Health Connect South Brings Augusta University, Medical College of Georgia and Wellstar Leaders Together on Better Healthcare for All of Georgia

Dr. Joanna Dolgoff, Wellstar Children’s of Georgia pediatrician and author of the bestselling book “Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right,” uses her “no time, some time, never all the time” philosophy to provide families with guidance around screen time.

At nearly every wellness visit, Dr. Dolgoff talks with parents about how to set healthy limits with screen time. “We’re seeing language delays in children from too much screen time,” she explained.

Some signs that children may be spending too much time on social media, gaming or watching videos can include:

• Aggression
• Difficulty handling boredom without a screen
• Trouble connecting with peers
• Sleep disruption
• Poor focus in school
• Withdrawing from hobbies or activities they once enjoyed

Dr. Dolgoff’s advice? Parents should follow expert recommendations and know the difference between learning-focused content and pure entertainment. “You want to know what your kids are doing on their screens, and you want to know how long they’re doing it for,” she said.

Troubling trends in children’s media habits

Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization that advocates for children’s health in the digital age. Its most recent survey of the digital habits of children 8 and younger showed that by age 2, 40% of children have their own tablet. By age 4, that number climbs to 58%.

The survey also found that 1 in 5 children use mobile devices during meals, at bedtime or to cope with emotions.

Dr. Dolgoff stresses that parents must monitor and regulate their children’s digital use across all platforms. Yet the same survey shows gaps in how families co-view content: 62% of parents occasionally watched YouTube with their children, compared to only 17% on TikTok.

The survey also found that screen use varies by income. Children in lower-income households spend twice as much time on screens (3 hours, 48 minutes) as those in higher-income households (1 hour, 52 minutes).

Guidelines for screen time by age

As a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Dolgoff suggests that parents know and follow the organization’s screen time guidelines for children:

• Under 18 months: No screen time
• 18 to 24 months: Only educational content with parents
• 2 to 5 years: No more than one hour per day
• 6 years and older: Balanced screen time that doesn’t interfere with family, friends and schoolwork

These guidelines are based on the science of children’s and adolescents’ brain development. abies’ brains begin developing before birth, and the early years of life have remarkably rapid brain development.

What do screen time limits look like?

According to Dr. Dolgoff, parents don’t need to worry if little ones under 18 months use screens for video chats with loved ones like grandparents. But she adds an important distinction: “Content matters. Mindlessly scrolling through TikTok videos is not what we want children doing for hours each day.”

Fortunately, children’s programming has expanded considerably since the parents of today were kids. YouTube Kids, PBS Kids, Netflix, Apple TV and other streaming services serve a variety of programs.

Here are some healthy screen time choices, along with suggested time limits:

• Toddler (2 to 3 years): Video call with grandparents and 30 minutes of educational programming such as Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood or Sesame Street with parents watching
• Elementary school (6 to 10 years): Homework on Chromebook or other platform and 30 minutes of YouTube Kids, unstructured outside play and bedtime stories
• Teens (13 years and older): Homework time and no more than two hours of other screen use for gaming or socializing with friends

While watching shows or movies with children, parents can spark curiosity and critical thinking by asking open-ended questions such as:

• “What do you think will happen next?”
• “How would you feel if that happened to you?”
• “Could this happen in real life?”
• “How would you have made this better?”

Most importantly, parents should help children see screens as just one part of life—not a substitute for family time, active play or friendships.

Sound screen habits begin with parents

Young children develop social and communication skills by observing, listening, talking (babbling counts!), reading, singing and playing with parents, siblings and others. The American Academy of Pediatrics advocates that parents put down their phones so they can focus on those activities and interactions.

For help, parents can turn to apps designed to monitor their smartphone and tablet use. They can also examine their habits by asking themselves questions such as:

• “Am I scrolling at the dinner table?”
• “Am I texting while driving?”
• “How much are my children watching me use my phone for entertainment?”
• “Am I setting a good example by having hobbies and interests that don’t involve screens?”

Experts advise ways to set and enforce limits

The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Academy of Pediatrics understand the temptations of screens and parents’ difficulty setting limits. Some of their advice for parents:

• Avoid using screens as pacifiers, babysitters or to stop tantrums.
• Create tech-free times, with extended breaks and tech-free zones, including the meal table.
• Learn about and use parental controls on devices, including phones, tablets, laptops and televisions.
• Make family outings technology-free—and that includes cameras.
• Remove screens from bedrooms 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime.
• Set a timer when using a device as a reminder to turn it off or put it away.

Tips for enforcing screen-time limits

It’s in children’s nature to resist when they don’t want to stop doing something pleasant or fun. It’s the parents’ job to stick to the limits they’ve set. Some more ideas for managing children’s reactions to screen-time limits include:

• Have a designated “quiet spot” for younger children to calm down if they rage after time on a device is up.
• Offer alternatives after a device is turned off. Those could include playing a board game, reading a book together, playing with a favorite toy or creating an art project.
• Warn children before their time limit is up.

Resources for parents

• The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry on screen time limits, music and music videos, video games, movie and video choice, and screen violence
• Common Sense Media
• Google and Apple content about online safety and parental controls
• Healthychildren.org, a website of the American Academy of Pediatrics
• know2protect, guidelines for protecting children online from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

HIRAM, Ga. — With shovels in hand and plans in motion, leaders of Wellstar Paulding Medical Center officially broke ground Thursday, September 4, on a $300 million expansion project that will double the hospital’s inpatient capacity and bring new resources to one of Georgia’s fastest-growing regions.

