Article Category: Highlights

BacktoSchoolCare: Keeping Kids Healthy & Safe

Published on July 12, 2021

Last updated 12:04 PM July 12, 2021

Parent helping their child study at a desk.

A new school year is right around the corner. While kids may be the ones returning to the classroom, parents still have their own homework to do too: making sure their child has a healthy start.

Before heading back to school, Wellstar health experts say it’s more important than ever prioritize your child’s physical and emotional well-being.

“Parents can help their children be prepared for school by starting early,” said Wellstar Pediatrician Dr. Andrew Doyle. “Be sure to speak to your children and address any anxieties they may have now about the new school year.”

“Also, getting them scheduled to see their pediatrician for important screenings and immunizations will help them be their healthiest,” he shared.

Be sure to speak to your children and address any anxieties they may have now about the new school year. Also, getting them scheduled to see their pediatrician for important screenings and immunizations will help them be their healthiest.

- Dr. Andrew Doyle

Wellstar Pediatrician

Complete your child’s health homework

Set your child up for success this year by checking in on their well-being, and starting healthy habits before they go back to school.

Book medical appointments. Before the school year begins and schedules get hectic, book your child’s annual physical exam with their pediatrician, and other routine medical care such as dental and eye appointments.
Set routines. Structure your day so that it’s easier to transition to the school by creating set times to wake up, eat meals and go to bed.
Share medical and other important instructions. Let the school know if your child has any health concerns or unique needs like allergies or medications.
Practice and prepare good hygiene habits. Discuss habits that will help your child and others stay healthy, such as frequent handwashing and coughing or sneezing into their elbow.
Encourage questions and conversations. Ask questions and have frequent conversations with your child to ensure they feel comfortable heading into the new school year.
Limit screen time. Be sure to limit your child’s screen time an hour before their bedtime, so they can wake up well-rested and feeling their best.

Ways to be top of the class

After you’ve set your child up for a safe, healthy school year, take time to complete these other tasks before they head back to the classroom.

Finish summer assignments. Be sure your child completes any assignments, such as their summer reading list.
Complete school registration. Whether your child is returning to or starting a new school, find out what steps and paperwork are required to complete registration.
Get the right school supplies. Don’t delay in getting your child’s school supplies and be mindful of other items they may need, including school uniforms.
Talk about safety. Review important safety measures with your child, including memorizing important phone numbers and their home address.
Role play the day. Before your child’s first day of school, talk through the day with them and plan details in advance, including their schedule and after-school care.

Start back-to-school planning now so that your child — and your entire family — are ready to enter the school year feeling excited about returning to the classroom.

Find a Wellstar pediatrician close to you and book your child’s wellness exam today.

Expanded capacity & new cutting-edge technology

The expansion enhances the patient experience by adding a new radiation vault to house a TrueBeam linear accelerator — an advanced system that delivers radiation therapy. While the capacity to treat people with cancer doubled, new technology brings more cutting-edge treatments to Paulding, alongside a modernized dressing room area offering patients more space and comfort.

“This is a dream come true after seeing the growing need for cancer treatment in this area,” said Dr. William Thoms, Radiation Oncology medical director. “The new TrueBeam allows people to stay closer to home rather than driving outside our own community for radiation therapy."

The expansion enhances the patient experience by adding a new radiation vault to house a TrueBeam linear accelerator — an advanced system that delivers radiation therapy. While the capacity to treat people with cancer doubled, new technology brings more cutting-edge treatments to Paulding, alongside a modernized dressing room area offering patients more space and comfort.

New, advanced treatments in Paulding

Wellstar Paulding’s new linear accelerator also brings a leading-edge cancer treatment called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to Paulding County for the first time.

“SBRT will transform cancer care in our community,” said Dr. Rakendu Shukla, Wellstar radiation oncologist. “In the coming months, we will roll out new treatments previously unavailable in Paulding.”

