Cobb County Public Library is presenting the Community Health Expo at the Charles D. Switzer Library, 266 Roswell Street in downtown Marietta, on Saturday, August 7 from 11 am to 2 pm.
The Expo will feature physical and mental health resources offered in the Cobb community by organizations engaged in promoting improved quality of life, said Renate Elliott, supervisor of the library’s Accessibility Services Department. The drop-in program is free and open to the public; no registration is required.
Georgia Mobile Audiology, a program of the state Department of Education, will provide free hearing screenings for children during the event and share information with parents and providers on positive language and literacy outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children.
“The Georgia Mobile Audiology team is on the road to address barriers of healthcare access of underserved deaf and hard of hearing children and provide critical support for families facing hearing loss challenges,” Elliott said. “We are very glad for this opportunity to elevate conversations and awareness of audiological services in our community.”
Participating organizations in the Expo also include Georgia Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Safe Kids Cobb County, NAMI Cobb, Cobb Community Services Board, and Cobb Senior Services.
The Expo is intentionally designed to introduce organizations providing a range of resources for health, including behavioral challenges and developmental disabilities, and will be empowering for Cobb adults and children seeking wellness and safety net services, library officials said.
For information on the Community Health Expo and resources of the Cobb County Public Library, visit www.cobbcounty.org/library or call 770-528-2320.
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Atlanta Treatment Center (ATC), a mental health agency, is relaunching the company with a celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, July 28 at 3 p.m. ATC reopened its doors on July 1st with the goal of being a valuable partner in the community.
The agency’s celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony is open to the public. Local officials from the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce and community business leaders will attend the celebration.
“ATC’s goal is to journey with each of our clients as well as the community,” stated Ufuoma Oyibo, Chief Executive Officer. “We want to give our clients a holistic approach with them driving the treatment and our team guiding. We give our clients the opportunity to go at their own pace as we embrace the healing journey together.”
ATC is committed to providing quality treatment and services to our clients and maintain a valued partnership with the community. ATC wants the community to remember that someone cares.
Atlanta Treatment Center is located at 1755 The Exchange; click here to visit website.
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Wellstar Kennestone Hospital celebrated its 71st anniversary by hosting an ice cream social to thank team members for providing care to the community.
Submitted information and photo:
Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, the largest hospital in the nationally recognized non-profit Wellstar Health System, is celebrating its 71st anniversary. In addition, Wellstar Kennestone is marking a year of significant accomplishments and accolades that include national emergency and trauma care designations, as well as community and national recognition for service and care excellence.
“Wellstar Kennestone Hospital has proudly provided lifesaving and compassionate care to Georgians for 71 years,” said Mary Chatman, Wellstar Health System executive vice president and president of Wellstar Kennestone and Windy Hill Hospitals. “We are an integral part of the community we serve, and so grateful for the support we have received over the past year, which has been especially challenging for everyone.”
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Supporting the highest blood donor shortage since COVID-19 hit, Town Center at Cobb will hold an American Red Cross blood drive from Weds, June 9-Thurs, June 10 from 12-5 p.m.
Blood donations provide patients with necessary, life-saving treatment. According to the American Red Cross:
Someone needs blood every two seconds in the U.S.
One in seven hospital patients need blood
Just one pint of blood can save up to three lives
Approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed in the U.S. every day
Approximately 38% of red blood cells are needed in the U.S. every day
The American Red Cross supplies approximately 40% of the nation’s blood supply
WHERE:Town Center at Cobb – Upper Level JCPenney Wing 400 Ernest Barrett Pkwy Kennesaw, GA 30144
WHEN: Weds, June 9-Thurs, June 10 12-5 p.m.
HOW: Visit redcrossblood.org using sponsor code ‘tcac’ to schedule an appointment in advance. Donors receive a free gift while supplies last. Appointments are recommended but are not required.
The Red Cross is following FBA blood donation eligibility guidance for potential donors who have received a COVID-19 vaccination. To determine eligibility, donors that have received a vaccine should know the name of the manufacturer. To learn more, please visit redcrossblood.org.
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Wellstar Health System, one of the largest and most integrated healthcare systems in Georgia with the largest trauma network in the state, announced that Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Trauma Center has been verified as one of only four Georgia Level II Trauma Centers by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This achievement recognizes the Trauma Center’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients. Building on Wellstar’s commitment to healthcare excellence, the System was named a top-five finalist for the American Hospital Association’s 2021 Quest for Quality Prize and had 130 physicians – representing almost 26% of the total list – named as Georgia Trend “Top Doctors.”
Wellstar operates the largest trauma network in Georgia, with Wellstar Kennestone’s new state-of-the-art Emergency Department, which opened in July 2020, being one of the largest and busiest in the nation. Wellstar Kennestone provides comprehensive trauma care, with 24/7 access to on-site trauma, critical care trained surgeons, and a wide range of surgical subspecialties to consistently meet the needs of the most seriously injured patients following the highest care, quality and safety standards.
Established by the ACS in 1987, the Committee on Trauma’s (COT) Consultation/Verification Program for Hospitals promotes the development of trauma centers. Participants provide the hospital resources and level of care necessary to address the needs of all injured patients across the entire trauma continuum of care. Trauma center verification provides a structure for trauma care that can raise the overall level of performance throughout a hospital. This prestigious verification recognizes the Wellstar Kennestone Trauma Center’s commitment to providing the highest quality of care for injured patients, spanning community outreach and injury prevention efforts, emergency trauma, operative care, critical care, and rehabilitation.
