Park Springs to Expand Health Care Center at Retirement Community

Cobblestone to add two memory care rooms, 18 skilled nursing rooms, two prep kitchens

Park Springs, the Southeast’s premier continuing care retirement community announces that it is renovating Cobblestone, the community’s health care center, expanding the facility by 12 rooms. The expansion will include two phases of construction. Phase one is slated to begin in early January, while phase two is scheduled to begin in mid-February.

Renovations during phase one construction will include adjusting eight assisted living suites into 14 memory care suites. A new memory care dining area with a new warming and preparation kitchen will also be added. A new wandering control system is also planned to increase Members safety. Updated finishes in the new common area will also occur at this time.

Phase two will consist of renovating 12 memory suites into 18 skilled nursing rooms. Construction will also include the addition of a new preparation kitchen as well as upgrades to the existing skilled nursing preparation kitchen. Renovations to the common areas, a new skilled family area, and offices for the community’s physician and assistant director of nursing will also be added at this time.

“We are excited about expanding Cobblestone,” said Joan Carlson, Park Springs’ vice president of quality, innovation and culture. “We currently offer the highest quality services, medical care, nursing and rehabilitative care in a residential environment in the Southeast and our expansion will allow us to increase the level of care we provide. It will also allow us to provide outside short term admission to our Medicare skilled unit.”

Cobblestone’s Resident Centered model provides Members flexibility in their daily activities embracing individuality while focusing on all aspects of wellness. Staffing ratios are approximately two times greater than the state average. A full time doctor trained as a geriatrician whose sole responsibility is the health of our Members is employed on site. A clinic staffed by a full time Licensed Nurse Practitioner performs routine check ups, tests and lab work. The community doctor, clinic and skilled care are all Medicare certified. Home care services are provided by trained staff employed directly by the Park Springs and are licensed by the state, bonded and insured only after undergoing a strict screening process.

About Park Springs
The Southeast's premier CCRC, Park Springs enhances life for active seniors by providing independent residences alongside extensive amenities and on-site wellness and private health care facilities. The 398-home campus-style community is situated on 54 acres surrounded by Stone Mountain Park. A 64-suite health center provides assisted living, skilled nursing and dementia/Alzheimer's care. The campus style community boasts a 50,000 square foot Clubhouse serving meals in four themed dining rooms daily and a 12,000 square foot fitness center with an indoor swimming pool. The Seniors Housing Council of the National Association of Home Builders named Park Springs a Platinum winner. Park Springs is developed by Isakson Living and managed by Life Care Services LLC (LCS), a leader in senior living communities. LCS today serves more than 23,000 residents daily in over 80 communities nationwide. For more information on Park Springs, call 678-684-3300 or visit www.parkspringscommunities.com.
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Maternity Center at Piedmont Fayette Hospital Offers Classes for Expecting Parents

Parents and expectant parents are invited to attend several informative classes offered by the Maternity Center at Piedmont Fayette Hospital (PFH). For more information on the Maternity Center at PFH, visit fayettehospital.org. Community members are invited to take part in the following classes:

Prepared Childbirth Class - This course, recommended for women 20 to 28 weeks into pregnancy, provides an eight hour childbirth education class that teaches mom and her partner about what to expect during labor and delivery. The instructor will discuss the stages of labor, relaxation, breathing techniques, common concerns, comfort measures and much more. Participants will need to bring two pillows and a blanket or towel. The fee for the course is $85 and includes light refreshments. The class will be held Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Dietary Conference Room on the ground floor of the hospital. To register, call Link2Health toll-free at 1-866-900-4321. For more information call 770-719-6005.

Breastfeeding Basics - The Maternity Center at Piedmont Fayette Hospital offers a three-hour group participation discussion on the benefits and how-to's of breastfeeding. This class includes preparing for breastfeeding and getting started in the hospital and at home, special situations and growing a breastfeeding family. The class is best if done prior to delivery, but participants are welcome at any time. Fathers or support person are welcomed and encouraged to attend also. This class is now offered every month, and the next class is Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to noon in the conference room on the third floor of the hospitals 1279 building. For more information or to register, call 770-719-6005.

Moms in Motion - “Moms in Motion” is a fitness program designed to prepare women for the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy and postpartum. The class combines low impact aerobics, toning exercises, relaxation and breathing techniques and appropriate warm-ups/cool-downs perfect for both pregnant and postpartum women. The program provides not only a safe and effective exercise regime, but also provides valuable information on pregnancy, postpartum and child safety. Participants may register for this ongoing program at any time during or after pregnancy. Classes are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. in Suite 200 of the Piedmont Fayette Hospital Fitness Center at 1250 Hwy 54 West. Space is limited. The classes are FREE to fitness center members and $25 per month for non-members. Written approval from a physician is required. For more information or to register, call 770-719-7290.

Maternity Center Tours - The Maternity Center at Piedmont Fayette Hospital welcomes expectant mothers and their support partners to take a tour of the facility. The tour will be offered on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 12:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Nov. 21, at 6 p.m. The tour will provide information on the hospital's approach to maternity care and how physicians and staff help new mothers and their babies before and after delivery. Expectant mothers and their support partners are welcome. Please meet in the Maternity Center lobby (third floor, enter through the West Entrance). For more information call 770-719-6005.

Fayette County Safe Kids Child Passenger Safety Training Class - Fayette County Safe Kids will offer a car seat safety class to teach parents how to keep children safe, especially while traveling by car. The course will be offered Monday, Nov. 9, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Conference Room A on the third floor of the hospital's 1279 Building. This class is offered the second Monday of each month. For additional information contact Debbie Straight, 770-305-5148.

