News from Piedmont Healthcare

Matthew J. Schreiber, M.D., Named Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Piedmont Hospital

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

ATLANTA (November 12, 2009) – Matthew J. Schreiber, M.D., has been named vice president and chief medical officer for Piedmont Hospital, effective November 1, 2009. He is responsible for the functions and overall coordination of all aspects of hospital medical staff affairs including physician/allied health practitioner credentialing, medical staff office, medical staff development plan, quality management, Joint Commission readiness, inpatient medicine service (hospitalist program) and the critical care/intensivist program.

“During the past seven months, Dr. Schreiber has ably and effectively served as interim vice president and chief medical officer at Piedmont Hospital,” said Robert W. Maynard, president and chief executive officer of Piedmont Hospital. “Since 2003, he has served in various leadership and clinical roles within Piedmont Healthcare. We are pleased to have him as a permanent member of the Piedmont Hospital leadership team.”

Dr. Schreiber’s positions with Piedmont Healthcare during the past six years have included medical director for hospitalist services at Piedmont Healthcare; medical director of case management and chairman of utilization management committee at Piedmont Hospital; physician board member of Piedmont Medical Care Corporation and the Piedmont Clinic. In addition, he has served on the physician leadership cabinet of Piedmont Healthcare and as a hospitalist at both Piedmont Hospital and Piedmont Mountainside Hospital. Dr. Schreiber also practiced internal medicine in Jasper, Georgia, for several years before joining Piedmont Healthcare.

Dr. Schreiber holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations and met pre-med requirements at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. He earned a doctor of medicine from New York State/Sackler School of Medicine and completed a combined internal medicine/pediatrics residency at the University of California in San Diego. He is board-certified by both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Schreiber and his wife, Alisha, reside in Kennesaw, Georgia, with their two children.

Piedmont Bariatrics Offers Informational Seminars on Weight Loss Surgery

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

A Multi-disciplinary Approach to Weight Loss

ATLANTA (Nov. 04, 2009) – Are you one of the 28 percent of Georgians suffering from obesity? You’ve tried everything you can think of but can’t seem to keep the weight off? Attend a free seminar to learn about proven, tested and permanent solutions to long lasting weight loss surgery options at Piedmont Bariatrics led by one of Piedmont Hospital’s bariatric surgeons. Classes are free and offered the first and third Wednesday of every month from 4 to 5 p.m. in Classroom 7 of the 77 Building, Piedmont Hospital, 1968 Peachtree Road, N.W., Atlanta, 30309.

Beginning November 21, 2009, Piedmont also will offer the informational seminars on the third Saturday of every month from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in Classroom 8 of the 77 Building.

Piedmont Bariatrics’ team can help you live a healthier life without obesity. The team consists of two dedicated board-certified and fellowship-trained bariatric surgeons as well as specialists in nutrition, exercise and sleep apnea who help participants develop effective weight loss solutions before and after surgery.

For more information, or to register for an informational seminar, call 866-900-4321 or visit piedmontbariatrics.org.

Piedmont Hospital Launches Satellite Transplant Offices throughout Georgia

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Piedmont Hospital’s Transplant Services Continues to Enhance Patient Care By Launching Satellite Offices throughout Georgia

Brings Dalton Its First Transplant Clinic

DALTON, Ga. (Oct. 27, 2009) – Piedmont Hospital Transplant Services is pleased to announce the opening of a new satellite transplant clinic in Dalton, Ga., on Friday, October 23. This facility will support continued efforts to enhance patient access to transplantation evaluation and follow-up care with strategically located satellite clinics throughout the state of Georgia.

These area clinics will make access to care more convenient for those patients who live long distances from Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta and reduce the initial evaluation time for kidney transplant candidates from two days to one.

“We are pleased and privileged to bring Dalton its first transplant clinic, increasing access to services for transplant patients across north Georgia and southeastern Tennessee,” said Mark Johnson, M.D., program director of Piedmont’s Transplant Services. “This clinic will provide pre- and post-transplant care to end-stage kidney and pancreas patients.”

Piedmont’s first satellite clinic opened in Savannah, Ga., in December 2007, and a second clinic opened in Albany, Ga., in February 2009. Each clinic offers education classes for those interested in the advantages and risks of transplantation, provides extensive information about the costs of post-transplant medication and how one can plan to meet those costs. Initial candidate screenings will be performed by a transplant physician and/or nurse specialist, allowing patients with potential disqualifying issues to take corrective action before making an appointment for a full evaluation at the Piedmont Hospital Mason Transplant Clinic in Atlanta.

