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Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center Receives Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification

Published on January 31, 2023

Last updated 11:18 AM January 31, 2023

Exterior photo of Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center. Wellstar and Joint Commission logos.

Wellstar Health System announced today that The Joint Commission recognized Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, the most demanding stroke certification recognizing hospitals that have specific abilities to receive and treat the most complex stroke cases. With two of the eight Comprehensive Stroke Centers in Georgia, Wellstar Health System now offers stroke patients greater access to the highest level of stroke and aneurysm care. Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center is also Joint Commission certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center.

“For years, we have provided world-class stroke care for each and every patient when they need it most. This designation represents how hard we have worked to provide the very best quality care for patients in North Fulton County and across Georgia. We’re proud that our work and subsequent positive patient outcomes are being recognized,” said Dr. Michael Mendoza, medical director of the Stroke Program at Wellstar North Fulton.

Wellstar North Fulton’s certification allows more Georgians to have access to the most advance diagnostics and treatments for cerebrovascular disease such as stroke. This is important because Georgia is located in the Stroke Belt, which is comprised of 11 states in the Southeast where the associated mortality rate for stroke patients is 10 percent above the national average.

At Wellstar North Fulton and Wellstar Kennestone, patients have access to advanced diagnostics and therapies to care for even the most complicated strokes faster and more effectively. These include:

Neuro Intensive Care Units – A multidisciplinary team of physicians and nurses who specialize in neurocritical care.
Minimally-invasive treatment – Wellstar is one of only four programs in the state that offer neuroendovascular treatment, such as minimally-invasive clot retrieval, patients can be provided with a much less invasive treatment technique.
Cutting-edge imaging – Neurointerventional biplane imaging shows detailed, 3D views of blood vessels in the brain. This allows neurosurgeons to flip neuroendovascular cases to an open neurosurgical case when needed.
Pioneering technology – Wellstar North Fulton was among the first hospitals in the country to use the groundbreaking Artemis Neuro Evacuation device to treat brain bleeds, a condition that was nearly impossible to treat in the past.
Around-the-clock care – Artificial intelligence such as VizAi allows quicker identification of patients who are candidates for thrombectomy and organizes care in a connected system by quicker response to identify and provide care as quickly as possible.

“Our team of neurosurgeons, neurocritical care physicians, neuroradiologists, advanced practice practitioners and nurses work together to perform world-class thrombectomies, aneurysm treatments, carotid surgeries and cerebral bypass procedures so that patients can regain their best quality of life. Additionally, our dedicated hybrid neurovascular suite is equipped with innovative bi-plane technology. This allows neurosurgeons to view highly detailed images of brain vessels, so we as a team can customize treatments in real time,” said Dr. Arthur Grigorian, neurosurgeon, Wellstar North Fulton.

“When you have a stroke, every second counts. Getting fast, expert stroke care can mean the difference between life, death, or lasting brain damage. We are proud to receive this prestigious certification at Wellstar North Fulton, informing the surrounding community that they don’t have to go far to receive the best treatment possible. We will continue to work hard to provide an interdisciplinary, innovative, and compassionate approach to safe and quality comprehensive stroke care to all the communities we serve,” said Jon-Paul Croom, president, Wellstar North Fulton and senior vice president, Wellstar Health System.

Wellstar is a leading provider of stroke and aneurysm services in Georgia and performs one of the highest numbers of thrombectomy and aneurysm treatments in the country. The Joint Commission is a United States-based nonprofit organization that accredits more than 22,000 healthcare organizations and programs.

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North Fulton Medical Center Arthur Abraham Grigorian Michael Santotome Mendoza
Media Room Neuro Care Stroke Care

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Celebrating the ribbon-cutting at Wellstar's newest cancer care facility in Cartersville, Georgia

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Wellstar Expands Cancer Care in Cartersville

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. — Community members, local officials and healthcare leaders gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting of Wellstar’s newest cancer care facility, marking a significant milestone in expanding oncology services for Bartow County. The facility began seeing patients Feb. 23, but the event offered the community its first look inside the expanded space and an opportunity to recognize the teams behind the project.

The nearly 15,000-square-foot building doubles local infusion capacity and adds space for chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and other medical oncology ervices. The facility features 15 exam rooms, three triage rooms, 28 infusion chairs, eight blood draw stations, a dedicated laboratory, an on-site compounding pharmacy, and expanded areas for clinical consultations and care coordination.

“This new facility is part of our commitment to expanding access to compassionate, high-quality care across the Southeast,” said Ketul J. Patel, president and CEO of Wellstar Health System. “For the people who call Bartow County home, that commitment means advanced cancer treatment where they live, delivered by a team supporting them every step of the way.”

The new location expands cancer care with Wellstar and partners in care Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers, enabling access to the latest therapies and strengthening collaboration among oncologists, advanced practice providers, pharmacists and support teams. In Cartersville, a dedicated team of two medical oncologists and four advanced practice providers now delivers personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s diagnosis. Patients also have access to supportive services, including genetic counseling, financial navigation and education with a clinical pharmacist.

