnan Hospital

In fiscal year 2008, Piedmont Newnan Hospital welcomed a team of hospitalists to its medical staff. Eight speciallytrained physicians work in the hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide and coordinate patient care during inpatient hospital visits.

Radiology added a new 3D/4D ultrasound service that gives parents their first snapshot of their baby. The 3D/4D ultrasound captures images rapidly, then animates them to offer patients a realistic view of their baby.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital was selected as a winner of the 2008 VHA Inc. Georgia Regional Leadership Awards in the Operational Excellence category for operating-room improvements that increased patient care, and improved patient and physician satisfaction.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital initiated planning for a fully-digital, outpatient imaging center, which will have on-site radiologists and provide CT, MRI, diagnostic X-ray, ultrasound, mammogram and laboratory services, as well as stereotactic procedures.

CARDIOPULMONARY SERVICES, including a state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization lab, echocardiogram lab, electrocardiogram (EKG) lab, electroencephalography, pulmonary function assessments, respiratory therapy and stress lab. WOMEN’S SERVICES, including labor and delivery suites, a Level II nursery and lactation center. THE WOUND TREATMENT AND HYPERBARIC CENTER, serving patients suffering from chronic, unusual or severe wounds with specialized treatment utilizing the latest technologies, such as hyperbaric oxygen.

24-HOUR EMERGENCY CARE, as well as full diagnostic services, including a 64-slice CT, 1.5 Tesla MRI, PET Scan, nuclear medicine, vascular ultrasound and fluoroscopy. THE SLEEP CENTER offers treatment and diagnosis of various sleeping disorders.

SURGICAL SERVICES provide outpatient and laparoscopic inpatient surgical procedures that include general surgery, a gastrointestinal lab and a mobile lithotripsy unit. COMPREHENSIVE OUTPATIENT AND THERAPY SERVICES that include physical, speech, occupational, respiratory and cardiac rehabilitation. THE WOMEN’S DIAGNOSTIC CENTER offers screening and diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasounds and DEXA bone density scanning. For more information, visit piedmontnewnan.org.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital Fiscal Year 2008 at a Glance Inpatient admissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6,112 Emergency Department visits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33,398 Inpatient and outpatient surgeries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,527 Newborn deliveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 795 Cardiac catheterizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .690

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PIEDMONT HEALTHCARE PHILANTHROPY

Philanthropically speaking, 2007-08 was a year of steady growth as well as major milestones for Piedmont Healthcare. The Piedmont Hospital donor base continued to increase, bringing key members of the local community on board as philanthropic supporters. Four “Impact Gifts” of one million dollars each are being effectively invested to make significant improvements at Piedmont Hospital:

THE WILBUR AND HILDA GLENN FAMILY FOUNDATION donation supports both the expansion of the Emergency Department and provides direct program support for the Diabetes Resource Center, creating The Glenn Family Endowment for Diabetes. JAN AND JOHN PORTMAN’S commitment to the Newborn Nursery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit which bears their name is making important renovations possible, allowing for greater privacy and increased capacity.

THE WILLIAM F. SHALLENBERGER TRUST FUND donation is subsidizing the renovation to pre- and postoperative recovery areas in Labor and Delivery, soon to be named the William Shallenberger Obstetrical Suite. JAMES COX KENNEDY’S philanthropic support is an unrestricted gift to benefit Piedmont Hospital.

As Piedmont Fayette Hospital celebrated 11 years of service to the Fayette community, the board leadership has recognized the importance of investing time and personnel in support of philanthropic efforts. FRANK COLE, M.D., board chairman, and VICKI TURNER, board member, have shown leadership as advocates and supporters. Their donations will help advance the development of cancer services at Piedmont Fayette Hospital. Piedmont Newnan's employee giving campaign continues to work MAGIC (making all gifts impacts care). More than 75 new employees contributed in the second year of the campaign. A philanthropy committee of community members has been established to solicit similar community support.

2008 Piedmont Ball Amber Splendors of Imperial Russia Left to right: David G. Hanna, ball co-chair Kim Hanna, ball honorary co-chairs Shouky and Doris Shaheen, Auxiliary president Lisa Ediger, Soctt L. Ediger, M.D., ball co-chair Angie Lewis, and Tom Lewis, M.D.

