Article Date: 6/11/2013

Text Area 1: ATLANTA – North Fulton Hospital in Roswell has been named to the Georgia Hospital Association’s (GHA) Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) Core Measures Honor Roll. North Fulton Hospital is one of 17 hospitals in Georgia to be placed in the Chairman’s category, the highest on the list. The honor roll is based on clinical data provided by the federal Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS), which administers the nation’s Medicare and Medicaid programs. The data was collected from October 2011 to September 2012.

Hospitals are required to submit care data to CMS, which details how well a hospital’s caregivers adhere to a list of Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) core measures. These measures are the clinical processes of care that are known to be the most effective methods of treatment for surgical patients and patients who have suffered heart attacks, pneumonia and heart failure.

For instance, a recommended treatment to help prevent a heart attack is to take aspirin either before or upon arrival at the hospital, as well as at discharge. A suggested treatment for pneumonia is to administer an antibiotic within four hours of a patient’s arrival. It is recommended that surgery patients are given an antibiotic one hour prior to surgery to prevent infection. The VBP core measure is a composite measure that determines whether or not a patient received the right care at the right time. A hospital’s adherence to these recommended clinical practices usually leads to better outcomes.

“We are pleased to recognize North Fulton Hospital’s commitment to patient safety,” said Joseph Parker, president of GHA. “Compliance with these important core measures ensures that every patient receives the best, most effective health care possible.”

“We constantly strive to maintain the highest standard of patient care,” said Debbie Keel, chief executive officer of North Fulton Hospital. “This honor validates that and is a tribute to the dedication of the staff members who ensure that great patient care is made even better.”

 

For more information on Quality Core Measures and the Honor Roll, visit https://quality.gha.org/.

About North Fulton Hospital

North Fulton Hospital (NFH), part of Tenet Georgia, is a 202-bed, acute-care hospital located on Highway 9, Alpharetta Highway, in Roswell. Opened in 1983, NFH serves North Fulton and surrounding counties through its team of more than 1,000 employees, 400 staff physicians and 200 volunteers. NFH is a state-designated Level II trauma center and provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, women’s health services, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, gastroenterology and oncology. The hospital is fully accredited and is also recognized by the American College of Surgeon’s Commission on Cancer as an Accredited Cancer Program, as well as being certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.

About PHA

The Partnership for Health and Accountability, formed in January 2000 and sponsored by the Georgia Hospital Association, is a unique statewide collaborative that brings together health care providers with community agencies and individuals to achieve healthy communities. PHA includes representation from groups like hospitals, physicians, state health officials, legislators and businesses.

 

 

Article Date: 6/11/2013

Text Area 1: Roswell, GA – North Fulton Primary Care is pleased to welcome Physician Assistant John Aaron to their practice.  Aaron will be joining Stephen Martiny, M.D., in serving patients at the practice’s Alpharetta location at 4895 Windward Parkway, Suite 202, Alpharetta, 30004.

            Aaron previously worked as a physician assistant for Meinhold Family Practice in Alpharetta, Perimeter North Internal Medicine in Roswell, and Family Practice Center in Atlanta.  He earned his B.S. from Louisiana State University before going on to complete the Physician Assistant Program at Louisiana State University Medical Center.

            He is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants.

            For more information about North Fulton Primary Care, visit www.northfultonprimarycare.com.  For a free referral to John Aaron or any North Fulton Primary Care providers, call 770-751-2600.

Article Date: 6/11/2013

Text Area 1: Roswell, GA – North Fulton Hospital announced today that Micah Brown, Breast Health Nurse Navigator, has been named a Tenet Hero as part of Tenet Healthcare Corporation’s (NYSE: THC) recognition program for employees.

Micah Brown’s decade long career in nursing, combined with a generous and tirelessly compassionate nature, have made her a perfect fit as a breast health navigator. Her role begins the moment a woman finds out she has a breast problem or earlier, when she is just worried that she might.  Brown is there with a compassion that goes beyond duty to answer questions, hold a hand during a biopsy, and offer a comforting and consoling word to ease fears and anxiety. 

“It’s Micah the patients love because she puts them at ease and takes them by the hand, leading them through every step in the process,” says Dr. Laura Rivers-Pearson, breast surgeon at North Fulton Hospital.

If surgery or other treatment is necessary, she is there to guide the patient to the doctor they need or help make appointments for other procedures.  Without hesitation, Micah Brown goes out of her way to give comfort to all aspects of her patients’ lives.  She has an uncanny ability to be the source of strength for those who have trouble finding it in themselves – patients and co-workers alike. 

“Our Tenet Heroes represent the best of who we are at Tenet and what we do as health care providers in the community we serve,” said Debbie Keel, North Fulton Hospital’s chief executive officer.  “The innovative ideas and exceptional service provided by these professionals serve as an inspiration to us all.”

Our Tenet Heroes exemplify Tenet’s core values of quality, integrity, service, innovation, and transparency. These individuals make a remarkable commitment to our values, our patients, and the community through their exemplary words and actions. Being named a Tenet Hero provides these individuals with the recognition they deserve and a title that truly describes their character.

