Article Category: PeopleCare

PhylissCare

Published on October 14, 2020

Last updated 03:07 PM October 23, 2020

From the very beginning, Phyliss had a fighting spirit. She was determined to beat breast cancer and be there for her family for years to come.

As the matriarch of her family, Phyliss Davis has always taken care of everyone before herself. Between a busy schedule and devoting time to her granddaughter Wynter, Phyliss made a habit of putting her own health on the back-burner.

Hoping to check another job off her to-do list, she finally squeezed a routine wellness appointment onto her calendar. But when Phyliss’ medical chart showed no recent mammogram, her primary care physician grew concerned.

"When my doctor asked how long it had been since my last mammogram, I didn’t want to admit that I hadn’t had one in years," Phyliss said, remembering how the medical professional urged her to get a breast exam as soon as possible.

Because I didn’t have a family history of breast cancer, I thought I didn’t have to worry.

Luckily, Phyliss came in at just the right time. Her mammogram caught a concerning lump that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. Following a biopsy, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Throughout her cancer journey, the grandmother would learn the importance of taking care of her own health and body. And soon, she would truly understand the words her mother told her as a child: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

For each patient, I present the information in an easy-to-understand way. I make sure to discuss treatment options without overwhelming them. I always allow ample time for people to ask questions to allay their anxiety.

- Dr. Sheree Brown

Wellstar Radiation Oncology

Listen to Phyliss' story

Wellstar offered support to Phyliss every step of her breast cancer journey.

Passing the Baton

From the very beginning, Phyliss had a fighting spirit. She was determined to beat breast cancer and be there for her family for years to come. There was also no question about who would be on her healthcare team.

"As soon as I was diagnosed, I knew to go to Wellstar. There was a team of people supporting me there, and it was so close to home," Phyliss shared. "Wellstar made me feel like I wasn’t on this journey alone."

Wellstar quickly formed Phyliss’ care team of health experts and advocates, referring her to breast cancer specialists within the robust cancer network.

The health system’s digital patient portal, MyChart, also helped her appointments run smoothly so Phyliss could focus on her care without any added stress. In her MyChart account, all of her medical records were already together in one digital space.

"It was like passing the baton," Phyliss explained the seamless specialty care process. "With MyChart, all my health information was organized and easily accessible. I didn’t have to worry about gathering information or having a copy of my medical chart with me. It was all ready to go as soon as I came to the next appointment."

Between her devoted care team and expert treatment, Phyliss felt as though she was part of a close-knit healthcare family.

"The doctors took the time to answer my questions and told me to call if I thought of anything else when I got home. They said, ‘I don’t want you to be worried about something if I could answer your questions and ease your fears.'"

Wellstar Radiation Oncologist Dr. Sheree Brown became a key player in Phyliss’ cancer treatment. The specialist shared how Wellstar cares for each and every patient throughout the diagnosis and treatment process.

"For each patient, I present the information in an easy-to-understand way. I make sure to discuss treatment options without overwhelming them," Dr. Brown said of her approach to care. "I always allow ample time for people to ask questions to allay their anxiety."

Wellstar’s compassionate care made all the difference. Phyliss left her cancer treatment consultation with peace of mind and a concrete treatment plan in place.

Beating Breast Cancer

Phyliss’ cancer was caught at an early stage. But even so, her care team didn’t waste any time and sprang into action so Phyliss would have the best possible outcome. The medical experts quickly created a customized cancer treatment plan, which included surgery to remove the tumor and radiation to prevent the disease from returning.

Following Phyliss’ successful lumpectomy, she received daily rounds of radiation at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital. Dr. Brown led the treatment, using her knowledge and expertise to treat Phyliss’ cancer effectively.

"In Phyliss’ case, external beam radiation was delivered using the prone technique. That meant she received treatment lying face down instead of sitting up," Dr. Brown explained. "This particular process allows the breasts to hang away from the body, minimizing radiation exposure to the lungs."

Using this specialized method, Dr. Brown could target the cancer without endangering healthy tissues. For cancer patients, access to innovative treatments and technology is critical to improving their outcomes.

"Wellstar has state-of-the-art equipment available, which allows us to offer many cutting-edge cancer treatments," Dr. Brown said. "We also have multidisciplinary tumor boards to help provide comprehensive treatment plans for our patients."

The radiation sessions were a success. Now after finishing treatment and becoming a breast cancer survivor, Phyliss can focus on being there for her entire family.

Phyliss encourages women who may be putting off preventative health screenings to take the ultimate step towards practicing self-care.

"Women are the heart of the family. We make sure our loved ones are taken care of, but we need to see ourselves as important too," she said. "Don’t neglect your health. Take the time to go for your yearly physical and mammogram. It’s the cornerstone of your health."

PeopleCare when it counts

When it comes to emergency care, every second matters.

From top to bottom, the new ED is built to save lives. The innovative layout includes separate care zones based on medical service, level of care and age, allowing us to treat patients faster. We even have a full-service pediatric area so our littlest patients can receive specialized, kid-friendly care.

Since its opening on July 23, 2020, the Wellstar Kennestone ED has:

Served 104,980 of our family, friends and neighbors in the community.
Treated 10,759 pediatric patients, who can get back to being kids again.
Performed 319 emergency surgeries with advanced, life-saving technology.
Landed 244 helicopters, which flew patients in for fast, expert treatment.

While those may be a lot of statistics, Wellstar never treats people like a number. With the ED’s high-tech capabilities and smart design, our medical experts can still personalize care even amid a life-threatening situation.