Collage of staff and facility photos of Wellstar's cancer care facility in Cartersville, Georgia

“This space was designed with our patients’ needs in mind,” said Dr. Michelle Ojemuyiwa, a Wellstar oncologist and hematologist who practices in Cartersville. “With more room, additional infusion chairs and an on-site compounding pharmacy, we can care for more patients efficiently while maintaining the personalized, attentive approach they expect throughout their treatment.”

The new Wellstar cancer care facility is located at 65 Cloverleaf Drive in Cartersville.

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Attendees celebrate at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Wellstar Spalding Cancer Center

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Wellstar Spalding Medical Center Opens Cancer Center in Griffin

GRIFFIN, Ga. — Community leaders joined hospital executives Thursday as Wellstar Spalding Medical Center held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open its new cancer center, improving access to oncology and infusion services for patients in Spalding County and the surrounding region.

The 6,475-square-foot expansion nearly doubles the hospital’s cancer treatment space and includes eight exam rooms, 14 infusion chairs, two blood draw stations, a dedicated lab, triage room, waiting area and administrative offices. An on-site infusion pharmacy will support chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies and other outpatient treatments.

Care at the Wellstar Spalding Cancer Center is provided in partnership with Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers (NGOC), with additional support from an oncology nurse navigator who coordinates care and guides patients through treatment.

“People should be able to receive high-quality cancer care close to home,” said Kevin Smith, president of Wellstar Spalding. “By expanding both our cancer services and the specialties that support early detection and treatment, we’re making it more convenient for our patients to get the care they need.”

NGOC oncologist Dr. Dhivya Prabhakar has joined the Wellstar Spalding Cancer Center, further enhancing access to oncology care. She will be joined by a second oncologist this summer.

“What matters most to patients is feeling supported and understood throughout their cancer journey,” Dr. Prabhakar said. “With this expansion, people can stay in their community surrounded by a care team that knows them, listens to them and helps them navigate every step with clarity, compassion and hope. Our goal is to meet people where they are and partner with them in their care so they never feel alone in the process.”

Hospital leaders also highlighted growth in related services since the project began. Wellstar Spalding now offers endocrinology, which plays a key role in identifying endocrine-related cancers such as thyroid, adrenal and some pancreatic tumors. The hospital has also added a general surgeon specializing in breast surgery, expanding local options for evaluation and surgical care.

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The Robotic Alliance: Three Specialists, One Purpose

At Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center, something unique is happening in the world of minimally invasive surgery. Nestled right here in Roswell, a multidisciplinary team of robotic surgeons has quietly become one of the most experienced collaborative groups in Metro Atlanta—and across the state of Georgia.

The three surgeons—Dr. Scott Miller (robotic urologic surgery), Dr. Nathan Mordel (robotic gynecologic surgery) and Dr. Jay Singh (robotic colorectal surgery)—have collectively performed close to 9,000 robotic procedures over their careers. While that number is impressive, what it represents matters even more: thousands of patients who have benefited from smaller incisions, faster recoveries and precision that simply wasn’t possible a generation ago.

Although each of the specialties typically addresses distinct conditions, the team often cares for patients whose needs overlap two or even all three areas. These are the moments when a truly coordinated approach matters most. Rather than sending patients to multiple locations or staging separate procedures, the surgeons’ combined expertise allows them to tackle complex, concurrent issues together—efficiently, safely and in one place.

Severe (frozen pelvis) endometriosis is a perfect example of the need for a cooperative surgical approach. This condition affects millions of reproductive age women, invading the genital organs, as well as bladder, ureters, colon and rectum, thus deteriorating their quality of life. Concurrent robotic intervention by urological, colorectal and gynecological surgeons simultaneously treats all three organ systems—and on a mostly outpatient basis.

This collaborative model has become a defining strength of robotic surgery at Wellstar North Fulton. When specialists operate side-by-side, the conversation doesn’t just happen in the clinic—it continues in the operating room, where careful planning and shared experience translate into smoother procedures and better outcomes. Patients may not witness the teamwork directly, but they absolutely feel its benefits during their recovery.

Equally important, Wellstar has invested years in refining our techniques with next-generation robotic systems, which offer enhanced visualization, improved dexterity and precise tissue handling. Whether treating prostate conditions, complex colorectal disease or gynecologic disorders, robotics allows us to deliver the best aspects of minimally invasive surgery while maintaininga high level of surgical control.

Roswell may not be the first place people imagine when they think of cutting-edge surgical innovation, but the reality is that our community has become a hub for it. With a concentrated depth of experience rarely found in a single hospital, Wellstar North Fulton is leading the way in advanced robotic procedures across Georgia.

For us, the mission is simple: three specialties, one purpose—to give every patient access to the highest level of surgical care, in their neighborhood.

Visit wellstar.org/northfulton to learn more about care at Wellstar North Fulton. Call (470) 956-4230 to schedule with Dr. Miller, (470) 956-4590 to schedule with Dr. Mordel and (470) 267-1930 to schedule with Dr. Singh.

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