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Wellstar Douglas Hospital Earns Advanced Certification

The Joint Commission Certifies Hospital as Primary Heart Attack Center

Published on July 12, 2022

Last updated 10:58 AM July 12, 2022

Wellstar Douglas Hospital recently attained advanced certification as a Primary Heart Attack Center (PHAC) by The Joint Commission and The American Heart Association. This means the hospital offers patients the next generation of cardiac care.

“Our cardiac experts in Douglas County are dedicated to doing what is best for the patient,” said Dr. Joshua M. Willis, Medical Director of Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Wellstar Douglas Hospital. “The Joint Commission certification shows that our cardiac program is designed to help people having heart attacks receive the fastest, most evidence-based care.”

Wellstar Douglas Hospital has 24-hour-a-day coverage to treat heart attacks. The hospital’s team communicates with first responders, so patients can get diagnosed and treated as fast as possible upon arrival at the hospital by ambulance.

“Everything we do is centered around giving each person the best chance for positive outcomes,” Dr. Willis said.

The hospital’s team aims to get patients diagnosed fast by performing cardiac tests within 10 minutes of arrival at the hospital. For patients who need surgical intervention, Wellstar Douglas Hospital’s interventional cardiologists perform percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) — a minimally-invasive procedure that restores blood flow to the heart — within a 90-minute-window.

According to Gene Morris, Director of Cardiac and Vascular Services, the cardiac team has performed 2,500 PCIs since the program launched in 2012.

Wellstar Douglas Hospital is also designated as an Emergency Cardiac Care Center (ECCC) Level II by the Georgia Department of Public Health.

To learn more about Wellstar Douglas Hospital, please visit the hospital webpage.

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In Latoya Jordan’s world, “family comes first” is more than a mantra. It’s a way of life, as a wife and mother raising four fearless daughters.

While living in New York, Latoya learned how to be strong, determined and face challenges head-on—lessons she now instills in her own children. These traits proved useful when the Jordans resettled in the South at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But between the big move and preparing the girls for virtual school, Latoya found it difficult to squeeze in any "me time." Caring for her little ones often led to putting her own health last.

However, with two different heart conditions—a murmur and high blood pressure—the mother needed tailored care to live her fullest life.

With the help of Wellstar, Latoya got expert care to stay heart healthy, right in her new neighborhood. But beyond that, she found a trusted healthcare family that had her covered when it came to her well-being.

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Wellstar MCG Health to Exhibit Local Black Artists

Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center will celebrate Black History Month with an art exhibition showcasing Black artists from the Augusta area February 26 from 9 AM to 4 PM in the Professional Building Lobby.

The Beauty of Black Art, sponsored in partnership with the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History and the Greater Augusta Arts Council, will be free and open to the public. Wellstar commemorates Black History Month as part of the health system’s dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB).

“When we lead with respect and embed equity at every level of our organization, we improve health outcomes, job satisfaction and quality of life for our patients, team members and communities we serve,” said Le Joyce Naylor, Wellstar senior vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. “It declares, ‘I see you,’ and everyone deserves to experience this profound sense of belonging.”

Wellstar provides diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging training for team members at every level of the organization to cultivate an environment where everyone is valued, welcomed and heard.

“Our DEIB program is threaded throughout the fabric of our organization and is evident through the work and efforts of our 30,000 plus team members from across the health system,” said Wellstar President & CEO Candice L. Saunders. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to six key areas of focus as we move forward—advancing workforce diversity, creating a culture of inclusion, building cultural competence, promoting health equity, improving community engagement and enhancing supplier diversity.”

At Wellstar, team members can join business resource groups to connect with colleagues from similar backgrounds or with shared experiences. The February 26 event is sponsored by the Women of Color in Leadership and Men of Color in Leadership business resource groups at Wellstar MCG Health. Through business resource groups, events, team member training and other initiatives, Wellstar creates spaces for conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and supports team members, patients and community members.

“Wellstar focuses on listening to every voice, creating an inclusive workplace and engaging the community,” said Bernard Roberson, Wellstar MCG Health DEIB manager.

Artists highlighted at The Beauty of Black Art include:

Eric Bridges
Theron Cartwright
Jasmine Coach
A.C. Daniel
Judi Dudley
Allen Lewis
Devin Lovett
Felina Martin
Stacy O'Sullivan
Piccola Smith
Raymond Sturkey
Baruti Tucker
Cherelle Wright
Destinee Wright

Learn more about DEIB at Wellstar.

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Growing Partnership With Ser Familia Serves Latino Community

At Wellstar, our doors are open to everyone. Whether it’s an individual with a life-threatening health crisis or a family looking for a new primary care provider, we’re here to help.

Sometimes, it’s not enough to welcome people in. We also need to go out into the communities we serve to meet people where they live, work and play to ensure they receive high-quality care.

To meet more of our neighbors where they are, we partner with organizations like Ser Familia. Founded in 2001 in the Metro Atlanta area, Ser Familia equips Latino families with the tools, resources and skills they need to thrive. Ser Familia’s extensive wraparound services include support groups, family workshops, mental health counseling and educational programs. In recent years, Ser Familia has expanded its footprint with new locations across Georgia and Puerto Rico.

The power of working together

Wellstar Center for Health Equity has a long-standing relationship with Ser Familia. For example, Wellstar provides grant funding so Ser Familia can employ Spanish-speaking community health professionals. These professionals have a unique ability to provide health information where it is needed most. They can:

Connect families with health resources in their community, including primary care providers
Offer language translation services
Provide health education and information
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Also, Wellstar physicians participate in Ser Familia community health outreach programs serving Latino communities.

Excitement about a planned health clinic

In the near future, Ser Familia plans to open a health clinic with the support of Someone Cares, Inc. of Marietta, another Wellstar partner. The clinic will provide comprehensive primary care, including health, education and preventive services. Nurse practitioners will see patients at the clinic under the guidance of physicians at Someone Cares. And, if patients need care that Ser Familia does not offer, the nurse practitioners can refer them to a Someone Cares provider.

When organizations like Wellstar and Ser Familia work together, we accomplish far more in our communities than we could separately by making better use of our resources. Most importantly, we help people find the care they need where they need it.

Learn more about Wellstar Center for Health Equity.

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