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Article Category: Highlights

Wellstar Midwives Support Women's Best Health

Published on November 18, 2022

Last updated 09:36 AM November 18, 2022

Illustration of provider with mask holding baby

From welcoming a child to well woman’s exams and health education, women have a partner and advocate in Wellstar’s certified nurse midwives.

Midwives are registered nurses who have received additional education and training in comprehensive care for women. While they may be associated with childbirth — and do support patients through every aspect of labor and delivery — they also offer personalized care for women through every phase of life. 

“Midwives do everything spanning from well women’s health, like annual exams, birth control, IUDs and Nexplanon insertions, to all of the prenatal care, so taking care of women from the time of conception throughout delivery and postpartum,” said Emily Goolsby, a certified nurse midwife at Wellstar.

Midwives collaborate with other members of a patient’s care team, including nurses and OB/GYNs, to provide comprehensive care during birth. Whether the patient has a natural childbirth or a medically-assisted birth, midwives provide personalized, expert care and advocate for the patient.

“We support all aspects of birth. We are there for the patients who are laboring naturally and want to be on the birthing ball or moving around, but sometimes the patient says their goal is to feel as little pain as possible,” Goolsby said. “Then, my goal is to advocate for those interventions as soon as possible. It’s all about making the birth experience what our patients want and supporting our patients in that environment.”

Numerous studies have shown the highest quality comprehensive birth experiences come from a multidisciplinary treatment team of midwives and OB/GYNs supporting and caring for a mom together.

“We’re championing for patients’ best outcomes and their babies, and it tends to decrease interventions overall that are unnecessary,” Goolsby said.

After the patient gives birth, midwives support patients through education on parenting topics such as breastfeeding and newborn care. 

Midwives care for patients at these Wellstar locations — Wellstar Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone, North Fulton, West Georgia and Spalding medical centers. If you already have a Wellstar OB/GYN, ask your provider about working with a midwife. If you need a new provider, find a Wellstar OB/GYN location near you.

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Cobb Medical Center Douglas Medical Center Kennestone Regional Medical Center
North Fulton Medical Center Spalding Medical Center West Georgia Medical Center Womens Health
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Newsroom

Wellstar Spalding Introduces Stigma-Free Transport for Behavioral Health Patients

In a compassionate step forward for mental health care, Wellstar Spalding Medical Center has launched a new initiative to more quickly and safely transport patients in need of psychiatric care to specialty care facilities.

People in the Spalding community no longer have to wait in emergency departments for extended periods—sometimes days—until a secure ride in a marked law enforcement or EMS vehicle is available. Now, patients who need this type of specialty care are transported within hours in a discreet, unmarked SUV. The approach preserves each patient’s dignity and accelerates access to critical inpatient psychiatric care.

“This innovative approach not only improves logistics but also reinforces Wellstar’s commitment to treating every person with dignity and care,” said Kevin Smith, president of Wellstar Spalding. “It’s a win for our patients, our staff and our community.”

Each year, Wellstar Behavioral Health serves about 19,000 people, many of whom enter the health system through hospital emergency departments. When patients require transfer to an inpatient psychiatric facility, transportation delays can lead to prolonged emergency department stays and slower treatment for all patients. The root of the issue lies in the limited availability of secure transport options, which are typically restricted to EMS or law enforcement vehicles.

A friendly image of stigma

To address this challenge, Wellstar Spalding leaders teamed up with the health system’s Behavioral Health service line to develop a creative and compassionate solution, starting with the hospital in Griffin. With funding from the Wellstar Foundation, the team purchased and outfitted an unmarked SUV designed specifically for the safe and respectful transport of patients needing behavioral health care.

Wellstar Spalding has hired several specialized officers to operate the vehicle. These officers receive training from Wellstar’s behavioral health team—including suicide risk assessment and response—ensuring patients are transported with both safety and empathy.

“This is a good example of our service line coming together with hospital leaders to use out-of-the-box thinking, allowing us to serve with compassion,” said Dr. Ryan Breshears, chief behavioral health officer at Wellstar.

Trish Velasco, Wellstar’s assistant vice president of behavioral health, emphasized the role of community support.

“The generosity of those in our community who donate to the Wellstar Foundation made this possible,” she said. “Their contributions are directly improving patient experiences and outcomes in a very tangible way.”

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Runners take their mark on the track. Text reads XanderCare.