The 2008 Piedmont Ball, a white-tie event sponsored by THE WOMAN’S AUXILIARY OF PIEDMONT HOSPITAL, celebrated its 51st year of providing philanthropic support to Piedmont Hospital. The 2008 Ball proceeds benefited Cancer Wellness at Piedmont. Ball co-chairs were KIM HANNA and ANGIE LEWIS; honorary chairs were Doris and SHOUKY SHAHEEN. LISA EDIGER was the 2007-08 Auxiliary president.

Two new positions were added to Piedmont Healthcare’s Development staff as a commitment to secure philanthropic support for a growing agenda of services. Two seasoned fundraising executives were named director of major gifts: JACK GILBERT is working with the Piedmont Heart Institute, and SARA BATTS with Women’s Services and Oncology.

The third annual Piedmont Hospital Golf Invitational at the Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta on October 29, 2007, raised $53,000 to support cancer programs at Piedmont Hospital. The presenting sponsor was Eclipsys. Gold sponsors included the Atlanta Braves Foundation, Inc.; BE&K Building Group; Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC; CARTER USA; CB Richard Ellis; Group VI Healthcare; Hardin Construction Company, LLC; Howell Rusk Dodson; SKANSKA USA Building, Inc.; and SunTrust Banks, Inc.

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news

Piedmont Philanthropy, established in 1976 as the Piedmont Hospital Foundation, is the volunteer leadership committee devoted to enabling private support to be a distinct strategic advantage for Piedmont Healthcare. Through philanthropy, Piedmont’s ability to deliver on the promise of the perfect balance between health and care is realized. For more information, visit piedmont.org.

Profiles in Philanthropy

by Judy Stanton

JAMES COX KENNEDY MAKES GENEROUS DONATION

AMES

COX KENNEDY, chairman and chief

executive officer of Cox Enterprises, Inc., one of the nation’s leading media companies and providers of automotive services, has added to his philanthropic support of his hometown by making a personal gift of one million dollars to Piedmont Hospital of Atlanta. In 2008, when he was experiencing pain in his knee, Kennedy’s friend, Thomas S. Harbin Jr., M.D., an ophthalmologist on the staff at Piedmont Hospital, recommended that he see Atlanta orthopaedic surgeon Stephen Smith, M.D. This resulted in Kennedy having knee replacement surgery in February 2008. The Kennedy family’s positive experience at Piedmont resulted in an unrestricted $1 million gift. “I am very grateful to Piedmont Hospital and their staff for their excellent care. The hospital is a great asset to the Atlanta community, and I am delighted to be among their philanthropic supporters,” Kennedy says. Robert Maynard, president and CEO for Piedmont Hospital, stated his appreciation. “We are most grateful to the Kennedy family for this level of generosity. We appreciate the trust they have placed with us, and we promise to use these resources in ways that patients, physicians and staff can be best served.” “Unrestricted gifts provide the most powerful philanthropy to an organization like Piedmont,” says Mendal A. Bouknight, vice president of Development. “Mr. Kennedy’s gift at this level gives the leadership at Piedmont Hospital the opportunity to direct the funds to work where they will have the greatest impact.” The Kennedys join Piedmont Hospital’s Capitol Avenue Society, a devoted group of individuals and family foundations whose cumulative, lifetime philanthropy to the hospital has surpassed $1 million.

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giving

PIEDMONT PHILANTHROPY

Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are recognized for their many contributions in the community. In 2003, they were named “Philanthropists of the Year” by the Greater Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Fundraising Professionals. Kennedy has been with Cox since 1972, starting as a production assistant with Atlanta newspapers, where he held various positions including reporter, copy editor, advertising salesman, business manager and executive vice president/general manager. In 1979, he was named president of Grand Junction (Colorado) Newspapers, Inc., and soon afterward, publisher of the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. He returned to Atlanta in 1985 as vice president of Cox Newspapers and was named executive vice president of Cox Enterprises the following year. In January 1988, he was named chairman and chief executive officer. During his tenure, Cox Enterprises has become a top-10 nationally ranked player, based on revenues, in every major category where it competes. The company has 83,000 employees located throughout the United States and abroad and operates 300 separate businesses. Kennedy also serves on the boards of Ducks Unlimited, Atlanta Committee for Progress, the PATH (People of Atlanta for Trails Here) Foundation and also is a former president of Wetlands America Trust, Inc. He was inducted into Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business Hall of Fame in 2004 and was bestowed an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Kennesaw State University in 2003. A former competitive cyclist, Kennedy is a past Master National, Pan American and World Champion in the 3,000 meter pursuit. He also has served as honorary chairman of the Bike Tour benefiting the Georgia Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Tour de Cure benefiting the American Diabetes Association.