Sibling Class - Sibling classes are not being offered at the present time. For more information call 770-719-6005.
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Physician Coalition: "No Place for Big Government in Exam Room"

The Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) joined more than 100 doctors from across the country in Washington, D.C., today to offer legislators a “second opinion” on the best way to reform the nation’s health care system at a press conference that was sponsored by the Coalition to Protect Patients’ Rights.

“We need to reform our broken medical payment system, but a hurried approach that fails to protect the patient-physician relationship isn’t the answer,” said M. Todd Williamson, M.D., MAG’s immediate past president and spokesman for a coalition of state and national specialty societies that represents nearly 50,000 physicians. “There is no place for big government in our exam rooms.”

Of S.B. 1776 – which would have eliminated the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) payment cuts that are scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2010 and that would have indefinitely frozen Medicare payment rates – Dr. Williamson said, “MAG supported the provisions that were included in Senate Bill 1776 that were designed to address the flawed SGR on an unconditional basis.”

Dr. Williamson added that tort reform represents a reasonable and proven way to reform the nation’s unsustainable medical payment system.

Dr. Williamson said that, “Our physician coalition group is encouraging Senate leaders to produce legislation that addresses the flawed medical payment system in a way that ensures that individual patients can control their own health care dollars and can consult with the physician of their choice as a trusted advisor in making the medical decisions that are best for them and their families.”

The Coalition to Protect Patients’ Rights is a non-partisan, grassroots coalition made of more than 10,000 doctors, health care providers, advocacy groups, and concerned citizens who are dedicated to the implementation of patient-centered health care reform that will improve patient care. It’s headed up by former American Medical Association President Donald J. Palmisano, M.D. Go to www.protectpatientsrights.org for additional information on the Coalition to Protect Patients’ Rights.

With more than 6,000 members, MAG is the leading voice for physicians in Georgia. Go to www.mag.org/nationalhealthcarereform/ for more information.
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Operating Cells Via Joystick

Moving cells around by joystick without causing any damage helps doctors study live samples.

Biomedical research could someday look a lot like playing video games thanks to a new device that allows users to manipulate cells with the swerve of a joystick.

A team of physicists and engineers at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio developed the device from a tiny piece of square-centimeter silicon inlaid with rows of zigzagging magnetic wires. At each corner, the wire behaves like two magnets pointed north to north or south to south. The fields of the two magnets create a point of strong attraction just above them. A nearby magnetic object, such as a magnetically-tagged cell is attracted to the corner and gets stuck there

To get the particles moving, the researchers then place two magnetic fields around the chip one in the plane of the chip and the other perpendicular to it. By flipping the direction of these fields, the researchers can guide tagged cells along the zigzagging wire and even make them jump from one wire to the next. The researchers computerized the magnetic field switching so that a user steered the cells by simply handling a joystick.

The team at OSU put the device through its paces with magnetically-tagged T-cells, the body's guardians against infection. They snapped the cells to attention at one end of the chip, marched them down to the other end, and made them hop from one wire to another, reaching speeds of about 20 micron, or about a one-fifth the width of a human hair, per second.

Jeffrey Chalmers, the chemical engineer who tagged the T-cells for the experiment, said that the device would be ideal for examining tumor cells. To study biopsied tumors, researchers often treat them with enzymes, which break them down into their constituent cells. Researchers then separate cancerous cells they want to study from healthy cells like fat and blood.

By Lauren Schenkman
Inside Science News Service
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Piedmont Fayette Hospital Hosts Prostate Cancer “Ask the Doc” Session in Recognition of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

PFH is Proud to Now Offer Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer Patients

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer found in American men. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and Piedmont Fayette Hospital (PFH) and the American Cancer Society want to help educate men about this disease which will affect one in six men in their lifetime.

Man to Man, the prostate cancer support group held monthly at PFH, will hold a special “Ask the Doc” session at its next meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. at Piedmont Fayette Hospital’s 1279 Building, in the 3rd floor conference rooms. Medical oncologist Jonathan Bender, M.D., and urologist Scott Shelfo, M.D., will lead the discussion and answer questions concerning prostate cancer.

This free and informative session will feature a variety of topics including risk factors, diagnosis, treatment options, and ways to control recurrent cancer. Participants will also learn more about the plans for the new cancer center at Piedmont Fayette Hospital, as well as new cancer treatments available at PFH, including brachytherapy, a cutting-edge treatment for prostate cancer.

Brachytherapy allows radiation to concentrate more on cancerous cells, therefore inflicting less damage on normal cells. This unique type of radiation therapy allows higher doses of radiation to be administered as close to the cancer as possible over a shorter period of time.

In brachytherapy, small radioactive isotopes are placed in seeds, wires and rods called implants and then placed in the body. There are two types of brachytherapy placement: temporary and permanent. Temporary brachytherapy uses higher doses of radiation in the implants, which are removed after treatment. Permanent therapy uses small implants, which are inserted directly into the tumor, with smaller doses of radiation that remain in place after radiation is complete.

Man to Man support group is held on the 4th Tuesday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m., and provides a forum for men and their partners to discuss diagnosis, treatment options, and quality-of-life issues surrounding prostate cancer. This program will be followed by a period of questions as well as a time for sharing experiences.

The presentation is open to the public. For more information on the event, please call Man to Man coordinator Jim O'Hara at 770-632-2898, or Lisa Cockerham of the American Cancer Society in Peachtree City at 770-631-0625. For more information on cancer services at Piedmont Fayette Hospital, visit fayettehospital.org.

