News from The Commonwealth Medical College

Piedmont Newnan Hospital Promotes Wellness Bargains

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EDT

NEWNAN, Ga. (August 19, 2010)—The Piedmont Newnan Hospital Wellness Center is offering a refreshing way to stay cool in the summer heat. Water aerobics classes take place Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. throughout the month of August at the new Lynch Park Pool, 77 Richard Allen Drive in Newnan, Ga. A $2 per-person admission benefits the Boys and Girls Club of Newnan. Participants must be 21 or older.

As the summer simmers down, the Wellness Center is also offering a bargain for outdoor fitness at Greenville Street Park. On the first Saturday of each month, Piedmont Newnan Hospital Wellness Center is hosting Tai-Chi at 8 a.m. followed by Zumba at 9 a.m. Cost for both is $2 for members and $5 for non-members. There is no age restriction for these classes.

Located in the heart of downtown Newnan, the Wellness Center is a full fitness facility open to the community. Cardiovascular equipment, including ellipticals, treadmills, arc trainers and stair masters, is available. The facility includes strength training with Free Motion and Cybex machines, as well as free weights and dumbbells.

Personal trainers and staff are available to help members with their fitness programs. Group exercise classes are available for all levels of fitness. Classes include yoga, Pilates, step, power hour, Zumba, dance aerobics, circuit and cycle. For more information, call 770-254-3550.

To learn more about Piedmont Newnan Hospital, visit piedmontnewnan.org.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital Expands Neonatal Services

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EDT

NEWNAN, Ga (Aug. 5, 2010)—Residents of Coweta and surrounding counties have a valuable new resource available to them, providing parents greater access to the medical professionals caring for their newborn children. Piedmont Newnan Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) now has expanded its services with neonatal nurse practitioners in-house around the clock to provide higher level of newborn care that complements care provided by registered nurses and pediatricians.

“Having this additional level of care available to newborn babies in Coweta County and surrounding areas is an extension of the value Piedmont Newnan Hospital places on family,” said Piedmont Newnan Hospital president and CEO Michael Bass. “The proximity of our NICU and our expanded staff means that families can stay together because many infants will no longer need to be transferred outside Coweta to other facilities for care.”

A neonatal nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has completed advanced education. Nurse practitioners can provide some of the same care provided by physicians, particularly important when the need is urgent, and yet maintain close working relationships with physicians. While parents might typically see a physician once a day, they may see the nurse practitioner several times per day which provides more time to carefully explain diagnoses and converse with parents about their questions and concerns.

When Brian and Rachael Riddle of Sharpsburg, Ga., heard they would be having twins, they knew they might need specialized care when the time came. Riddle was scheduled for a Cesarean section on June 14, but began having contractions the evening of June 1. At that time of night, without Piedmont Newnan Hospital located 15 minutes from their home, their closest 24-hour NICU would have been outside Coweta County.

Riddle is not a first time mom. With three children ages 12, 15 and 17, she thought she knew what to expect. However, the care she received at Piedmont Newnan Hospital was a pleasant surprise to her family.

“I couldn’t believe how great it was,” said Riddle. “It was a lot different than I remembered. Everyone made us feel like we were the only patients there. Physicians, nurses, food service and cleaning staff were all very personable and checked on us frequently.”

Twins, Chloe and Cory, arrived healthy and along with mom are doing quite well. The Riddles were not only pleased with the excellent bedside manner of the staff, but they were also impressed with the range of services available to them so close to home.

In collaboration with pediatrician Robert Whipple, M.D., a total of nine board-certified nurse practitioners specialized in neonatal care oversee the nursery and NICU 24 hours a day.

For more information, visit piedmontnewnan.org.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital Auxiliary Installs New Officers at Spring Luncheon

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

NEWNAN, Ga. (July 16, 2010) — The dedicated volunteers of the Piedmont Newnan Hospital Auxiliary welcomed incoming officers during a May 6 installation ceremony and luncheon at the Newnan Country Club.

