Article Category: Highlights

Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center Completes 250 Procedures Treating Venous Thromboembolism

Published on May 31, 2023

Last updated 04:30 PM June 24, 2025

The peripheral vascular care team at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, a leading facility in the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE), has completed its 250th venous thromboembolism (VTE) procedure.

According to the American Heart Association, VTE is the third most common vascular diagnosis after heart attacks and strokes, and affects between 300,000 and 600,000 Americans each year. There are two types of VTE:

Deep vein thrombosis is a clot in a deep vein. It usually occurs in the leg, but it can also appear in the arms.
A pulmonary embolism occurs when a clot breaks off the vein and travels to the lungs, blocking the blood supply.

VTE can be fatal and can cause lifelong disability. Early intervention is crucial. At Wellstar North Fulton, the heart care team was an early adopter of a groundbreaking treatment for VTE, which uses a catheter to remove the clot. The clinician inserts the catheter through the groin and navigates it to the clot for treatment.

Wellstar North Fulton continues to receive referrals from around the region for this procedure and is one of the highest volume hospitals for VTE care in metro Atlanta.

Previous treatment options included open chest surgery, blood thinners and clot-busting medications. These methods posed a higher risk of complications, especially for patients who have recently undergone another surgical procedure. Because a recent surgery can put a patient at higher risk for VTE, using a catheter to remove the clot is safer for many patients. This new treatment method has reduced patients’ hospital stays for VTE from an average of five to seven days to only one or two days.

Recognizing and preventing VTE

If you or someone else is showing signs of VTE, seek emergency care as soon as possible.

Symptoms of VTE include:

Swelling of the legs
Lightheadedness or fainting
Shortness of breath
Chest pain

Risk factors for VTE include not moving for a longer period of time—such as when someone is on bed rest following surgery—as well as some medical conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, blood clotting disorders or kidney disease. Your Wellstar care team can help you evaluate your risk of VTE and manage your risk factors.

Learn more about cardiovascular care at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center.

Final Class Check-In & Celebration

We opened our final sessions with a check-in, inviting participants to reflect on how they’ve been incorporating their support networks into daily life since our “A Family Affair” class. Their stories affirmed the power of connection and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who help you thrive.

After the check-in, we transitioned into a formal celebration that included:

A brief agenda to thank everyone—from stakeholders and service line leaders to our participants and guest speakers
A powerful recap of success metrics from each church
A joyful closing moment that quite literally had everyone “living to the beat” with music, dancing and smiles all around!

Mount Olive: Setting the Bar High

With 18 dedicated members, Mount Olive consistently exceeded expectations:

90% average attendance
100% 5-star rating in both knowledge gained and overall satisfaction
82% reported positive behavior change in daily life
61% saw improvements in their average blood pressure readings
Three participants shared that their clinicians reduced the dosage or number of their medications
Two reported more regular visits to their doctors since joining the program

From their energy in the classroom to their commitment at home, Mount Olive’s cohort has become a model of what’s possible when knowledge meets action.

First Baptist: Stepping Boldly into Wellness

With 14 committed participants, First Baptist brought steady engagement and deep personal growth:

74% average attendance
80% reported positive behavior change
43% saw improvements in their average blood pressure readings
Two participants reported a reduction in medication dosage or number
Three reported more regular visits to their doctors since joining the program
4.69 rating in knowledge gained and overall rating of 4.77 out of 5

Their thoughtful conversations, openness to growth and willingness to step outside their comfort zones truly made this cohort shine. And yes—we danced our way into what’s next.

Looking Ahead: The Beat Continues with Art Pharmacy

While the classroom sessions have come to a close, our participants’ journey is far from over. As a next step, all graduates will now enter the next phase of Live to the Beat through our new partnership with Art Pharmacy—a social prescribing organization that connects individuals to arts and culture-based experiences to support long-term health and well-being.

Graduates will receive one “social prescription” per month for the next six months, focusing on connection, creativity and continued wellness. This phase was designed with intention—to ensure the momentum continues beyond the classroom and into real life.

We’ll also be conducting a 6-month follow-up to evaluate how behavior changes have been sustained over time, using lessons learned to inform the next cohort launching in September.

National Impact: CDC Foundation & LTTB Ambassadors

We were honored to have representatives from the CDC Foundation join our final celebrations to share how graduates can become Live to the Beat Ambassadors for the national campaign. Many participants expressed excitement about using their voice to inspire others to begin their heart health journeys too—a beautiful full-circle moment of community-led change.

One Chapter Ends, A Movement Continues

As we officially close out this year-long pilot, we stand in awe of what was accomplished—and energized for what’s ahead. To our participants: thank you for your courage and commitment. To our partners, service line leaders and supporters: thank you for believing in the vision.

