Article Category: Highlights
A Healthy Handoff: Transitioning Teens to Adult Primary Care
Published on June 03, 2026
Last updated 08:37 AM June 03, 2026
For many families, care teams are a consistent part of a child’s life—supporting them from early childhood through adolescence. But as teens step into adulthood, one important transition can be easy to miss: moving from a pediatrician to an adult primary care provider.
This “handoff” is more than a change in doctors. It’s a key step in helping teens take ownership of their health and build habits that last a lifetime.
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Highlights
Wellstar Kennestone Opens Next-Generation NICU Designed for Babies and Families
Few moments are more challenging for a parent than learning their newborn needs specialized medical care. In those early days, families need expert support, compassionate guidance and a calm space that helps them stay close to their baby.
That’s the vision behind the new neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at
Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center,
part of the hospital’s
Yellow Tower expansion.
The next-generation unit combines advanced care, thoughtful design and a strong focus on family connection.
“The new NICU at Wellstar Kennestone provides more than advanced technology,” said
Dr. Carrie Stinson,
Wellstar chief of pediatrics. “It allows us to deliver the highest level of neonatal care close to home, so parents can focus on what matters most—being present for their babies during the most critical moments of their lives.”
Keep reading
Family-centered design
The new 49-bed NICU uses advanced monitoring technology to support babies who need intensive care, including those born early or facing medical challenges. As a high-volume, high-acuity Level III NICU, the care team is experienced in caring for newborns with a range of needs. Beyond clinical care, the unit was designed with families in mind. Spacious rooms, natural light and a calming color palette create a more peaceful environment for babies and parents. “This new design helps transform the NICU experience from something that can feel overwhelming into one that is more supportive, more personal and more centered around the family,” said Dr. Amanda M. Evans, Wellstar neonatal medical director and NICU medical director at Wellstar Kennestone. One of the most meaningful features is the unit’s six couplet care rooms, where mothers and babies can remain together after delivery when medically appropriate. “It allows the care team to support both patients together, creating stronger bonds and better outcomes—which is truly at the heart of what we are trying to achieve,” Dr. Evans said.Personalized nutrition for the smallest patients
The NICU also includes an innovative milk lab—a centralized pharmacy that prepares fortified human milk, donor milk and prescribed formulas. The dedicated space helps ensure precise nutrition for newborns who need tailored feeding plans. “One of the most important advances is the ability to analyze breast milk for its nutritional content,” Dr. Evans said. “Every mother’s milk is unique. With this technology, we can better understand what every baby is receiving and make individualized adjustments when needed.” For families, the milk lab offers confidence in every feeding. It gives the care team advanced tools to deliver personalized nutrition with the highest standards of safety.Expanding access to advanced neonatal care
As one of Georgia’s most trusted hospitals for women’s and children’s services, Wellstar Kennestone continues to invest in pediatric care. The new NICU expands access to specialized neonatal services across Cobb County and Metro Atlanta—so parents can find exceptional care without traveling far. “Every baby in the NICU deserves the most advanced care from the very first breath,” said Varma Rameswar, vice president of pediatric operations and service line at Wellstar. “We’re redefining what’s possible in neonatal care by providing leading-edge support for every baby and every family.” Learn more about neonatology services at Wellstar..jpg?rev=3b389aca5e1e4457a51fd0d297b13c10 "Wellstar Opens New Locations in Powder Springs")
Highlights
Wellstar Opens New Locations in Powder Springs
To serve our community’s growing healthcare needs, Wellstar has opened new urgent care and primary care locations in Powder Springs.
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 such as coughs, colds, sprains, broken bones and minor bites, burns and cuts. Visit our new location at:
Powder Springs
1064 Richard D. Sailors Parkway
Primary Care
Primary care is ongoing, comprehensive care and preventative medicine that helps you live a full, healthy life. Services include wellness exams, vaccinations, treatment for acute illnesses like flu and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes. Wellstar Primary Care treats patients 10 and older. Visit our new location at:
Powder Springs
1064 Richard D. Sailors Parkway
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Highlights
Genetic Testing: A Critical Tool in Cancer Treatment
It's been over three decades since genetic testing was first introduced as a tool for patients at risk of hereditary cancer syndromes. In its early days, genetic testing was expensive and time-consuming (often taking up to eight weeks for results). Fast forward to today and genetic testing is now a routine part of cancer care. It’s more accessible, comprehensive and, perhaps most importantly, significantly impactful for patients and their families.
Physicians help identify patients who could benefit from genetic testing, especially when someone has a personal or family history of cancer. Genetic testing can improve treatment outcomes, guide preventive care and provide vital information for the patient's family.
Benefits of genetic testing
1. Understanding the cause of cancer
One of the most common questions from patients newly diagnosed with cancer is, "Why did this happen to me?" While many cancers are the result of environmental factors, aging and sporadic mutations, genetic testing can offer a more definitive answer. For patients with hereditary cancer, knowing their cancer is genetically driven can help ease feelings of uncertainty and guilt.
For many, this knowledge brings a sense of empowerment, as they now have the opportunity to make informed decisions regarding their treatment and potential preventive measures for the future. This hereditary cancer risk was present since birth, and there was very little if anything the patient could have done differently throughout their life to prevent their diagnosis.
2. Personalized treatment options
For patients with cancers like breast, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate, identifying genetic mutations (like BRCA mutations) can open the door to personalized therapies. The earlier in the diagnostic process the genetic test is ordered, the quicker the patient can be matched with appropriate treatments.
Knowledge of genetic mutations can also guide surgical decisions. Patients with BRCA-positive breast cancer may be candidates for risk-reducing mastectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy—both of which can lower the risk of future cancers. These decisions are most effective when genetic results are available before surgery.
3. Identification of additional cancer risks
Cancer does not always occur in isolation, especially in patients with hereditary cancer syndromes. For instance, patients with Lynch syndrome, a leading cause of colorectal cancer, are also at increased risk for uterine cancer—up to 60%. If identified before a colon resection, this knowledge could allow a hysterectomy at the same time if necessary, minimizing the risk of a second cancer and optimizing care.
Beyond immediate cancer treatment, genetic testing can also lead to additional screenings that might otherwise be missed. For example, the ATM gene is a known contributor to prostate and breast cancer. But patients with an ATM gene mutation are also at elevated risk for pancreatic cancer. While general population screening is not typically recommended, high-risk patients should begin annual imaging and/or endoscopic ultrasounds as early as age 50 or 10 years before the earliest known pancreatic cancer in their family.
4. Informed decisions for family members
A cancer diagnosis doesn’t only affect the patient—it impacts their entire family. Once a genetic mutation is identified, relatives can undergo testing to assess their own cancer risk and talk to their care teams about screenings.
Testing the affected patient first is the most informative strategy for relatives. Patients with negative genetic test results can be reassured that relatives are not at significant risk for the same diagnosis.
The role of genetic counseling in cancer care
Genetic counselors provide the expertise necessary to interpret complex genetic results, discuss the implications for patients and their families, and offer psychological support throughout the process. Genetic counseling not only helps patients make sense of their genetic test results, but also provides them with the tools to make informed decisions about their health.
Counseling also helps address the emotional and psychological aspects of genetic testing, from potential feelings of anxiety to guilt and even empowerment. Research shows that genetic counseling has a positive impact on patient knowledge, reduces anxiety and can improve overall psychological well-being during a cancer journey.