So, whether you or a family member experiences a traumatic injury or sudden medical emergency like a heart attack or stroke, the Wellstar Kennestone ED offers quick, effective emergency care close to home.

Care during COVID-19 & moving forward

Emergencies don’t stop — even during a pandemic. When the Wellstar Kennestone ED opened during the height of the COVID-19 outbreak, Georgians still needed to find safe emergency care.

We’ve added new infection prevention protocols into our already thorough safety routines, ensuring our medical experts can provide safe, life-saving care every day. In uncertain times, people count on Wellstar for expert trauma and emergency care.

Today, the Wellstar Kennestone ED is continuing to protect the people and communities we serve. From emergency surgery to expert trauma care to behavioral health services, we make sure people can get the emergency care they need without going far.

Learn more about the Wellstar Kennestone ED and how we are making a difference in Georgia.

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Highlights

High-Tech Safe Surgery at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital

A new cardiac hybrid operating room at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital brings a catheterization lab and surgery suite together in one space, making treatment more efficient and encouraging collaboration between our expert providers.

The operating room, which is projected to treat more than 500 patients a year, is outfitted with the latest technology in heart care. The equipment brings together multiple imaging modalities in one environment allowing for an enhanced view of the patient’s beating heart during procedures.

With tableside control of multiple applications in the lab, providers have the freedom of movement to focus on exacting their treatment strategy, thus improving outcomes. This technology is also safer because it exposes both patients and providers to less radiation.

“This state-of-the-art space is the most advanced hybrid operating room in the Atlanta area,” said Dr. Amar Patel, interventional cardiologist and co-medical director for the structural heart and valve program at Wellstar. “Bringing several services into one room allows us to provide complex cardiac care for our community efficiently and effectively, using the top tools available to us.”

Structural heart procedures, such as valve repairs or replacements, will be performed in the hybrid operating room, along with cardiac surgery and some electrophysiology procedures that can determine the cause of heart rhythm problems.

To learn more about how Wellstar can keep your heart in top shape, visit wellstar.org/heartcare.

Providers in cardiac operating room

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Newsroom

Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Celebrates 71 Years of Community Service and Care Excellence

Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, the largest hospital in the nationally recognized nonprofit Wellstar Health System, is celebrating its 71st anniversary. In addition, Wellstar Kennestone is marking a year of significant accomplishments and accolades that include national emergency and trauma care designations, as well as community and national recognition for service and care excellence.

“Wellstar Kennestone Hospital has proudly provided lifesaving and compassionate care to Georgians for 71 years,” said Mary Chatman, Wellstar Health System executive vice president and president of Wellstar Kennestone and Windy Hill Hospitals. “We are an integral part of the community we serve, and so grateful for the support we have received over the past year, which has been especially challenging for everyone.”

“Our exceptional and dedicated team members stand ready to serve the community’s healthcare needs with excellence and compassion,” said Marianne Hatfield, chief nursing officer at Kennestone. “As one of the largest and busiest hospitals in the state, recent designations and accolades we have received simply underscore what we are committed to doing every day: providing expert medical care to people, no matter their age or stage in life.” Founded on June 27, 1950, Wellstar Kennestone Hospital marked its 71st anniversary this week by hosting a small reception to thank hardworking and selfless team members, dedicated community members, and key supporters.

A history of recognition for care excellence

Wellstar Kennestone has a rich history of delivering quality care for Georgians, and has received many national and regional accolades and certifications for care excellence over the years. The hospital recently received the highest level of recognition for emergency cardiac care in Georgia and was designated a Level I Emergency Cardiac Care Center by the Georgia Department of Public Health, Office of Cardiac Care.

Wellstar Kennestone Hospital was also verified as one of only four Georgia Level II Trauma Centers by the American College of Surgeons. This achievement recognizes the Trauma Center's dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients.

Wellstar operates the largest trauma network in Georgia, with Wellstar Kennestone managing one of the nation's newest and largest emergency departments, with state-of-the-art care for pediatric and adult patients. The new emergency department is connected to the main hospital and is located near the intersection of Church and Cherry Streets at 115 Cherry Street NE, Marietta, Georgia 30060.

Additional accolades

In addition, Wellstar Kennestone and its providers and team members recently received numerous recognitions, including:

U.S. News & World Report 2020-2021 Best Regional Hospitals and one of the nation’s High Performing Hospitals.
America’s 100 Best Critical Care Hospitals and 250 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades, which recognizes hospitals that deliver superior patient outcomes in Critical Care. Wellstar Kennestone was also listed as a best hospital in five service line categories.
AMSN Prism Award by the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses and the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board for exemplary practice of the medical-surgical unit.
American Association of Critical Care Nurses’ 2020 Beacon Award of Excellence, recognizing units that distinguish themselves by improving every facet of patient care.
Atlanta Business Chronicle 2021 Best in Real Estate Awards "Healthcare Deal of the Year" for the Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Emergency Department, which opened in July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Atlanta Magazine 2021 "Best of Atlanta" recognition for “New Emergency Care: Wellstar Kennestone Hospital’s New Emergency Department.”
Georgia Trend 2021 "Top Doctors," a listing of the state’s top physicians, with many of the 130 doctors on the list serving Wellstar Kennestone across multiple service lines.
Atlanta magazine 2021 "Top Doctors" list featuring 79 Wellstar physicians, many of whom serve at Wellstar Kennestone.

Kennestone team members at ice cream social

Wellstar Kennestone Hospital celebrated its 71st anniversary by hosting an ice cream social to thank team members for providing outstanding and compassionate care to the community.

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