Make Your Preventative Care a Priority

Whether you experience an injury, minor illness or simply need a wellness exam, the most important step you can take is getting the care you need. That way, you can find trained experts for your specific medical needs, stay ahead of potential health issues or even help prevent existing conditions from worsening. 

With primary, virtual, urgent and emergency care services available, as well as retail pharmacies, how do you decide which type of care is best for your medical situation? Learn the differences between each type of medical service Wellstar offers in Douglas County—so you don’t delay and get care right away.

WellstarON

In addition to virtual primary and specialty care appointments, we also provide virtual urgent care through WellstarON for minor medical concerns including allergies, sinus infections, strep throat or urinary tract infections. 

Your WellstarON provider will offer the same personalized, tailored treatments you expect from us. That may include treatment recommendations and prescriptions to manage an immediate health issue, like an antibiotic or cough medicine.

After your WellstarON visit, all Wellstar providers, including your primary care provider or specialist, can see a record of your appointment. You will also be able to access it through MyChart. Keeping all of your trusted physicians in the know is just one way we provide you with continuity of care.

While virtual care is a convenient way to stay well, it should never be used in place of emergency care. If you are experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, call 911 right away. 

Primary care 

Primary care is ongoing, comprehensive care and preventative medicine that helps you live a full, healthy life. 

Your primary care provider gets to know you and your health history on a deeper level. That means they have a more holistic view of your overall wellness. 

Services include: 

• Annual wellness exams 
• Health screenings, labs and imaging 
• Care for chronic conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure 
• Immunizations for children and adults 
• Treatment for acute illness, such as the flu or colds 
• Coordinating care with other specialists 
• Physical and mental health concerns, such as weight loss or anxiety 

Wellstar has three primary care locations in Douglas County:

8820 Hospital Drive
Douglasville, GA 30134
(770) 947-3000

6043 Prestley Mill Road, Suite B
Douglasville, GA 30134
(770) 941-8100

6095 Professional Parkway, Suite 100
Douglasville, GA 30134
(770) 920-2255

Urgent care

If you’re dealing with a minor injury or illness or need care after your physician’s regular office hours, going to urgent care is often the right choice. Wellstar Urgent Care centers provide quick, convenient care for non-emergency medical conditions. 

Wellstar Urgent Care provides: 

• Care for minor illnesses and injuries, such as coughs, colds, sprains and broken bones 
• Treatment for medical issues like bites, burns and cuts 
• COVID-19 testing and evaluation for patients 12 and older 
• Lab and X-rays 
• Sports physicals 
• Occupational health services 
• Worker’s compensation services 

Check in online to reduce your wait time at Wellstar Urgent Care in Douglasville.

Emergency care

In a life-threatening medical emergency, every second counts. Never put off getting the proper care when lives are on the line. Remember, driving yourself to the emergency department is dangerous and may delay care, so call 911 for the fastest access to emergency care. 

When the unexpected happens, Wellstar Douglas Medical Center is always ready in a medical emergency. Our trained team provides expert emergency care 24 hours a day for people of all ages. We also have a dedicated pediatric emergency room, specifically designed to treat children. 

Recognize the signs of a medical emergency: 

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath 
• Chest discomfort or pain 
• Severe abdominal pain 
• Fainting or loss of consciousness 
• Sudden dizziness, weakness or vision changes 
• Sudden, severe pain 
• Uncontrolled or severe bleeding 
• Choking, coughing up blood or severe vomiting 
• Suicidal or homicidal thoughts 
• Changes in mental status, such as confusion or unusual behavior 
• Traumatic injury due to a motor vehicle or other accidents 

Between adjusting to college life, meeting friends in the dining hall and cramming for that big exam, Kennesaw State University students have a lot on their plates. 

While students maintain those busy schedules, it’s still important they keep up with their health so they can feel their best inside and outside the classroom. Wellstar provides expert student health services, keeping world-class care convenient and on campus.

Services include:

• Treatment for illnesses like colds or flu 
• Management of chronic conditions such as asthma or diabetes
• Primary care check-ups, women’s and men's health, and STD testing and treatment
• Vaccines 

Screening for prostate cancer is crucial for early detection and to help provide the best possible outcome. It is especially important for Black men to be vigilant about screening, as they are disproportionately impacted by this cancer.

About 1 in 6 Black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, compared to 1 in 8 white men, according to a report from the American Cancer Society. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Black men.

The American Cancer Society recommends that men at an average risk of developing prostate cancer begin screening when they are 50, but Black men should start earlier—at age 45 if they have no family history of prostate cancer, and at age 40 if any of their male relatives have had prostate cancer. Wellstar takes a personalized approach to cancer screenings, with providers discussing benefits versus risks of screening and helping patients evaluate their risk.

“Despite many physicians being aware of this and following this practice, Black men continue to be diagnosed with and die from metastatic prostate cancer. This is a trend that desperately needs to be reversed,” said Wellstar Primary Care Physician Dr. Earl Stewart. “We have adequate screening tools that do not even require a digital rectal examination.”

The Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test is more accurate than the digital rectal examination in helping to detect prostate cancer, according to Dr. Stewart. Patients should also discuss family history with their relatives. “Patients knowing their family history is so crucial in having those discussions with primary care physicians to determine the best age at which to start screening,” Dr. Stewart said.

Screening for prostate cancer is as simple as making a preventive appointment with your primary care physician, discussing your family history with him or her, and having a PSA blood test. This test may be performed during an annual physical or wellness visit. Shared decision making between physician and patient is important to discuss your risk, your need for testing and next steps to take if your PSA level is elevated and concerning. Knowing your risk can save your life.

“I know many personally who are near and dear to me who had the disease and who unfortunately died from complications of metastatic prostate cancer,” Dr. Stewart said. “I know many more who lived because they had the conversation and dared to move forward with appropriate screening at the appropriate age.”

Learn more about prostate cancer care at Wellstar.