Well Starts with Healthy Hearts

A new multidisciplinary program at Wellstar cares for people with aortic conditions, providing both emergency and non-emergent treatment.

The Wellstar Comprehensive Aortic Program brings together a highly-skilled team of experts, including cardiovascular surgeons and vascular surgeons, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. These providers share the common goal of diagnosing, treating and preventing aortic diseases and emergencies — making care more comprehensive and improving outcomes for patients.

“Traditionally, aortic diseases have been managed by multiple physicians spread throughout multiple specialties, which can lead to confusion, delays in treatment and competing treatment plans,” said Wellstar Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. James Ryan Burke. “Wellstar has created a single, multidisciplinary program to bring together aortic-specific disease expertise and leverage advanced technology.”

Aortic health is crucial to overall wellness

The aorta is the major artery that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. If the aorta is ruptured, then blood does not flow to other areas like the legs, feet and brain, which can lead to lasting brain damage or death.

An aortic aneurysm is an abnormal bulge in the wall of the aorta. Aneurysms are often asymptomatic until they become large, rupture or dissect. However, an aortic dissection, when a tear develops on the inner wall of the aorta, is one for concern. Depending on the aneurysm location, the most common symptom could be one of severe chest pain, back pain, or abdominal pain.  When an aneurysm ruptures or tears, it can lead to death within minutes or hours.

Wellstar’s aortic program takes a proactive approach to prevent aneurysms by monitoring and treating aortic conditions.

“Identifying aortic pathology early leads to better patient outcomes,” said Wellstar Cardiovascular Disease Specialist Dr. Jennifer Giuseffi. 

The program’s team partners with patients to reduce their risk of an aortic emergency. Risk factors include tobacco use, being older than 65, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, history of coronary artery disease or peripheral vascular disease, family history of aneurysms, certain connective tissue disorders, and certain genetic conditions. Men are also at higher risk than women.

The team of aortic care specialists gets to know each patient and collaborates with them to create a personalized care plan to keep their aorta healthy.

“Every patient is different. Every aorta is different. The risk factors and complications with every aorta are different,” Dr. Giuseffi said. “Within our group, we’ll be able to address all of our patients’ issues individually.”

Wellstar’s approach to aortic care brings together experts from multiple specialties, allowing patients to have all their questions answered and get multiple perspectives.

“All patients with aortic diseases being cared for at Wellstar will benefit long-term through the program’s unique collaboration of health care practitioners from cardiology, cardiac surgery and vascular surgery all working together to ensure the best possible care and outcomes for patients with these complex heart conditions,” said Vascular Surgeon Dr. Michael Corey.

Managing aortic emergencies

While the program includes an outpatient component to help patients manage aortic conditions or recover from aneurysms or dissections, the systemwide team is also prepared to save lives and step into action during emergencies.

The program offers treatments including aortic root and aortic valve surgery, thoracic aortic surgery and thoracoabdominal aortic surgery.

If you experience any of these symptoms of aortic disease, call 911:

• Severe, sudden pain in the chest, back, abdomen or groin area
• Pulsating feeling in the abdomen similar to a heartbeat
• Cold, numbness or tingling in the hands, legs or feet
• Drop in blood pressure, dizziness or feeling faint

While the team performs procedures at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, care teams at all Wellstar hospitals are trained in how to address aortic emergencies and transfer patients if needed. Kennestone was the first hospital in Georgia and only fourth in the country to receive the highest certification in cardiovascular care — the Comprehensive Cardiac Care Center Certification — by The Joint Commission and American Heart Association.

Receiving care from the Wellstar Comprehensive Aortic Program

To see a provider in the aortic program, patients can either be referred by their physician or call the office to make an appointment. The team will help patients determine which provider they should see first, depending on their health history or aortic condition. Call (770) 590-4180 to make an appointment or learn more about the program.

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 Atlanta Medical Center was recognized as high-performing in care for:

• Congestive heart failure
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

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

Wellstar Douglas Hospital recently attained advanced certification as a Primary Heart Attack Center (PHAC) by The Joint Commission and The American Heart Association. This means the hospital offers patients the next generation of cardiac care.

“Our cardiac experts in Douglas County are dedicated to doing what is best for the patient,” said Dr. Joshua M. Willis, Medical Director of Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Wellstar Douglas Hospital. “The Joint Commission certification shows that our cardiac program is designed to help people having heart attacks receive the fastest, most evidence-based care.” 

Wellstar Douglas Hospital has 24-hour-a-day coverage to treat heart attacks. The hospital’s team communicates with first responders, so patients can get diagnosed and treated as fast as possible upon arrival at the hospital by ambulance. 

“Everything we do is centered around giving each person the best chance for positive outcomes,” Dr. Willis said.

The hospital’s team aims to get patients diagnosed fast by performing cardiac tests within 10 minutes of arrival at the hospital. For patients who need surgical intervention, Wellstar Douglas Hospital’s interventional cardiologists perform percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) — a minimally-invasive procedure that restores blood flow to the heart — within a 90-minute-window. 

According to Gene Morris, Director of Cardiac and Vascular Services, the cardiac team has performed 2,500 PCIs since the program launched in 2012.

Wellstar Douglas Hospital is also designated as an Emergency Cardiac Care Center (ECCC) Level II by the Georgia Department of Public Health. 

To learn more about Wellstar Douglas Hospital, please visit the hospital webpage.