When kids or adults are injured, a specialized trauma team is ready 24/7 in Paulding County to provide high-quality patient care. As a result of its commitment to advanced trauma care, Wellstar Paulding Hospital was recently designated a Level IV Trauma Center by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). Level IV Trauma Centers demonstrate the ability to provide advanced trauma life support prior to transfer of patients to a higher-level trauma center when necessary.
“Wellstar Paulding Hospital is part of the largest trauma network in the state, delivering compassionate, high-quality care to people in our community suffering from accidents, incidents and injuries,” said Frances Van Beek, assistant vice president of Trauma & Neuro Services for Wellstar Health System. “Patients benefit from our team’s tight-knit communication and collaboration, as well as our physician and caregiver expertise that enables us to save lives every day.”
Wellstar Paulding Hospital Designated a Level IV Trauma Center
Award-winning hospital receives state recognition as an advanced life support trauma facility
Published on November 09, 2021
Last updated 10:18 AM November 09, 2021
Wellstar Paulding Hospital is part of the largest trauma network in the state, delivering compassionate, high-quality care to people in our community suffering from accidents, incidents and injuries.
- Frances Van Beek
Assistant Vice President of Trauma & Neuro Services for Wellstar Health System
Not only does the Hiram-based hospital have a team of emergency physicians and nurses with advanced trauma training, but the facility is also home to hospitalists, critical care physicians and an in-house orthopedics program. Since December of 2019, Wellstar Paulding Hospital’s trauma team has cared for more than 768 patients.
As a new member of DPH’s trauma network, Wellstar Paulding will collaborate with the seven other Level IV-designated hospitals across the state to further enhance care capabilities with performance improvement programs. The hospital will also continue to expand on current education efforts for the Paulding community to reduce falls, stop bleeding after a trauma and encourage helmet safety.
“Our trauma team’s outreach activities in the community have helped to reduce injury and protect people, which has a positive impact on everyone,” said Kerry Carter, RN, Trauma Program manager at Wellstar Paulding Hospital. “These important efforts help us live out the Wellstar Paulding team’s motto of ‘Neighbors Caring for Neighbors.’ We love working with our community and enhancing their health and are proud to be designated as a Level IV Trauma Center to better serve the people of Paulding.”
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Wellstar Paulding Medical Center Offers New Smart Robotic Orthopedic Surgery
New robotic surgical technology at Wellstar Paulding Medical Center personalizes procedures and makes joint replacement surgery even more precise.
The system uses advanced imaging and data analytics, partnered with the surgeon’s expertise, to tailor care for each patient. Using a 3D model based on a CT scan of the patient’s anatomy, surgeons can plan the implant size, placement and alignment accurately before entering the operating room. During the procedure, the robotic system uses real-time feedback to guide the surgeon’s hand and touch-sensitive boundaries to protect surrounding tissues and bones.
“This robotic technology allows our surgeons to make smaller incisions, improve the implant’s placement and operate more precisely—which all mean a smoother recovery for patients,” said Todd Kennedy, president of Wellstar Paulding.
The orthopedic surgery team at Wellstar Paulding uses the system in total hip replacements and total and partial knee replacements.
Wellstar Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Sameer Badarudeen, who has a decade of experience in robotic hip and knee replacements, was the first to use the technology at Wellstar Paulding. He said the system allows surgeons to better personalize care for each patient.
“As surgeons, we now have a much deeper understanding of optimal artificial knee placement, moving beyond the older ‘boilerplate knee’ approach that resulted in identical-looking X-rays for all patients,” Dr. Badarudeen said. “It empowers surgeons to thoroughly assess each patient's unique anatomy and then meticulously recreate the artificial knee replacement to be perfectly tailored to that individual's specific anatomy.”
Denise Fortune, whose knee was replaced using the technology, was able to go home the same day as her surgery. She had minimal pain after the procedure and now has increased mobility after several years of knee pain.
Dr. Badarudeen ensured Denise received personalized care and had the support she needed for a smooth recovery.
“I'm feeling great. I'm still going to physical therapy, and they tell me I'm ahead of where I normally would be,” Denise said.
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Thomas A. Kruse Selected as Wellstar Health System’s Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Growth Officer
Wellstar personalizes the patient experience. We call it PeopleCare and it's only possible thanks to our 34,000 team members who provide expert, compassionate care for every stage of life. PeopleCare also means we serve our communities as a nonprofit health system, providing more than $1 billion annually in charity care and community programs and operating the largest integrated trauma network in the state of Georgia. We embrace innovation and technology, nurture early-stage companies through our venture firm Catalyst by Wellstar and train future generations of caregivers with academic institutions including the Medical College of Georgia. Wellstar honors every voice and is one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For. To learn more, visit Wellstar.org.