Receiving roses and being sworn in as incoming Auxiliary officers were Joan Sexton, treasurer; Ginny Miller, secretary; Sue Livingston, president elect; and Barbara Tumperi, president.

Brian McKenzie, local vocalist and firefighter, provided the entertainment and Michael Bass, president and CEO of Piedmont Newnan Hospital, updated attendees on the construction progress of the new hospital.

The Auxiliary serves patients and visitors by driving courtesy carts, delivering flowers and running the gift shop and information desk. For more information on volunteering, call 678-854-2487.

For more information on Piedmont Newnan Hospital, visit piedmontnewnan.org.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer Recognized for Supporting Healthcare Education

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

NEWNAN, Ga. (July 19, 2010)—The Explorer Division of the Flint River Council, the local Boy Scouts of America Council, and the Central Education Center have recognized two Piedmont Newnan Hospital officers for their part in organizing a work-based learning program for high school students. Michael Bass, president and CEO, and Ed Racht, M.D., chief medical officer, were recently presented with a plaque of appreciation for their ongoing support for healthcare education.

Bass and Racht helped organize the program, which was open to high school sophomores and juniors interested in pursuing healthcare as a career and who met course requirements. The 13-week course gave students genuine healthcare learning opportunities, featuring guest lecturers, presentations, activities at Piedmont Newnan and a community service project. Students learned about the careers and daily routines of nurses, dieticians, dentists, paramedics, physical therapists and primary care physicians, among others.

“The Explorer Program benefits all of Coweta County,” said Bass. “These students will become the future leaders of our community, and we are honored to help prepare them for their potential careers.”

The purpose of The Boy Scouts of America’s Explorer Program is to provide experiences to help young people mature and prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Explorers are ready to investigate the meaning of interdependence in their personal relationships and communities.

To learn more about Piedmont Newnan Hospital, visit piedmontnewnan.org.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital Named to Quality Honor Roll

Thu, 1 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

ATLANTA (June 29, 2010) — Piedmont Newnan Hospital has been named to the Georgia Hospital Association’s (GHA) Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) Quality Honor Roll. Piedmont Newnan Hospital, along with Piedmont Hospital, Piedmont Fayette Hospital and Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, are four of 51 hospitals in Georgia to be placed in the Presidential category. 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, reflecting performance against best practices, was collected from January to December 2009.

“It has always been our mission to ensure that each of our patients receives the right care at the right time,” said Piedmont Newnan Hospital CEO Michael Bass. “This recognition validates the hard work of Piedmont Newnan Hospital and is a tribute to the commitment of our staff members who are constantly striving to make excellent care even better.”

All acute care hospitals are required to submit care data to CMS. This data details how well a hospital’s caregivers adhere to a list of eight appropriate care measures (ACM), which are the clinical processes of care that are known to be the most effective methods of treatment for patients who have suffered heart attacks, heart failure or pneumonia. The ACM is a composite measure that determines whether or not a patient received the right care at the right time.

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. A hospital’s adherence to these recommended clinical practices usually leads to better outcomes.

“This is a great accomplishment for Piedmont Newnan Hospital,” said Joseph Parker, president of GHA. “This recognition further underscores the commitment of the Piedmont Newnan Hospital staff to ensure that every patient receives the best, most effective healthcare possible.”

Piedmont Newnan Hospital Offers Monthly Mammogram Saturdays

Thu, 1 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Sessions on second Saturday of each month beginning July 10

NEWNAN – June 30, 2010—The Piedmont Newnan Hospital Outpatient Center, located at the Summit Healthplex on Highway 34 East offers mammograms on the second Saturday of each month, beginning July 10, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. The popular Saturday sessions have been expanded, allowing women with busy weekday schedules to take charge of their health.

