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Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center Provides Hospital-Level Care in Patients’ Homes
First hospital in Georgia to offer innovative Hospital Care at Home program
Published on February 05, 2025
Last updated 08:45 AM February 05, 2025
Dr. Sergio and Roxann Bustos
Augusta, Ga. (Feb. 5, 2025) – When Dr. Sergio Bustos, 92, fell and developed a bruise that swelled and didn’t improve, his family brought him to the Emergency Department at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center. The attending physician prescribed treatment that included IV antibiotics and the opportunity to receive hospital-level care from the comfort of his home. Bustos and his family were surprised and elated. He became Georgia’s first Hospital Care at Home patient.
As its name suggests, the Hospital Care at Home program allows patients who meet certain criteria to be admitted to the hospital while remaining comfortable at home. The benefits include shorter recovery times and regular visits by care providers who can identify and address environmental issues that may lead to being re-admitted to the hospital.
When physicians decide that a patient is a good candidate for the program, the patient is provided with equipment to monitor their vital signs and a tablet for virtual physician visits. Nurses virtually monitor vital signs around the clock while other care team members, including nurses and paramedics, make in-home visits multiple times a day to administer IV antibiotics, capture vital signs, assess the home for safety, complete virtual visits with the physician team and ensure the patient is improving toward discharge.
“The Hospital Care at Home program is a game changer for eligible patients, especially those who are elderly and respond better to treatment in their more familiar environments,” said Dr. Matt Lyon, director of the MCG Center for Digital Health at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. “We combine technology and in-home visits to produce better health outcomes.”
“The patient first has to meet criteria for hospitalization, and then meet the criteria for Hospital Care at Home by an in-person physician consultation,” continued Lyon. “While the patient must need hospitalization, they also need to be mobile, and their condition can’t be too critical. Someone who needs a lot of monitoring is not a good candidate. They also need to live close enough to Wellstar MCG Health in case they need to quickly return to the hospital.”
If at any point a patient begins having problems and needs more acute care, they are immediately transferred back to the brick-and-mortar hospital.
Bustos’ daughter, Susana Chacon, who is an occupational therapist, was thrilled her father could receive hospital-level care at home. She was concerned that at his age, he would respond better to receiving care in a familiar setting.
“Hospitals are wonderful when you need them, but being out of place for older people can cause confusion. You can’t eat or sleep like you can at home, where you have your own bed, bathroom, things like that. As an occupational therapist, I think the best place ever to recover, if possible, is at home. You’re going to be able to function so much better,” she said.
First authorized in 2020 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the
Hospital Care at Home program
provides hospitals with expanded flexibility to care for patients and was recently extended by Congress through the end of March 2025. Proponents of Hospital Care at Home hope that Congress will continue to extend the program.
“I am very pleased with the experience,” said Bustos. “Any time that I had any questions, they were answered. The medical team was wonderful, and my wife and family were more comfortable spending time with me.”
Bustos was successfully discharged from Wellstar MCG Health’s Hospital Care at Home program a few days after being admitted. The virtual care team continued to follow Bustos for 30 days, supporting him and his family with scheduling appointments, delivering medication, arranging for social support and providing quick access to a healthcare provider if needed.
According to
Becker’s Hospital Review,
the four most common conditions treated through hospital-at-home programs are respiratory, circulatory, renal (kidney) and infectious disease.
“Advances in technology have opened opportunities for more personalized healthcare that were previously unimaginable,” said Dr. Hank Capps, executive vice president, chief information and digital officer at Wellstar. “We’re always looking for ways to improve the patient experience. Offering hospital-level care at home, when it’s appropriate, is the newest way that we’re providing Georgians with the compassionate care that they need.”
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Wellstar Breaks Ground on New Cancer-Care Facility in Cartersville
CARTERSVILLE, Ga. (June 13, 2025) — Wellstar Health System, in partnership with Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers, celebrated a major milestone Friday with the ceremonial groundbreaking of its new medical oncology and infusion facility in Cartersville.
Held at the future site at 65 Cloverleaf Drive, the event marks a significant step forward in expanding access to advanced, patient-centered cancer care for residents of Bartow County and the surrounding communities.
