News from Piedmont Fayette Hospital

Cancer Wellness at Piedmont Fayette Hospital Prescribes Humor

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Over a dozen FREE programs offered in a variety of topics for anyone affected by cancer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (July 16, 2010)—When people think of the “Big C,” humor is not the first thing that comes to mind. However, Cancer Wellness at Piedmont Fayette Hospital continues to pursue its mission to turn cancer into the “little c” by prescribing a bit of laughter, in addition to many regular classes and sessions for those affected by cancer.

At 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 21 and August 25, Dennis Buttimer, M.Ed., RYT, will lead a special session entitled “Finding Humor In It All.” Participants will learn to access their humor and improve their health. Laughing is good for recovery and humor can be the “best medicine” as it boosts the immune system, improves circulation and improves mood. A healthy lunch will be served in the Wellness Café. Call 770-719-5860 to register.

Also featured this summer is “Writing For Recovery,” where participants tap their inner wisdom through the power and creativity of the written word. Research has shown that writing in a journal can be a strong ally in the healing process. Facilitated by Angela Buttimer, LPC, participants discuss the best strategies to get pen to paper and practice a variety of creative writing techniques to broaden their journaling skills in a safe and non-judgmental environment. Previous journaling experience is not required. Sessions are on Friday, July 23, August 6 and 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A healthy lunch will be served in the Wellness Café. Registration is not required.

Thanks to generous philanthropic support, Piedmont Fayette Hospital is able to offer all programs free of charge. They are open to anyone affected by cancer. For a complete listing, including regular weekly sessions, visit piedmontfayette.org/littlec.

All programs take place at Cancer Wellness at Piedmont Fayette Hospital, located in the Cancer Center, 1267 Highway 54 West in Fayetteville, Ga., unless otherwise noted in the class listing. Parking is offered on-site at no charge.

For more information please visit piedmontfayette.org/littlec.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Offers Twice-Monthly Mammogram Saturdays

Mon, 5 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Sessions on first and third Saturdays of each month

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. – June 30, 2010—Piedmont Fayette Hospital’s Women’s Imaging Center offers mammograms and bone density screenings on the first and third Saturday of each month, at 1279 Highway 54 West, in Suite 120. 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 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 Women’s Imaging Center team at Piedmont Fayette Hospital is comprised of a dedicated staff of board 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’s mammography services are certified by the Federal Drug Administration and accredited by the American College of Radiology.

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, contact the Women’s Imaging Center at Piedmont Fayette Hospital at 770-719-7007. For more information on the Women’s Imaging Center, visit piedmontfayette.org.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Named to Quality Honor Roll

Thu, 1 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

ATLANTA (June 30, 2010) — Piedmont Fayette Hospital has been named to the Georgia Hospital Association’s (GHA) Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) Quality Honor Roll. Piedmont Fayette Hospital, along with Piedmont Hospital, Piedmont Newnan 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 Fayette Hospital CEO Darrell Cutts. “This recognition validates the hard work of Piedmont Fayette Hospital and is a tribute to the commitment of our physicians and 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 Fayette Hospital,” said Joseph Parker, president of GHA. “This recognition further underscores the commitment of the Piedmont Fayette Hospital staff to ensure that every patient receives the best, most effective healthcare possible.”

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Now Offers Interventional Cardiac Services

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Fayetteville woman on road to recovery after interventional cardiac procedure

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. – June 18, 2010—With the addition of interventional cardiology services at Piedmont Fayette Hospital, area residents no longer need to travel out of the county for many cardiovascular tests and procedures. In Fayetteville, Piedmont Heart Institute cardiologists are performing minimally invasive procedures that help discover, diagnose and treat many heart issues before they become serious.

For Susan Butler of Fayetteville, the expansion of cardiac catheterization services in March could not have come at a better time. She had been following a vigorous exercise routine for several months when she began experiencing shortness of breath. Although she was in good general health, Butler’s cardiologist, Nimish Dhruva, M.D., was suspicious of her initial heart exam and referred her to the cardiac catheterization lab at Piedmont Fayette Hospital.