About Piedmont Fayette Hospital
Named one of the nation’s Most Wired hospitals for five consecutive years in the 100 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study, Piedmont Fayette Hospital (PFH), ranked third in patient satisfaction among metro Atlanta hospitals according to the HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey released in March 2009. One of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® four years in a row (2004-2007) according to Thomson Reuters (formerly Solucient), Piedmont Fayette Hospital is a 143-bed, acute-care community hospital located on Highway 54 in Fayetteville, offering 24-hour emergency services, medical and surgical services, as well as obstetrics, diagnostic cardiac catheterization and rehabilitation services. With over1,100 employees and a medical staff of over 500 physicians, PFH is a member of Piedmont Healthcare (PHC), a not-for-profit organization that also includes Piedmont Hospital, a 481-bed acute tertiary care facility offering all major medical, surgical and diagnostic services located on 26 acres in the north Atlanta community of Buckhead; Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, a 42-bed community hospital in Jasper; and Piedmont Newnan Hospital, a 143-bed, acute-care community hospital in Newnan. Piedmont Healthcare also is the parent company of the Piedmont Heart Institute (PHI), which combines over 60 renowned cardiologists in the Piedmont Heart Institute Physicians with over 30 offices across north Georgia, and the 162-bed Fuqua Heart Center of Atlanta; Piedmont Philanthropy, the philanthropic entity for private fundraising initiatives; the Piedmont Physicians Group, with over 100 primary care physicians in 30 offices throughout metro Atlanta; and the Piedmont Clinic, a 600-member physician network. For more information, visit fayettehospital.org.
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CDC to Distribute $40 Million in Recovery Act Funding to Help States Fight Healthcare-Associated Infections

Money marks first time Congress appropriates HAI prevention funds specifically to states

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today announced plans to distribute $40 million to state health departments to help prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the money will be distributed through cooperative agreements to 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico to maximize prevention efforts such as:

* Creating or expanding state and local efforts to implement recommendations in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HAI Action Plan

* Increasing health care facilities' and health departments' use of CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network, a surveillance system that allows HAI data to be tracked, analyzed and compared for prevention efforts

* Hiring and training public health staff to promote and lead HAI prevention initiatives

* Complementing HAI investments from other HHS agencies

"Americans expect to get better when they go to the hospital, not worse" said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "Unfortunately, every year, thousands of Americans die from illness they contract after they enter the hospital. Thanks to Chairman David Obey's leadership, the Recovery Act includes critical resources that will help fight these infections and keep patients safe."

Efforts will focus on HHS priority targets such as bloodstream infections, surgical site infections and catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and will address pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (C. diff). The investment represents the first time Congress has appropriated HAI prevention funds specifically to states.

"We expect these programs to strengthen tracking and prevention of healthcare-associated infections, enhance facility accountability, provide data for informed policy, and ultimately save lives," said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. "Funding critical prevention efforts at state and local levels represents a significant investment toward elimination of HAIs and improved patient safety."

CDC estimates that every year, Americans contract 1.7 million infections while being treated in hospitals. These infections are associated with approximately 99,000 deaths annually. In addition to the significant toll on patients' lives, HAIs represent an estimated $30 billion in added healthcare costs.

HHS has addressed HAIs by coordinating efforts across the Department and creating the HHS action plan which includes five-year national prevention targets to reduce and prevent much of the significant burden to our nation. One of the goals of the HHS Action Plan is to collaborate effectively with public and private sector partners to accomplish the large-scale prevention of HAIs.

For instance, CDC is collaborating with several states that have demonstrated that implementing CDC's HAI prevention guidelines and using NHSN to monitor progress can achieve major decreases in HAIs.

Prevention success can be characterized in a number of ways. Some states have shown quick reductions after implementing prevention efforts, and others have sustained low infection rates over an extended period of time. For example, in the first six months of 2009, compared to 2008, hospitals in Tennessee achieved a 30 percent reduction of bloodstream infections associated with central lines (a catheter, or tube, that is inserted into a major vein or artery, and that ends up close to or in the heart). In another instance, intensive care units in a New York state hospital group achieved a 70 percent reduction of central line-associated bloodstream infections and sustained these rates for a three-year period.

"Many states and localities have lacked the resources and personnel needed to appropriately address the HAI burden," said Marion Kainer, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Tennessee Department of Health Hospital Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance Program, and HAI prevention lead for the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. "This investment will provide a unique opportunity to make prevention of HAIs a national accomplishment."

Background on HAI Investments in the Recovery Act

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5 (ARRA) was signed into law on February 17, 2009. Within the Recovery Act, $50 million was appropriated to support states in the prevention and reduction of healthcare associated infections (HAI). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will use $10 million to improvethe process and frequency of inspections for ambulatory surgical centers, while CDC will allocate $40 million to states to create or expand state-based HAI prevention collaboration efforts, enhance state abilities to monitor and track HAIs, and build within health departments a workforce trained in HAI prevention. For more information on the Recovery Act: www.recovery.gov. For more information about CDC's HAI Recovery Act funding: www.cdc.gov/hai/recoveryact.
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Clayton State Preparing Students and Faculty for Possible Swine Flu Outbreak

Clayton State University’s University Health Services is encouraging the Clayton State faculty and students to be prepared for flu season.