In the United States, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes. Eighty percent of these women do not have any of the reported risk factors, other than being female and aging. The key to surviving breast cancer is early diagnosis. Saturday mammogram appointments at the outpatient center are convenient and recommended for women over age 40.

Saturday mammogram screening appointments at the outpatient center are convenient and covered by most health insurance plans. It is required that women being screened have a current physician to receive screening results.

The imaging team at the Piedmont Newnan Hospital Outpatient Center is comprised of a dedicated staff of certified radiologists, mammography technologists, patient representatives and support personnel. They work together using the latest digital equipment and techniques to achieve early diagnosis and optimal treatment. The center was recently named one of the “Top Women’s Imaging Center’s to Watch in 2010” by Imaging Technology News.

Even though there has been a decline in the rate of deaths from breast cancer in recent years, it is still the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Although no screening test is 100 percent effective, the combination of routine self breast-exam, annual clinical breast exam, and mammography have been shown to be a very effective means of screening for breast disease. When detected early, the chance for successful treatment is much higher.

To schedule a mammogram, call 770-254-3668. For more information on Piedmont Newnan Hospital, visit piedmontnewnan.org.

New Bar Code Technology Enhances Quality at Piedmont Newnan Hospital

Wed, 2 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Hospital Uses Latest in “Five Rights” Meds Software

NEWNAN, Ga. (June 2, 2010) – Nurses at Piedmont Newnan Hospital are among the first in the metro Atlanta area to use the next generation in bar-code technology to verify the “five rights” of medication safety, helping to ensure that the right medication goes to the right patient in the right dose at the right time via the right route – whether by mouth, intravenous injection, or other means. Piedmont Newnan Hospital recently implemented MEDITECH’s Bedside Medication Verification system. The software helps providers ensure patient safety and enhance quality of care.

Other Piedmont Healthcare hospitals embrace the bar-coding technology. Piedmont Hospital adopted it in October 2009, Piedmont Fayette Hospital transitioned in December 2009 and Piedmont Mountainside in January 2010.

“Piedmont Newnan Hospital is committed to embracing technological advances that improve the patient care experience,” said Sandra Romanow, director of MIS at Piedmont Newnan Hospital. “We have had a great deal of success with this bar-code scanning technology and are pleased that it enables us to continue to provide top level patient care and fulfill our commitment to clinical excellence.”

With the new Admin-RxTM system, before giving a medication, nurses use a handheld device to scan their own employee ID, then scan the medication and the patient’s wristband. An alert triggers if one of the five rights of medication safety is not met, and if the patient has allergies to the medication, prompting the nurse to check the patient’s chart and the doctor’s order.

Because the system automatically updates the patient’s electronic medication administration record, patient information is instantly available to all members of the care team. As a result, physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other caregivers can monitor the therapeutic effectiveness of a particular drug treatment and make alterations in the patient’s treatment for the most successful outcomes.

To learn more about Piedmont Newnan Hospital, visit piedmontnewnan.org.

Drug Prevention Course Helps Parents Communicate with Kids

Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT

NEWNAN, Ga. (May 26, 2010) – On June 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Piedmont Newnan Hospital will host a course designed to teach parents of eight to 14-year-olds how to communicate with their children about drugs. “How to Drug Proof Your Kids,” focuses on helping parents design a plan that will help their children make informed choices about drugs.

The course will take place in the Magic Room at Piedmont Newnan Hospital. Pastor Jeff Smith of Mills Chapel Baptist Church will be the guest speaker. Registration is $25 and includes How to Drug Proof Your Kids parent guide. Class space is limited. To register, call 1-866-900-4321. For more information, call 678-854-2490 or visit piedmontnewnan.org.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital Names New Director of Critical Care Services

Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT

NEWNAN, Ga. (May 26, 2010)— Piedmont Newnan Hospital has recently named Tina Mann as director of critical care services. She is responsible for the supervision, coordination, and management of nursing activities in the intensive and progressive care units. Mann reports to the vice president of patient care services.

