Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital has begun replacing their emergency medical services (EMS) trucks with innovatively designed trucks to better serve residents in Spalding County. Easily recognizable, the first two of the bright red and white trucks with large purple lettering are now on the streets providing the latest in life-saving technologies for Spalding County, and backup emergency response care for Henry, Lamar, Butts and Pike counties.
The larger of the two EMS trucks is a tall, diesel-driven critical care vehicle equipped with advanced cardiac equipment. The truck also has the capacity to transport up to three patients at one time and is outfitted for neonatal transport. Additionally, it could be used to transport air flight crews to and from the scene and the hospital.
Both trucks feature innovative monitors and mobile hotspots to advance EMS’ use of telemedicine, linking the paramedic, physician and patient while en route to the hospital. Wellstar Spalding Regional EMS was the first to launch this webcam capacity in Georgia.
Each truck is also part of an Infectious Disease Transport Network, the only one between Atlanta and Macon. As members of this network, Wellstar Spalding Regional’s award-winning team of EMS paramedics and EMTs are specially trained and can turn either truck into an “isopod” isolation unit for emerging infectious diseases.
To reduce the number of paramedic back injuries caused by heavy lifting, the trucks incorporate new automated stretchers. These units provide support for emergency personnel by removing the need to lift a 75-pound stretcher along with the weight of the patient. This equipment is well-positioned to save EMS personnel from debilitating back injuries and lengthy rehabilitations, the number one cause of career ending disability in the EMS industry. Considered the safest in the industry, the stretchers also incorporate safety lockdowns from front to back, ensuring the patient is secure while in the truck.
Spalding Regional’s EMS paramedics and EMT’s provided input on the unique internal design to maximize efficiency and safety. For example, the trucks have been fitted with an automated lift to load and unload the large, extremely heavy, oxygen tanks that assist patients experiencing difficulty breathing. Jonathon Johnson, Director of Wellstar Spalding Regional’s EMS is proud of his team.
“Paramedics and EMT’s play a vital role in any system of care, often the first line of medical care for critical patients. This new equipment expands the safety for our patients and our personnel, and continues our long history of dedication and commitment to improvement of patient care in this community.”
Wellstar EMS is available 24/7 and responds to more than 16,500 calls annually with each truck in the fleet running between 200 and 250 hours each month. Each new truck costs the hospital between $150k and $180k. This first new critical care vehicle was purchased and outfitted through a gift from the Dundee Community Association to the Wellstar Foundation.
To keep up with the community’s high-demand, Spalding Regional has plans to replace seven additional trucks and add one more Critical Care truck to its fleet. Donations to the Foundation help. Every dollar designated to Spalding Regional funds much-needed projects that support the health and well-being of the local community. To make a tax-deductible donation, visit wellstar.org/give or call (770) 956-GIVE (4483).
New Emergency Equipment to Save Lives
Wellstar Spalding Regional Reveals New EMS Equipment
Published on September 15, 2019
Last updated 06:03 PM August 11, 2020
The larger of the two new EMS trucks is equipped with advanced cardiac equipment.
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Wellstar Receives $5.5M Healthy Start Grant to Improve Maternal Outcomes in West Georgia
If it’s true that women’s health is community health, then it will take a community approach to overcome the biggest barriers to positive maternal health outcomes.
Georgia is facing a maternal mortality epidemic where Black and brown women are three to four times more likely than white women to die from childbirth. The state ranks among the worst in the nation for maternal mortality rates. Yet 89% of these deaths are preventable.
“For too many women in communities around our state, there is a lack of access to care, especially preventative care and screenings that can be lifesaving. At Wellstar, we’re doing something about it,” said Julie Teer, senior vice president of Wellstar and president of the Wellstar Foundation.
Over the past few years, Wellstar has been committed to addressing the increasing maternal mortality rates in Georgia through its doula labor program, which provides high-risk women with the additional support they need to have a healthy pregnancy. The doula assists them through the pregnancy, labor and delivery, as well as the immediate postpartum period.
Now, with the recent award of a $5.5 million Healthy Start grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Wellstar can expand to a more collaborative approach that will convene a community consortium composed of more than 20 diverse, multisector partners to advise and inform activities. The group will also develop and implement plans to improve perinatal outcomes.
The Wellstar Healthy Start program will integrate into the OB/GYN care delivery model at Wellstar to directly impact the communities with the greatest need, including Spalding, Butts and Troup counties. In fact, Troup County ranks among the worst maternal and infant mortality rates in the state.
This funding enables Wellstar to provide individual and group perinatal and parenting education, expand prenatal and postpartum care for high-risk patients through nurse navigators, and increase access to community-based doulas. Additionally, it will provide important wrap-around services and care coordination for the entire family for services that address individualized challenges directly related to racial disparity and the social determinants of health, such as housing, food insecurity, domestic violence, lack of education/employment and access to transportation.