Together, we proved that heart health isn’t just clinical—it’s cultural, communal and deeply personal. And as we prepare for the next chapter, one thing is certain: The beat goes on… and it’s only getting stronger.

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A woman holds a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon in her fingers

Highlights

Think PINK: Raise Your Breast Cancer IQ

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 316,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S. this year. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, apart from skin cancer, and second only to lung cancer as a leading cause of cancer death in women.

It’s important for women to know the symptoms and schedule regular screenings to detect breast cancer early. Remember PINK—Prevention, Information, Next steps and Knowledge—to guide your awareness.

P: Prevention

The best way to detect breast cancer early is by staying connected with your healthcare provider and keeping up with regular visits and screenings, including mammograms.

Who should get screened, and when?

Annual mammograms are recommended starting at age 40. Women with additional risk factors or a family history should speak with their provider about starting screenings earlier.

I: Information

Research and learn as much as you can about breast cancer. Knowing the signs and symptoms could save your life.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

Some symptoms may be spotted early. Knowing what to look and feel for can help catch breast cancer before it progresses:

Lump in the breast or underarm
Breast swelling or thickening
Redness or flaking skin on the breast
Nipple discharge other than breast milk
Change in breast size or shape
Pain in any area of the breast

N: Next steps

When a mammogram result is flagged for follow-up care, it can feel scary. At Wellstar, you don’t have to face the process alone. Our Comprehensive Breast Health Program offers complimentary concierge services, automatically enrolling patients with abnormal mammogram results. Dedicated nurse navigators guide you through each step of the diagnostic process—helping with scheduling, answering questions and supporting your physical and emotional well-being.

If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s important to partner with your care team to plan your treatment.

What happens after a breast cancer diagnosis?

Schedule a follow-up visit. Meet with your healthcare provider to ask questions about your diagnosis and treatment options.
Consult with specialists. At Wellstar, breast surgeons and oncologists work as part of an integrated team to recommend treatment tailored to your condition. Patients also have access to advanced imaging, leading facilities and experts in surgery, radiology, pathology and oncology.
Explore STAT Clinic. At the Breast Cancer STAT Clinic at Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, a full team—including a breast surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, genetic counselor and nurse navigator—meets with you in one place on the same day. Together, they create a personalized treatment plan before you leave, helping reduce the time from diagnosis to treatment from months to just two weeks. This patient-centered model brings the specialists to you, ensuring the most seamless, supportive experience possible.

K: Knowledge

Knowing your personal health, family history and risk factors helps your care team determine if you may be at increased risk of developing breast cancer.

For women ages 24 to 39, Wellstar has partnered with Gabbi to offer a personalized, virtual breast cancer risk assessment. The program provides next-day virtual visits with specialists, coordinated imaging at Wellstar and 24/7 concierge support.

What are the risk factors for breast cancer?

Age. Risk increases as women get older.
Family history. Having a relative with breast cancer—or a male relative with prostate cancer—can increase risk.
Previous radiation therapy. Radiation to the chest for other cancers or lymphomas may increase risk.
Past diagnosis. A previous breast cancer diagnosis raises the likelihood of recurrence.

Wellstar provides comprehensive breast diagnostic and treatment options, along with support services to help patients and families navigate their journey.

For more information, visit wellstar.org/breastcancer.

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John Elliot smiles after getting control of Parkinson’s symptoms with the Wellstar Parkinson’s and Tremors Program and a procedure called deep brain stimulation (DBS).

PeopleCare

JohnElliottCare

John Elliott was a builder who enjoyed meeting with clients and planning their future homes. But the effects of Parkinson’s disease made it hard for him to meet with clients and live his life. Then he found a new sense of hope thanks to the Wellstar Parkinson’s and Tremors Program and a procedure called deep brain stimulation (DBS). His experience is a powerful testament to the value of comprehensive care and how his neurologists, functional neurosurgeon and nurse navigator helped him rebuild his life.

Symptoms that were hard to shake

John has been building custom homes in Marietta for 45 years—a career defined by personal relationships with his clients. He loves spending time with his family, hunting, fishing and bushhogging the multi-generational family farm.

But in 2015, John’s hands began to shake. A former client and friend who was a retired neurologist recommended he see Dr. Thomas Holmes, a Wellstar neurologist.

A DaTscan, a type of nuclear imaging test that takes images of the brain, helped Dr. Holmes see a loss in John’s dopamine-producing neurons, which indicates Parkinson’s disease. The progressive neurological disorder affects a person’s motor functions and movements.

At first, medication helped. But years after his diagnosis, John’s medications were barely effective.

“A big part of custom home building is your interaction with your client,” John said. “Meeting with the customer became somewhat of a problem.”

His tremors and involuntary mouth movements left him feeling embarrassed.

“I kind of went into a shell and didn't want to see people because they would make comments, particularly about the mouth movement,” he said. “You want to hide.”

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