Piedmont Hospital has one of only two adult liver transplant programs and one of three kidney/pancreas transplant programs in Georgia.

The new satellite transplant clinic in Dalton is located at 1109 Burleyson Road, Suite 101 Dalton, GA 30720, and will initially offer services for those with kidney and pancreas disease. For more information on the Piedmont Hospital Transplant Services Dalton Satellite Clinic, call 888-605-5888.

Get Paid to Work Out!

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Sounds like one of those “too good to be true” gimmicks, but it’s not. Radiant Reflections and the Piedmont Health & Fitness Club are partnering together to offer an exclusive members-only benefit beginning in October. The “Work out and Cash-in!” rewards program is designed to assist you in improving your quality of life! Being exposed to the physical and emotional stress in life, we believe it is imperative to take preventive action by integrating a daily workout regimen with getting regular massage treatments. That’s why we will pay you with massage dollars. Not only does it benefit your physical and emotional well-being, but now your wallet benefits, too.

Here’s How It Works

Every time you come to the Club and swipe your membership card, you’ll be logging your workouts for massage dollars. Work out a minimum of twice per week to begin earning your massage dollars. The number of massage dollars you earn is completely up to you. When you are ready to cash in and use your massage dollars you will simply ask the front desk for a print out of your PHHFC registered log-ins. Apply them toward any 30-minute, 60-minute, 90-minute deep- tissue, pregnancy, hot stone, sports or neuromuscular massage therapy treatment that Radiant Reflections offers. You may also apply your massage dollars towards the purchase of a gift certificate.

Now it’s time to work out and begin to cash in! Not a member of the Piedmont Hospital Health and Fitness Club yet? Come by the front desk of the Club to obtain your membership and reap the rewards of this new program. The PHHFC is located on the ground floor, suite 100 of the 2001 building.

We look forward to partnering with you as you strive for your best health yet! For reward program questions, and to schedule your massage contact:

Radiant Reflections 404.605.1982

Radiant Reflections is Piedmont Hospital’s exclusive partner in providing Neuromuscular, massage and spa wellness therapies to all hospital employees and members of the Piedmont Health & Fitness Club.

(Please note: This offer cannot be combined with any other program, discount or promotion that Radiant Reflections has extended to any one person, employee or organization. The maximum amount of massage dollars that may be applied to any listed service at a time is $20. To view a detailed list of all our services please visit us online at www.RadiantReflections.com )

Piedmont Hospital Receives 2010 Specialty Excellence Awards for Cardiac Care and Coronary Intervention

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

HealthGrades’ 12th Annual Hospital Quality in America Study Ranks Piedmont Hospital Among Top 10% Nationally

ATLANTA (October 13, 2009) – Piedmont Hospital today announced that it has received 2010 specialty excellence awards for Cardiac Care and Coronary Intervention from HealthGrades®, the healthcare ratings company. The awards place Piedmont Hospital’s clinical outcomes in the top 10 percent nationally. In addition, Piedmont was ranked Best in Atlanta for Overall Cardiac Care, Cardiac Surgery and Coronary Intervention.

Piedmont Hospital received five-star ratings in the categories of treatment of heart attack, coronary intervention, congestive heart attack and bypass surgery. Piedmont’ outcomes place it among the top three 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,” said Robert W. Maynard, president and CEO. “We place a high priority on quality, and these rankings reflect our commitment to providing the highest quality of care to our patients.”

In 2008, Piedmont Hospital celebrated 20 years of open-heart surgery and cardiac angioplasty. The Fuqua Heart Center of Atlanta at Piedmont Hospital offers a full spectrum of integrated cardiovascular care from initial testing to post-surgery recovery, including nationally accredited programs in cardiac rehabilitation, echocardiology, peripheral vascular and congestive heart failure. Together with the Fuqua Heart Center, the Piedmont Heart Institute (PHI) aims to propel new programs in cardiovascular research, education and excellence in prevention, arrhythmias, coronary and vascular intervention, cardiac surgery, stroke and cardiac imaging, as well as all other cardiovascular care components. PHI now includes more than 75 cardiovascular specialists in over 30 offices across north Georgia.

