Wellstar Community Outreach

What started as a research study has grown into a systemwide commitment at Wellstar to improve access to mental and emotional healthcare. By embedding licensed mental health practitioners in the primary care settings, Wellstar is making it easier for patients to receive behavioral health services alongside their routine medical care. 

Today, licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) work alongside primary care providers and pediatricians in more than a dozen Wellstar practices. And there are plans to grow that number.

“With social workers just steps away from an exam room, primary care physicians can make ‘warm handoffs’ for immediate behavioral health support,” said Dr. Jeffrey Tharp, chief medicine division officer for Wellstar.

“It helps lower barriers to mental health and substance use disorder treatment. And it removes some of the stigma some people associate with mental healthcare.”

Dr. Sophie Arkin, a psychologist in Wellstar’s Suicide Prevention department, said, “This is a great way to reach people who might otherwise fall through the cracks. It gives them a real opportunity to live a different life.”

Primary care clinicians connect adults to behavioral health specialists

Nearly 10 years ago, Wellstar was one of several health systems nationally that participated in a study of the effects of placing behavioral health clinicians in primary care.

The need is significant. Mental illness and substance use disorders are prevalent throughout the U.S. According to the 2024 State of Mental Health in America report, 22.5% of adults in Georgia had a mental illness in the past year. The report also said that 17% had a substance use disorder.

Primary care physicians at Wellstar routinely screen patients for depression, suicidal thoughts and alcohol or drug use. In other cases, they learn from conversations that patients may have:

• Anxiety or panic disorders
• Sleep disturbances
• Stress related to work, family life or finances
• Grief or unresolved trauma

Introducing the behavioral health clinician

When behavioral concerns emerge, the primary care team introduces the on-site clinical social worker. This specialist conducts an in-depth assessment to determine the next best steps for the patient. This is typically a short-term series of sessions that may lead to referrals to psychiatrists, psychologists or Wellstar’s suicide prevention team.

“One of the biggest strengths of this model is credibility,” Dr. Tharp said. “If a physician or nurse practitioner you trust says, ‘We have a counselor here I’d like you to meet,’ the patient is more likely to follow through.”

This model has proven especially effective for patients who are less likely to seek mental health support, such as men, seniors and caregivers.

Where primary and behavioral health cross paths

People with chronic conditions like diabetes, digestive disorders and kidney disease sometimes have or develop mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. As a result, patients may find it harder to:

• Get the follow-up testing and care they need
• Follow nutrition and exercise instructions
• Take medications according to their doctor’s instructions

Not treating behavioral health issues can contribute to patients’ worsening physical health and higher medical costs.

Conversely, many patients may go to their primary care physician because they’re having trouble breathing, their heart is pounding or they have frequent headaches. Or they’re sweating or feel faint, dizzy or nauseated.

Those can be signs of a medical problem. They can also be symptoms of an emotional or mental health issue. In that case, a behavioral health clinician is around the office corner.

“We know that stress and anxiety show up in lots of different ways in the body. Understanding that allows people to adopt a new philosophy about how to take care of themselves,” Dr. Arkin said.

Pediatricians screen and refer children for behavioral health

Childhood and adolescence are critical periods in development. Mental health issues can affect a child’s ability to learn, grow and develop healthy relationships both now and as an adult.

Pediatricians routinely screen children for behavioral health concerns. They ask questions about social, emotional and behavioral development. Screenings for autism risk begin in early childhood and depression screenings begin at age 12.

At Wellstar KenMar Pediatrics in Marietta and Kennesaw, pediatricians turn to their in-house behavioral health partner, Dr. Kayla Fitch. Common reasons to refer include:

• Behavior challenges
• Feeding disorders, such as extreme picky eating
• Mental health issues among children with chronic or acute illnesses
• Requests for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) evaluations
• Severe social or separation anxiety

While under her care, Dr. Fitch screens patients for anxiety and suicide risk.

“One of the things I’m the most passionate about is early anxiety treatment for kids. We can help kids when they’re 4, 5, 6 years old,” Dr. Fitch said. “I teach parents basic concepts around how to expose their children to anxiety-producing situations to decrease their anxiety.”

She helps children learn “coping strategies, like deep breathing and muscle relaxation. These are things kids can benefit from if we teach them creatively.”

Growing commitment to integrated care

Wellstar’s primary care model continues to evolve to meet the behavioral health needs of patients throughout their life. Time will bring even more collaboration and improved outcomes.

“It serves everyone—patients, families and doctors—to create these seamless connections between primary and behavioral health practitioners,” Dr. Tharp said. “We see the benefits every single day in our patients’ health and their outlooks.”

Learn more about behavioral health at Wellstar.

Wellstar Cobb Medical Center hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its Obstetric Emergency Department, offering 24/7 specialized care for pregnant and postpartum patients.

Hospital and system leaders gathered alongside community partners to mark the milestone, including Cobb County Commissioner Monique Sheffield, Wellstar Chief of Women’s Health Dr. Paula Greaves and Wellstar Cobb President Eliese Bernard.

“As we continue building the vision for women’s health at Wellstar Cobb, this new Obstetric Emergency Department represents an important step forward for our community,” said Bernard. “We’re proud to be the first in our area to deliver dedicated emergency care for pregnant and postpartum patients, and to give families a caring, reassuring place when they need it most.”

The Obstetric Emergency Department provides expert evaluation and treatment for patients who are 20 weeks pregnant through six weeks postpartum. Patients have direct access to board-certified obstetric providers, supported by a coordinated team of maternal-fetal medicine specialists, anesthesiologists, neonatologists, nurses and midwives.

Services include rapid care for urgent pregnancy concerns, management of pregnancy-related conditions such as hypertension or gestational diabetes, and monitoring for postpartum complications. Families also receive compassionate guidance and resources, including support during high-risk pregnancies or loss.

“Pregnancy can bring moments of uncertainty and having immediate access to obstetric experts can make all the difference,” said Dr. Jessica Williams, OB/GYN medical director at Wellstar Cobb. “The Obstetric Emergency Department allows us to respond quickly, provide clarity and help families feel supported from the moment they walk through the door.”

Georgia continues to experience one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation, with disparities particularly affecting Black women. Many of these outcomes are preventable with timely access to specialized care. The Obstetric Emergency Department at Wellstar Cobb helps address these challenges by advancing Wellstar’s commitment to reducing maternal health disparities and improving perinatal outcomes. The department ensures patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time and in a safe and supportive environment.

This expansion of maternal care services enhances Wellstar Cobb’s comprehensive Women’s Center and complements its full-service Labor & Delivery program and Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, reinforcing Wellstar’s mission to deliver world-class healthcare to every patient and family we serve.

Clad in hard hats and neon construction vests, civic leaders and the media took their first look inside the long-awaited Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center on Nov. 14. Led by the hospital’s newly appointed Chief Operating Officer, Nelson So, groups toured the pharmacy, infusion space, operating rooms, and emergency department. Also on display was a nearly finished patient room featuring large windows for plenty of natural light and a digital whiteboard where patients can easily keep track of their medical information.

“This community has been asking for a hospital, and we’re going to deliver that to them in 2026,” So said.