PeopleCare

XanderCare

Xander Garanzuay, a long-distance runner, never imagined his high school track meet would end with him being airlifted to the hospital. But when a discus struck him in the head, he suffered a depressed skull fracture and needed emergency surgery.

Thanks to the quick action and collaboration of Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center's trauma and neurosurgery teams, Xander is now back to running. His story highlights the resilience of the human body, the strength of family and the impact of expert care.

A sudden accident

After finishing the 2-mile race at a track meet in Cartersville, Xander stayed to support his Woodstock High School teammates. When he was ready to go home, he texted his parents.

A few moments later, everything changed. While tossing a ball with his friend, Xander ran to retrieve it—just as a discus struck him in the head.

The discus hit Xander on the left side of his head with such force that he fell unconscious. Xander began seizing—his condition was critical. While his friend raced to notify their coaches, Kelly, Xander’s mom, had arrived to pick him up.

“I’m sitting out front texting Xander, ‘I’m here,’ when emergency vehicles start pulling up,” Kelly said. “Then my husband called—‘Xander’s been hit.’”

Kelly stayed with Xander as EMS evaluated him. “He was awake but not coherent,” she noted. They determined he would need to be airlifted to Wellstar Kennestone, a Level I Trauma Center.

Life-saving surgery

Xander was swiftly transported to Wellstar Kennestone, where the trauma team was ready to act. Upon arrival, Wellstar Neurosurgeon Dr. Phillip Parry assessed the severity of Xander’s injury: a depressed skull fracture causing seizures.

“The discus is a large weight—picture a five-pound Frisbee—that is flung through the air,” said Dr. Parry. “Thankfully, Xander’s skull protected his brain, but he essentially sustained a ballistic injury to the skull.”

The impact to the left side of Xander’s skull left him with a fixed-focus neurologic deficit. His right arm—his dominant arm—had no muscle strength, and his right leg was weak.

Dr. Parry performed an emergency craniotomy to remove the bone pressing on Xander’s brain. The surgery was successful, but the road ahead was uncertain.

“The biggest challenge wasn’t the surgery itself—this is something we do every day,” he said. “It was telling a 16-year-old and his mother that we didn’t know whether he would regain function in his dominant arm.”

Kelly had to trust in the care Xander was receiving. “You don’t know what you’re going to do in that situation. Nothing prepares you,” she said. “I had to have faith that he was in the right hands—and he truly was.”

Steady progress

The day after Xander’s surgery, Wellstar Kennestone’s physical and occupational therapy teams began working at his bedside to restore movement in his non-functioning arm and leg.

“You want to do everything you can to optimize the body’s ability to heal,” said Dr. Parry. “It was important that we provided that environment for him.”

Xander’s positive attitude and determination played a crucial role in regaining function. His dad, Xavier, was amazed by his son’s resilience.

“He was so proactive and driven to get better,” Xavier said. “It was inspiring to watch.”

Still, sometimes the reality of what happened sank in. “He woke up one night and said, ‘I could have died,’” his mom remembered. “I told him, ‘Yes, but you didn’t.’ He said, ‘God must have something really special planned for me.’”

Xander applied the same fortitude from running to each step of his healing. “Sometimes you can be your own worst enemy, but you can also be your biggest supporter,” he said. “If you don’t believe in yourself, how can anyone else believe in you?”

Care that made a difference

Xander spent six days at Wellstar Kennestone before being transferred to inpatient rehabilitation. The support from Wellstar’s care team made a lasting impact.

They were there for whatever we needed—compassionate and always listening to Xander’s needs,” Kelly said.

One night during his stay, Xander woke needing help to get to the restroom. When a nurse arrived, he suddenly began seizing. “I’ve never seen eight nurses in a room so quickly,” his mom recalled. “Everyone knew exactly what to do.”

One poignant moment came when Xander’s family had the discus—now a symbol of victory over his injury—signed by his care team.

“It’s rewarding as a physician to know that I played a small part in restoring his ability to use his arm again,” Dr. Parry reflected. “As a parent, I know the anxiety that comes with the uncertainty of neurologic recovery. To see Xander move his arms and legs again, as if nothing happened, is a relief that’s indescribable.”