SBRT is different from conventional radiation therapy because it delivers very high, precise doses of radiation directly to tumors that are traditionally difficult to treat. It is more powerful at killing tumors, and it decreases the amount of radiation that healthy tissue is exposed to, which decreases side effects. And the treatment can be delivered over a short course of time — around 1-5 days rather than weeks or months.

The renovated space is located at Wellstar Paulding Medical Center’s Outpatient Pavilion at 148 Bill Carruth Parkway in Hiram, Georgia.

Pictured l-r: Don Zarkou, VP, Oncology Service Line, Wellstar Health System; Ralph Turner, SVP, Wellstar Health System, President, Wellstar Paulding Medical Center; Dr. Michael Andrews, Chief Cancer Officer, Wellstar Health System; Dr. William Thoms, Radiation Oncology Medical Director, Wellstar Paulding Medical Center; Sandy Kaecher, Post II Paulding Commissioner; Nichole Rydahl, AVP, Operations, Wellstar Paulding Medical Center; Shawn Jackson, Manager, Radiation Oncology, Wellstar Paulding Medical Center; Dr. Rakendu Shukla, Radiation Oncologist, Wellstar Paulding Medical Center.

In the last year, patients received nearly 8,000 radiation treatments. The radiation oncology team (pictured) often extended hours from 7 a.m. until 7 or 8 p.m. to accommodate patients.

Physicians and team members from the Wellstar Paulding Medical Center oncology team gathered for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of a major expansion to cancer services.

Wellstar Paulding Medical Center’s new TrueBeam linear accelerator helps make cancer treatment more accessible to patients and brings a leading-edge cancer treatment called stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to Paulding County for the first time.

Learn more about Wellstar Paulding Medical Center.

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Illustration of hands holding heart. Wellstar and Lown Institute logos

Newsroom

Lown Institute Recognizes Wellstar Among Most Charitable in the Country

A report by the Lown Institute ranking the value of nonprofit hospitals’ community investment found that Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center and Wellstar Cobb Medical Center are among the top 25 hospitals in the nation providing significantly more community benefit than they are receiving in tax exemption.

Wellstar Kennestone ranked No. 1 in Georgia, while Wellstar Cobb was No. 2. Wellstar is the only health system with two hospitals included on the national top 25 list.

As the top provider of charity care in the state and one of the top 10 providers nationwide, Wellstar is committed to bringing expert, compassionate health services to those who need them. Last year alone, uncompensated and charity care at Wellstar exceeded $1.2 billion, providing care for at-risk and underserved communities across Georgia.

In addition to Wellstar Kennestone and Wellstar Cobb, Wellstar Douglas Medical Center, Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center, Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, Wellstar Paulding Medical Center and Wellstar Spalding Medical Center were recognized for spending more on financial assistance and community investment than the estimated value of their tax exemptions.

Read the full report from the Lown Institute.

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Illustration of people holding hands with hands raised. Text reads "Wellstar Starlight Grand Gala"

Highlights

Wellstar Foundation Gala Raises Over $1M for Pediatric Services

Wellstar Foundation raised more than $1 million to support innovation and advancement across Wellstar’s pediatric services during its annual Starlight Grand Gala on April 22 at The St. Regis Atlanta. This year’s event resulted in the highest dollar amount raised in the event’s 24-year history.

Sponsored by ApolloMD and Bank of America, the sold-out black-tie event was emceed for the second year by Condace Pressley, director of community and public affairs at WSB-TV and a member of the Wellstar Foundation Board of Trustees. Special guests joined nearly 600 corporate and community partners from across Georgia, including Atlanta Braves alumni Brian Jordan and Evan Struck, one of America's most sought-after speed painters who travelled from Michigan to perform at the event. Attendees also participated in a moment of remembrance and reflection after the recent passing of Wellstar Health System Emeritus Board Trustees Bob Prillaman and Walter Robinson to honor their legacy of service.