“It scared the life out of me,” said Butler on discovering she might have a heart problem. “But the staff at Piedmont Fayette Hospital went out of their way to put me at ease and explain every step of the procedure.”

To perform diagnostic cardiac catheterization, a specially-trained interventional cardiologist inserts a thin plastic tube, or catheter, into a blood vessel in the arm or leg and thread it up to the heart. Through the catheter, the doctor can measure pressures, take blood samples, and inject a dye that helps show the heart chambers and blood vessels. This enables the doctor to determine if coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked.

Arteries can become narrowed when plaque builds up inside the lining of the vessels. Depending on the results of a diagnostic cardiac catheterization procedure, a physician may recommend changes in diet and lifestyle or that the patient undergoes angioplasty or open-heart surgery to open blockages.

Interventional procedures to treat affected areas include balloon angioplasty, stent deployment, eximer laser, atherectomy (surgical removal of arterial plaque) or direct intervention for acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). This form of treatment provides many benefits including the avoidance of scars, pain and long post-operative recovery associated with surgery.

In the past, for Fayetteville citizens like Butler, this type of interventional procedure generally meant a trip to Atlanta. However, Dr. Dhruva and his colleague Charles I. Wilmer, M.D., arranged for Butler’s testing at Piedmont Fayette Hospital.

Dr. Wilmer and Dr. Dhruva found several blockages in the arteries near Butler’s heart. Both doctors, with Piedmont Heart Institute Physicians, have decades of experience in invasive and interventional cardiology. Using some of the lab’s latest tools and equipment, Dr. Wilmer was able to place stents within the blockages to open the artery, thereby avoiding invasive surgery.

“I can’t say enough about the Piedmont Fayette staff who cared for me,” said Butler. “They kept me calm and comfortable through each step of the process. Afterwards, Dr. Dhruva told me, if left untreated, I was headed towards a heart attack at the young age of 51.”

As part of her continued care, Butler was prescribed a healthy diet and exercise appropriate for her body and lifestyle. She is enrolled in the Cardiac Rehabilitation program at Piedmont Fayette Hospital, combining prescriptive exercise training and education while doctors keep a close eye on her overall cardiac health going forward.

Butler has shared her story and experience with everyone she knows including the people she works with. In her office at Dogwood Church, many of her co-workers have followed her example and are now taking better care of themselves with exercise and diet. By stocking their kitchen with healthy foods and snacks and taking walks together after lunch, Butler and her friends now enjoy including healthy living as part of the work environment.

“I am here today because of Dr. Dhruva and Dr. Wilmer,” said Bulter. “I encourage everyone to get screened and look after their heart. This is especially important for women who may often ignore the warning signs of heart trouble.”

For more information about Piedmont Fayette Hospital, visit piedmontfayette.org. For a free, seven-minute online heart disease risk assessment, visit piedmontheart.org.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Auxiliary Hosts Blood Drive

Tue, 1 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (May 27, 2010) - Piedmont Fayette Hospital's Auxiliary will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Thursday, June 10, from noon to 5 p.m. The blood drive will take place at Highway 54 West in Fayetteville, Ga., in Building 1279 on the third floor in Conference Room C.

Donors must be 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors must not have given blood in the last 56 days.

According to the American Red Cross, donating blood is a simple process that helps to save more than five million people in need of blood transfusions each year in the United States. Blood is needed every two seconds for emergency medical situations and is often needed for the treatment of accident victims, cancer patients, hemophiliacs and surgery patients. Call the Piedmont Fayette Hospital Auxiliary office at 770-719‑7098 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome; however appointments will be honored first.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital & The American Lung Association Offer Freedom From Smoking® Cessation Clinic

Thu, 6 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT

ATLANTA (May 5, 2010) — To combat the smoking epidemic, Piedmont Fayette Hospital, in conjunction with the American Lung Association, is offering a “Freedom from Smoking”® cessation clinic. For more information about developing individualized quitting plans, join an American Lung Association trained facilitator on the Piedmont Fayette Hospital campus starting Tuesday, May 11 from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

According to the Georgia Department of Community Health, more than 1.4 million adults in metro Atlanta smoke cigarettes and the clinic will strive to help adults beat their smoking addiction by providing them with the skills and support needed to quit for good. The program is six weeks of classes aimed at using a positive behavior approach to demonstrate ways for participants to become nonsmokers.

