Wellstar Heart Care

When someone has breast cancer, catching it early can be life-saving. As part of Wellstar’s efforts to address health inequity and enhance the well-being of those we serve, Wellstar recently offered free mammograms so local women could check in on their breast health.

A $5,000 grant from the American Cancer Society provided the mammograms, helping to remove barriers to healthcare access. Mammograms, which were promoted through the American Cancer Society website, were available at imaging facilities at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, Wellstar Cobb Hospital, Wellstar Douglas Hospital and Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center. 

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide, excluding skin cancer. 

“Unfortunately, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, so early detection is key,” said Dr. Paula Greaves, Wellstar’s chief women’s health officer. “There are some risk factors that women cannot change, such as genetics, but there are some that women can reduce, such as smoking and nutrition.”

Breast cancer is more treatable when it is caught early and treatment can start as soon as possible. 

“Mammograms are essential in early detection,” Dr. Greaves said. “It is recommended that women start getting mammograms at age 40, or earlier if there has been a family history of breast cancer — and to continue not only getting mammograms but seeing their gynecologist for regular breast exams.”

To ensure our communities are educated about cancer screenings and have access to essential care, Wellstar has partnered with the American Cancer Society’s Return to Screening initiative. 

“The American Cancer Society’s Return to Screening initiative has brought together mammography leaders from across the state for a meeting once a month to brainstorm and collaborate on ways to get women to have their annual screening mammograms,” said Lynn Hanks, executive director of medical imaging operations for Wellstar. “The learning collaborative allows us to share best practices and what has been successful at other locations.”

To schedule a mammogram, call (678) 581-5900. 

New Shockwave technology at Wellstar is expanding access to life-saving heart care.

If a patient has a complex calcium blockage in their heart arteries, this innovative technology will break up the blockage using sonic pressure waves. It safely cracks the calcium to prepare the artery for stent placement, keeping treatment efficient when time matters most. 

Calcium makes the blockage more difficult to reopen with traditional treatments, including balloons. Previously, if a patient’s artery could not be opened using a balloon, the patient would need to be transferred to Kennestone Regional Medical Center with open heart surgery capabilities to undergo an atherectomy — where a physician would break up the blockage with a small drill or laser.  With this new shockwave technology, open heart surgery services are not needed as a backup.

Wellstar’s talented and experienced interventional cardiologists are currently using Shockwave technology, also known as intravascular lithotripsy, to treat complex blockages at Kennestone, Cobb, Douglas, Paulding, North Fulton and West Georgia hospitals, allowing complex care to be performed expeditiously, safely and close to home.

Visit wellstar.org/heartcare to learn more about how Wellstar can keep your heart healthy. 

Whether you experience a traumatic injury, minor illness or simply need a wellness exam, the most important step you can take is getting the care you need. That way, you can find trained experts for your specific medical needs, stay ahead of potential health issues or even help prevent your condition from worsening.

But with primary, virtual, urgent and emergency care services available, how do you decide which type of care is best for your medical situation?

Learn the differences between each type of medical service so you don’t delay and get care right away.

Primary Care

Primary care is ongoing, comprehensive care and preventative medicine that helps you live a full, healthy life.

Your primary care provider — either an internal or family medicine physician, pediatrician or OB/GYN, depending on your age and medical needs — gets to know you and your health history on a deeper level. That means they have a more accurate view of your overall wellness.

At Wellstar, our primary care providers’ goals are to keep you feeling your best, from annual check-ups to health screenings and immunizations to last-minute sick visits. They can also easily connect you with specialists, such as a cardiologist or neurologist, for expert care.

What we treat

“See your primary care provider for chronic conditions, conditions that require follow up, medication refills, wellness checks and overall health management,” shared Associate Medical Director of Wellstar Urgent Care Jennifer Bush.

Services include:

• Annual wellness exams
• Health screenings, labs and imaging
• Care for chronic conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure
• Immunizations for children and adults
• Treatment for acute illness, such as the flu or colds
• Coordinating care with other specialists
• Physical and mental health concerns, such as weight loss or anxiety

Find a Wellstar primary care location in your neighborhood.