“Tina brings with her an extensive background in critical care services,” said Michael Bass, president and CEO of Piedmont Newnan Hospital. “Her experience in the healthcare arena will certainly serve as a valuable asset to Piedmont Newnan Hospital”

Mann comes to Piedmont Newnan Hospital from Tift Regional Medical Center where she most recently served as nurse manager for the intensive care unit and oncology department. She was previously chief flight nurse for AirMed and Georgia Baptist Life Flight.

Mann graduated from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College with an Associate of Science in Nursing and is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. She is a licensed chemotherapy provider, Basic Life Support instructor, Pediatric Advanced Life Support instructor, and Advanced Cardiac Life Support instructor.

Mann resides in Newnan where she is closer to her family in Sharpsburg and Gay, GA.

For more information on Piedmont Newnan Hospital, visit piedmontnewnan.org.

Piedmont Newnan Outpatient Center Named “Top Women’s Imaging Centers To Watch in 2010”

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EDT

NEWNAN, Ga. (April 29, 2010) —The Piedmont Newnan Hospital Outpatient Center has been named one of the “Top Women’s Imaging Center’s to Watch in 2010” by Imaging Technology News.

The Top Women’s Imaging Centers to Watch in 2010 feature recognizes the most advanced and forward-thinking imaging centers in the United States. The honorees tend to be early adopters of new technology, participants in clinical trials and apply novel techniques and imaging systems.

“We are proud of our new facility, which has been open just a few short months,” said Nathan Nipper, vice president and COO of Piedmont Newnan Hospital. “Our goal in opening this facility was to provide Coweta and surrounding area citizens with a state-of-the-art, easily accessible outpatient diagnostic facility, and we feel as though we have achieved that goal. Receiving this national recognition further exemplifies this achievement of which Piedmont Newnan Hospital is most proud.”

The new facility gave Piedmont Newnan Hospital leadership the opportunity to reshape many of its features, including its commitment to be a leader in medical technology. The center’s staff is achieving its goal through its new digital equipment, dedication to quality and patient satisfaction, and use of modalities and technologies that enables it to provide the highest-quality CT scans, diagnostic X-ray, ultrasound, digital mammography and DEXA scans. The Piedmont Newnan Hospital Outpatient Center also now houses a new centralized scheduling process that utilizes precertification services for insurance and on-site radiologists, leading to increased operational efficiency.

In addition to the Piedmont Newnan Hospital Outpatient Center’s improved technology and processes, the outpatient center team is committed to success in providing high-quality care in a comfortable and welcoming environment for each patient. Before its opening, leaders instilled a sense of pride and collaboration, leading the center to increased community visibility and retaining patients that would normally require services at other hospitals.

“Not only are we striving to provide the latest technology in a modern, high-quality atmosphere, but we are also committed to providing our patients with excellence in patient care and satisfaction,” said Nipper.

For more information on the Piedmont Outpatient Center, call 770-304-4249, or visit piedmontnewnan.org.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital Names New Directors

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EDT

NEWNAN, Ga. (March 22, 2010) – Piedmont Newnan Hospital (PNH) has recently named Lee LaRowe, M.D., as director of the hospital’s Inpatient Medicine Service (IMS), and Judy Busch as director of risk management.

As IMS director, Dr. LaRowe will be responsible for furthering the Piedmont ideals of service excellence as both the clinical and administrative leader of inpatient medical services. She will work with the hospitalists and help oversee the day-to-day functions of patient care and work in an administrative role with medical and clinical staff to ensure that Piedmont Newnan Hospital’s services remain at the forefront of today’s best medical practices.

As director of risk management, Busch will be responsible for overseeing the overall risk management program at PNH, risk management education and professional development program for PNH staff, as well as claims management. Additionally, she will work on patient safety programs, hospital accreditation and state reporting.