Realizing that quitting smoking is a difficult undertaking, Piedmont Fayette Hospital has taken the necessary steps to develop a program effective at eliminating the urge to smoke. Research proves that it may take as many as seven attempts to quit smoking; that smoking is a process, not an occurrence; and that events in the lives of smokers can trigger the desire to smoke again even after quitting for months. These learnings have been combined to create a process that will help smokers learn from their triggers and use those to change their lives.

“Smoking is a leading cause of death in Georgia according to the Georgia Department of Community Health,” says Michelle Sullivan, RRT-Smoking Cessation facilitator. Piedmont Fayette Hospital and the American Lung Association are determined to cure this addiction through the smoking cessation clinic classes led by instructors who understand the smoking addiction and can provide the best help for each participant.”

Space in the class is limited, so call Link 2 Health at 1-866-900-4321 to register as soon as possible. For complete course schedule, call 770-719-6258 or visit fayettehospital.org.

Hit the Links and Help the Hospital Auxiliary

Thu, 6 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Auxiliary Hosts 10th Annual Golf Classic

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (May 5, 2010) – Have you been looking for a good reason to spend time on the green? Then sign up for the 10th Annual Piedmont Fayette Hospital Auxiliary Golf Classic, on Monday, May 10, at the Flat Creek Country Club in Peachtree City. Proceeds from the Golf Classic will be used to fund several projects for Piedmont Fayette Hospital, including ongoing operation of the courtesy shuttles, Cancer Wellness at Piedmont Fayette Hospital, and student scholarships for study in the medical fields.

To celebrate the 10th annual Golf Classic, ten prize holes will be on the course as well as baskets for raffle. The day features a putting contest and awards ceremony. And to complement the day of great golf and friendly competition, players will be provided a continental breakfast, lunch, snacks and refreshments during and after play, golf cart, and a chance to claim bragging rights to the 2010 Golf Classic! Each player will receive a customized portable sports chair and a bag filled with goodies.

“The Golf Classic is an important fundraising event to the Auxiliary and hospital to help provide healthcare and health-related services for patients, physicians and the community,” says Alan Koth, president of the Piedmont Fayette Hospital Auxiliary. “This event is a great way for members of the Fayette community to come together and support the hospital while interacting with one another.”

If you would like to sponsor the tournament, packages ranging from $175 to $10,000 are still available. Current major sponsors include The Coca-Cola Company and Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors.

The annual golf tournament is one of the Auxiliary’s biggest endeavors of the year. More than 275 active members of the Auxiliary contribute their time and talents and have volunteered over 520,000 hours of service since before the hospital opened in 1997, in addition to their annual financial contributions. The Auxiliary volunteers are always familiar and friendly faces at Piedmont Fayette Hospital, whether they are driving the courtesy shuttle, greeting and assisting guests at information desks, in the gift shop or raising funds for a variety of hospital projects.
The Auxiliary coordinates several community activities, including community book fairs and blood drives. They also participate on a state level through the Georgia Hospital Association's Council of Auxiliary Volunteers.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Celebrates Health Care Professionals
This year the Auxiliary will award 12 scholarships totaling $9,000 to Fayette County residents studying in an accredited Georgia school for a career in the medical field. Eight of these scholarships are being awarded to current Fayette County high school seniors for the 2010-2011 academic year.

