Wellstar Leads New, Life-Saving Treatment for Ischemic Strokes

Wellstar is dedicated to serving our communities with high-quality care that’s conveniently located and accessible when it is needed most. 

Several Wellstar facilities have been recognized in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings for providing world-class care in a variety of specialties, including cardiology, neurology and cancer care. Hospitals ranked as high-performing in an area of care are in the top 10 percent in the country.

Our team is grateful to be recognized for our care and looks forward to continuing our mission to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve. To learn more about care at Wellstar, call (770) 956-STAR (7827). 

Wellstar Cobb Medical Center was recognized as high-performing in treating:

• Congestive heart failure
• COPD
• Heart attacks
• Kidney failure
• Strokes

Wellstar Douglas Medical Center was named high-performing in treating:

• Congestive heart failure
• COPD
• Kidney failure
• Pneumonia
• Strokes

Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center was ranked 32nd in the nation for rehabilitation services and the hospital ranked ninth in the state overall. It was also named a Best Regional Hospital and was recognized as high-performing in the following procedures and treatments:

• Heart bypass surgery
• Congestive heart failure
• Colon cancer surgery
• COPD
• Diabetes 
• Heart attacks
• Hip replacement
• Kidney failure
• Knee replacement
• Lung cancer surgery
• Prostate cancer surgery
• Strokes

Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center was recognized as high-performing in treating:

• Congestive heart failure
• COPD
• Strokes 

Wellstar Paulding Medical Center was named high-performing in care for:

• Congestive heart failure
• COPD
• Hip fractures
• Kidney failure
• Pneumonia

Wellstar Spalding Medical Center was recognized as high-performing in treating:

• Congestive heart failure
• COPD
• Strokes

Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center was named high-performing in treating:

• Congestive heart failure
• COPD
• Kidney failure
• Pneumonia

If you looked up the word “active” in the dictionary, you just might find Ulysses Price’s picture.

Between serving on the tennis court, racking up strikes in bowling and learning new moves in martial arts, he defines life by what brings him the most joy: movement.

But all that changed when severe neck and shoulder pain entered the picture. Ulysses could barely do a double take let alone hold play doubles on the court.

“Not being able to do simple things like reach for a bowl in the cupboard or turn my neck were big limitations in my life,” Ulysses said. “I tried to tough it out. But when the pain was non-stop, that’s when I decided I needed medical attention.”

Ulysses turned to Wellstar’s neuro experts to help him take control of his health. Now, after a state-of-the-art neck procedure, Ulysses is back in action and doing his favorite activities — even better than before.

From diagnosis to surgery and recovery, Ulysses formed a lasting partnership with his Wellstar care team and knows he can face any health hurdle with confidence.

Health providers who have your back

When pain became a constant part of Ulysses’ life, he sought help from Wellstar Internal Medicine Physician Dr. Tawian Livingston. For more than a decade, the two have had a healthcare bond that’s been focused on keeping Ulysses feeling his best.

Dr. Livingston explained how having an established primary care provider brings healthcare to the next level.

“A primary care physician has your back and is in your corner,” Dr. Livingston said. “If you have problems with any health issues, they’re the person you go to and build trust together.”

Dr. Livingston took Ulysses’ pain seriously. After an MRI revealed a serious spinal issue, he connected Ulysses with expert neuro care at Wellstar right away.

That’s when Wellstar Neurosurgeon Dr. Phillip Parry joined the team, determined to help put an end to Ulysses’ pain. Dr. Parry stressed how important physicians like Dr. Livingston are when it comes to keeping a keen eye out for potential medical issues.

“The value of having a primary care provider who can identify neck and low back pain cannot be overstated,” Dr. Parry said. “Having these conditions addressed early by the right specialists is extremely important.”

Catching neurological conditions at the start is key to helping patients have the best outcome possible. The same was true for Ulysses, whose spine issues were interfering with his everyday life.

“Ulysses had a narrowing in the cervical canal of his cervical spine, the bony portion through which the spinal cord is transmitted,” Dr. Parry said. “As we age, virtually all patients develop some amount of this compression.”

“In Ulysses’ case, his spinal compression had become so severe that it was causing spinal cord dysfunction,” Dr. Parry explained. “His condition resulted in weakness in his hands, being unable to walk with confidence and feeling very unstable on his feet.”

Working together, the pair discussed the potential treatment options for his pain. Because Dr. Parry always kept an open dialogue, Ulysses felt comfortable being an active participant in his care.

“I always try to be proactive about any medical procedure and do my research to know as much about it as possible,” Ulysses said, sharing how Dr. Parry took time to answer his questions. “Dr. Parry listened and spoke with me about the most up-to-date procedures, and that made me quite comfortable with him as a person and a physician.”

Soon, they created a care plan that would help Ulysses live his healthiest life for years to come.

Wellstar is home to a new tool that is improving treatment for patients experiencing intra-cerebral hemorrhages, or bleeding strokes.

Wellstar Neuro Care has been on the cutting edge of minimally invasive procedures and surgeries for patients suffering with strokes and hemorrhagic strokes. This latest treatment offers minimally invasive surgery for a disease with devastating outcomes. The Artemis Neuro Evacuation Device uses a neuroendoscope — a small tube with a camera — that is inserted into the brain to reach the bleeding in areas of the brain that were previously unreachable by neurosurgeons. The clot is pulled out using the end of the tube, either with suction or a device that eats away at the clot.

Wellstar is a leader in this groundbreaking treatment — only a handful of health systems in the country offer it. Now, Wellstar patients can access this care close to home, which is especially crucial for brain bleeds — a condition that has been nearly impossible to treat in the past.

While 80% of strokes occur because a blood vessel in the brain or neck is clogged, these deep-in-the-brain, often fatal bleeding strokes can be difficult to access without damaging other parts of the brain. Often, these patients’ conditions are managed with therapies to keep the pressure in the head down. Bleeding strokes are dangerous as well — about 40% of people who experience one die within 30 days, and 75% are severely disabled, according to Wellstar Neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Zussman. 

However, innovative technology like the FDA-approved Artemis system can improve those outcomes, and Wellstar is keeping that world-class care close to home. The tool has been used at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center and Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center.

“With the cutting-edge Artemis tool and new protocol for treating these difficult types of brain bleeds, we can be safe about the removal of these clots deep in the brain. It's a ‘finesse’ tool,” Dr. Zussman said. “We can access and remove the clot without damaging other parts of the brain, which can heal faster and better. It saves lives and saves quality of life.”

To learn more about stroke care at Wellstar, visit wellstar.org/neurocare.