The hospital, which currently operates 112 beds and a busy emergency department with 40 adult and pediatric bays, is nearing full capacity. As Paulding County continues to grow, so does the need for accessible, high-quality healthcare. Wellstar’s expansion aims to meet that demand head-on.

“This is a big moment for Paulding County,” said Wellstar Paulding President Todd Kennedy. “We’re responding to the needs of a growing community and laying the foundation for a healthier future.”

The new hospital tower will be constructed in two phases, with the first phase—opening in November 2027—adding 56 beds, expanding heart and vascular services, and increasing imaging testing capacity. An additional 56 beds will be added by 2029 as part of the second phase.

“We’re building more than just a new tower,” said Robert S. Owens, chair of the Wellstar Paulding Tower Campaign Cabinet and vice chair of the Wellstar Paulding Regional Health Board. “We’re building the future of healthcare in Paulding County.” 

A $20 million parking deck, featuring more than 460 new spaces, is also set to open this November, improving access for patients and visitors.

In recent years, Wellstar has expanded its footprint across Paulding County, adding 69 exam rooms at seven practices across the county to help ease pressure on the hospital and provide more convenient care. Locations in Hiram and Dallas now offer services ranging from primary care and pediatrics to behavioral health and specialty care. Another 46 exam rooms are planned over the next three years.

Wellstar Paulding’s Emergency Department remains one of the busiest in the region, rarely diverting patients despite high volumes. To help manage demand during construction, the hospital has added EMS drop-off spaces, opened a new waiting area for people with less urgent medical needs and created a discharge lounge to free up beds more quickly.

“The newest expansion at Wellstar Paulding is part of our system strategy to expand care across our markets,” said Mary Chatman, executive vice president of acute care operations at Wellstar Health System. “Not only will this provide additional capacity for our Paulding campus, but it will also support our efforts to manage capacity across our footprint.”

Wellstar Paulding has received numerous awards for quality and safety, including the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, Magnet Nursing Facility designation, Leapfrog “A” rating and a CMS 4-star rating for quality.

With approximately 1,900 employees, Wellstar Paulding is also one of the county’s largest employers, playing a key role in both healthcare and the local economy.

Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center has achieved Magnet recognition, the highest national honor for nursing excellence. The honor reflects the nursing staff’s professionalism, teamwork and superiority in patient care. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence.

With this credential, Wellstar Kennestone joins the global community of Magnet-recognized organizations. Only a small and select group of U.S. healthcare organizations has achieved Magnet recognition due to the complex requirements and meticulous evaluation process, with only 14 in Georgia. This prestigious honor further underscores Wellstar Kennestone’s commitment to world-class, compassionate, and personalized care.

“This achievement reflects the exceptional skill, dedication, and heart of our nursing team and how they partner to care for our patients, families and each other,” said Candice L. Saunders, president and CEO of Wellstar Health System. “It serves as a vital benchmark within our community, affirming the exceptional quality of patient care we provide.”

Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing excellence and is a factor when the public judges healthcare organizations. U.S. News & World Report’s annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals” includes Magnet recognition in its ranking criteria for quality of inpatient care.

Research demonstrates that Magnet recognition provides specific benefits to health care organizations and their communities, such as:

• Higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication, availability of help and receipt of discharge information.
• Lower risk of 30-day mortality and lower failure to rescue rates.
• Higher job satisfaction among nurses.
• Lower nurse reports of intentions to leave their positions.

“At Wellstar Kennestone, we believe world-class healthcare should be accessible right where people live,” said Hospital President Lorrie Liang. “When our neighbors, friends and family need exceptional care, they don’t have to travel far—it’s right here in Marietta. That belief is now affirmed in a powerful way.”

“We are profoundly honored to have achieved Magnet recognition—an esteemed distinction that represents the pinnacle of nursing excellence,” said Marianne Hatfield, vice president and chief nursing officer at Wellstar Kennestone. “We celebrate this accomplishment and remain committed to providing compassionate care to every patient, every time. It is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we lead with purpose. It also underscores Wellstar Kennestone’s steadfast commitment to fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.”

The Magnet Model provides a framework for nursing practice, research, and measurement of outcomes. Through this framework, ANCC evaluates applicants across a number of components and dimensions to gauge an organization’s nursing excellence. The foundation of this model comprises various elements deemed essential to delivering superior patient care. These include the quality of nursing leadership and coordination and collaboration across specialties, as well as processes for measuring and improving the quality and delivery of care.

“Magnet recognition validates our team's dedication to evidence-based practices, which drive superior patient outcomes, enhances both patient and staff satisfaction, and contributes to more efficient and compassionate care,” said Mary Chatman, executive vice president of acute care operations for Wellstar Health System. “This achievement is a testament to the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines our organization and inspires us to continue raising the standard of care for those we serve.”

ABOUT ANCC’S MAGNET RECOGNITION PROGRAM The Magnet Recognition Program—administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the world—identifies health care organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice. The Magnet Recognition Program is the highest national honor for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program and current statistics, visit www.nursingworld.org/magnet.