The specialty excellence award for outstanding cardiac care given to Piedmont Hospital was released in conjunction with the 12th annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study, which reviewed mortality rates and complication rates based on an analysis of more than 40 million Medicare hospitalization records submitted by the nation’s approximately 5,000 non-federal hospitals during 2006, 2007 and 2008.

According to the study, top-performing hospitals had dramatically lower mortality rates than other hospitals. For the 17 procedures and diagnoses for which HealthGrades analyzed mortality rates, patients at top hospitals had a 72 percent lower chance of dying when compared with the lowest-performing hospitals, and a 52 percent lower chance of dying when compared to the U.S. national average.

For 28 procedures and treatments, HealthGrades issues star ratings that reflect the mortality and complication rates for each category of care. Hospitals receiving a 5-star rating have mortality or complication rates that are below the national average, to a statistically significant degree. A 3-star rating means the hospital performs as expected. One-star ratings indicate the hospital’s mortality or complication rates in that procedure or treatment are statistically higher than average. Because the risk profiles of patient populations at hospitals are not alike, HealthGrades risk-adjusts the data to allow for apples-to-apples comparisons.

More information on HealthGrades study, including the complete methodology, can be found at www.healthgrades.com.

Piedmont Hospital Receives Federal Grant to Expand Geriatric Education and Training Program

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Award is First Health Resources and Services Administration Grant for Hospital

ATLANTA (September 17, 2009) – Piedmont Hospital has received a three-year, $450,000 federal grant that will enable it to expand its successful geriatric education and training program for acute care nurses. Training now will be available to acute care nurses at its three sister Piedmont Healthcare hospitals, emergency department nurses at all four hospitals as well as long-term care and rehabilitation facility nurses outside the Piedmont organization.

The grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is the first HRSA grant ever received by Piedmont. It will fund the Piedmont Healthcare Geriatric Education and Training Program expansion at Piedmont Hospital, a 481-bed hospital in Buckhead; Piedmont Fayette Hospital, a 143-bed acute-care community hospital in Fayetteville; Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, a 42-bed community hospital in Jasper; and Piedmont Newnan Hospital, a 143-bed, acute-care community hospital in Newnan.

“Piedmont Hospital is proud to receive this recognition of our excellence in geriatric education and training and support of our commitment to patients of all ages,” said Robert W. Maynard, president and CEO of Piedmont Hospital. “While the program’s target audience includes acute care, emergency department and long-term care and rehabilitation nurses, those who will ultimately benefit from this program are older patients throughout the metro Atlanta area.”

To date, the geriatric education and training program has trained 108 acute care nurses at Piedmont Hospital as geriatric resource nurses. Program leaders estimate that 240 registered nurses will be trained in geriatric-specific care during the three-year grant period. Based on current patient loads at PHC facilities and on population growth predictors, it is estimated that this training program will impact at least 84,000 older patients.

The Piedmont Healthcare Geriatric Education and Training Program follows the Healthy People 2010 goal of improving access to quality geriatric care across the healthcare continuum and builds on the successful replication of the Hartford Institute’s NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) training program introduced by Piedmont’s Sixty Plus Older Adult Services Program in 2005.

Flu Vaccine Clarification - supplies for public vaccination remain adequate

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Due to an issue across the nation of hospitals only receiving half of the seasonal flu vaccine doses ordered to vaccinate hospital employees, Piedmont Hospital is short 950 doses ordered for employees. Piedmont Hospital has already vaccinated 1550 of the 3,800 employees who work at the Buckhead hospital.

Piedmont Hospital has been vaccinating patients who have not received the vaccine and would like a seasonal flu shot since September 1st and has enough vaccine to provide seasonal flu shots to patients who need and want one through flu season.

Piedmont Heart Institute Welcomes Randy Martin, M.D.

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

ATLANTA (September 14, 2009) – Piedmont Heart Institute (PHI) is pleased to welcome Randy Martin, M.D., well-known television health expert and cardiovascular specialist, to its family of physicians. Dr. Martin joins PHI as director of clinical education and physician development, effective September 14, 2009.

“Piedmont Hospital celebrated 20 years of open-heart surgery and cardiac angioplasty in 2008. Our physicians have set and sustained a high standard of care, and Piedmont Heart Institute is pleased to welcome Dr. Martin to our family,” said Michele Molden, president and CEO of Piedmont Heart Institute. “Dr. Martin’s decision to join PHI is recognition of Piedmont’s legacy of delivering exceptional cardiovascular care to our patients.”