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Piedmont Hospital

In Recognition: Gifts and Pledges received July 2008 through September 2008

Piedmont Hospital has served Atlanta and the surrounding community since 1905. It is only through the generosity of our friends that we are able to maintain our tradition of superior care and services. Piedmont Hospital owes much to those who have given so generously throughout the years. Each gift, large and small, is for the exclusive benefit of Piedmont Hospital and ultimately our patients.

In Memoriam Infant Tyler Anthony for the Jan and John Portman Newborn Nursery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Ms. Kimberly D. Zamzow Infant Hannah D’Antignac for the Jan and John Portman Newborn Nursery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Ms. Brittany Glenn Dorothy Bell Eros for the Sixty Plus Fund Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Almand Jr. Ms. Elizabeth Hawthorne Mrs. JoAnne Barrs Ms. Ruth Cates Ms. Margaret Fowler Lamb for Harp Fund Ms. Pamela J. Willerson Ms. Margaret Fowler Lamb, PHSN Alumni for the Nursing Education Endowment Fund Ms. Marilyn L. Addison Mrs. Carol Sutterfield Gibson Ms. Rose Pope Ms. Jane Lefco for the Doris Shaheen Breast Health Center Ms. Marty Alterman Ms. Betty Manley for the Transplant Continuing Medical Education Fund Eda L. Hochgelerent, M.D., and Bruce A. Cassidy, M.D. Ms. Charlotte Peters for the Oncology Action Fund Ms. Julia A. Barron Ms. Christine P. Cash Ms. Diana Zepp Ms. June Watson Phillips, PHSN Alumni for the Nursing Education Endowment Fund Doris V. Magill, PHSN Alumni

Ms. Robin Poncinie for the Oncology Action Fund Ms. Debbie LePage and Mr. Mendal A. Bouknight Harrison L. Rogers, M.D. Mr. and Mrs. Ted Plomgren Harrison L Rogers, M.D., for the Oncology Action Fund Ms. Debbie LePage and Mr. Mendal A. Bouknight Harrison L. Rogers, M.D., for the Sixty Plus Fund Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Almand Jr. Mrs. Jeanne Stehly Sloan Mr. William Camp Mrs. Dana Smith for the Doug and Dana Smith Cancer Assistance Fund Mr. Ralph Amos Mr. Robert S. Bertini Ms. Cornelia Bowen Mr. Brian Budnick Mr. Brooks D. Campbell Carol Covington Interiors Ms. Flynn Chappell Mr. John F. Clancy Ms. Ashley B. Cudd Mr. Greg M. Dickerson J. Dillinger Downing Commercial, LLC First Industrial Invest, Inc. Ms. Allison Flowers Furman Wood Real Estate, LLC Ms. Anne M. Goodrum Ms. Marisa Goodwin Ms. Danielle M. Hegedus Mr. Richard P. Henry Mr. Gregory F. Herren Mr. James L. Hunt JDR & Associates, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Mrs. Baron D. Jordan Ms. Mary Margaret Judge Mr. John J. Karl Kasper Architects Ms. Amanda C. Leibson Ms. Susan O. Leonard Mr. and Mrs. Robert Levin