Virtual Care

Whether you have a busy schedule or can’t find anyone to watch the kids, virtual appointments are an easy way to keep up with your health from anywhere.

At Wellstar, we offer virtual visits with both primary care providers and specialists — no matter if you are an established patient or not. Connect with your Wellstar provider over the phone or with video on a computer, smartphone or tablet.

If you’re an established patient, simply request a virtual visit through MyChart. If you don’t have an account, it’s easy to sign up for MyChart and keep all of your important health information in one secure space. You can also call your physician’s office directly and request a virtual appointment over the phone.

These days, many types of appointments can be done virtually, including consultations, care for chronic conditions and prescription management. In addition to virtual primary and specialty care appointments, we also provide virtual urgent care through WellstarON for minor medical concerns.

Benefits of virtual care

Virtual care is a great way to find medical appointments that are flexible and fit your life. Advantages include being able to:

• Skip traffic and avoid the drive into the medical office
• Stay home if you are feeling sick
• Squeeze in an appointment on a busy schedule
• Avoid arranging childcare if you have young kids who need supervision
• Have your family by your side from the comfort of home

While virtual care is a convenient way to stay well, it should never be used in place of emergency care. If you are experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, call 911 right away.

Ask your provider if virtual care may work for your next appointment. Learn more about online care options.

Urgent Care

If you’re dealing with a minor injury or illness or need care after your physician’s regular office hours, going to urgent care is often the right choice. Wellstar Urgent Care Centers provide quick, convenient care for non-emergency medical conditions.

Because these locations offer walk-in care, extended hours and weekend availability, it’s easy to get the care you need. We also offer urgent care through WellstarON, which provides virtual health visits for minor medical concerns from the comfort and convenience of home.

What we treat

“Go to urgent care for non-life-threatening illness and injuries, such as minor cuts — even ones that require stitches — cold and flu, nausea, painful urination, infections, rashes, animal bites, fever and simple fractures and sprains,” Jennifer Bush explained.

Wellstar Urgent Care provides:

• Care for minor illnesses and injuries, such as coughs, colds, sprains and broken bones
• Treatment for medical issues like bites, burns and cuts
• COVID-19 testing and evaluation for patients 12 and older
• Lab and X-rays
• Sports physicals
• Occupational health services
• Worker’s compensation services

While urgent care provides convenient health services, keep in mind, it’s not a substitute for having an established primary care provider. Learn the benefits of primary care.

Find a Wellstar urgent care location near you or make a virtual urgent care appointment.

Emergency Care

In a life-threatening medical emergency, every second counts. Never put off getting the proper care when lives are on the line. Remember, driving yourself to the emergency department (ED) may delay care, so call 911 for the fastest access to emergency care.

When the unexpected happens, Wellstar is always ready in a medical emergency. Our trained team provides expert emergency care 24-hours a day for people of all ages. We even have several pediatric emergency room locations, specifically designed to treat children.

Signs of a medical emergency

“Go to the ER if you are having a life-threatening injury, such as confusion, head injury, severe chest pain or shortness of breath, drug overdose, abdominal pain, sudden dizziness or numbness, seizures, severe allergic reactions or severe burns,” Jennifer Bush said.

Recognize the signs of a medical emergency:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Chest discomfort or pain
• Severe abdominal pain
• Fainting or loss of consciousness
• Sudden dizziness, weakness or vision changes
• Sudden, severe pain
• Uncontrolled or severe bleeding
• Choking, coughing up blood or severe vomiting
• Suicidal or homicidal thoughts
• Changes in mental status, such as confusion or unusual behavior
• Traumatic injury due to a motor vehicle or other accidents

Find a Wellstar hospital location close to you. Remember, call 911 right away in a medical emergency. That way, care can begin sooner during the crucial time it takes to be transported to the hospital.

Now the next time you need care, you’ll know where to go, whether it’s to see your primary care provider, schedule a virtual appointment, get walk-in care at an urgent care center or fast emergency care when it matters most.