Piedmont Hospital was named Best in Atlanta for Overall Cardiac Care and Cardiac Surgery (2008 and 2009) by HealthGrades®, and in particular, received the 2009 Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award, placing the hospital's clinical outcomes in the top 10 percent nationally. In addition, Piedmont Hospital also received five-star ratings for coronary bypass surgery, treatment of heart attack and treatment of heart failure. Piedmont's outcomes placed it among the top five hospitals in Georgia for cardiac surgery, cardiology and overall cardiac services.

Piedmont Heart Institute was established in 2007 and brings together more than 65 cardiovascular specialists and the Fuqua Heart Center of Atlanta at Piedmont Hospital to propel new programs in cardiovascular research, education and excellence in prevention, arrhythmias, coronary and vascular intervention, cardiac surgery, stroke and cardiac imaging, as well as all other cardiovascular care components.

At the Piedmont Heart Institute, Dr. Martin will help coordinate growth of the PHI prevention center of excellence, assist in managing the growth and expansion of echocardiography services by acting as director, and continue in his role as an educator and advocate for greater public awareness of heart health.

Dr. Martin earned his medical degree from Emory University Medical School, graduating summa cum laude from the school of medicine. He then trained in internal medicine and cardiology at Stanford University Medical School where he became one of the pioneers in the field of two-dimensional echocardiography.

Dr. Martin has held positions at the Stanford Medical Center of Stanford, Ca., where he was assistant professor of medicine and co-director of the noninvasive lab; the University of Virginia Medical School, in Charlottesville, Va., where he was one of the innovators in the use of Doppler echocardiography in the United States; and served on the faculty of the Mayo Medical School where he was a consultative cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and associate professor of medicine.

Dr. Martin returned to Emory University and Emory Clinic to become a professor of medicine in their division of cardiology, and director of noninvasive cardiology at the Emory University School of Medicine. He served as associate dean for clinical development of Emory University School of Medicine from 1991-2003 and associate clinic director from 1991 to 1996.

Dr. Martin has over 160 publications to his credit in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks, and has served and currently serves on the editorial boards of some of the most prestigious cardiovascular journals, including the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the American Journal of Cardiology, JACC Cardiovascular Imaging, and the Journal of Cardiology – the official journal of the Japanese College of Cardiology.

He is a past president of the American Society of Echocardiography and is very active in professional education. He lectures extensively throughout the world and for 21 years has served as the host/moderator of the world’s largest professional medical tele-education program, “Echo in Context.”

Dr. Martin is known for his interest in consumer education. Since 1994, he has served as the director of Emory’s Mini-Medical School, a nearly year-long course for consumers to emulate medical school experience.

For more than 10 years, he served as the sole medical correspondent for Cox Television’s ABC affiliate, WSB-TV, Channel-2, appearing two to three times a week on the news. He has been awarded multiple broadcast awards, including three Emmy nominations, and he won the American Heart Association’s Howard L. Lewis Lifetime Achievement Award for Health Science Reporting – the first physician television journalist to do so.

Dr. Martin is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, and has been elected to the “Best Doctors in Atlanta,” “Best Doctors in the United States” and “Who’s Who.” In 2007, Dr. Martin was honored by his international colleagues, who awarded him both the International Service and Scholarship Award, presented by the European Society of Echocardiography, in Lisbon, Portugal, and the Leadership Award of the Japanese Society of Echocardiography, awarded in Nagano, Japan.

Media Statement Regarding Gwinnett Medical Center Open-heart Surgery Certificate of Need

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

September 9, 2009

CONTACT: Diana Lewis

404-605-3372

For almost two years, we have carefully tracked the Certificate of Need application for a new open-heart surgery program at Gwinnett Medical Center. This process has yielded approval, denial, and approval, with the issue still pending. It is the responsibility of the Georgia Department of Community Health and its Commissioner to protect the health and welfare of the citizens of Georgia with access to affordable, quality healthcare across the state. While our reasons for pursuing appeal remain unchanged, today we've decided to accept the decisions made by the Department of Community Health and its Commissioner and withdraw our petition for judicial review in Fulton County Superior Court.

We have endured attacks on our motives and accusations that were just not true. We still believe that a new program at Gwinnett Medical Center could erode the overall quality of existing open-heart surgery programs because hospitals need to perform a high number of these procedures to maintain quality. That's not just an opinion, but rather a scientifically proven fact that is accepted across the country.