Mr. Daniel Levison Ms. Margaret C. Lewis Mrs. Carey G. Louthan and Mr. Frank Louthan III Ms. Katherine G. Louthan Mr. Nicholas W. Masterson Mr. John McClintock Mr. Chris E. Miller Ms. Catherine A. Murray Nazareth Presbyterian Church Mr. Clay Nelson Mr. Ramsey H. Nix Ms. Caroline Nolen Ms. Margaret N. Paton Mr. and Mrs. Wilson D. Pritt Mr. and Mrs. Donald Reeves Mr. B. Spencer Reid Ms. Mary B. Renfro Ms. Jennifer D. Rogers Ms. Michaeline M. Roland Ryan A. Sawyer Mr. and Mrs. C. Ryland Scott Mr. Dennis M. Simoni Ms. June L. Swem Ms. Angie Thompson Mr. and Mrs. S. Matthew Tuck Mr. Dave Wilson Mr. Douglas Westrom Mr. Courtney Wilson Ms. Sonia M. Winfield Mr. and Mrs. William A. Wood Mr. George Thorpe, PHSN Alumni for the Nursing Education Endowment Fund Hattie Brosnan, PHSN Alumni Ms. Joyce K. Watkins for the Doris Shaheen Breast Health Center Ms. Julia M. O’Neal William G. Whitaker Jr., M.D. Mrs. Emily Sessions Stromquist and Mr. Bengt Stromquist

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Piedmont Hospital Honorary Gifts H. Pierce Allgood, M.D. Robert L. Bunnen, M.D. H. Pierce Allgood, M.D., for the Sixty Plus Fund Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Almand Jr. W. Perry Ballard III, M.D., for the Oncology Action Fund Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Barton Mr. Chris Cole for the Oncology Action Fund Mr. and Mrs. Richard Cheng Mrs. John M. DeBorde III for the Anne C. DeBorde Endowment for Spiritual Care Services Mrs. Barbara B. Pendergrast Mrs. John C. DeBorde for the Chaplaincy Fund Ms. Marjorie W. Wynne Mrs. Carolyn Helmer for the Cancer Wellness Fund Dr. Jody D. Iodice Gayle and Glenn Mason for the Doug and Dana Smith Cancer Assistance Fund Ms. Judith A. Taetz Dr. George Motchan for the Motchan Photography Fund Mr. Arthur T. Fellin Infants Ansley and Bobby Parillo for the Jan and John Portman Newborn Nursery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Bell Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Brewer Ms. Colleen Courtney Ms. Rebecca R. Dobb Mr. and Mrs. Vince Forte Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Hanfman Mr. and Mrs. Deryl Hill Mr. and Mrs. David Lytle Ms. Cindy Melton Mr. and Mrs. David Melson

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giving Mrs. Amy Mitchell Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mitchell Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Parillo Sr. Ms. Una D. Smith Ms. Zalia G. Smith Ms. Sheila B. Stargel-Davis Mr. and Mrs. Scott Wen Ms. Kimberly D. Zamrow Piedmont Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Class of 1952 Doris V. Magill, PHSN Alumni Mr. David Revels for the Sixty Plus Fund Ms. Jenny Cleveland Mrs. Sarah Shaw for the Nursing Education Endowment Fund Tina Martin, RN Beth Young, RN Susan and David Simpson for the Nursing Education Endowment Fund Brenda Gunter, RN Melanie Wilson, RN

General Contributions Cancer Wellness Fund Ms. Faye S. Hyman It’s the Journey, Inc. Continuing Medical Education Library Fund Edwards Lifesciences GE Capital Count Me In Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Gramling Doug and Dana Smith Cancer Assistance Fund Mr. James Kennedy Mr. Daniel Levison Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Ruen Ms. Rebecca D. Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Brad Wallace Doris Shaheen Breast Health Center Atlanta Braves Foundation Janet Dortch, N.P. Glenn Diabetes Resources Fund Mr. Thomas Lane Harp Fund Ms. Janice L. Podber Jan and John Portman Newborn Nursery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Fund iStar