Over the five-year span of this grant, the Healthy Start program will support 3,500 women, fathers, caregivers and infants at Wellstar West Georgia, Wellstar Spalding and Wellstar Sylvan Grove Medical Centers and beyond.
To learn more about the Wellstar Foundation and how you can get involved, visit wellstar.org/foundation.
This blog post is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $5.5 million with 0% financed with nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS or the U.S. government.
Highlights
Honor Cancer Survivors Day with Wellstar
Wellstar supports people with cancer throughout their journeys, from early screenings to diagnosis to treatment. But our encouragement and dedication to delivering world-class, compassionate care doesn’t end in remission.
Across our system, Wellstar honors the bravery and strength of survivors every day, rejoicing in each milestone. This National Cancer Survivors Day, June 2, we are proud to pay tribute to the people who have conquered cancer and offer hope to those still fighting.
This year’s Cancer Survivors Day theme—In the Joy of Living, Hope Grows—exemplifies our commitment to being a steadfast source of encouragement for cancer survivors and fighters across Georgia.
“On Cancer Survivors Day, we reflect on our patients’ journeys and cherish victories over cancer. We also offer compassion and support for people currently fighting cancer, so they and their loved ones know they’re not alone,” said Wellstar Director of Oncology Melissa Higdon.
Several Wellstar facilities will host events—and you can be a part of the celebration!
Wellstar Cobb Medical Center
May 31
12 to 2 PM
1700 Hospital South Drive, Austell
Behind the building in the garden and parking lot area
To RSVP, contact Ashley Dapremont at
[email protected]
or
(470) 732-4523.
Wellstar Douglas Medical Center
June 1
11 AM to 2 PM
8954 Hospital Drive, Douglasville
Surgical services lobby
To RSVP, contact Diane Harris at
[email protected]
or
(470) 644-6613.
Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center
June 1
11 AM to 2 PM
320 Kennestone Hospital Blvd., Marietta
First floor
To RSVP, contact Nancy Page at
[email protected]
or
(470) 793-7470.
Wellstar Paulding Medical Center
June 2
1 to 4 PM
144 Bill Carruth Parkway, Hiram
Second floor auditorium
To RSVP, contact Kellie Mitchell at
[email protected]
or
(470) 644-8106.
Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center
June 2
1 to 3 PM
111 Medical Drive, LaGrange
Enoch Callaway Cancer Center
To RSVP, contact Sarah Hersey at
[email protected]
or
(706) 845-3848.
Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center
June 2
2 to 4 PM
3000 Hospital Blvd., Roswell
Main lobby in hospital
To RSVP, contact Pam Plasket at
[email protected]
or
(770) 410-4556.
Wellstar Spalding Medical Center
June 5
12 to 2 PM
Drive-thru event
608 South 8th St., Griffin
Women’s Center
To RSVP, contact Sherry Connell at
[email protected]
or
(470) 935-5526.
Learn more about cancer care at Wellstar.
Highlights
Feeling Sick? Know Where to Go to Get Care in Douglas
Whether you experience an 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 existing conditions from worsening.
With primary, virtual, urgent and emergency care services available, as well as retail pharmacies, how do you decide which type of care is best for your medical situation? Learn the differences between each type of medical service Wellstar offers in Douglas County—so you don’t delay and get care right away.
WellstarON
In addition to virtual primary and specialty care appointments, we also provide virtual urgent care through WellstarON for minor medical concerns including allergies, sinus infections, strep throat or urinary tract infections.
Your WellstarON provider will offer the same personalized, tailored treatments you expect from us. That may include treatment recommendations and prescriptions to manage an immediate health issue, like an antibiotic or cough medicine.
After your WellstarON visit, all Wellstar providers, including your primary care provider or specialist, can see a record of your appointment. You will also be able to access it through MyChart. Keeping all of your trusted physicians in the know is just one way we provide you with continuity of care.
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.
Primary care
Primary care is ongoing, comprehensive care and preventative medicine that helps you live a full, healthy life.
Your primary care provider gets to know you and your health history on a deeper level. That means they have a more holistic view of your overall wellness.
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
Wellstar has three primary care locations in Douglas County:
8820 Hospital Drive
Douglasville, GA 30134
(770) 947-3000
6043 Prestley Mill Road, Suite B
Douglasville, GA 30134
(770) 941-8100
6095 Professional Parkway, Suite 100
Douglasville, GA 30134
(770) 920-2255
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.
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
Check in online to reduce your wait time at Wellstar Urgent Care in Douglasville.
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 is dangerous and may delay care, so call 911 for the fastest access to emergency care.
When the unexpected happens, Wellstar Douglas Medical Center is always ready in a medical emergency. Our trained team provides expert emergency care 24 hours a day for people of all ages. We also have a dedicated pediatric emergency room, specifically designed to treat children.
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