Standing up for quality patient care isn't always the popular thing to do, and it can draw criticism from people who have other agendas. In this situation, we stand behind the fact that we've done the right things for the right reasons.

From the beginning, Piedmont has opposed this new program because of the impact on quality patient care -- no other reason. We want what's best for people in Gwinnett, and we still believe that means accessing the high quality open-heart program at Piedmont or one of the other existing programs in metro Atlanta. However, if Gwinnett goes forward with its new program, Piedmont will continue to welcome patients from Gwinnett and other communities because of the world-class heart care and open-heart surgery available here.

Piedmont Hospital Statement regarding Gwinnett Open Heart CON Appeal August 17, 2009

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Piedmont Hospital filed for appellate review in Fulton County Superior Court to seek the court’s review of the application of law in the state’s July decision regarding the CON application

Piedmont Hospital Named 2009 Most Wired Hospital for Sixth Consecutive Year

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

ATLANTA (July 14, 2009) – Piedmont Hospital has been named one of the nation’s Most Wired hospitals, according to the results of the 2009 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study released in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. Three of the five Georgia hospitals named to the list are part of the Piedmont Healthcare system.

Piedmont Hospital has been named for six consecutive years, while Piedmont Fayette Hospital, also a winner this year, has been recognized for five consecutive years. Both hospitals are the only two in the metro Atlanta area to be named to the 2009 list. This is the second year for Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in Jasper, Ga., to be named in the small and rural category.

“We are proud the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study has recognized Piedmont Hospital for the sixth year in a row as a Most Wired hospital,” said Robert Maynard, president and CEO of Piedmont Hospital. “This recognition shows our dedication to quality and excellence in the use of information technology to improve patient care and safety.”

The Most Wired Survey is conducted annually by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, the journal of the American Hospital Association, which uses the results to name the 100 Most Wired hospitals and health systems. It focuses on how the nation’s hospitals use information technologies for quality, customer service, public health and safety, business processes and workforce issues.

“The economic slowdown is forcing hospitals to look closely at IT spending,” says Alden Solovy, executive editor of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. “Most Wired hospitals are doing their best to stay the course.”

To complicate matters, the great unknown of healthcare reform looms in the near future and a number of regulatory changes are already heading down the pike, including the shift to ICD-10, which hospitals use to code the signs, symptoms and causes of injury or diseases.

“As the health reform debate continues, it’s clear that IT will play an even more important role in the health system of tomorrow,” says Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association (AHA). “Most Wired hospitals help illustrate IT in action—improving efficiency, quality and safety of care while helping to control costs.”

Hospitals also continue to invest in IT that supports quality and safety initiatives. Investment in electronic medication management is considered one of the fundamentals of using IT to improve care. The 2009 Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study shows an overall increase in both provider order entry of medications and electronic bedside matching at the time medications are administered.

Hospitals & Health Networks conducted the 2009 survey in cooperation with McKesson Corp. and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives. The July H&HN cover story detailing results is available at www.hhnmag.com.

Pancreatic Cancer Research at Piedmont

Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

by Charles A. Henderson, M.D., medical oncologist

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest of all cancer types. In 2009, there will be approximately 35,000 new cases and 34,000 deaths from cancer of the pancreas. Despite significant progress in detection and treatment of many other types of cancer, there has been very little progress in the area of pancreatic cancer. The only hope of a cure is with surgical excision, and yet only 15 percent of patients who present with cancer of the pancreas are candidates for surgery, and the majority of those will relapse after surgery.

Given these discouraging facts, the Piedmont Oncology Program has embarked on a mission to improve our current standards of care in pancreatic cancer. A core feature of this mission is a weekly multidisciplinary cancer conference devoted to hepatobiliary and pancreas cancer. This conference is attended by radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, hepatobiliary surgeons, gastroenterologists, and diagnostic and interventional radiologists. Cases are presented prospectively and specific details of each case are reviewed and discussed. The medical condition of the patient and various treatment approaches are evaluated with a consensus reached for the best course of action. This approach has multiple advantages in that it provides the patient with a greater range of opinions that enhances their care, while simultaneously functioning as a forum for discussion of the overview of pancreatic cancer care within the healthcare system.