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Moran Equipment Fund Moran Family Foundation Motchan Photography Fund Major Jack W. Arnold Dr. and Mrs. Peter J. Barratt Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Breckenridge Ms. Marie Cerillo Ms. Eileen Frasca Ms. Alice South Hume Mr. Vincent A. Notaroberto Louis G. Prevosti, M.D. Judge and Mrs. Craig L. Schwall Ms. Gloria R. Sicurella Sprayberry Animal Hospital, PC Dr. and Mrs. Steven D. Wray Nursing Education Endowment Connie F. Whittington, PHSN Alumni Oncology Continuing Medical Education Fund AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP Cogenix, LLC PleXUS Communications Sanofi-Aventis U.S. Inc. Piedmont Hospital Golf Tournament Arnall Golden & Gregory Atlanta Braves Foundation, Inc. BE & K Building Group CB Richard Ellis Mr. Thomas F. Chapman Hall, Booth, Smith & Slover PC Hardin Construction Company, LLC KLMK Group, LLC McKesson Information Systems Meadows & Ohly, LLC Neuro-Tec, Inc. Mr. Rocco R. Pizza III Shepherd Center SKANSKA USA Building, Inc. SunTrust Banks Inc. The Snodgrass Foundation, Inc. Piedmont Hospital (Annual Fund) Mr. Charles Anderson Mr. Walter Arnett AT&T James Bozeman Baird and Alice Stanley Baird Foundation Mrs. JoAnne Barrs Ms. Linda Bingham The Boston Consulting Group, Inc. Carlos and Marguerite Mason Trust Ms. Paige Erickson Mr. Michael Estes Mr. Michael Fleck Mr. Lucius French Ms. Tammie Goodballet Mr. Gregory Gordon Mr. Wencel Green Ms. Rebecca Greene Ms. Joyce Gregory Ms. Tamitha Gregory

Mr. Charles Greiner Ms. Carolyn Grissom Mr. Raymond Grubbs Ms. Kate Guillot Mr. Chenault Hailey Mr. Anthony Hall Ms. Laura Hamilton Mr. Mandrill Hardge Ms. Carolyn Hardrick Mr. Daniel Hargrave Ms. Nora Harkness Mr. Morris Harp Mr. Joe Harris Mr. Steve Harris Mr. Michael Harvin Ms. Shirley Hatchett Ms. Carol Hill Ms. Patricia Hill Ms. Ti Hill Mr. Tommy Hill Ms. Elizabeth Hilsman Mr. Arthur Hollis Ms. Sheila Holloway Ms. Mary Holt Ms. Jeanette Hood Mr. Samuel Hooper Ms. Christine Ingram Ms. Beatrice James Mr. James Jamison Ms. Jeanette Jester Ms. Natalie Johnson Mr. Wendell Johnson Mr. Kenneth Jordan Mr. Homar Jovel Sabi Kalamaro Mr. Ray Keanum Ms. Dondra Keheley Ms. Laura Keigwin Ms. Lori Kircher Mr. Cleosie Kirkland Ms. Lucille Lamar Dr. Anna Lambros Ms. Linda Lancaster Ms. Marine Lemon Mr. Robert Lewis Mr. William Lewis Mr. and Mrs. David Lipsey Ms. Alice Long Ms. Gloria Long Mr. Felix Love Ms. Julie Love Ms. Diane Maddox Ms. Susan Mahoney Mr. David Markby Mr. Keith Martin Ms. Barbara Martin Mr. Terry Martin Ms. Theresa Mathews Ms. Felicia Mathis Ms. Donna Maxwell Ms. Cecelia McAuliffe Ms. Barbara McGuire Ms. Patricia McGuire

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Ms. Candice McLemore Mr. Ralph Merck Ms. Patricia Mickens Ms. Janise Miller Ms. Julia Miller Mr. Charles Moehrke Mr. David Monroe Ms. Patricia Morris Ms. Henrika Moss Mr. Michael Moss Ms. Marilyn Motley Ms. Aalia Mujtaba Ms. Ursula Mullins Ms. Danne Munford Mr. Charles Murray Mr. Richard Myers Mr. Paul Nunnally Mr. Winford Ogden Ms. Clara Oharris Mr. John Paul Oxer Ms. Mary Park Ms. Jean Parker Ms. Jacquelyn Parrott Ms. Margaret Patterson Mr. Johnny Perdue Mr. Oliver Peters Ms. Barbara Peterson Ms. Beth Petrosian Ms. Angela Pope Mr. John Pope Ms. Nancy Pressley Ms. Kira Quarles Ms. Martha Quarles Ms. Pauline Ravenall Mr. Charles Raymond Mr. Charles Reed Ms. Mae Robinson Ms. Stacey Rugar Ms. Elizabeth Samford Ms. Joyce Sanders Mr. Ernest Satterfield Mr. Ralph Saucier Ms. Monica Schmid Mr. Samuel Scott Mr. Stanley Scott Ms. Jeanette Sewell Ms. Sudha Shah Ms. Akram Shamsabadi Mr. Charles Shaw Ms. Susie Shields Ms. Sybil Shier Ms. Donna Shierling Ms. Gloria R. Sicurella Ms. Linda Silvers Mr. Henry Simpson Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sims Mr. James Sims Mr. Wyman Sims Mr. and Mrs. Alex Smith Ms. Betsy Smith Mr. Eddie Smith Ms. Joelene Smith Ms. Myra Smith

