Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Wins Best in Real Estate Award
Wellstar Kennestone Emergency Department recognized for top deal in Atlanta commercial real estate
Published on April 15, 2021
Last updated 04:53 PM April 15, 2021

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Highlights
Inspire Implants Introduce Better Sleep Apnea Care
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder. It causes you to stop breathing off and on while you’re asleep. It can happen when something blocks your airway (obstructive sleep apnea) or if your brain doesn’t send the right signals to the muscles that control your breathing (central sleep apnea). Either way, your body doesn’t get enough oxygen. To kickstart your breathing, your body triggers a survival reflex. The jolt wakes you up just enough for you to start breathing again. But it also breaks your sleep cycle, meaning you’re tired the next day. And without proper treatment, you can develop high blood pressure or other heart problems that can be life-threatening.How is sleep apnea diagnosed?
You may have sleep apnea if you snore, wake up frequently at night or stop breathing when you sleep. An at-home or overnight in-clinic sleep test can diagnose you accurately. At-home tests use a finger monitor to measure and record your airflow, blood oxygen level, breathing pattern and heart rate. We may suggest an in-clinic test called a polysomnogram if we think you have central sleep apnea. This test uses electrodes placed around your body to evaluate your arm and leg movements, blood oxygen level, brain activity, breathing, and heart and lung activity while you sleep.Common treatments for sleep apnea
Oral appliances can treat mild sleep apnea, and surgery can address treatment-resistant sleep apnea. But two types of PAP therapy have long been the most common treatments for most people with moderate-to-severe sleep apnea:- Continuous PAP (CPAP): A machine delivers constant air pressure through a mask to keep your airway open during sleep.
- Bilevel PAP (BiPAP): A similar machine uses a mask to deliver higher air pressure when you inhale and lower air pressure when you exhale.
More advanced sleep apnea treatment
PAP therapy is uncomfortable for many people. If it doesn’t work for you, an Inspire Implant can reduce your sleep apnea without the mask. The two-piece implant involves a sensor in your chest and a receiver that wraps around the hypoglossal nerve that controls your tongue. Our ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists partner with lung and sleep medicine experts to place the device. They perform a minimally invasive procedure that requires two small incisions. This outpatient surgery requires minimal recovery time. Once in place, the implant works simply. When turned on at night, the sensor sends a signal to the receiver that gently stiffens your tongue and palate with each breath, so your airway does not become blocked—all without waking you. According to Dr. Vick, Inspire has been a breakthrough for many patients who cannot tolerate CPAP or BiPAP therapy. While success rates can vary depending on individual health factors such as body mass index (BMI), Inspire generally delivers higher satisfaction, fewer complications and a more comfortable recovery than previous surgical options. “With Inspire, we have a successful and convenient treatment option with a high patient satisfaction rate. While it is a surgically placed device, there is far less risk of complications and downtime than anything we have previously offered,” he said. “If you cannot tolerate PAP therapy, you should consider Inspire.” Learn more about Inspire at Wellstar and find an ENT who’s right for you.
Newsroom
Top Marks for Heart Care at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center
Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center has received several major commendations highlighting the high level of heart care continuously provided to patients—putting Wellstar’s cardiothoracic surgery program among the top in the nation. The Marietta-based heart care program received:
- The coveted three-star rating in the following key areas from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS): isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG, or open-heart surgery), aortic valve replacement (AVR), AVR + CABG, and multiprocedural cardiothoracic surgeries. This is the highest category of quality, placing Wellstar Kennestone among the best programs for heart surgery in the U.S. and Canada.
- The prestigious Comprehensive Cardiac Care Certification—the highest distinction awarded by The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association. Wellstar Kennestone was the first in Georgia to receive this certification.
These recognitions demonstrate Wellstar’s commitment to keeping advanced heart care close to home.
“These accomplishments speak volumes about the skill, precision and teamwork of our cardiothoracic team,” said Dr. Richard Myung, medical director of cardiothoracic surgery at Wellstar Kennestone. “We’re proud to deliver exceptional outcomes for patients from across the Southeast who have some of the most complex heart conditions.”
Three-star STS rating
STS ratings reflect not only surgical excellence, but also the quality of care patients receive in the critical 30-day period following surgery.
“This extraordinary recognition reflects the world-class quality of care offered by Wellstar,” said Lorrie Liang, president of Wellstar Kennestone and Wellstar Windy Hill. “To achieve this gold standard, a health system must demonstrate both clinical excellence and rigorous standards for follow-up care. At Wellstar, we provide all of this, along with a warm, people-centered experience. It’s what we call ‘PeopleCare.’”
These results highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach—one that includes surgeons, anesthesiologists, perfusionists, nurses, cardiologists, respiratory therapists, rehabilitation specialists, critical care specialists, hospitalists, advanced practice providers and many others.
“This achievement is a testament to the entire care continuum,” said Steve Cermak, executive director of cardiovascular service line and hospital operations at Wellstar Kennestone. “From the operating room to recovery and rehabilitation, every team member plays a vital role in delivering outstanding outcomes.”
Among the three-star rankings is CABG. This procedure is commonly performed to treat people having a heart attack or other conditions including coronary heart disease with chest pain, multiple blocked coronary arteries or serious heart failure. The procedure is performed by cardiovascular surgeons at Wellstar Kennestone—Dr. Theresa Luu, Dr. James Burke and Dr. Richard Myung—who work as part of a large multidisciplinary team to give every patient the highest quality care at every step of the process, from diagnosis through surgery and recovery.
“This amazing recognition is about the great lengths we go to care for our patients, and why people travel from across the region to receive their care at Wellstar Kennestone,” added Director of Wellstar Cardiothoracic Surgery Services and the Structural Heart and Valve Program Karrie Davis. “We care for every patient like they’re a family member or close friend. That’s why we hold ourselves to the highest standards.”
Wellstar Center for Cardiovascular Care offers patients care close to home across Georgia communities at more than 25 cardiovascular locations, with more than 110 cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons standing ready to provide heart care for both routine and complex heart conditions. Wellstar also has one of the largest cardiovascular rehabilitation programs in Georgia, which helps patients improve their long-term outcomes.
Certification by The Joint Commission
The Joint Commission has also awarded Wellstar Kennestone with a Gold Seal of Approval in conjunction with the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark and certification as a Comprehensive Cardiac Center for the third consecutive time.
For the certification, Wellstar Kennestone underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards including evaluating the care of the cardiac patient at every touch point in the cardiac care continuum with ongoing process improvement and health promotion for patients, as well as the community. Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with healthcare experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews.
The hospital first received the two-year certification in 2019. This recertification makes the third cycle—or sixth year—it has remained in place. Wellstar Kennestone was the first hospital in Georgia and remains the only one in the state to hold the comprehensive certification.
From prevention to post-cardiac event recovery, our well-connected and collaborative heart care team is dedicated to empowering you to regain your strength and independence. We offer top-quality cardiovascular care including diagnostics, treatment, psychological support and ongoing monitoring all focused on your well-being. Learn more about award-winning heart care at Wellstar.