A second feature of our mission to improve pancreatic cancer care is our rich tradition of clinical research. Community-based clinical trials are a vital element of the cancer care available at Piedmont Healthcare. The Piedmont Healthcare Research Institute (PHRI) and its participating medical oncologists maintain a portfolio of clinical trials for pancreatic cancer including cooperative study group trials and cutting-edge clinical studies sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry. These research trials evaluate new medicines and technologies for screening, diagnosing and treating pancreatic cancer. They are the primary avenue of patient access to a greater range of options and access to the latest A2 piedmont innovative treatments, therapies and medical technologies. We strive to maintain research options for every stage of pancreatic cancer. Our participation and accrual to these trials has established our reputation as a center of excellence in trials for cancer of the pancreas.

Additionally, Piedmont Hospital has become a member of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Team (PCRT). PCRT is a multi-disciplined group of preeminent researchers dedicated to organizing and accelerating the clinical development of new agents for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer. PCRT’s members include laboratory and clinical researchers who share the passion to bring new advances to patients with pancreatic cancer as rapidly as possible. The group provides the only coordinated effort in the world dedicated to rapidly translating research discoveries into new treatments and supportive care for patients with pancreatic cancer. This collaboration of researchers is unified in the goal of establishing effective new treatment paradigms in pancreas cancer. The trials available through the PCRT study novel chemotherapeutic agents, biologic agents and vaccines in an effort to broadly target pancreas cancer using a variety of innovative approaches.

Pancreas cancer has remained a very stubborn opponent. It is our hope that through these focused efforts we can achieve our goal of improving outcomes in diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.

For more information on pancreatic cancer research at Piedmont or to learn more about the Piedmont Healthcare Research Institute, visit piedmont.org and click on “Learn more about the Piedmont Promise” or email phri@piedmont.org.hospital.org.

A Skin Cancer Diagnosis for a Bride: Her advice during Skin Cancer Awareness Month

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Piedmont Hospital Hosts Free Skin Cancer Screening

ATLANTA (May 12, 2009) – Every girl dreams of her perfect wedding day, including 27-year-old Brookhaven resident Jessica Cavey. She diligently checks items off of her wedding “to-do” list – photographer, caterer, flowers; but there is one item not on most brides’ lists – skin cancer treatment.

With her upcoming June wedding, Cavey was shocked at her diagnosis of basal skin cancer by Piedmont Hospital dermatologist, Jodi Ganz, M.D., in January of this year. Self-proclaimed a sun worshipper and tanning bed goddess, Cavey couldn’t imagine not being tan or in her words “having December skin.”

“I used to be the girl who went to tanning beds after lying out in the sun for hours,” said Cavey. “In high school, I would stay home from school the Friday before prom to lie out in the sun and then go to the tanning bed because I thought I looked thinner and healthier when I was tan.” Cavey now doesn’t leave her house without applying a minimum of SPF 30 sunscreen.

More than 90 percent of skin cancers are caused by sun exposure and more than 800,000 basal skin cancer diagnoses, such as Cavey’s, are made each year. With summer just around the corner, everyone needs to take precautions to protect their skin. Piedmont Hospital is hosting a free skin cancer screening Saturday, May 16, from 8 a.m. to noon on the 5th floor of the 77 Building at Piedmont Hospital 1968 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA 30309. Call 866-900-4321 for more information. Dermatologists and physician assistants will be screening “exposed skin” only, so wear appropriate attire, such as shorts and sleeveless shirts. Come by and pick-up free sun screen samples and register to win goodies and a complimentary beauty service package. Parking is available in the North Parking Deck behind the hospital.

“With careful inspection of the skin, most skin cancer can be found early and treated successfully,” said Dr. Ganz. “Early detection is key in the treatment process; however by taking simple sun safety precautions, many skin cancers can be prevented.”

Skin cancers are divided into two major groups. Cancers that start from the pigment-making cells of the skin (the melanocytes) are called melanomas. The second main type is called keratinocyte carcinomas or keratinocyte cancers because their cells look a lot like keratinocytes (the cells found most often in normal skin). Carcinoma is a medical word for a cancer that starts in a lining layer of cells such as the skin or the lining cells of the digestive system. There are many types of keratinocyte cancer, but the two most common types are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Cavey’s basal skin cancer was caught early and Dr. Ganz was able to treat her with a topical lotion used for approximately six weeks. With only minor itching, scabbing and soreness, the affected area healed quickly and now Cavey says “it’s hard to find the spot.”