Ms. Loretta Spaulding Ms. Rebecca B. Spotts Ms. Delores Stanley Ms. Sherry Steinway Ms. Mary Stewart Mr. Larry Storey Mr. Lenn Storey Ms. Constance Stratigos Mr. Eugene Stubbs Ms. Ann Styles Ms. Susan Sumners Mr. and Mrs. George A. Sutherlin Ms. Maxine Tanker Ms. Barbara Tatum Mr. James Taylor Mr. Robert Taylor Mr. Virgil Tedder Ms. Angelica Teresa Ms. Yvette Terry Mr. Louis H. Thompson Ms. Clyde Thurman Ms. Lorene Towns Ms. Deborah Townsell Ms. Janet Trimble Ms. Barbara Troup Mr. Theodore Vasilakopoulos Mr. Vikram Vijayvergiya

Ms. Kimberly Waldron Ms. Maria E. Ceballos-Wallis Ms. Alice Ward Ms. Bessie Warner Mr. Reginald Waters Dr. and Mrs. William C. Waters III Ms. Carole Weaks Ms. Mellissah Wells Ms. Leigh Westholm Ms. Alice Whittle Mr. Archie Williams Ms. Cortney Williams Ms. Edna Williams Ms. Anne Willingham Ms. Tonya Willis Mr. Willie Wilson Mr. Michael Woocher Mr. Darrin Wood Ms. Margaret Worthy Ms. Claire Yates Ms. Emogene Yates Ms. Delinda Young Mr. Raymond Young Ms. Linda Zaccheo Ms. Doris Zanders Ms. Paula Zeigler Ms. Crystal Zimmerman

Ramsey OB/Gyn Continuing Medical Education Fund American Medical Systems, Inc. Cord Blood Registry Systems, Inc. KV Pharmaceutical Company Tyco Healthcare Sixty Plus Fund Mrs. Ivan Allen III Ms. Jenny Cleveland Ms. Amelia Estremera Ms. Pamela D. Hayes Mrs. Marjorie Hyde Ida A. Ryan Charitable Trust Mr. and Mrs. David Lipsey Ms. Nora Martinex Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Watson Fuqua Heart Center of Atlanta Ms. Nadia Siddiq

Transplant Continuing Medical Education Fund Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Genzyme Tyco Healthcare Transplant Services Endowment The Pattillo Family Foundation Wound Care Fund Mrs. Shouky Shaheen

Estate Gifts Harris Fund Estate of Lucy Claire Harris Veach Cancer Fund Estate of Mrs. J. M. Veach

The Woman’s Auxiliary of Piedmont Hospital Mrs. Walter C. Edwards Mrs. Gordon A. Holloway Jr. Mrs. Geoffrey J. Kelly Mrs. Allen Nelson Mrs. J. Ridley Reynolds Mrs. Thomas Simmons Ms. Linda R. Tucker

Piedmont Newnan Hospital

In Recognition: Gifts and Pledges received July 2008 through September 2008

Piedmont Newnan Hospital is the provider of healthcare for one of the fastest growing communities in the state of Georgia. Employees and volunteers have shown their commitment to the hospital by pledging more than $180,000 to the MAGIC (Making All Gifts Impact Care) campaign. MAGIC is part of a larger fundraising partnership with the community to deliver and to improve healthcare in our region.

General Contributions Piedmont Newnan Hospital (Annual Fund) Ms. Louvenia Adams Ms. Beverly J. Allen Ms. Emily A. Allen Ms. Marie J. Anderson Mr. Shannon H. Archer Ms. Caroline Arnall Ms. Rose Arndt Ms. Pecola Ayers Ms. Lou Bailey Mr. Clarence A. Baker Ms. Tonja M. Banks Mr. John A. Barge Mr. Olen Barron Ms. Charlene Barrow Ms. Carolyn M. Beach Ms. Debra D. Bell Mr. Robert I. Benny