A last-minute donation from Atlanta Hawks Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, a long-time friend and ambassador for Wellstar, energized the crowd early in the evening with the opportunity to bid on a set of four tickets for NBA playoff Game 4 between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. While Dominique was unable to attend in person this year, his passion and belief that everyone deserves world-class care, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay – especially Georgia’s young people – was evident in the room.

This message was echoed by Julie Teer, Wellstar Foundation President. “A healthier future begins with the well-being of our young people, and ensuring that our kids have access to the physical and mental healthcare they need has never been more critical,” said Teer. “At Wellstar, we care for the whole family, and we’re there for every life milestone – starting at birth. That’s why we’re focused on the state’s most pressing health needs through advancing solutions to health equity, increasing access to behavioral healthcare services, accelerating innovation, and helping ensure we have a thriving healthcare workforce to foster the health and well-being of our communities for generations to come.”

Wellstar physician leaders Dr. Carrie Stinson, chief of pediatrics, and Dr. Timothy Ryan, lead physician for ear, nose and throat (ENT), shared how Wellstar serves the broad spectrum of pediatric needs in our communities.

“Wellstar Pediatrics has grown to serve over 300,000 young people each year at our pediatric offices, pediatric emergency departments, inpatient units, NICUs, surgical centers and specialty care locations,” said Dr. Stinson. “Donations to our Foundation play a critical role in bringing forward improvements across Wellstar Pediatrics, including funding the pediatric emergency department at Wellstar Douglas Medical Center, which opened during the pandemic and meets a vital need in that community. And as we look to the future, philanthropy is helping us continue to expand access to world-class care for children and families that’s in their community and among the physicians and care teams they know and rely on.”

Dr. Avril Beckford, retired chief of Wellstar Pediatrics, was celebrated and honored with the Physician of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Beckford practiced with pride and passion for over 40 years, spending 30 years at Wellstar where she defined the vision for Wellstar Pediatrics that continues today. There are countless families across the state, like the Galli family, who have received the care they need when they need it most because of her efforts. And, she was instrumental in bringing to life initiatives such as Small Talk, developed as part of Literacy and Justice for All, a coalition of leading organizations including the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, United Way, Atlanta Speech School Rollins Center and Marietta City Schools — all committed to ensuring youth have the literacy skills needed to succeed in life.

Nadia Paul, a nurse at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, was also recognized by Wellstar President and CEO Candice L. Saunders with the Caregiver of the Year Award for her exemplary service and dedication to delivering “More than Healthcare. PeopleCare.” Paul’s compassion and care go above and beyond her daily responsibilities, and the award recognized her actions to pull together a bedside wedding in the coronary care unit for patient Derrick Butler and his now wife, Kizzy, when he couldn’t attend their wedding on his own.

Wellstar is one of the most integrated health systems in the state and is nationally recognized as a leader in healthcare innovation. Serving nearly 1 in 6 Georgians, Wellstar is the largest provider of charity care in Georgia and a top 10 provider in the nation. Gala proceeds support Wellstar’s commitment to expand pediatric services across every community it serves. And, through corporate and community partnership, the Wellstar Foundation fuels innovation and action to address the vital needs of diverse communities in Georgia. To make a tax-deductible donation or for information on future Foundation events and corporate partnerships, visit wellstar.org/foundation.

Collage of photos from gala. Clockwise from top left: Group of people posing for photo. People clapping. Two people laughing. Person painting eagle and American flag.

Keep reading

BacktoSchoolCare: Keeping Kids Healthy & Safe

Complete your child’s health homework

Ways to be top of the class

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BacktoSchoolCare: Keeping Kids Healthy & Safe

Complete your child’s health homework

Ways to be top of the class

Tags

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Wellstar Paulding Medical Center Transforms Cancer Care With Major Renovation

Expanded capacity & new cutting-edge technology

New, advanced treatments in Paulding

Lown Institute Recognizes Wellstar Among Most Charitable in the Country

Wellstar Foundation Gala Raises Over $1M for Pediatric Services