“This new facility represents our commitment to delivering world-class cancer care close to home,” said Dr. Michael Andrews, Wellstar’s chief cancer officer. “We’re investing in the health of this community with a space designed to provide advanced treatment options with compassionate, personalized support.”
The 15,000-square-foot facility—slated to open in early spring 2026—will double Wellstar’s infusion capacity in the region. It will feature:
- 28 infusion chairs
- 15 patient exam rooms
- 3 triage rooms
- 8 blood draw stations
- A dedicated lab and compounding pharmacy
- Onsite support services, including genetic counseling and financial navigation
Patients will benefit from a full spectrum of services, including medical oncology, hematology, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and outpatient infusion therapy. The facility will also house an onsite infusion pharmacy with a dedicated clinical pharmacist.
“Our goal is to make cancer care more accessible and less overwhelming,” said Rebeccah George, executive director of operations for outpatient oncology and infusion. “This facility will allow patients to receive cutting-edge treatment in a supportive environment, right here in their own community.”
Dr. Michelle Ojemuyiwa, hematologist and oncologist with Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers, emphasized the importance of local access to care.
“Cancer is a journey no one should have to travel far to face,” she said. “This new facility will allow us to deliver the latest treatments with the compassion our patients deserve—right here in Cartersville.”
The new facility underscores Wellstar’s mission to deliver innovative, high-quality care tailored to each person’s needs. A dedicated team of five oncology providers—including two medical oncologists and three nurse practitioners—will lead care at the location.
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Wellstar Kennestone Achieves Elite National Recognition in Cardiothoracic Surgery
Marietta, GA— Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center has achieved a rare milestone in cardiac care, earning the highest possible rating—three stars—in four categories evaluated by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). This distinction places Wellstar Kennestone among the elite cardiac surgery programs in the U.S. and Canada.
The STS Star rating system is one of the most rigorous, verified and respected measures of quality in healthcare, based entirely on objective patient outcomes and implemented medical care processes. The latest analysis evaluates performance during a three-year period, from January 2022 to December 2024. Wellstar Kennestone earned the coveted three-star rating in the following key areas: isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG, or open-heart surgery), aortic valve replacement (AVR), AVR + CABG, and multiprocedural cardiothoracic surgeries.
“This extraordinary recognition reflects the world-class quality of care offered by Wellstar,” said Lorrie Liang, senior vice president and hospital 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.’”
Previously, Wellstar Kennestone had earned three-star ratings in two categories. This latest achievement marks a significant advancement, solidifying its position as a national leader in cardiothoracic surgery.
“This new accomplishment speaks 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.”
“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 Kennestone,” added Karrie Davis, Director of Wellstar Cardiothoracic Surgery Services and the Structural Heart and Valve Program. “We care for every patient like they’re a family member or close friend. That’s why we hold ourselves to the highest standards.”
STS ratings reflect not only surgical excellence, but also the quality of care patients receive in the critical 30-day period following surgery. 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 Cindy Holcomb, Wellstar executive director of cardiovascular nursing at Wellstar Kennestone. “From the operating room to recovery and rehabilitation, every team member plays a vital role in delivering outstanding outcomes.”
With a team of more than 110 cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons, the Wellstar Center for Cardiovascular Care is home to one of Georgia’s most comprehensive cardiovascular programs. Its flagship, Wellstar Kennestone, was the first hospital in the state to earn the prestigious Comprehensive Cardiac Care Certification—the highest distinction awarded by the Joint Commission and the American Heart Association.
For more information about Heart Care at Wellstar, visit
wellstar.org/heartcare.
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Small and Rural Hospitals Receive Lifeline From Digital Care Network
Augusta, Ga. (June 11, 2025) -- Small and rural hospitals across the country too often struggle to survive, faced with the monumental challenges of providing specialized care to sparsely populated communities. Wellstar, in affiliation with Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia (MCG) Center for Digital Health, is working to change that. Through the Wellstar Digital Care Network, Georgians in rural communities are accessing crucial resources more quickly and conveniently than they could just a few years ago.
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