New Emergency Equipment to Save Lives

No stroke is ever the same. That’s because people—their brains, their nervous systems, their genetics—are all different. At Wellstar Health System, we provide world-class stroke care for each and every patient when they need it most.

During a life-threatening stroke, parts of the brain may become damaged, causing long-term disability, permanent injury or even death. Our trained team understands how getting fast, expert stroke care can mean the difference between life, death or lasting damage.

From metro Atlanta to West Georgia, Wellstar has the largest Joint Commission stroke-certified network in Georgia, so you’ll receive high-quality care wherever you go. Count on our medical experts to treat your stroke as quickly and safely as possible.

Cutting-edge treatments

If you have a complicated or complex case, Wellstar Kennestone Hospital and Wellstar North Fulton Hospital now offer the highest level of stroke treatment. Using a multidisciplinary approach, our cerebrovascular and neurocritical care team treats the most severe strokes effectively.

That means, no matter what Wellstar hospital you are in, you’ll always have access to expert care.

Wellstar Kennestone Hospital and Wellstar North Fulton Hospital offer many state-of-the art treatments and technologies, including neurointerventional biplane suites. This imaging provides 3D views of blood vessels deep within the brain for a more accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Four Wellstar hospitals are also primary stroke centers, including Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center, Wellstar Cobb Hospital, Wellstar North Fulton Hospital and Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital.

From diagnostic testing to life-saving emergency care to physical rehabilitation, Wellstar provides comprehensive stroke care so you can get back to life, faster.

Spotting a stroke starts with you

Learning the warning signs of a stroke may help you save a life—even your own. Remember to BE FAST, and get help immediately if you notice symptoms below.

• Balance – Look for sudden loss of balance or coordination. Symptoms can also include a sudden, severe headache or dizziness.
• Eyes – Ask if the person is having trouble seeing out of one or both eyes. This can also consist of blurred vision, double vision or loss of vision.
• Face – See if one side of the face is drooping or feeling numb. Check if the person’s smile appears uneven or lopsided.
• Arms – Watch for sudden arm weakness or numbness. See if the person can raise both arms without one drifting downward.
• Speech – Listen for slurred speech or difficulty speaking. You can have the person repeat a simple sentence to check their speech abilities.
• Time – Time is brain. Waiting to get care leads to lasting, irreversible brain damage. If you notice any of these symptoms, don’t delay—call 911 right away.

At Wellstar, not one patient, symptom or treatment plan is the same—even in an emergency. Now, the new, state-of-the-art emergency department (ED) at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center delivers quality and compassionate care to every patient, every time.

Located just north of metro Atlanta, this 263,000 sq. ft. medical facility is one of the largest and busiest EDs in the nation and:

• It is one of only three Level II trauma centers in metro Atlanta.
• Increased its bed-count from 84 to 166 beds (130 universal beds and 36 transition beds).
• It is one of four Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Centers in Georgia.
• It is the only Joint Commission Certified Comprehensive Cardiac Center in the state and seventh in the nation.
• Can treat more than 600 patients a day—nearly doubling its previous capacity—with up to 220,000 patient visits per year.
• It has 170 parking spaces for patients on the street level, accessible from Cherokee Street.

Two-time breast cancer survivor Heidi Bohlmann was accustomed to successfully facing health challenges. But when stomach pain brought the Roswell resident to Wellstar North Fulton Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED), she faced her ultimate challenge: a torn small intestine, which led to a life-threatening infection.

“I remember being in the ED, then waking up in a hospital room 11 days later with machines all around me,” said Bohlmann, 58. “My family from Wisconsin was there. No one was sure I would pull through.”

Bohlmann underwent surgery to repair her perforated bowel, which included creating a hole in her abdomen so the contents of her small intestine could empty into an external pouch. Called an ileostomy, the procedure allows the intestine to heal.