Ms. Mary E. Bentley Ms. Jo A. Blalock Mr. William A. Blount Ms. Corene Blunt Mr. Homer Boatwright Ms. Willa Boe Mr. Farris A. Boggs Mr. Jerry P. Boren Ms. Jo A. Boswell Ms. Debra A. Bouchard Mr. Keith Brady Ms. Susan M. Branham Ms. Betty D. Bray Ms. Anna R. Brinton Mr. Richard Brooks Mr. and Mrs. Elmer L. Brooks Mr. Charlie A. Brown Ms. Deborah Brown Ms. Melba J. Brown Ms. Myra J. Brown Ms. Patsy S. Brown Ms. Mary Brownlee

Ms. Ruby Brownlee Ms. Rudine Buchanan Ms. Brenda G. Cadenhead Ms. Carolyn Callaway Ms. Annette G. Campbell Ms. Chandra R. Carter Ms. Earline Cavalcante Mr. and Mrs. Don J. Cavanaugh Ms. Charlotte Chapman Mr. Robert Chapman Mr. Willie F. Chapman Mr. Robert H. Chiostergi Ms. Phyllis D. Claybrook Mr. Nathaniel Cleveland Mr. and Mrs. Deandre Cleveland Mr. and Mrs. Vance R. Cline Ms. Louise Coggin Mr. Malcolm Cole Mr. William P. Cole Ms. Mary A. Cook Ms. Mary J. Cope Ms. Linda M. Cotton

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Mr. Eugene J. Craven Ms. Lillian J. Croker Ms. Karen T. Cumby Mr. Kenneth T. Davis Ms. Vernell Davis Mr. Roger C. Dawson Ms. Aida C. Deese Piedmont Newnan Hospital Employee Giving (Annual Fund) Susan Arnspiger Sarah Bowens Sheila Ann Chocallo Hannah Davis Latea Gray Tonya Harrison Jennifer Helfers Mary Hinely Kelly Hines Amanda Newton Rhonda Riley Judy Ruvalcaba Steven Wright

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Piedmont Fayette Hospital

In Recognition: Gifts and Pledges received July 2008 through September 2008

Piedmont Fayette Hospital proudly cares for and serves the citizens of Fayette County and the surrounding communities. It is through the generosity of our friends that we are able to offer the “personal touch" to superior care and services. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the hospital, as each gift is for the exclusive benefit of Piedmont Fayette Hospital and enhances our ability to serve our patients and community.

General Contributions Piedmont Fayette Hospital Dr. and Mrs. Guy M. Lee Jr. Piedmont Fayette Hospital (Annual Fund) Ms. Marie Abelt Mr. Charles Abercrombie Ms. Martha Adams Mr. and Mrs. Rocco Agostino Ms. Melody Ahmad Ms. Elender Akin Mr. and Mrs. Francis Aktabowski Ms. Sally Alexander Mr. Jerry Allen Ms. Gwendevere Allen-Rowe Ms. Hannah Amey Ms. Alysia Anderson Ms. Lorraine Anderson Ms. Penny Anderson Ms. Susan Anderson Ms. Juanita Andrews Ms. Ora Archie Ms. Jeanne Arnold Ms. Marcia Atherley Ms. Amy Austin Mr. Paul Austin Mr. Charles Avery Ms. Beatrice Ayton Mr. Robert Backes Ms. Ilmas Bailey Mr. Jeffrey Bailey Ms. Tracy Bailey Mr. Milton Baker Ms. Anna Banks Ms. Brittany Banks Mr. Larry Banning Mrs. Caroline Barber Mr. Quilliam Barber Ms. Shirley Barnes Ms. Bernice Barnes Ms. Lois Barrett Dr. and Mrs. John Barson Ms. Wanda Beans Mr. Leslie Beecham Ms. Marie Belancourt Ms. Julia Bell Ms. Flutcher Bell

