Wellstar Community Outreach
At Wellstar, community outreach is an important facet of our mission to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve.
- Community Outreach
Community Outreach at Wellstar
Wellstar Health System is a nonprofit organization and is committed to being an engaged community partner. At Wellstar, we are more than healthcare, we are PeopleCare, and our passion for people extends into the communities we serve. We are committed to elevating the health and well-being of our community through outreach and partnership that honors all voices. Wellstar relies on and values our community partners and the role they play in positively impacting the health and well-being of every person we serve. Wellstar partners with mission-aligned and other non-profit organizations to address priority health needs and social determinants of health as defined through our Community Health Needs Assessments, and that also further a social cause and provide community benefit. We work alongside our business and civic partners and leaders to amplify health awareness, contribute to economic development and growth, and to help our communities thrive through service. We also partner with both academic and other organizations dedicated to career development to help prepare the next generation of caregivers and healthcare workers in both clinical and non-clinical capacities. In addition to community partnerships, Wellstar also engages in our community through corporate volunteerism, sponsorships, event participation and speaking engagements that align with our areas of focus. Each request for Wellstar to provide community support is carefully considered. Please contact us about speaking engagements, sponsorships, events, and other partnership opportunities. If you would like to receive our monthly Community Update eNewsletter, please submit your request here: [email protected]Just a few outreach examples
Wellstar supports our partner organizations such as those providing access to food and housing by engaging our team members in volunteerism and community service through Wellstar’s CommunityCare initiative. Wellstar also provides health education and awareness on important health and wellness topics such as cardiac health and stroke prevention, breast and prostate cancer prevention, and mental health including suicide prevention, and substance abuse prevention and treatment.
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Highlights
Make Colon Health Your Habit
For many people, talking about colon health can be a little uncomfortable. However, medical issues don’t just go away if you ignore them.
Being proactive about your well-being with preventative care can help catch colorectal cancer or another serious condition early, often before it becomes a bigger problem.
Wellstar is committed to keeping your colon healthy with preventative screenings and expert care, so you can continue to live well.
Catch colon cancer early
Early detection is the best prevention, especially when it comes to colon cancer. If caught early, colorectal cancer has a survival rate of 91%.
“Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States, so it’s very important that everyone gets screened,” said Wellstar Gastroenterologist Dr. Cameron Body. “For an average risk person, screenings should begin at age 45.”
Those with a higher risk or a family history of colorectal cancer may need to start screening sooner. Partner with your provider to create a personalized screening plan—and stick with it to stay ahead of the disease.
“Recently, colon cancer has been a major trending topic in public discourse, and it has been impacting younger individuals each year. It is important to start colon cancer screening at the age of 45 or sooner if you have a family history of colon cancer,” said Wellstar Gastroenterologist Dr. Shani Clay. “This is a preventable disease, so please speak with your primary care clinician or gastroenterologist to help get you screened. Colonoscopies can help prevent colon cancer, diagnose and help direct early treatment if you are diagnosed.”
The death rate for colon cancer in older adults has been decreasing for the past several decades due to screenings, according to the American Cancer Society. Screenings can identify polyps before they become cancerous and can catch cancer earlier when it is more easily treatable. However, in people under 55, death rates from colon cancer have been increasing by about 1% per year since the mid-2000s.
Why colonoscopies work
During a colonoscopy, a Wellstar gastroenterologist will view the inside of your colon and look for polyps or any other abnormal tissue that could be cancerous. This preventative testing is key to catching colorectal issues at the start.
“A colonoscopy is the gold standard when screening for colon cancer. The procedure itself is not painful, and we make sure you’re comfortable throughout the process,” Dr. Body said. “The goal is to do a high-quality exam with a good prep to find polyps when they’re small and get them removed to minimize the risk of them subsequently developing into cancer.”
Polyps take about five to 15 years to evolve into an invasive cancer, according to Dr. Carmen Klass, oncologist and hematologist with Northwest Georgia Oncology Centers, a care partner of Wellstar.