In an all-campus email communication, Dr. Julia Spinolo, director of University Health Services and assistant professor of Nursing, had a very basic message for the faculty…

“If a student has flu like symptoms (a fever of 100.5 or greater, sore throat, runny nose, and cough) please tell them to stay home!”

Spinolo also encourages faculty members to send students who appear to be ill to University Health Services (UHS) and to plan ahead.

“Develop a plan for notification of illness. Inform your students how you wish to be notified if they have the flu. Develop a contingency plan for how you will handle the continuation of instruction should you be ill and are unable to attend or conduct class for up to two weeks,” she said. “Review your attendance policies, penalties, and make up procedures for students work. Please consider that we WANT students to stay home if they are sick, so please be lenient regarding students missing class for illness.

“Consider needed changes in your syllabus and your attendance policies. Schedule make up days for tests and project/paper due dates. Consider alternative on line assignments that do not require class attendance as an option.”

Spinolo also reminds faculty about some of the basic prevention techniques, including using hand sanitizer and proper cough technique (coughing in the inner elbow instead of hands).

A similar message will be going out to the student body early next week, in conjunction with the start of fall semester classes.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
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8/12/09 Statement from the American College of Surgeons Regarding Recent Comments from President Obama

The American College of Surgeons is deeply disturbed over the uninformed public comments President Obama continues to make about the high-quality care provided by surgeons in the United States. When the President makes statements that are incorrect or not based in fact, we think he does a disservice to the American people at a time when they want clear, understandable facts about health care reform. We want to set the record straight.

Yesterday during a town hall meeting, President Obama got his facts completely wrong. He stated that a surgeon gets paid $50,000 for a leg amputation when, in fact, Medicare pays a surgeon between $740 and $1,140 for a leg amputation. This payment also includes the evaluation of the patient on the day of the operation plus patient follow-up care that is provided for 90 days after the operation. Private insurers pay some variation of the Medicare reimbursement for this service.

Three weeks ago, the President suggested that a surgeon’s decision to remove a child’s tonsils is based on the desire to make a lot of money. That remark was ill-informed and dangerous, and we were dismayed by this characterization of the work surgeons do. Surgeons make decisions about recommending operations based on what’s right for the patient.

We agree with the President that the best thing for patients with diabetes is to manage the disease proactively to avoid the bad consequences that can occur, including blindness, stroke, and amputation. But as is the case for a person who has been treated for cancer and still needs to have a tumor removed, or a person who is in a terrible car crash and needs access to a trauma surgeon, there are times when even a perfectly managed diabetic patient needs a surgeon. The President’s remarks are truly alarming and run the risk of damaging the all-important trust between surgeons and their patients.

We assume that the President made these mistakes unintentionally, but we would urge him to have his facts correct before making another inflammatory and incorrect statement about surgeons and surgical care.

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 74,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.

Web site: www.facs.org
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Central State Hospital Taking Precautions After Confirming Case of H1N1 Virus

Central State Hospital is taking measures to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus among its patients and staff after one consumer was confirmed to be infected with the virus Tuesday night. The consumer was taken to a local medical center where doctors there identified the virus and admitted the patient for further treatment and observation. Following long-standing protocols to deal with just such a case, Central State administrators isolated the unit at the mental hospital where the patient had been cared for and have reinforced staff training to prevent the spread of the disease.

“It’s our responsibility to provide a safe environment for clients, staff, and visitors,” said Marvin Bailey, Regional Hospital Administrator for Central State Hospital. “We have a protocol in place to address incidents like the H1N1 virus and other pandemic outbreaks. Our main focus now is making sure our staff knows what to do and is taking the necessary precautions.”

The unit of the state mental hospital where the patient was being treated houses 25 consumers. As part of the isolation protocol, those consumers are receiving treatment in the unit instead of travelling to other places on the hospital campus. They’re also eating meals there, using disposable utensils to limit the exposure of other patients and staff to the virus.

Central State Hospital (CSH) and the other six state-run behavioral health facilities have documented protocols in place to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including pandemic influenza. Those plans are revised annually to address health concerns and new threats as they arise. CSH has provided protocol and preventive methods to all staff members as a standard precaution. The hospital has also taken additional safety measures by emphasizing proper covering when coughing and sneezing, keeping surfaces clean and reinforcing hand washing. CSH staff members are encouraged to remain at home if they show symptoms of illness.

For more information on H1N1 virus, please visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ .
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September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Early detection and awareness of treatment options are critical for patients.

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer and the second leading cancer killer among American men (next to lung); one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime; estimates are that approximately 30,000 men in the U.S. will die of prostate cancer this year,* but people aren’t talking about it. Dr. Vahan Kassabian of Georgia Urology is working to increase the awareness and conversation, beginning with September’s Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Prostate cancer can be a very treatable cancer, if detected before it has spread to other organs. Following a diagnosis, patients are faced with information about a variety of treatment options, from minimally invasive choices to surgery. There is no longer a gold standard for treating prostate cancer, as many variables go into determining a patient’s best treatment option, so the time following a diagnosis can be particularly scary and confusing.

“I encourage all my patients to be their own advocates and learn as much as they can about treating their prostate cancer,” said Dr. Vahan Kassabian. “I provide a solid overview of the treatments available depending on each individual’s case, but I also want to hear from my patients and what’s important to them, beyond just getting rid of the cancer.”

Following a diagnosis, prostate cancer patients should learn the answers to the following questions:

· Is my cancer confined to my prostate?
· What are the chances it has spread?
· Do I need additional tests?
· What treatment options might be suitable for me? Why?
· What is the likelihood I’ll have problems with incontinence and impotence?
· Does the likelihood decrease with any particular treatment?
· What else should I consider when deciding on a treatment?
· What are the chances of my cancer coming back with the various treatment options?
· If the cancer does come back, are all the same treatment options still available to me?

