Black History Month Event Celebrates Excellence, Looks to Future

Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center has earned another three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons. This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to providing personalized, high-quality cancer care close to home for patients in Georgia.

To achieve voluntary NAPRC accreditation, a rectal center must demonstrate compliance with the NAPRC standards addressing program management, clinical services and quality improvement for patients. Centers are required to establish a multidisciplinary rectal cancer team that includes clinical representatives from surgery, pathology, radiology, radiation oncology and medical oncology.

At Wellstar, rectal cancer patients have a multidisciplinary team on their side through every step of treatment. Each patient works with a nurse navigator to schedule appointments with specialists. Patients meet with a medical oncologist, as well as a surgical oncologist or colorectal surgeon. Imaging and lab tests are reviewed by a multidisciplinary board of rectal cancer physicians, efficiently providing patients with input from several experts in cancer care. During the course of treatment, that multidisciplinary board will continue to follow the patient and discuss the best next steps, tailoring care to fit each patient’s individual needs.

Additionally, the program at Wellstar Kennestone met standards addressing the clinical services that the rectal cancer program provides, including Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA testing), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computerized Tomography (CT) imaging for cancer staging, which allow patients to start treatment within a defined timeframe. Rectal cancer programs accredited by the NAPRC undergo a site visit every three years and are also accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.  

“Our patients are surrounded by a team of experienced rectal cancer experts who provide the highest level of personalized care,” said Wellstar Surgical Oncologist Dr. Sahir Shroff, who serves as the rectal cancer program chair.  “We are proud to be the first medical center in metro Atlanta to receive this important accreditation. Our pioneering efforts to adhere to the most rigorous standards and combine the latest technologies and techniques help us achieve excellence in rectal cancer care for our patients.”

Accreditation by the NAPRC is granted only to those programs that are committed to providing the best possible care to patients with rectal cancer. The NAPRC provides the structure and resources to develop and operate a high-quality rectal center. Accredited programs follow a model for organizing and managing a rectal center to ensure multidisciplinary, integrated, comprehensive rectal cancer services. Wellstar Kennestone earned its first accreditation in 2022.

Goodr, the innovative social impact company dedicated to ending food waste and hunger, and Wellstar Health System are teaming up for a fourth consecutive year to bring free, fresh food directly to communities throughout Metro Atlanta with a series of pop-up grocery markets.

The pop-ups will occur over five months: April, May, June, September and October.

For many Georgia families, accessing healthy food isn’t just a challenge—it’s a crisis. According to an October analysis by the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, 1.6 million Georgians received benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, also known as food stamps).

Georgia is home to some of the largest food deserts in the country. Without nearby grocery stores, many residents rely on fast food and convenience stores, increasing their risk for chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. These mobile grocery pop-ups aren’t just about food—they deliver dignity, better health and hope.

“Health and wellness begin with access to nutritious food, which is a struggle for too many people in our community,” said Elise Lockamy-Kassim, assistant vice president for Wellstar Community Health and the Wellstar Center for Health Equity. “At Wellstar, we’ve found an exceptional partnership with Goodr and our network of community organizations to provide wholesome foods and health information.”

Each event will distribute approximately 20,000 pounds of fresh food, helping alleviate food insecurity for thousands of families. In addition to groceries, many events will offer free health screenings, nutrition education and wellness resources, reinforcing the connection between food and long-term health.

“These markets are more than just an opportunity for families to receive free groceries—they are a lifeline,” said Jasmine Crowe-Houston, founder and CEO of Goodr. “I’ve spoken with mothers who skip meals so their children can eat, seniors forced to ration what little they have and workers who spend most of their paycheck just to put food on the table. Thanks to Wellstar’s continued sponsorship, we serve those who need it most and work towards a future where no one must go hungry.”

All Wellstar Mobile Markets will be drive-thru events. Families must pre-register to attend (one registration per household) at wellstarmobilemarket.com or by emailing [email protected].

APRIL WELLSTAR MOBILE MARKET EVENTS:

Roswell
Thursday, April 3, 2025 | 5 – 6 PM
Roswell Organization for Community Development
Location: Zion Missionary Baptist Church
888 Zion Circle, Roswell, GA 30075
Registration now open

LaGrange
Saturday, April 5, 2025 | 10 – 11 AM
First Presbyterian Church - LaGrange
Location: AMC CLASSIC LaGrange 10
201 Main St., LaGrange, GA 30240
Registration now open

Griffin
Thursday, April 10, 2025 | 5 – 6 PM
New Mercy Baptist Church
730 Park Road, Griffin, GA 30224
Registration opens March 31

Douglasville
Thursday, April 17, 2025 | 10 – 11 AM
First Presbyterian Church of Douglasville
9190 Campbellton St., Douglasville, GA 30134
Registration opens April 7

Jackson
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 | 5 – 6 PM
Butts County Life Enrichment
Location: Jackson United Methodist Church
409 E 3rd St., Jackson, GA 30233
Registration opens April 14

Details on the May, June, September and October events will be released at a later time.