For more information about the Piedmont Fayette Hospital Auxiliary or to register for the Golf Classic, call 770-719-7098 or visit fayettehospital.org.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Named One of the Nation’s 100 Top Hospitals®

Mon, 5 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EDT

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (April 5, 2010) – For the fifth time, Piedmont Fayette Hospital has been named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® by Thomson Reuters. The hospital is one of only two in Georgia to make the list this year and is among 20 hospitals in the medium community hospital category. Piedmont Fayette Hospital received the same honor in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. No other hospital in Georgia has received the recognition more times than Fayette.

The 2009 Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals: National Benchmarks study evaluated performance in 10 areas: mortality, medical complications, patient safety, average length of stay, expenses, profitability, patient satisfaction, adherence to clinical standards of care, and post-discharge mortality and readmission rates for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure and pneumonia. Recognition as one of the 100 Top Hospitals is based on overall organizational performance.

Jean Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improvement and 100 Top Hospitals programs at Thomson Reuters, says, “This year’s study magnified the value that 100 Top Hospital award winners provide to their communities. Even during the economic downturn, the 100 Top Hospitals maintained a profit from operations while raising the bar for clinical quality and patient satisfaction.”

“Receiving this award for the fifth time highlights our ability to raise the bar towards excellence for our patients,” said Piedmont Fayette Hospital CEO Darrell Cutts. “It says a lot about the world-class care and leadership our employees, physicians, volunteers and board of directors provide for this community.”

If all Medicare inpatients received the same level of care as those treated in these 100 Top Hospitals award winners:

More than 98,000 additional patients would survive each year.
More than 197,000 patient complications would be avoided annually.
Expenses would decline by an aggregate $5.5 billion a year.
The average patient stay would decrease by nearly half a day.
If the same standards were applied to all inpatients, the impact would be even greater.

If the same standards were applied to all inpatients, the impact would be even greater.

To conduct the 100 Top Hospitals study, Thomson Reuters researchers evaluated nearly 3,000 short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals. They used public information — Medicare cost reports, Medicare provider analysis and review data, and core measures and patient satisfaction data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Compare data set.

For more information about Piedmont Fayette Hospital, visit fayettehospital.org.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Brings Latest in Surgery Technology to Area

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EDT

da Vinci Surgical System Now Available at Piedmont Fayette Hospital

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (March 22, 2010) – Piedmont Fayette Hospital is now providing surgeons with the most advanced da Vinci Surgical System, enabling them to provide minimally invasive robotic surgery. The system allows surgeons to perform complex procedures using an approach that may result in less scarring and faster recovery times for patients.

Many of today’s surgical procedures using standard techniques may be performed more quickly and easily using the da Vinci Surgical System. In addition, da Vinci leaves only dime-sized incisions rather than the 6- to 12-inch incisions common in traditional surgery. The surgeons operate by manipulating the robot’s four arms and viewing the procedure through a high-resolution camera inside the patient.

Cari Croft of Gay, Ga. was the hospital’s first gynecologic da Vinci patient on January 28. Her previous experience with a similar laparoscopic procedure gives her a unique perspective on the new robotic method.

“Within seven to nine days, I was walking around and able to take care of myself as opposed to the three weeks or so it took to feel normal with my prior laparoscopic procedure,” said Croft. “By week four of my da Vinci surgery, I was feeling fabulous.”

“Bringing the da Vinci surgical system to Piedmont Fayette Hospital increases the care options available to patients in the Fayette and surrounding communities,” said Darrell Cutts, president and CEO of Piedmont Fayette Hospital. “Locating it at our hospital makes Fayetteville more attractive to the world-class physicians who have been trained on the equipment and prefer to care for patients in areas where it is available.”

In April 2005, the FDA cleared da Vinci surgery for gynecologic applications and since then has seen significant adoption among surgeons. The most common female surgery is hysterectomy, with one in three women in the United States undergoing one before the age of 60. The procedure is performed for a variety of conditions including excessive bleeding, fibroids, endometriosis, uterine prolapse, cancer and pre-cancer.

