Wellstar and Integral Advance Redevelopment Project

Wellstar Health System announced Wednesday the expansion of its obstetrics and gynecology services in Spalding and Upson counties.

Griffin OB-GYN Clinic has joined the health system as Wellstar Spalding OB/GYN.

“This addition reflects Wellstar’s commitment to providing world-class care for every woman, every time in the communities it serves,” said Preston Hendrickson, Wellstar assistant vice president of Women’s Health Services.

Patients from Griffin OB-GYN Clinic’s primary location, its Thomaston office, and Renew Gynecology will transition to the new practice. Most services will move to a new medical office building near Wellstar Spalding Medical Center, including immediate upcoming appointments for Thomaston patients. The existing Thomaston location will officially open to serve patients at a later date. The phone number for the clinic will remain unchanged.

“As part of Wellstar, caregivers will be able to connect patients to an expanded network of specialists, advanced technologies and centralized resources,” Hendrickson said. “The transition to Epic and MyChart for electronic medical records will also grant them access to integrated patient information, ensuring more comprehensive care.”

This integration also aligns with Wellstar’s broader commitment to addressing maternal and infant health disparities. Through the support of the Healthy Start program, Wellstar is actively addressing maternal and infant health in Spalding, Butts and Troup counties. This initiative prioritizes pregnant women at higher risk of health complications, demonstrating Wellstar’s dedication to improving outcomes for both mothers and infants.

Wellstar continues to increase access to care in Spalding and nearby counties, opening new primary care and neurology clinics in 2024 and previously opening or expanding clinics for cardiology, oncology, orthopedics and gastroenterology. Wellstar also recently expanded its graduate medical education program at Wellstar Spalding, knowing that new physicians are more likely to stay in the communities where they begin their careers. The health system has more than 900 team members in Spalding.

Wellstar has earned multiple awards—including Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For—for its strong and diverse culture.

The Wellstar Center for Health Equity, which strives to address health inequities across Georgia, and Small TALK, a literacy program made possible by donations to the Wellstar Foundation, have announced the launch of a pilot initiative in partnership with Cobb Collaborative. The Family Literacy Kits initiative will enhance health literacy among youth in the Fair Oaks community of Cobb County through the distribution of age-appropriate reading materials and educational resources.

Addressing a critical need

As one of many solutions to improve outcomes for children and their families, Cobb Collaborative is committed to uniting families, educators and community partners to enhance literacy and foster a love for reading among children. With two-thirds of Georgia’s third graders not reading at grade level, Cobb Collaborative’s Family Literacy Kit program intervenes with resources and support. By providing high-quality, age-appropriate reading materials for children from birth to age 5, this program fosters positive interactions between children and their caregivers and promotes kindergarten readiness. Family Literacy Kits address a critical need identified in Wellstar’s Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA): improving literacy as a social determinant of health.

Collaborative effort

Cobb Collaborative, a key player in the Get Georgia Reading Campaign, has been instrumental in improving third-grade reading levels across the community. This pilot initiative, supported by Wellstar Community Health and Wellstar Center for Health Equity, along with Small TALK, will distribute 10 Family Literacy Kits each month for a year through the Sibley Library. Kits will incorporate a bilingual book (in Spanish and English), a hands-on activity related to the book's theme, instructional inserts with additional activities and other resources. Wellstar will also contribute materials to support pediatric health education and access to social care such as food and transportation resources.

Rae-Anne Pinckney, manager of community benefit for the Wellstar Center for Health Equity, notes, "As we launch this initiative, we are reminded of the profound impact that early literacy can have on a child's future. By providing these Family Literacy Kits, we are not only fostering a love for reading, but also laying the foundation for lifelong learning and success. This work is crucial in bridging the literacy gap and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive."

The Family Literacy Kits pilot collaboration launched in January. Monthly themes include:

• January: Security and Exploration
• February: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
• March: Growth/Community
• April: Sleep Health
• May: Emotional Wellness
• June: Life Cycles
• July: Physical Activity
• August: Oral Health
• September: Working Together
• October: Community/Belonging
• November: Nutrition
• December: Cultures/Celebration

Learn more about the Wellstar Center for Health Equity.

In a heartwarming display of camaraderie, Wellstar team members gathered across the system to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy as part of the health system’s annual program to recognize his profound impact on civil rights in the United States. This year, the program featured a compelling conversation with his eldest son, Martin Luther King III. 

A humanitarian and civil rights activist in his own right, King sat down with nationally renowned journalist Monica Kauffman Pearson to discuss his parents' legacy of nonviolent and peaceful activism, and how their influence continues to shape his own life and efforts. The conversation centered on one of his father’s most famous quotes: "The time is always right to do what is right."

King discussed the importance of using constructive dialogue in times of conflict, sharing insights into how his late mother, Coretta Scott King, successfully convinced President Ronald Reagan in 1983 to sign into law a bill that created Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday.

In the conversation, Kauffman Pearson asked King how his father's legacy extends to health equity. 

“I think we're making small steps. We need to accelerate it to gigantic steps,” King said, encouraging people to consider an important question: “What are you going to do to make your community, your nation, our world better?” 

“Like Martin Luther King III, I believe we have a responsibility to make the world a better place,” said Candice L. Saunders, president and CEO of Wellstar Health System. “In healthcare, we seize that opportunity one patient at a time, serving with compassion and honoring every voice as we work together to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve.”

View excerpts of the conversation here.