For more information about Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and Dr. Kassabian, please visit www.gaurology.com.
*American Cancer Society 2009 statistics
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U.S. News & World Report Ranks Emory Among Nation's Best Hospitals for 2009

Emory University Hospital again joins the prestigious ranks of America's top medical institutions in the annual U.S. News & World Report guide to "America's Best Hospitals."

For 2009, Emory ranked among the nation's best hospitals in 11 specialties, including five top 20 rankings. Overall, Emory is one of only 170 hospitals, out of more than 5,400 medical centers in the country to be named in even one of the magazine's top 50 specialty rankings. Emory is the only acute care hospital in Georgia named in these rankings.

Emory is recognized in this year's comprehensive report for excellence in:

Specialty Rank
Ophthalmology 9
Psychiatry 10
Geriatrics 13
Heart and Heart Surgery 13
Neurology and Neurosurgery 14
Ear, Nose and Throat 22
Kidney Disease 25
Diabetes/Endocrinology 31
Gynecology 44
Urology 44
Cancer 46

“Emory Healthcare’s rankings reflect our ongoing promise to patients and families,” says John T. Fox, Emory Healthcare president and CEO. “That promise is a relentless commitment to quality, quality defined as excellence in clinical outcomes, patient safety and service. As an academic medical center, we are committed to sharing that remarkable synergy created by breakthrough research, exceptional clinical resources and compassionate care.

“Being ranked this year in three additional subspecialty areas also reflects Emory’s commitment to recruiting staff and physicians across all subspecialties who embrace the challenge of advancing the possibilities in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease,“ Fox continues.

The U.S. News rankings in 12 of the 16 specialties weigh three elements equally: reputation, death rate, and a set of care-related factors such as nursing and patient services. In these 12 specialties, hospitals have to pass through several gates to be ranked and considered a Best Hospital:

1. The first filter determines whether a hospital is eligible to be ranked at all by requiring that any of three conditions be met--to be a teaching hospital, to be affiliated with a teaching hospital, or to have at least six important medical technologies from a defined list of 13.

2. The second filter determines whether a hospital is eligible to be ranked in a particular specialty. To be eligible, the hospital had to either have at least a specified volume in certain procedures and conditions over three years, or had to have been nominated in our yearly specialist survey.

3. The third filter is whether a hospital does well enough to be ranked, based on its reputation, death rate, and factors like nurse staffing and technology.

In the four other specialties--ophthalmology, psychiatry, rehabilitation, and rheumatology--ranking is based solely on reputation, derived from the three most recent physician surveys.
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Piedmont Fayette Hospital offers New Breast MRI Services

Piedmont Fayette Hospital is proud to offer breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services utilizing the Invivo Breast Coil and the Siemens Magnetom Espree MRI scanner. The Magnetom Espree’s extra-large opening means it can comfortably accommodate patients of all sizes and is perfect for those who get anxious or claustrophobic during an MRI or anyone who just likes more space. This enhanced technology means Fayette community members now have access to diagnostic MRI services for breast cancer in addition to regular screening and diagnostic mammograms, and breast ultrasound scanning.

Breast MRI — is an imaging technique that captures multiple cross-sectional pictures of the breast. Breast MRI involves combining the images and using a computer to generate detailed 2-D and 3-D pictures. A breast MRI isn't used routinely for breast cancer screening, but can be performed when your doctor needs more information than a mammogram, ultrasound or clinical breast exam can provide.

“Breast MRI’s should not be considered as a replacement procedure for mammograms,” said Debora Coursey-Prah, M.D., of Piedmont Fayette Hospital’s Women’s Imaging Center and board-certified radiologist. “Mammography is still a very important component of early detection, but the availability of breast MRI’s will allow us to better treat and diagnose patients so they continue to receive the best quality care possible.”

The breast MRI procedure is relatively simple and painless. It is performed through the use of a large magnet, radio waves, and a computer to process the scan information. The images created provide a comprehensive picture of the entire breast, chest wall, and surrounding tissues.

“This is a sophisticated diagnostic procedure, administered by our staff of highly-trained and experienced radiologists and technologists, using state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging equipment,” said Darrell Cutts, president and CEO Piedmont Fayette Hospital. “We are committed to providing access to the best technology we can in order to find breast cancer early and, in turn, treat it successfully.”

The American Cancer Society recommends annual MRI’s for women at high risk due to strong family history, a genetic predisposition or other reasons. As many as 1.6 million women in the U.S. fall into this high-risk category. The guidelines stress that the exams should be done in addition to annual mammograms as well as regular physical exams in the hope of driving down the death toll from the common and widely feared malignancy.

A breast MRI may be recommended if:

You've been diagnosed with breast cancer and your doctor wishes to determine the extent of the cancer.
Your doctor finds a suspicious area on your mammogram.
You or your doctor can feel a mass or other lump in your breast, but it's not detectable on mammogram or ultrasound.
You notice a breast lump or other breast change after surgery or radiation therapy and it's not detectable on mammogram or ultrasound.
Your doctor wants to monitor your opposite breast after you've been newly diagnosed or treated for breast cancer in the other breast.
You have a suspected leak or rupture of a breast implant.
You're at high risk of breast cancer, defined as a lifetime risk of 20 percent to 25 percent or greater.
You have a strong family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer.
You have very dense breast tissue and your prior breast cancer wasn't detected on mammogram.