“In the United States, 60 percent of hysterectomies are performed through the abdominal incision,” said Elizabeth W. Killebrew, M.D., an OB/GYN and da Vinci surgeon at Piedmont Fayette Hospital. “But with da Vinci technology, we can now offer an alternative to the large incisions and extended recovery periods. Women can get back to their life faster - within days rather than the usual weeks required with traditional surgery.”

da Vinci Surgery offers numerous potential benefits over traditional open surgery, including:

significantly less pain.
less blood loss and need for transfusion.
fewer complications.
shorter hospital stay.
quicker recovery and return to normal activities.
small incisions for minimal scarring.

For Croft, the new technology was a secondary factor when choosing where to go for her care.

“The da Vinci has a certain ‘cool’ factor to it and it’s a wonderful option to have,” said Croft. “However, I have complete trust in Dr. Killebrew and that, for me, will always be more important than the technology.”

By enhancing surgical capabilities, the da Vinci Surgical System helps to improve clinical outcomes and redefine standards of care.

For more information about Piedmont Fayette Hospital visit fayettehospital.org.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Minor Emergency Care Center Temporarily Closed for Renovations

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (Feb. 26, 2010) - The Piedmont Fayette Hospital (PFH) Minor Emergency Care Center (MECC) is closed for one week for renovations and will reopen on Tuesday, March 9.

The renovations will bring diagnostic services closer to the MECC for increased efficiency in patient flow. Included in the redesign are new finishes and a rearranged MECC and Outpatient Diagnostic Center (ODC). The ODC will not be closing, but renovations will make for better patient flow and access to PFH services.

The MECC is staffed by physicians, nurses and other emergency staff professionals who are able to treat a range of emergency conditions. Some of these conditions include cuts, bruises, ear aches, cold and flu symptoms, broken bones and other injuries or illnesses that are not perceived to be life, limb or vision threatening, including chest pains.

“We are pleased to be making these renovations to more comfortably serve our patients,” said Darrell Cutts, president and CEO of Piedmont Fayette Hospital. “We are doing everything we can to make this a seamless transition, and when renovations are complete; we will have a new and improved Minor Emergency Care Center for community members.”

The MECC is located less than two miles away from Piedmont Fayette Hospital at 105 Yorktown Drive, Fayetteville, Ga. Please call 770-716-2082 or visit fayettehospital.org for more information.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Offers “Freedom from Smoking” Cessation Clinic Program

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (Feb. 26, 2010) – If you have had a hard time trying to quit and stay quit, the Freedom From Smoking® program can provide you with the skills and support to quit smoking for good!

Piedmont Fayette Hospital, along with the American Lung Association (ALA), is offering a six-week, seven-session course designed to help smokers quit. The class, titled “Freedom From Smoking®,” will be led by an ALA trained facilitator. The next session begins on Monday, May 4, and will be held from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on the Piedmont Fayette campus.

According to the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report: 20 minutes after quitting, your heart rate and blood pressure drops. After 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting, your circulation improves and your lung function increases, and after 1 to 9 months after quitting, coughing and shortness of breath will decrease, cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.

The process of learning to quit smoking is different for each smoker. Come join this smoking cessation clinic program and develop a quitting plan that will work for you. Space is limited, call Link 2 Health at 1-866-900-4321 to register. For more information or to get the complete course schedule, call 770-719-6258 or visit fayettehospital.org.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Team Aids Haitian Relief Efforts

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (Feb. 26, 2010) – For the second time since the tragic earthquake changed millions of lives in Haiti, Piedmont Healthcare responded to the urgent need for medical care in Haiti by supporting a team of physicians in their week-long stay aiding the medical staff of Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti.

On Saturday, February 6, six medical professionals departed from DeKalb-Peachtree Airport and traveled to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The group included Michael Behr, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon; Robert Hendley, PA-C, anesthesiology physician assistant; and Jonathan Clayton, M.D., anesthesiologist; who are all on staff at Piedmont Fayette Hospital. Also, making the trip were orthopaedic surgeons Stephen Smith, M.D., on staff at Piedmont Hospital; Obi Ugwonali, M.D., on staff at Northside Hospital; and Danny Guy, M.D., on staff at West Georgia Health System. The expertise of the team fulfilled one of the major medical needs requested in Haiti, that of repairing broken and crushed bones.