“Dr. LaRowe and Judy are excellent additions to our management team,” said Michael Bass, president and CEO of Piedmont Newnan Hospital. “Both have the skills and expertise that will be an asset to our patients, the community and our growing hospital.”

Originally from Texas, Dr. LaRowe graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Tenn. She then earned her medical degree from Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Ga., followed by a residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Medicine in Jacksonville, Fla.

Prior to taking her new role at PNH, Dr. LaRowe served as medical director for the hospitalist service in Dalton, Ga. She also briefly practiced privately in Columbus, Ga., before choosing to pursue a career in inpatient medicine.

Busch, a long-time resident of Peachtree City, Ga., has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare risk management, claims management and insurance brokerage fields. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in medical records administration from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida and is a member of the American Health Information Management Association, American Society for Healthcare Risk Management, and the Georgia Society for Healthcare Risk Management.

Prior to joining Piedmont Newnan Hospital, Busch served as a vice president on the healthcare team of Marsh USA, an insurance brokerage firm, providing risk management and insurance brokerage services to healthcare clients.

For more information on Piedmont Newnan Hospital, visit piedmontnewnan.org.

Sick Tax Update - RX for Medicaid Promote Healthy Public Policy

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Our state legislature is charged with filling a $1.2 million gap in its budget. Several options have been proposed - one of which creates a "sick tax" that could devastate hospitals across Georgia - and your local hospitals have spoken with a united voice. More information about how you can support your local hospitals is coming soon.

Click here to download the letter

Piedmont Newnan Hospital Celebrates Opening of Outpatient Center

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Piedmont Outpatient Center Now Accepting Patients

NEWNAN, Ga. (Feb. 19, 2010) - On Thursday, Feb. 18, Piedmont Newnan Hospital held a ribbon-cutting celebration with the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce for the new Piedmont Outpatient Center located at the Summit Healthplex on Highway 34 East in Newnan, Ga. Guests were able to tour the new, state-of-the-art 10,000 sq. ft. facility, enjoy refreshments and meet and greet with physicians and staff.

“We are excited about the upgraded outpatient radiological services this center will provide for residents of Coweta County and the surrounding communities,” said Michael Bass, president and CEO of Piedmont Newnan Hospital.

The fully-digital outpatient center has on-site radiologists and provides CT scans, diagnostic X-ray, ultrasound, digital mammography and DEXA scans, as well as stereotactic breast biopsy procedures. Included in its new digital mammography technology is Computer-aided detection (CAD), which assists physicians in the interpretation of digital mammography images. CAD helps scan the images for atypical appearances and highlights conspicuous sections, such as possible diseases.

Bass also personally thanked the PNH Auxiliary for their pledge of $150,000 to go towards patient amenities at the Piedmont Outpatient Center.

“We are extremely grateful to the Piedmont Newnan Hospital Auxiliary for helping us achieve our vision of a warm and comforting, patient-centered atmosphere at the Piedmont Outpatient Center,” said Bass. The Auxiliary is also assisting at the Piedmont Outpatient Center in greeting patients and providing staff support.

For more information on diagnostic and imaging services offered by Piedmont Newnan Hospital, please visit piedmontnewnan.org or call 770-304-4249.

Piedmont Healthcare Announces Restart Of Construction

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

ATLANTA, Ga. (Feb. 19, 2010) – Piedmont Healthcare today announced that it will restart construction on the replacement hospital facility on Poplar Road. Officials said start-up activities will begin immediately, with completion and opening projected for early 2012.

“We are excited to proceed with the construction of this world-class hospital,” said Gregory A. Hurst, chairman of the Piedmont Newnan Hospital Board of Directors and executive vice president/COO for Piedmont Healthcare. “As a result of our intentional delay of this project, we expect to realize approximately $35 million in savings from the original cost projections, without compromising the facility or services.”

The economic climate of the past year has enabled Piedmont to take advantage of reduced construction costs while also awaiting market stabilization to secure more reasonable interest rates for funding. Through rebidding of the entire project in today’s economy and working with BE&K, general contractor, and Perkins Will, architects, Piedmont officials have been able to extract more than $30 million in construction costs.