Highlights
Epilepsy Expert Explains Diagnosis and Treatment

Having or witnessing a seizure can be frightening. But clinicians have made remarkable advances in diagnosing the causes and preventing future seizures with medications and surgery. “Seizures often seem scarier to bystanders than to patients,” said Dr. Thomas Holmes, a Wellstar neurologist. “Most patients don’t even remember them.” Epilepsy is more common than many realize—about 1 in 26 people will be diagnosed in their lifetime. On WSB’s The Weekly Check-Up, Dr. Holmes explained how epilepsy is diagnosed, why not all seizures mean epilepsy and what treatments are available. As director of neurodiagnostics at Wellstar, Dr. Holmes helped Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center earn Level 3 Adult Epilepsy Center accreditation, recognizing its advanced care for patients with hard-to-treat seizures.
Diagnosing epilepsy
According to Dr. Holmes, a seizure happens when there's an “abnormal firing of neurons in the brain.” This electrical disturbance can cause a range of symptoms—some more visible than others. A person having a seizure may briefly lose consciousness, and other signs can include:- Trouble breathing or temporarily stopping breathing
- Sudden falls without warning
- Jerking movements or a sudden loss of muscle control
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Not responding to sounds or voices for a few moments
- Staring spells, sometimes with rapid blinking
Medications and surgery for seizures and epilepsy
For most people with epilepsy, medication is the first and most effective treatment option. How long someone needs to stay on medication depends on several factors, including what’s causing the seizures and what clinicians find during ongoing monitoring. Sometimes a seizure is triggered by a specific event, like a head injury. In those cases, Dr. Holmes explained, long-term medication may not be necessary. But if tests reveal a structural issue in the brain—like an area of damage—it usually means a higher risk of future seizures and longer-term treatment is often recommended. “You don’t necessarily need to be on medication for life, even if you have epilepsy,” said Dr. Holmes. Patients are regularly monitored, treatment plans are highly personalized and care plans are revisited to ensure the best outcomes possible. “If someone has been seizure-free for two to three years, has a normal EEG and no visible brain lesion, we’ll often discuss tapering off medication if the patient is open to it,” he said. Some people may struggle with seizure control despite medication. About 10% of patients don’t respond well to drugs—but there are additional treatments available. Wellstar’s EMUs can help determine where in the brain seizures are starting. In some cases, surgery to remove a small area of brain tissue can significantly reduce or even stop seizures. According to Dr. Holmes, this approach is successful in nearly 70% of cases. Other advanced options include laser surgery or a responsive neurostimulation—when a small device is implanted in the brain to detect abnormal activity and deliver a pulse to stop a seizure before it starts. Looking ahead, Dr. Holmes is optimistic. “There are going to be many options that are not drug-related,” he said. “Less invasive procedures are on the rise, and we’re learning more about the genetic causes of epilepsy—especially in children. Research and clinical trials may even lead us to gene therapies in the near future.” Epilepsy care is evolving rapidly, and for many patients, that means more control, fewer side effects, and real hope for the future.Epilepsy and Seizures Program at Wellstar
Our Epilepsy and Seizures Program is one of only a few such programs in Georgia. It provides comprehensive care to help children and adults manage seizures. The program also offers a streamlined pathway to determine if a patient is a candidate for advanced treatments, including minimally invasive surgery and deep brain stimulation. Wellstar Children's Hospital of Georgia and Wellstar MCG Health in Augusta are Level 4 Comprehensive Epilepsy Centers, the highest designation by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers. Wellstar Kennestone is a Level 3 Adult Epilepsy Center. Learn more about the Epilepsy and Seizures Program and Wellstar providers.We use cookies for booking and general analytics. Learn more about or internet privacy policy.