North Fulton Hospital has been named a Certified Breast Center of Excellence in the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers Program™. For more information about North Fulton Hospital’s Breast Center, visit www.nfultonhospital.com or call 770-751-2556.

Article Date: 5/28/2013

Text Area 1: Roswell, Georgia (May 28, 2013) – Fewer than 50 breast care centers in the nation are certified by the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers as Certified Quality Breast Centers of Excellence, and North Fulton Hospital’s Breast Center is proud to have been recently added to that list.  Staff members at the center have worked diligently during the last six months to improve the quality of care at the center and meet or exceed the national standards for breast care.

“We hold ourselves to higher standards to ensure that the patient receives the very best breast care possible,” said Micah Brown, Certified Breast Nurse Navigator at North Fulton Hospital’s Breast Center.  “On average, we see 25 to 30 women for mammograms every day, and we take each of those cases very seriously.”

One of the many standards that are studied during the certification process is the turnaround time between a screening mammogram that indicates the need for further testing and the time when the patient is able to receive a diagnostic mammogram.  Early last year, patients at North Fulton Hospital waited an average of 12 days to return for the second exam, but now, patients are seen within 2 to 3 days so the patient may spend less time worrying and can receive treatment faster.

In addition, turnaround time on test results was examined.  North Fulton Hospital’s Breast Center has shortened the time between a test and receipt of test results to 24-48 hours. 

“If a patient has an abnormal mammogram,” said Dr. Laura Rivers Pearson, Medical Director of the Breast Center, “we get them back in the office within days and work diligently to get test results quickly so they don’t suffer from unnecessary anxiety.  We also work to avoid unnecessary surgeries so that our patients receive the least invasive treatment possible and are back to their full lives more quickly.”

The high quality of care provided at North Fulton Hospital’s Breast Center has another side effect, and one that patients really enjoy.  Staff turnover in the center is very low.  As a result, many patients repeatedly see the same friendly faces when they return for annual mammograms, and some have been requesting to see the same staff members for as many as 10 years. 

The center has also launched a breast care program called Check Up for Chicks to remove the fear from breast care and guide women through all steps of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery from breast cancer.  The Check Up for Chicks website, www.CheckUpForChicks.com, provides information for women of all ages about breast care, early detection, and treatment. 

For more information on the Breast Center, log onto www.nfultonhospital.com or call 770-751-2600 for a physician referral.

 

North Fulton Hospital (NFH), part of Tenet Georgia, is a 202-bed, acute-care hospital located on Highway 9, Alpharetta Highway, in Roswell.  Opened in 1983, NFH serves North Fulton and surrounding counties through its team of over 800 employees, 400 staff physicians and 200 volunteers.  NFH is a state-designated Level II trauma center and provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, women’s health services, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, gastroenterology and oncology.  The hospital is fully accredited and also is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.

Article Date: 5/1/2013

Text Area 1:

Why is it different?

Hip replacement surgery has been used to treat joint disease since the 1960s.  It replaces the head of the thigh bone and the ball-and-socket mechanism in the hip with artificial implants.  Traditionally, the operation was done making a 10- to 12-inch incision on the side of the hip. The muscles would then be detached from the hip, which would be dislocated.  In recent years, however, a new technique called the Anterior Approach to total hip replacement has been developed.  It allows the surgeon to perform the surgery through a smaller incision and without detaching the muscles from either the hip or thigh bone.

Online Resources

 

What do our doctors think?

“The Anterior Approach to hip replacement allows me to access the hip joint without cutting any muscle,” says Dr. Jeffrey Garrett, a physician at North Fulton Hospital.  “This technique utilizes the natural space between muscles, which minimizes number of places I have to cut the tissues.  This provides the potential for a quicker recovery when compared to traditional hip replacement surgery.”

 

Benefits of the Anterior Approach

Possible accelerated recovery time because key muscles are not detached during the operation.

·         Potential for fewer restrictions during recovery.  Although each patient responds differently, this procedure seeks to help patients more freely bend their hip and bear their full weight immediately or soon after surgery.

·         Possible reduced scarring because the technique allows for one relatively small incision.  Since the incision is on the front side of the leg, patients may be spared from the pain of sitting on scar tissue.

Is there anything else I need to know?

Hip replacement surgery, whether traditional or anterior, is performed to help decrease pain, increase mobility and improve quality of life. It may be recommended if other treatment methods, such as exercise, walking aids or medication, are not effective. High-impact activities, including tennis, basketball and jogging, should be avoided after surgery. Instead, patients can walk, swim or ride a stationary bicycle to increase muscle strength and improve cardiovascular health without injuring their new hip.

I’m interested in speaking with a doctor.  How do I find one?

North Fulton Hospital strives to provide state of the art medical services so its patients receive the highest quality of care possible, and the Anterior Approach to total hip replacement is one of the newest innovations added to the array of services they can provide.  For more information or a referral to a provider at North Fulton Hospital that performs the Anterior Approach to hip replacement, call 770-751-2600.