“If you have a colonoscopy every five to 10 years, they can remove the polyp and it will never be declared an invasive cancer,” Dr. Klass said. “In fact, if all Americans did their screening colonoscopies every five to 10 years, the death rate for colorectal cancer would drop by 50%.”
See how colorectal cancer screening saves lives.
Signs of colorectal cancer
- Colon cancer is typically discovered when a patient has a colonoscopy, but it’s important to watch for these warning signs:
- A change in your bowel habits, such as persistent diarrhea or constipation
- Bloody stools or rectal bleeding
- Abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas and pain
- Feeling like you are unable to empty your bowels completely
- Weakness or fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your care team right away.
Colorectal cancer care at Wellstar
If you have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, count on Wellstar for comprehensive, personalized care. Our specialists will work together with you to form a tailored treatment plan and offer support every step of the way.
“When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, we walk with them and guide them on this difficult journey,” Dr. Klass said, sharing how Wellstar provides compassionate care.
Wellstar offers medical expertise close to home, clinical trials and state-of-the-art surgical procedures to treat colorectal cancer. We also have a multidisciplinary gastrointestinal (GI) tumor board that diagnoses and creates treatment plans collaboratively.
Along with cancer surgeons, medical oncologists and other experts, our care team also includes nurse navigators, dietitians, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and counselors to provide complete care and support.
Learn how Wellstar cares for colorectal cancer.
Get answers with genetic testing
Whether you have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer or are concerned about the chance of developing it, genetic testing can help you understand your risk of getting the disease.
If your parent, sibling or child has had colorectal cancer, you are two to three times more likely to develop the condition compared with someone with no family history. Our genetic counselors can help determine how genetic testing could benefit you and your family.
“Wellstar offers support from genetic counselors to help keep other family members safe in the future,” Dr. Klass said.
Highlights
Making Connections with Community Resources through Wellstar Find Help
As Jane stood ready to leave her medical appointment, clutching her prescription and discharge papers, her eyes told a story before she even spoke. The nurse noticed the hesitation and heavy worry on her face and said, “Jane, is there anything else that you are concerned about?”
Jane’s voice was soft, almost apologetic. She explained that she wanted to follow her doctor’s advice, but it wasn’t that simple. She said she could only afford canned food—whatever was cheapest on the shelf—and she didn’t have much experience cooking. The idea of maintaining a low-salt diet felt impossible.
Then, after a pause, she admitted something else. She didn’t have a way to pick up her medications. No car. No nearby family. Just her and the uncertainty of how to make it all work.
Jane isn’t alone. Through Wellstar Find Help, she can be connected to a network of support organizations ready to walk beside her. People like Jane can be referred to programs like SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education, one of many resources available, where they’ll learn from a nutrition educator how to eat healthier on a budget and safely store meals. Participants also learn how to make new recipes and get to taste them through this program.
Wellstar Find Help connects Jane to community organizations that may be able to assist her with applying for EBT benefits or access a list of food pantries in her area. To address the transportation barrier, Jane or the nurse can also look for transportation services to help her pick up her prescription.
What began as a moment of quiet worry becomes a moment of hope. Wellstar Find Help allows the care team and patients to connect with resources beyond the clinical side of health. It allows our community to leave ready to thrive—not just with instructions to follow, but with a plan and a renewed sense that they will not have to face health challenges alone.
How to use Wellstar Find Help
- Visit wellstar.findhelp.com.
- Enter the ZIP code for the individual in need of assistance.
- On the next page, you will find the total number of programs available for your ZIP code.
- Wellstar Find Help is organized into categories that you can hover over to preview. Categories include food, housing, transit, health and work.You can also search by keyword or program name.
- After you select a category, you can browse the specifics of the organizations. The contact information and criteria may also be listed, as well as hours of operation when available.
Highlights
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.