The power of community

Xander’s recovery was supported not only by his family and Wellstar care team, but also by his school and community. After the accident, his track team dedicated the next meet to him, with “Run for Xander” wristbands and signs. A teammate also started a GoFundMe campaign, which raised nearly $13,000 to help with the family’s medical expenses.

“People from all over came together for Xander,” Xavier said. “Posts on his team’s Facebook page were shared with running clubs from Canada to Miami. We were blown away.”

Xander was especially touched by the support. “This whole experience showed me how much my family loves me,” he said. “Seeing my friends, teachers and even family from Texas come to help—it meant so much.”

A bright future

After two and a half weeks of inpatient rehabilitation, Xander transitioned to outpatient rehab and continued regular follow-ups with Dr. Parry at the Wellstar Neurosurgery clinic. “At each phase, he received the best possible care,” explained Dr. Parry. “That’s why he had such a great outcome.”

Today, Xander is almost fully recovered and back doing what he loves most—running. “Physically and mentally, he’s doing phenomenal,” Kelly said. “He has his own training program. I am so proud of him.”

Xander’s progress wouldn’t have been possible without the trauma care network that supported him every step of the way. “The benefit of the trauma network can’t be overstated,” Dr. Parry said. “It ensures people get the best possible outcome even on their worst day.”

With expert care and determination, Xander is ready for whatever comes next.

Learn more about Trauma Services and Neuro Care at Wellstar.

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Highlights

Personalized Breast Care Close to Home at Wellstar North Fulton

By Wellstar Breast Surgeon Dr. Laura Pearson

I have never met a woman who enjoyed getting mammograms, including myself. They can be uncomfortable, awkward and anxiety-provoking—especially if you have had scares in the past or are at high risk for getting breast cancer.

There are so many additional resources for risk reduction and surveillance available that go hand-in-hand with mammograms. At Wellstar, reducing your risk and screening for cancer starts with a physical from your primary care doctor.

If you are at average risk of developing breast cancer, you should begin annual screening mammograms at age 40. If you have a family history or other risk factors, your doctor may recommend earlier or more frequent screening. If something is detected on a mammogram, the Wellstar Comprehensive Breast Health Program has nurse navigators who will help arrange diagnostic imaging, biopsy procedures and referrals to breast specialists. If you are diagnosed with cancer, the compassionate and oncology-trained nurse navigators with Wellstar Cancer Care walk patients through diagnosis, evaluation, treatment and beyond.

If you’re diagnosed with breast cancer, your treatment and care will transition from our Comprehensive Breast Health Program to the Wellstar Cancer Care team. In Wellstar STAT Clinics, which stands for Specialty Teams and Treatment, we put you at the center of your care plan. In our STAT Clinic for Breast Cancer, the care team, including breast oncology nurse navigators, surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, nutritionists and genetic counselors, will meet with you and your support system on the same day to formulate a treatment plan personalized to your specific cancer, as well as your personal and cultural needs. Patients are able to ask questions, make decisions and start treatment sooner, improving outcomes.

Many times, surgical intervention can be done as an outpatient procedure. We can also offer some people intraoperative radiation therapy, or IORT—the option of doing their radiation treatment in the operating room at the same time as their lumpectomy, meaning they are able to avoid four to six weeks of radiation treatments. Any other interventions, such as chemotherapy or radiation, including our CyberKnife for treatments like targeted partial breast radiation therapy, are found in the cancer center on Wellstar North Fulton’s medical campus. We have physical therapists, social workers and palliative care specialists who are there for you if the need arises.

Your Wellstar care team can also help you reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. Being overweight or obese or being a smoker can increase your risk. Patients at Wellstar have access to our Center for Best Health to assist in weight management. We also have smoking cessation programs and dietitians waiting to help you make healthier choices that can positively impact your health.

Wellstar provides more than healthcare, PeopleCare—working relentlessly to exceed national standards and our patients’ expectations while remembering the humanity of every patient. We are here for all the situations and stages of our patients’ lives by offering the tools and resources to be healthy and thrive. Wellstar clinicians live in the communities we serve. We must get physicals, mammograms and biopsies. We need help being our healthiest selves. We get sick and have family members who need compassionate care. PeopleCare means offering our patients world-class healthcare in the communities where they live and work.

Your care team can put your mammogram order in Wellstar MyChart to book online, or you can schedule by calling (678) 581-5900.

Visit wellstar.org/northfultoncancercare to learn more about cancer care at Wellstar North Fulton.

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