Article Date: 4/23/2013

Text Area 1: Most of us know that chest pain or pain in the arm may be an indicator of a heart attack, but do you know what signs to look for if you suspect that you or a loved one may have had a stroke?  More importantly, do you know what to do for that person to improve their chances of survival and recovery?

“It is critical that a physician see a stroke victim as soon as possible,” says Pat Victor, Coordinator of North Fulton Hospital’s Stroke Program, which has been certified since 2005.  “The treatments for stroke aim to save brain cells, and the sooner a patient receives treatment, the more cells we can save.”

Signs of a Stroke

During a stroke, the blood supply to the brain is interrupted either by blood clots or by bleeding in the brain.  Brain cells in the immediate area begin to die because they stop receiving the oxygen and nutrients they need to function.  This is why immediate medical attention is necessary.  Signs of a stroke may include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
• Blurred or double vision, drowsiness, and nausea or vomiting.

 

“You can quickly evaluate a friend or family member by performing the FAST test,” says Victor, “which stands for Face, Arm, Speech, and Time.  First, do you notice drooping on one side of the face?  Second, can he or she hold both arms out straight in front of the body without one drifting downward?  Next, do you notice any slurring or difficulty with speech?  If so, note the time that you last saw the person functioning normally so hospital staff will know the approximate time of the episode.”

Call 911 Immediately!

Don’t drive your loved one to the Emergency Room.  They may deteriorate in the car, and you won’t be able to care for them.  Also, don’t give them any food, drink, or medicine (even blood pressure medicine or aspirin) because their ability to swallow may be compromised and the medicines may actually harm your loved one’s chances of recovery.

Stroke Treatments

Strokes caused by blood clots may be treated with a drug called t-PA, which dissolves blood clots, but those caused by bleeding cannot be treated with t-PA.  Instead, surgery is often performed to help relieve the pressure or blood clots caused by the bleeding.  In both cases, time is of the essence for successful treatment. 

“Our Stroke Center strives to perform quick evaluations of possible stroke victims and administer t-PA for eligible patients within the first 60 minutes after a patient arrives,” says Victor.  “In fact, North Fulton Hospital works very hard to train its nursing staff in all areas of the hospital on how to give t-PA and monitor for any effects so the drug can be administered as quickly as possible wherever the patient is.” 

North Fulton Hospital’s Stroke Center has been a Certified Stroke Center since 2005.  The center has five neurologists and two neurosurgeons on staff, in addition to its Program Coordinator.  For more information about North Fulton Hospital’s Stroke Center, visit www.NFultonHospital.com  or call 770-751-2600

Article Date: 2/14/2013

Text Area 1: North Fulton Hospital is pleased to welcome its newest members to the hospital's governing board: Leah Tobin, M.D., family physician; Mark Gravlee, M.D., acute care surgeon; and Michael Jurgens, M.D., radiologist and Chief of Staff for the hospital.

Dr. Tobin earned degrees in biology and history before going on to The Medical College of Virginia, where she earned her medical degree. She completed her residency at Memorial Medical Center in Savannah. She has worked at North Atlanta Primary Care in Alpharetta since July 2005 as a family physician with special interests in diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, women’s health, and child and adolescent health.

Dr. Gravlee received his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in 1986. After one year of general surgery internship at Caraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham, Dr. Gravlee then completed his surgical residency training at the University of Florida Health Sciences Center in Jacksonville. He has more than 20 years of experience providing quality surgical care and treatment and specializes in cancer, trauma, endocrine, and abdominal surgeries. In 2007, Dr. Gravlee established Rock Bridge Surgical Institute. He presently serves as an acute care surgeon for North Fulton Hospital.

Dr. Jurgens earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University, his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia, and completed his residency in radiology at the University of Florida. Dr. Jurgens is a radiologist with Roswell Radiology Associates, which provides diagnostic imaging services through North Fulton Hospital’s Radiology Department and the Roswell Imaging Center. He is serving as Chief of Staff for the 2013-2014 term. In this role, he plays a central administrative and leadership role in the coordination of patient care at the hospital.

Individuals elected to the board commit to a three-year term, and can serve two consecutive terms. They are selected based on their overall commitment to the hospital and the communities in which they work and live.

During their term, members assist administration by providing oversight of the hospital’s Performance Improvement Program, approval of medical staff members, and ensure that the hospital is meeting its overall commitment to the community.

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About North Fulton Hospital

North Fulton Hospital (NFH), part of Tenet Georgia, is a 202-bed, acute-care hospital located on Highway 9, Alpharetta Highway, in Roswell.  Opened in 1983, NFH serves North Fulton and surrounding counties through its team of more than 1,000 employees, 400 staff physicians and 200 volunteers.  NFH is a state-designated Level II trauma center and provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, women’s health services, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, gastroenterology and oncology.  The hospital is fully accredited and is also recognized by the American College of Surgeon’s Commission on Cancer as an Accredited Cancer Program, as well as being certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.