Conversation with your physician is the best place to start. For more information on the PFH Women’s Imaging Center and breast cancer services, please call 770-719-6629 or visit http://www.fayettehospital.org/.
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Piedmont Fayette Hospital Now Offers Weekend Heart Disease Screening

Saturday Morning Appointments Available for CT Coronary Calcium Scans

Cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer of Americans according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The American Heart Association’s 2008 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report estimates that one in three American adults suffers from one or more types of cardiovascular disease. In order to increase awareness and promote early detection and education, Piedmont Fayette Hospital (PFH) is now offering CT Coronary Calcium Scans, a quick and painless method for the detection and risk assessment of coronary artery disease, on Saturday mornings.

“To better accommodate our community, we are happy to now offer this service on Saturdays,” says Dr. David Bodne of PFH. “CT Coronary Calcium Scans help physicians determine patients’ risk for heart disease, even if they do not currently have symptoms. Early detection can make an enormous difference in treating heart disease.”

A 64-slice CT (computed tomography) scanner is used for cardiac scoring, a statistical estimate of your likelihood of getting heart disease. The multi-slice scanner takes pictures of your heart and determines how much calcium build-up is in your arteries, a direct indication of heart disease. Calcium build-up is associated with atherosclerosis, which can harden the arteries and restrict the blood flow to the heart, potentially leading to a heart attack.

This simple non-invasive procedure only takes 15 minutes. The multi-slice CT scanner provides multiple images of the heart. The “slices” are actual pictures taken in tiny increments, one at a time, to get the sharpest image of the human heart.

Based on the amount of calcium build up, each patient is given a score. Typical scores range from zero to a high of 3,000. A “zero” calcium score is great news and indicates a reduced chance that a heart attack will occur. A score of 125 in any of the three coronary arteries suggests a more than 50 percent chance that there will be narrowing of at least 50 percent of the artery. After the CT scan your results and score are forwarded to your physician who will use them to assess your risk of heart disease.

PFH has a variety of cardiac and preventative health services available to patients in order to help them to lower their risk for heart disease and continue to lead healthy and active lives. These include a cardiac rehabilitation program, regular health screenings and the PFH Rehabilitation and Fitness Center.

A doctor’s referral is required for the CT Coronary Calcium Scan. Patients should consult with their physician in order to learn more about this screening. Appointments are required, as a limited number of spaces are available per Saturday. The cost of this procedure is $125 and must be paid at the time of registration. Please call 770-719-7007 to schedule an appointment, or for more information visit www.fayettehospital.org.
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Glucose Challenge Test is Accurate and Economical for Diabetes and Prediabetes Screening

A test commonly used to help identify women with diabetes during pregnancy may be an accurate, convenient and inexpensive way to screen the general population for unrecognized diabetes and prediabetes, according to Emory University researchers.

The results of the study, "Glucose challenge test screening for prediabetes and undiagnosed diabetes" will be published online and in print in the journal Diabetologia.

"Widespread use of the glucose challenge test (GCT) to screen Americans for prediabetes and diabetes could provide a major opportunity to improve the health of more than 40 million people," said lead study author Lawrence S. Phillips, MD, Emory University School of Medicine Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology.

The study screened 1,573 volunteer participants who had never been diagnosed with diabetes. At a first visit, at different times of the day and without restriction of meals, participants were given a 50-gram glucose drink. Glucose was measured both before the drink (random glucose) and an hour after the drink (GCT glucose).

At a follow-up visit held in the morning after an overnight fast, participants had measurement of hemoglobin A1c (a standard test used to monitor diabetes), and a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The OGTT is the "gold standard" for diagnosing diabetes and prediabetes.

After screening, researchers found that 4.6 percent of the participants had previously unrecognized diabetes, and 18.7 percent had prediabetes.

The GCT was the most accurate screening test for these problems, significantly better than the random glucose or A1c tests. Since the good performance of the GCT was unaffected by the time of day, or times after meals, the GCT could be performed during a routine office visit. If a patient's GCT glucose level is low, he/she wouldn't need to be screened again for another two or three years, but if the GCT glucose level is high, patients would need a confirmatory oral glucose tolerance test.

This approach is similar to screening women for diabetes during pregnancy. GCT screening is almost universal for women in their sixth month of pregnancy.

The GCT provided consistent results for a diverse group of patients – old and young, normal weight and overweight, men and women, with and without a family history of diabetes, etc. The GCT also appeared to be less expensive than other screening strategies.

Early diagnosis is a benefit both for people who have diabetes or prediabetes, and for their health care teams. Regular glucose challenge test screening (GCT first, then a follow-up OGTT if the GCT glucose is high) would be a way to assure early diagnosis, according to Phillips and team.

"Glucose challenge test screening could help improve disease management by permitting early initiation of therapy aimed at preventing or delaying the development of diabetes and its complications," says Phillips.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million U.S. children and adults, or 7.8 percent of the population, have diabetes. While an estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, 5.7 million people are unaware that they have the disease.

Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 57 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 23.6 million with diabetes.

In addition to Phillips, study authors were: David Koch, PhD, K.M. Venkat Narayan, MD, MSc, MBA, Mary Rhee, MD, Viola Vaccarino, MD, PhD, and David Ziemer, MD, of Emory University; Ranee Chatterjee, MD, of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and P. Kolm and W.S. Weintraub, of the Christiana Care Health System in Newark, Del.

The research was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Research Resources, and by the Veterans' Administration. The work was presented in part at the June 2008 national meeting of the American Diabetes Association.