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Ms. Brenda Belser Ms. Janet Bender Mr. Albert Benefield Mr. Curtis Benefield Ms. Patricia Benefield Ms. Adelaida Benigno Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Benjamin Ms. Samantha Benjamin-Kirk Ms. Charlotte Billingsley Ms. Dolores Bills Ms. Linda Birdsong Ms. Kimberly Blaser Ms. Runette Bledsoe Mr. Albert Bliss Ms. Gloria Boddie Ms. Tanya Boggs Ms. Charlene Bolton Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bond Ms. Rena Bone Mr. Ronald Book Ms. Catherine Booker Ms. Evelyn Bost Ms. Elaine Bowen Ms. Calvenia Bowles Ms. Margaret Boyd Ms. Beth O. Boyd Ms. Jimmie Boyer Ms. Geraldine Bramblett Ms. Bonnie Brigden Mr. Noah Brock Ms. Xiomara Brodie Ms. Debra Brogdon Ms. Lorraine Brunelle Ms. Elizabeth Burke Ms. Ann Butler Ms. Dorothy Butler Ms. Joan Butler Mr. Julian Campbell Mr. Art Capehart Ms. Patricia Carman Mr. Robert Carpenter Ms. Bonita Carthan Ms. Peggy Champion Ms. Charlotte Chancellor Mr. Dennis Chase Mr. Ardell Chatman Ms. Gladys Christian Ms. Vanetta Collins Ms. Minnie Coppage Mr. Richard Countryman

Ms. Carolyn Coward Mr. Kevin Cox Mr. Manuel Cuerdo Ms. Damaris Curtis Mr. John Dailey Mr. Lee Daniel Mr. Frederick Daniell Mr. Billy Davis Ms. Deborah Davis Ms. Nancy Davis Ms. Doris Deas Mr. Donald Dennis Ms. Linda Dettmering Ms. Brenda Dix Mr. Thomas Dobson Mr. Isiah Dobyne Mr. Ernest Dockery Ms. Tiffany Donaldson Ms. Erma Dorsey Ms. Annie Downing Ms. Willie Drewery Mr. Donald Drez Ms. Beverly Dunaway Ms. Jane Dyer Ms. Mayetta Dyer Mr. Julius Ellington Ms. Valerie Emlock Ms. Lois Erwin Mr. Stephen Eskew Mr. Daniel Eubanks Ms. Kelly Faulkner Ms. Jeraldine Ferrell Ms. Natalie Fields Mr. Steven Fiesler Ms. Whitney Fitzgerald Ms. Marian Flynn Ms. Gwendolyn Fox Mr. and Mrs. Larry Funderburke Ms. Marion Gentilini Ms. Karen Gisler Ms. Michelle Glover Ms. Jennifer Goode Ms. Lora Goodwin Mr. Carl Gould Ms. Roxana Green Mr. James Grier Ms. Mary Griffin Ms. Hasina Grimball Mr. David Grizzard Ms. Viriginia Grove

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Ms. Hope Grubbs Ms. Phyllis Gullion Ms. Barbara Hall Mr. Kyle Hallman Ms. Carol Hancock Ms. Teresa Hand Mr. Robert Hannah Ms. Barbara Hanson Ms. Arlene Harris Ms. Delma Harris Mr. Raymond Harris Mr. Robert Harris Mr. Willie Harris Ms. Kathleen Hartzog Ms. Carol Haskin Ms. Sarah Hayes Ms. Ann Healey Mr. Russell Heelan Ms. Louise Henn Mr. Frederick Herber Mr. Cleveland Hubert Ms. Denise Jackson Ms. Dixie Jennings Ms. Sandra Jones Ms. Sara Lamb Mr. William T. Lane Ms. Anita Larson Ms. Marjorie Lasseter

Cancer treatments that can save your life. Personal treatment that can change it.

Cancer will take everything from you if you let it. Your dignity, your joy, your security, your life. At Piedmont Cancer Center, we promise to do everything in our power to help you get those things back. We treat the whole person, using a combination of approaches for the mind, body and spirit. State-of-theart cancer therapies. Patient navigators.

Complementary wellness programs. All put in place not only to help you fight cancer, but to help you find peace again. It’s

In Honorarium Ms. Sharon Maxell Ms. Charlotte C. Gunter

In Memoriam Carolyn Stanley for the Piedmont Fayette Hospital Auxiliary Mrs. Maredith Buco Pat Maucere for the Piedmont Fayette Hospital Auxiliary Mrs. Maredith Buco

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INSIDE:

• Piedmont’s Commitment to Clinical Quality • Piedmont Fayette Hospital Plans Cancer Center • Piedmont Healthcare Year in Review •

Communities Benefit from Piedmont’s Outreach

To have a copy of Profiles mailed to a friend, call 404-605-3403.

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