Wellstar and the Wellstar Foundation first partnered with Goodr in 2020 to tackle food insecurity during the pandemic. Initially focused on the pop-up Mobile Markets that provide food and fresh produce to thousands of families each year, the partnership has evolved to also include a Surplus Food Recovery service where unused food from hospitals is donated to community organizations.

At Wellstar, our comprehensive wound care and hyperbaric services are designed to help you heal. We combine advanced technology and a compassionate approach to support your recovery every step of the way.

Our team of experts specializes in managing severe and chronic wounds. Chronic wounds are caused when the body’s healing process is delayed, often as a result of common health problems such as diabetes or poor circulation. We work closely with patients and families to create personalized treatment plans using the most effective therapies.

From diabetic foot ulcers to non-healing surgical incisions, you can count on Wellstar to treat every wound with expertise and care.

Lifesaving wound care close to home

Chronic wounds affect millions of people nationwide. With convenient wound care and hyperbaric centers located throughout Georgia, Wellstar ensures world-class care is never far from home. We offer wound care services at multiple facilities including Wellstar Cobb Medical Center, Wellstar Douglas Medical Center, Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, Wellstar Spalding Medical Center, and also at clinics in LaGrange and Marietta.

Patients come to us with a range of chronic wounds, including:

• Chronic bone infections (osteomyelitis)
• Circulatory problems and vascular ulcers
• Compromised skin grafts/flaps
• Crush injuries
• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Injuries from late effects of radiation
• Non-healing surgical incisions
• Pressure ulcers
• Venous stasis ulcers

Unlike normal wounds, chronic or traumatic wounds show no significant signs of healing over a period of several weeks. When wounds are not treated successfully, they can lead to illness, limb loss or life-threatening infection.

“Many wounds require specialized care that general practitioners or urgent care clinics simply cannot provide,” said Dr. Ricardo Duran, medical director of wound care and hyperbaric medicine at Wellstar North Fulton. “Without expert attention, what begins as a small ulcer can spiral into a serious condition requiring hospital admissions—or worse, amputation.”

By partnering with a Wellstar wound specialist, you can take the first step toward healing.

“We’re dedicated to preventing these outcomes by addressing wounds early, thoroughly and with expertise,” Dr. Duran said. “Our goal is to restore not only health, but also hope and quality of life.”

Innovative therapies and techniques

At Wellstar, we use the latest therapies and cutting-edge techniques to promote healing and prevent complications. Our approach is multidisciplinary, meaning that board-certified physicians, nurses and specialists collaborate to design a care plan that works for you.

Your personalized treatment plan may include:

• Advanced wound dressings
• Antibiotic therapy
• Cellular and tissue-based products
• Compression therapy
• Growth factor therapy
• Negative pressure wound therapy
• Ostomy care and support
• Total contact casting
• Wound debridement

Advanced healing with hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Your Wellstar physician may recommend hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. This state-of-the-art treatment uses pressurized oxygen to enhance the body’s natural healing process. By delivering high levels of oxygen to the tissues, HBOT accelerates recovery, reduces inflammation and combats infection.

“HBOT has been especially effective for patients with diabetic foot ulcers, chronic infections and radiation injuries,” Dr. Duran explained. “Studies show that HBOT can improve healing rates by over 70% and reduce amputation risk by 50%, helping patients recover faster and get back to their lives.”

HBOT is provided in a series of treatments, each lasting approximately 90 minutes. A typical treatment plan is five sessions per week for four to six weeks. HBOT is available at Wellstar Cobb Medical Center, Wellstar Douglas Medical Center, Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, Wellstar Spalding Medical Center, and specialized centers including Wellstar Hyperbaric Wound Clinic in LaGrange and HyOx Medical Treatment Center in Marietta.

Commitment to high-quality care

Our wound and hyperbaric services reflect Wellstar’s commitment to innovative care. Every member of our team is dedicated to delivering the highest standard of care in a respectful and understanding manner.

If you or a loved one are facing the challenges of a difficult wound or slow healing, we invite you to learn more about our services. Our team is ready to help you navigate your recovery with confidence and clarity.

“Chronic wounds don’t have to control your life,” said Dr. Duran. “With the right care, healing is possible.”

Learn more about Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine at Wellstar and find a specialist near you.