Saint Joseph's Joins Landmark Study of Percutaneous Mitral Repair with the Mitraclip System

Saint Joseph’s Hospital has become a new clinical trial site for EVEREST II to evaluate the Evalve® MitraClip® system for the treatment of mitral regurgitation (MR). Cardiologists participating in the EVEREST II trial seek to repair the mitral valve non-surgically by using a catheter to place a tiny clip on the valve leaflets. A serious heart condition, MR can lead to arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, stroke and increased risk of sudden death if left untreated.

The mitral valve is a one-way valve that connects the left atrium to the left ventricle of the heart. With MR, the valve does not seal completely and blood leaks back into the left atrium. This reverse flow can cause the heart and lungs to become overloaded with fluid. Symptoms may include an audible heart murmur, shortness of breath and heart palpitations. It is estimated that four million Americans suffer from mitral valve regurgitation, with nearly 250,000 Americans diagnosed each year. According to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, 40,000 Americans undergo surgery for MR annually.

“The MitraClip device is a natural progression of research treatment options from minimally-invasive approaches, such as robotic surgery, to non-surgical valve repair for patients with MR,” says Louis Heller, MD, interventional cardiologist and Principal Investigator for EVEREST II at Saint Joseph’s Hospital.

For most patients, traditional mitral valve repair requires a surgical procedure called a sternotomy which involves making an incision in the center of the chest to reach the heart. Patients must also undergo cardiopulmonary bypass using a heart lung machine to have their valve repaired or replaced with a tissue or mechanical substitute. The open procedure typically requires a three to five day hospital stay and a lengthy recovery period following hospital discharge.

Saint Joseph’s is one of the country’s leading hospitals for robotic-assisted mitral valve repair, under the leadership of pioneering cardiothoracic surgeon, Douglas Murphy, MD. Minimally-invasive robotic-assisted surgery allows surgeons to repair the mitral valve via four or five dime-size incisions avoiding the sternotomy. Recovery is significantly faster resulting in a shorter hospital stay and a faster return to normal activities. However, patients still must be placed on cardiopulmonary bypass during the robotic procedure.

“We are moving to more minimally-invasive procedures for patients and this trial may take us a step closer to non-invasive procedures,” says Dr. Murphy. “From a patient’s view, success of the EVEREST trial may eventually offer a less invasive approach with a shortened recovery period.”

In October 2007, preliminary results were released for the initial cohort of 107 patients enrolled in the non-randomized arms of the EVEREST (Endovascular Valve Edge-to-Edge Repair Study) studies. Results demonstrated ongoing effectiveness and durability up to 36 months of follow-up (N=81), with 76 percent of patients with one or more Clips implanted experiencing a reduction to ≤ Grade 2+ MR as assessed by the Independent Core Laboratory and graded per the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines (N=107). Statistically significant reverse remodeling of the left ventricle was reported in patients with matched data 12 months after a successful MitraClip procedure (N=54). In April 2008, results from the initial EVEREST Functional MR cohort (N=23) were reported. Results demonstrated 79 percent freedom from death, surgery for valve dysfunction and MR > 2+ at 1-year with preservation of surgical options and clinical improvement in 75 percent of patients with matched data (n=12), with 58percent of patients in NYHA Class I at 1-year. EVEREST II, the Phase II safety and efficacy trial, was recently approved by the IRB at Saint Joseph’s.

With the MitraClip system, the cardiologist guides a catheter (tube) through the vascular system from the groin to the heart's mitral valve, using echocardiographic and fluoroscopic imaging to show the way. The MitraClip device, located on the tip of the catheter, is then placed on the central portion of the valve leaflets, holding them together. The heart beats normally throughout the procedure. (This percutaneous technique is based upon an open surgical method known as the edge-to-edge surgical repair or Alfieri technique, in which a surgeon sutures the valve leaflets together at the location of the leak to reduce MR). During the procedure, the physician can evaluate the clip's effectiveness in reducing MR and can reposition the device as needed.

Once satisfactory MR reduction is achieved, the clip is deployed and the catheter system removed. The patient remains under general anesthesia throughout the procedure and is usually discharged home 1-2 days later. There is no surgical wound —just a Band-Aid over the incision where the catheter was placed. Patients take clopidogrel for a month and aspirin for six months; there is usually no need for a blood thinner, such as Warfarin.

Currently, the MitraClip device is the only device in clinical trials in the United States for percutaneous valve repair. Eligible patients will be invited to participate in the EVEREST II REALISM research study which will collect additional safety and effectiveness data to support the Pre market approval application.

“Today, Saint Joseph’s is recognized as a pioneer in minimally-invasive, robotic-assisted mitral valve repair,” says Dr. Murphy. “The MitraClip system moves us closer to becoming a leader in non-invasive care.”

For more information about the EVEREST II trial, call the Saint Joseph’s Research Institute clinical coordinator at 678-843-6165 or visit mitralregurgitation.org.
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Cancer Wellness at Piedmont Fayette Hospital Offers Cancer WellFit™

Cancer Wellness at Piedmont Fayette Hospital offers Cancer WellFitTM as part of Get a Move On, a combination nutrition and exercise program for breast cancer patients and survivors. Recent studies show the tremendous benefits a healthy diet and regular exercise can have for breast cancer survivors in reducing both the severity and rate of recurrence of the disease. Cancer WellFitTM is a safe, inviting exercise program to improve the physical health and quality of life for people with cancer.