The Piedmont Healthcare Board of Directors approved the project restart at its December 2009 meeting. Work over the past two months has been focused on developing the plan of finance and repricing the project. The Board was also impressed with the overall performance of Piedmont Newnan Hospital. Operational results and realized efficiencies are strong reflections of very effective management. Increased volumes reflect the community’s increased confidence in the hospital, services and management. The continued support of the medical staff in quality improvement and patient satisfaction initiatives as well as other operational efforts has been critical to these achievements as well.

“Piedmont’s commitment to this community is evident in the many improvements already accomplished at Piedmont Newnan Hospital, with its steadfast pursuit of this project and its attention to fiscal and civic responsibility,” said Michael Bass, president and CEO for Piedmont Newnan Hospital. “Our intentional delay in this project will ensure a new hospital that will yield a reasonable margin, manageable debt load and acceptable financing costs. We are most appreciative of the continued patience and support of the community as we have navigated the economic challenges over the past year.”

The benefits of constructing a replacement hospital facility in Coweta County are numerous for both the local economy, as well as the general community. An increase in overall economic impact, local jobs created, as well as increased tax revenue from the on-site medical office building and other new community physicians will positively affect Coweta’s economic prosperity. The community will also benefit from additional healthcare services offered in the community as a result of the replacement facility’s construction, as well as Piedmont’s continued commitment to taking excellent care of Coweta’s population in a modern, state-of-the-art hospital facility.

“We are encouraged by the opportunities before us and look forward to completion of the new Piedmont Newnan Hospital,” said Hurst.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital Recognized as Leader in Quality and Patient Safety in Georgia

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

NEWNAN, Ga. (Feb. 16, 2010) – Piedmont Newnan Hospital was recently recognized as a leader in quality and patient safety in the state of Georgia by the Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA), an organization that brings together the healthcare field with agencies and individuals to ensure quality and safety in healthy communities.

According to PHA, Piedmont Newnan Hospital received second place honors in the Hospitals with 100 to 299 Beds category of the 2009 Partnership for Health and Accountability Quality and Patient Safety Awards because of its successful program to reduce its mortality rate that was already lower than the national average.

Beginning in July 2007, the hospital implemented a multi-focused approach to reducing its Hospitalized Standardized Mortality Ratio (HSMR), a risk-adjusted tool to measure the expected mortality based on patient condition. PNH made several changes to its internal systems including, increasing awareness of its in-house Rapid Response Team (RRT); implementing a hospitalist program; improving hand-off communication among all clinicians; ensuring that patients were admitted to the appropriate level of care; facilitating early identification of sepsis; improving physician documentation; and identifying when it was best for a patient to start to receive appropriate comfort care measures.

As a result, PNH was able to decrease its raw mortality data by 17 percent; decrease its HSMR ratio by 40 percent; reduce codes outside of the intensive care unit (ICU) and increase its RRT calls.

“Piedmont Newnan Hospital is proud to be recognized as a being a leader in quality and patient safety in the state of Georgia,” said Michael Bass, president and CEO of Piedmont Newnan Hospital. “This recognition is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our physicians and employees who seek to provide the best care possible to the people of our community.”

This current recognition for PNH follows honors received in 2009 when it was named to PHA’s “Right Care Every Time” program Presidential Honor Roll for its commitment to treating patients according to national guidelines to ensure safety, quality, equity and efficiency.

Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) assists in strengthening collaboration between healthcare providers, community members, and other stakeholders by providing education and data-driven tools to facilitate improvement. The organization considers the elements that support a culture of safety in healthcare organizations to be a pervasive commitment to patient safety, open communication, a blame-free environment, and the importance of safety design in preventing future errors.

For more information about Piedmont Newnan Hospital visit piedmontnewnan.org.