“I want to tell my story in hopes of preventing a skin cancer diagnosis for other young women. From my experience, you think you look healthier and thinner when you lie out without sunscreen or go to the tanning bed, but it’s really only making you more unhealthy,” said Cavey. “It is not worth it in the long run.”

Piedmont Hospital Increases Access to Breast Health Services

Fri, 8 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Thanks to Susan G. Komen Grants

ATLANTA (May 8, 2009) -- Piedmont Hospital received grants from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Atlanta Affiliate to support the hospital’s efforts to provide breast cancer screening and diagnostic services to the uninsured and underinsured women of the greater Atlanta area. These grants also help uninsured and underinsured women gain access to genetic screening and counseling services.

“Piedmont is committed to providing world-class breast health services to all women, and this increased funding will help us serve even more members of the greater Atlanta community,” said Jeffrey Allen, M.D., medical director of the Doris Shaheen Breast Health Center at Piedmont Hospital. “As we continue striving to ensure underserved women in our area receive quality healthcare, we are extremely grateful for the support provided by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Atlanta Affiliate.”

A 2008 survey conducted by Komen Atlanta illustrated the marked underutilization of breast services in the Atlanta area by African-American and Latino women as well as indigent women of all races.

The $325,000, which was awarded to Piedmont Hospital and Piedmont Fayette Hospital, is an increase of $196,000 over the last program year and should help the hospitals serve a combined total of 800 additional patients. At Piedmont Hospital, the funding will be used to provide:

advanced breast cancer screening and diagnostic services by the Doris Shaheen Breast Health Center; and
genetic counseling and testing to individuals who are at high-risk of developing breast cancer.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital received grants to fund a nutrition and exercise program for breast cancer patients and to hire a nurse to help breast cancer patients navigate the complexities of the healthcare system, a service that Piedmont Hospital also provides.

Services provided under the Komen Atlanta grants are free to patients who meet certain income and residency requirements. Patients should be referred by a physician or can complete a form to see if they qualify at www.piedmonthospital.org/komen or www.fayettehospital.org/komen. If a patient qualifies and doesn’t have a physician, she will receive help finding a physician to follow her care. To learn more about the program and to check qualifications, call Brenda Kelly at 404-605-4427.

This year, Komen Atlanta awarded $2.3 million to 28 organizations in its 10-county service area. For more information on Susan G Komen for the Cure Greater Atlanta Affiliate or grants in your area, visit www.komenatlanta.org.

Swine Flu Update

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

As a leading healthcare provider Piedmont Healthcare is actively monitoring the Swine Flu (H1N1) outbreak and reporting relevant information to the community. Piedmont also is educating its workforce about necessary precautions, preventive measures and the proper response measures in the event of a local outbreak.

All the hospitals within the Piedmont Healthcare system have emergency management plans that address provision of care during an influx of infectious patients. Each facility has made appropriate preparations for rapid response to an increased number of patients presenting with influenza-like-illness or other potentially infectious disease. In addition to increased internal communications and education, we are continuously evaluating our inventory of supplies that might be needed in the event of a major outbreak, such as masks, gowns, respirators, and patient care items and equipment.

The U.S. government has declared a public health emergency and the World Health Organization issued a Phase 5 alert which is "a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.” The CDC has launched an ongoing investigation to determine the appropriate response.

For your safety, Piedmont hospitals want to protect you and your loved ones. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

fever of 100 degrees (F) or greater
cough
sore throat
diarrhea

please consider not visiting your friends or family who may be patients in the hospital. You may also wish to consult your physician in the best interest of your own health. If you must enter the hospital, please clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer, put on a mask, and notify a member of our healthcare team of your symptoms so that we can make sure everyone is safe and well-protected during this time.

For more information about the swine flu outbreak please visit the following links:

Swine Flu FAQ

What is swine flu?

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.

Are there human infections with swine flu in the U.S.?

In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. Other U.S. states have reported cases of swine flu infection in humans and cases have been reported internationally as well. An updated case count of confirmed swine flu infections in the United States is kept at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation.

Is this swine flu virus contagious?

CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does swine flu spread?

Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

How can someone with the flu infect someone else?

Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?

First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?

Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?

People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?

Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

How long can viruses live outside the body?

We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent handwashing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?

If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water. or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. we recommend that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?

If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting

How serious is swine flu infection?

Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring. However, swine flu infection can be serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died 8 days later. A swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death.

Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?

No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.