The program offers eligible participants one-on-one exercise consultations with a degreed exercise physiologist plus twice weekly group exercise classes. The program is offered on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. in the PFH Rehabilitation and Fitness Center in the Fayette Professional Center, directly across from the hospital.

To register call 770-719-7290 or for more information visit piedmontcancerconnection.org or fayettehospital.org.
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Cancer Wellness at Piedmont’s Programs and Services for July

Comprehensive Complimentary Services Offered to Anyone Affected by Cancer

Cancer Wellness at Piedmont offers comprehensive services and programs for anyone affected by cancer at any phase in his or her journey. All programs take place at Cancer Wellness at Piedmont, located in the Piedmont Hospital Cancer Center at Piedmont West Medical Office Park, 1800 Howell Mill Road, Suite 700, Atlanta, GA 30318. For more information please visit piedmontcancerconnection.org or, to make a reservation for one of the classes listed below, call 404-425-7944, and please indicate which classes you plan to attend.

Classes offered every month include: Cancer Wellfit©, Gentle Yoga, Art Therapy, Guided Imagery and Relaxation for Optimal Health, Mindfulness Training 101 & 201, Breast Cancer Support, Gynecological Cancer Support, and A Guy’s Group.
Some special events for July:

The Life Lessons and Sacred Truths of the Chakras – Level 1 – This experiential workshop will introduce you to the seven sacred chakras. Explore and practice gentle yoga poses, meditation, breathwork, mantras and energy psychology principles that help you open and balance your mind, body and spirit energetically. Join Angela Buttimer, LPC, RYT, and Jody D. Iodice, Ph.D., on Wednesday, July 1, from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. (lunch provided) and on Tuesday, July 21, from 5 to 8:15 p.m.

Becoming Grounded By Going Around in Circles – A Mandala Workshop - Join Edna Bacon, ATR, to examine the use of mandalas all over the world through the ages. A mandala is an artistic representation of the cosmos and a focus for meditation consisting of geometric designs and circles. Create mandalas individually and as a group with a variety of materials and consider the meaning they have for you. Friday, July 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (lunch provided)

Plan Your Escape! – In collaboration with Pink Heals Foundation, Inc., Lisa Vingerling guides you on an evening of escape. Sip cocktails and enjoy worldly tapas and beautiful scenery. A guest photographer will show you how to take beautiful photographs with your own camera. Prepare to be inspired and leave ready to Plan Your Escape! Thursday, July 30, from 6:45 to 8 p.m. Please register by e-mailing RSVP@pinkheals.org.

For more information and a full list of classes please visit piedmontcancerconnection.org.
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Piedmont Physicians Group Welcomes Eden Fleming English, M.D.

New Location Opening in Ball Ground

Piedmont Physicians Group (PPG) welcomes Eden Fleming English, M.D., to its healthcare team beginning July 13. She will be opening a new PPG location at 470 Valley Street, Ball Ground, GA 30107.

Dr. English is an experienced physician specializing in internal medicine for adolescents and adults ranging in age from 16 and older. Her special interests include diabetes care, weight management and women’s health issues. She received her Bachelor of Science from Tufts University in Medford, Mass. and earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Ga. She then completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Atlanta Medical Center.

Prior to joining Piedmont Physicians, Dr. English practiced at WellStar Cobb Medical Group and WellStar Physicians Group in Austell, Ga. She is also board-certified in internal medicine and a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Medical Association.

“We are very excited to have Dr. English joining us, and are thrilled to be opening Piedmont Physicians at Ball Ground,” said Berney Crane, CEO of Piedmont Medical Care Corporation, the administrative parent corporation of the Piedmont Physicians Group. “She brings new energy and expertise to the Piedmont Healthcare family.”

Dr. English accepts most major insurance plans and is available for appointments beginning Monday, July 13. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, please call 678-454-6800. For more information visit piedmontphysicians.org.
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Kaiser Permanente of Georgia Continuing Medical Education Receives Recognition from Medical Association of Georgia

CME Program Becomes First in State to Receive This Honor

The Southeast Permanente Medical Group of Georgia, Inc. (TSPMG) has been honored with the highest possible accreditation status by the Medical Association of Georgia. TSPMG, which exclusively treats Kaiser Permanente patients in Georgia, was honored with “accreditation with commendation” for a 6-year term.

In garnering the honor, the TSPMG Office of Continuing Medical Education (CME) demonstrated excellence in all 15 basic criteria areas plus the seven optional criteria required for accreditation with commendation.

Kaiser Permanente is the first in the state to receive accreditation with commendation for a 6-year term under new, more stringent criteria. MAG is granted authority to accredit intrastate CME providers by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Nearly 50 Georgia health care organizations apply for accreditation.

“The Office of CME strives to offer quality continuing medical education activities and considers it an honor to be recognized as one of the best in the state of Georgia”, said Sandra Gauthier, manager of Continuing Medical Education for TSPMG.

“We feel it is not enough to only have excellent CME activities, but also to be able to measure whether or not they make a difference in patient care,” she added. “The participation of CME Committee members, medical group leadership and the support and hard work of our dedicated staff made this recognition possible.”
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Hearsay: How to remove a tick

A School Nurse has written the info below -- good enough to share -- And it really works!!

I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick.. This is great, because it works in those places where it's some times difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.

Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20), the tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away. This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me.

Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way.

I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this method and immediately called me back to say, "It worked!"

Note: We received the above via email and have not tried it. According to all we've read, the only safe way to remove a tick is with tweezers, etc. If you try this and it works, let us know!

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