“This trip was organized and came together very quickly,” said Michael Behr, M.D. “Things are changing in Haiti so quickly we weren’t sure exactly what we were going to find, but we treated both primary wounds and fractures that hadn’t been treated as well as secondary wounds, some with infections – that had developed since their initial treatment.”

Together Piedmont Hospital and Piedmont Fayette Hospital donated over $50,000 worth of much needed pharmaceuticals and supplies including antibiotics, anesthesia medications and the equipment needed for the delivery of anesthesia. Among the various pieces of equipment sent were orthopaedic surgical tools and an automatic tourniquet system that enables physicians to control the blood flow to limbs during surgery. A clinician from Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti had contacted a Piedmont physician days before the trip to say that they were completely out of antibiotics and anesthesia medications.

“We went down with some of the best orthopaedic surgeons – not only in Atlanta – but the Southeast, and I’m proud to be a part of this Piedmont group,” said Jonathan Clayton, M.D. “We tried to help people who have nothing; basically giving a little back to an area that really needs it.”

Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti has had a longstanding relationship with the physicians of Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic where Dr. Smith practices. Every four months since 1957, surgeons from Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic have traveled to Haiti to provide orthopaedic care to impoverished Haitians who would otherwise go untreated. For more information about Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti visit hashaiti.org.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Now Offers Interventional Cardiology Services

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (Feb. 25, 2010) – In early September 2005, Piedmont Fayette Hospital (PFH) announced the expansion of its cardiovascular care with the addition of adult diagnostic cardiac catheterization services. Now, five years later, PFH will again expand its cardiovascular care with the addition of interventional cardiology services, beginning March 1, 2010.

Interventional cardiology refers to various non-surgical procedures for treating cardiovascular disease. It deals specifically with catheter-based treatments of structural heart diseases such as angioplasty and stent placement. In particular, interventional cardiologists treat narrowed arteries – often caused by coronary artery disease.

“We’ve long been able to provide cardiac catheterization services for diagnostic purposes, but with the addition of experienced interventionalists from Piedmont Heart Institute, we are now able to offer treatment for cardiovascular diseases through the use of interventional cardiology and catheters,” said Darrell Cutts, president and CEO of Piedmont Fayette Hospital. “We are more than pleased to be able to provide advanced healthcare and the critical tools in fighting heart disease to the Fayette community.”

Interventional cardiology provides many benefits including the avoidance of scars, pain, and long post-operative recovery associated with surgery. Interventional cardiology procedures involve the insertion of a stent – a small wire mesh tube, or a catheter into the artery or heart in order to treat the narrowed artery. Catheters are thin, flexible tubes used to get inside blood vessels for diagnostic tests or to repair damaged vessels often avoiding the need for surgery.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital offers numerous advanced, comprehensive diagnostic and rehabilitative cardiology services including electrocardiograms (EKG), holter and event monitoring, cardiac monitoring, stress-testing, diagnostic cardiac catheterization and cardiac rehabilitation. For more information on cardiology services and Piedmont Fayette Hospital visit fayettehospital.org.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Awarded Accreditation From American College of Radiology for High Practice Standards

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (Feb. 24, 2010) – The Piedmont Fayette Hospital (PFH) Women’s Imaging Center has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in digital mammography as the result of a recent survey by the American College of Radiology (ACR).

Full Field Digital Mammography (FFDM) is one of Piedmont Fayette’s most recent advances in imaging and radiation services, an addition which allows PFH to continue providing the latest in options for digital mammography and breast cancer detection.

The ACR is a national organization which serves more than 32,000 diagnostic and interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, and nuclear medicine and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services. The ACR awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of the practice. Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field.

