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
When and Why to Visit the Pediatric Emergency Department
When your child experiences a medical emergency, you want them to have the care they need right away. At Wellstar Pediatric Emergency Departments at Wellstar Golisano Children’s Hospital of Georgia and Wellstar Cobb, Wellstar Douglas, Wellstar Kennestone and Wellstar Paulding Medical Centers, you’ll find expert treatment designed just for kids.
Why visit a Pediatric Emergency Department?
“We have a common saying in pediatric emergency medicine that ‘children aren’t just little adults.’ Children’s bodies and the health problems that affect them are very different from adults,” said Pediatric Emergency Physician Dr. Christopher Graves. “When you visit a pediatric ED, you can trust that your child is receiving age-appropriate evaluation and care.”
This can often mean finding a diagnosis through physical examinations and a thorough patient history with less reliance on invasive testing. When testing is needed, rest assured that your child’s care team has training in pediatric medicine and knows what tests and medications are needed to keep your child safe.
When should you go to the pediatric ED?
“If your child has symptoms like seizures, difficulty breathing, passing out or a head injury, go to the pediatric ED right away,” said Wellstar Pediatrician Dr. Sandra Rodriguez-Sfeir.
There may also be urgent care centers in your area. Urgent care can be a great option for non-life-threatening conditions such as common colds, mild flu-like symptoms or earaches. Read more about where to go when your child isn’t feeling well.
“Some families struggle to decide whether they should go to an ED or urgent care. I have always told families—you are never wrong to come to a pediatric ED,” Dr. Graves said. “If you are worried about the life or safety of your child, you’ve come to the right place.”
Introducing your pediatric ED team
When you come to a pediatric ED, you will meet healthcare providers who have chosen to make children their focus. Our care teams know that children have unique needs based on their social and emotional development. Pediatric ED doctors, nurses and advanced practice providers have years of experience working with children, and they have learned how to approach children in a way that reduces their anxiety and fear. Acts as simple as examining a stuffed animal or blowing up a glove into a balloon can turn a crying child into a smiling child.
Doctors are only one part of the team. Pediatric ED nurses have expertise in administering medications, placing IVs and performing other bedside procedures. When these types of interventions are needed, you can trust that the nurses, medics and ED techs who help with these processes have abundant experience.
“Children are special and should be treated by nurses that specialize in their care. Emergency rooms can be a scary place for children and families,” said Jacqueline Rimer, a Wellstar pediatric emergency department nurse. “Wellstar pediatric nurses combine compassion and expertise to create an environment that reduces fear and anxiety while also providing quality, specialized care children and families deserve.”
Our child life specialists are trained to work directly with children and families to offer education, emotional support and distraction during procedures. Coming to the pediatric ED is tough for many kids, but having the right team can make things a little easier. That makes all the difference.
Highlights
Wellstar Expands Primary Care in Lovejoy
To serve our community’s growing healthcare needs, Wellstar has opened a new location in Lovejoy with primary care services.
Primary care is ongoing, comprehensive care and preventative medicine that helps you live a full, healthy life. Visit Wellstar Primary Care for:
- Non-emergent health concerns
- Chronic conditions
- Routine checkups and annual wellness exams
- New or worsening symptoms
- Immunizations
Hampton
11400 Tara Blvd.
(943) 202-8800
Benefits of a primary care clinician
The main role of a primary care clinician is to keep you healthy at every age and stage of life. To keep you feeling your best, these experts are trained to:
- Get to know and understand your unique health needs. Your primary care team can keep you on track with your individual wellness goals, whether you are planning to start a family, need help managing a chronic illness or want to maintain a healthy weight.
- Coordinate care and provide referrals for specialists. Your primary care team can quickly and seamlessly get you in touch with the robust network of medical experts, such as cardiologists, oncologists, neurologists and more at Wellstar.
- Keep you up-to-date on immunizations and vaccinations. You can build up your body’s immunity to common diseases and protect your health with the latest vaccines, all ordered by your primary care clinician.
- Order appropriate health screenings, diagnostic tests and follow-up care. If your wellness check-up reveals certain risk factors, chronic conditions or new diagnoses, your primary care clinician can help you get the right treatment fast.
- Treat you for acute illnesses, such as colds or the flu. When you feel under the weather, your established primary care clinician can often get you an appointment sooner so you can feel better.
Learn more about primary care at Wellstar.
Highlights
Aging Gracefully: Knowing When It’s Time for a Joint Replacement
For many of us, the golden years are a time to look forward to—an opportunity to travel, spend time in the garden, play with grandchildren or finally perfect our golf swing. However, chronic joint pain can quickly turn these anticipated moments into daily struggles. When a stiff hip makes getting out of the car an ordeal or a throbbing knee turns a simple walk around the neighborhood into a painful chore, it significantly impacts your quality of life.
It’s a common misconception that severe joint pain is an inevitable part of getting older that must be endured. While wear-and-tear on our bodies is natural, living in constant discomfort is not. Fortunately, modern orthopedic advancements offer powerful solutions, including total hip and knee replacements, to help you reclaim your mobility and independence. But how do you know when it is time to move past temporary fixes and consider a joint replacement?
Recognizing the warning signs
In the early stages of joint degradation—often caused by osteoarthritis—minor lifestyle adjustments, over-the-counter pain relievers or occasional ice packs might keep the discomfort at bay. However, as the cartilage that cushions your joints wears away, the bone-on-bone friction can worsen.
It may be time to consult an orthopedic specialist if you experience any of the following:
- Severe pain during everyday activities: If walking, bending down or climbing stairs causes significant distress, your joint health is actively limiting your daily life.
- Pain that disrupts your sleep: Waking up in the night due to a throbbing hip or knee is a strong indicator that the inflammation has become severe.
- Rest and medication no longer offer relief: If physical therapy, cortisone injections and anti-inflammatory medications are no longer moving the needle, the joint may be structurally compromised.
- A noticeable loss of mobility or chronic stiffness: Finding it difficult to put on your shoes, cross your legs or fully straighten your knee suggests advanced joint deterioration.
Modern approach to care
Deciding to undergo a joint replacement is a significant milestone, but it is important to know that the procedure has evolved dramatically over the last decade. Today, hip and knee replacements are among the most reliable and successful surgeries performed in medicine.
Thanks to advancements in surgical techniques, specialized instrumentation and personalized digital planning, modern joint replacements are highly precise. Surgeons can precisely match the implant to your unique anatomy. For patients, this translates to less tissue disruption, reduced post-operative pain and a much smoother rehabilitation process.
The philosophy surrounding recovery has also shifted. We no longer expect patients to spend weeks confined to a hospital bed. In fact, most patients are up and walking with the assistance of physical therapy the very same day as their surgery. Many joint replacements are now performed on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to recover in the comfort of their own homes.
Reclaiming your active lifestyle
The ultimate goal of a hip or knee replacement is not just to alleviate pain, but to restore your freedom. Within a few months of dedicated physical therapy, the vast majority of patients find themselves doing things they haven’t been able to do comfortably in years. Whether that means returning to low-impact sports, traveling without worrying about the walk through the airport or simply playing on the floor with family, the transformation can be profound.
If chronic knee or hip pain is forcing you to sit on the sidelines of your own life, remember that you have options. Surgery is rarely the first step, but when conservative treatments fall short, a joint replacement can be the key to turning back the clock on your mobility.
You don't have to manage severe pain alone. Take the first step by speaking with an orthopedic specialist to evaluate your joints, discuss your goals and design a personalized treatment plan that helps you age gracefully, actively and on your own terms.