When you choose an ACR-accredited facility, you know:

Your hospital has voluntarily gone through a rigorous review process to be sure it meets nationally-accepted standards
The personnel are well qualified, through education and certification, to perform and interpret your medical images and administer your radiation therapy treatments
The equipment is appropriate for the test or treatment you will receive, and the facility meets or exceeds quality assurance and safety guidelines

According to results from the ACRIN Digital Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (DMIST), digital mammography detected up to 28 percent more cancers than screen film mammography in women with dense breasts, women younger than 50, and premenopausal or perimenopausal women.

"This digital mammography study demonstrates how new technologies are expanding our ability to detect breast cancer earlier in more women,” said Debora Coursey-Prah, M.D., of Piedmont Fayette Hospital’s Women’s Imaging Center and board-certified radiologist. “Since the addition of Full Field Digital Mammography to the Women’s Imaging Center in November 2009, we’ve also seen an increase in scheduling capacity for mammograms. This makes for quicker and more convenient scheduling for our patients. There is quicker confirmation of the quality of the digital images with no delay required.”

FFDM uses computers and specially designed digital detectors to produce an image that can be displayed on a high-resolution computer monitor, which can then be transmitted and stored just like computer files. Similar to conventional screen film mammograms, digital mammography uses compression and x-rays to create clear images of the inside of the breast. However, unlike film-based mammography digital mammograms produce images in a matter of seconds and can be manipulated. The physician can adjust brightness, contrast and magnify specific areas of interest such as microcalcifications, which are tiny deposits of calcium in the breast that appear as “spots” on the images.

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% 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 nearly 100 percent.

To schedule a mammogram please contact the Women’s Imaging Center at Piedmont Fayette Hospital at 770-719-7007. For more information on the Women’s Imaging Center, please visit fayettehospital.org.

Cancer Wellness at Piedmont Fayette Hospital Presents “Get a Move On”

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

“Cooking with Herbs” Cooking Demonstration

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (Feb. 17, 2010) – Cancer Wellness at Piedmont Fayette Hospital (PFH) is promoting health and well-being for breast cancer survivors with a cooking demonstration titled “Cooking with Herbs” on Thursday, March 4, from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. in the Piedmont Fayette Hospital Dining Conference Room. Registration is required by calling 404-425-7944.

Whether you will be planting them or buying them at the store, adding fresh herbs is a quick way to transform ordinary breast cancer fighting foods into extraordinary ones. Chef Hans Rueffert and dietitian Shayna Komar will educate you on simple ways to incorporate herbs into your every day meals.

“Cooking with Herbs” is part of the “Get a Move On” series – a combination of nutrition and exercise programs for breast cancer patients and survivors funded by a grant awarded to Piedmont Fayette Hospital from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Atlanta Affiliate.

Cancer Wellness at Piedmont Fayette Hospital is also offering Cancer WellFit^TM, which is a safe, inviting exercise program to improve the physical health and quality of life for people with breast cancer. The program consists of one hour of group exercise two days per week plus one-on-one exercise consultations with a degreed exercise physiologist. The program is offered on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. in the PFH Rehabilitation and Fitness Center in the Fayette Professional Center, directly across from the hospital. To register call 770-719-7290.

Individual nutrition consults are also available for patient’s pre-and post-breast cancer treatment to help them stay motivated, chart their progress and make adjustments to their diet and exercise plans as needed. To schedule an appointment, call 404-425-7944.

In addition, PFH would like to remind residents of the Look Good Feel Better program, a free, non-medical, brand-neutral, national public service program created to help individuals with cancer look good, improve their self-esteem, and manage their treatment and recovery with greater confidence. Classes are available for cancer patients on the first Monday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon in Conference Room A of the 1279 Building of Piedmont Fayette Hospital’s campus. The next class is Monday, March 1.

For more information please visit piedmontcancerconnection.org or fayettehospital.org.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (Feb. 17, 2010) – Cancer Wellness at Piedmont Fayette Hospital (PFH) is promoting health and well-being for breast cancer survivors with a cooking demonstration titled “Cooking with Herbs” on Thursday, March 4, from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. in the Piedmont Fayette Hospital Dining Conference Room. Registration is required by calling 404-425-7944.

For more information please visit piedmontcancerconnection.org or fayettehospital.org.