“Receiving this verification further validates the exceptional life-saving care we provide at Wellstar Kennestone for patients who have suffered from all ranges of traumatic injury,” said Mary Chatman, Wellstar Health System executive vice president and president of Wellstar Kennestone and Windy Hill Hospitals. “We are so proud of the Trauma Center team’s commitment to ensuring that all patients get the appropriate care in a timely and coordinated manner because our communities rely on Wellstar to provide the very best care for every person, every time.”
Trauma is the leading cause of death and disability between ages 0-44, and the fourth leading cause of death overall. According to the Georgia Trauma Foundation, nine main causes account for 92.1% of trauma in Georgia. The leading causes of major trauma are motor vehicle crashes (37.7%); falls (22.2%); gunshot wounds (8.0%); motorcycle crashes (5.4%); pedestrian incidents (5.2%); assaults (4.3%); accidents (4.0%); stab wounds (2.9%) and all-terrain vehicle crashes (2.4%).
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Wellstar Health System, one of Georgia’s largest and most integrated healthcare systems, is celebrating team members as “Vital Valentines” for providing extraordinary and compassionate care during the pandemic. The systemwide appreciation campaign honors all team members with special customized and heartfelt messages of support from Wellstar leaders.
When: From Feb. 10 to Feb. 14, Wellstar will distribute appreciation notes to all team members, including Valentine’s Day cards and candy hearts with customized Wellstar messages. Employees will also have the opportunity to share and acknowledge co-workers with notecards or recognize a team member by making an online donation to the Employee Assistance Fund in the honoree’s name.
Wellstar has launched a systemwide appreciation campaign to honor all team members as “Vital Valentines.”
Community Participation: Wellstar also encourages the public to join in celebrating Wellstar team members by following Wellstar social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day. The community is invited to share photos, words of encouragement, and other appreciation items on social media by using the hashtag #vitalvalentines. Also, we’ve partnered with the Wellstar Foundation for anyone who would like to make a donation honoring a Wellstar physician, caregiver or team member by visiting www.wellstar.org/wccg. 100% of the donation will support the Foundation’s Emergency Assistance Fund, which offers emergency financial support to our healthcare workers and team members who experience unforeseen catastrophic events.
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UPDATED MONDAY, Jan. 11: The Cobb and Douglas Public Health COVID appointment page crashed Monday morning, due to “overwhelming response.” We’ll update when the page comes back online.
ORIGINAL POST
Cobb and Douglas Public Health announced Tuesday that COVID-19 vaccinations will be available for residents according to a priority list starting Thursday at Jim Miller Park.
The vaccinations will be administered by appointment only, and starting Thursday only for those eligible under Phase 1A—healthcare workers on the front lines. Here’s what the health agency is saying about those in that group:
“A vaccination appointment system has been created exclusively for Phase 1A participants and they will receive an email from CDPH on how to register after they complete the enrollment form. Participants in Group 1A will be asked for proof of healthcare personnel status and priority will be given to Cobb and Douglas County residents.”
Starting Tuesday, Jan. 12, those in Phase 1A+ will be able to get vaccinations. Those include public safety workers and any individuals age 65 and older. Cobb and Douglas Public Health said it will open an appointment system on Monday on its website.
For both of those groups, here’s how the vaccinations will take place:
“Participants will be asked to remain on-site for 15 minutes for post-vaccination observation. No walk-up appointments are available—participants must remain in their vehicle to receive the vaccine and be accessible to clinical staff providing the shot.”
Jim Miller Park is located at 2245 Callaway Road, Marietta. It’s been a full-time COVID-19 testing location for Cobb and Douglas Public Health since April and is conducting tests there and at other locations in Cobb; you can sign up to get tested by clicking here.
Shortly before Christmas, Cobb and Douglas Public Health workers received the Moderna vaccine as part of an initial shipment of more than 150,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Georgia.
Private and other health care providers are also preparing to administer the vaccine starting next week.
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CDPH staff member Nicholas Hayes administers COVID-19 vaccine at the Marietta Public Health Center.
Submitted information and photo:
Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH) has received the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and began providing vaccinations to staff wishing to be vaccinated on the CDPH Marietta campus. This will be followed by vaccine administration to district healthcare personnel working on the front lines of the pandemic, and residents of local long-term care facilities, starting this week.
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, as of Dec. 22, more than 125,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and more than 30,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine have been shipped to Georgia.
Janet Memark, MD, District Health Director said, “After 10 very long months of fighting this virus on the front lines, CDPH is so excited to be able to provide some protection to our district healthcare workers so that they can continue to serve our residents while also protecting themselves and their families.”
A spokeswoman for Cobb and Douglas Public health could not say how many doses were administered, and to how many employees, but said the vaccinations will continue for frontline workers this week.
Doses of the Moderna vaccine also will go to organizations like CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), which partners with CDPH to conduct COVID testing.
She said other doses will be distributed “to independent healthcare providers who have not secured their own supply.”
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To view details of the hover map, click here. Source: Georgia DPH
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, the 14-day average number of daily reported cases in Cobb County has surpassed 600 per 100,000 people.
According to the latest figures from the Georgia Department of Health, Cobb’s current rate is 601 per 100,000, well above the “high community spread” metric.
Since October, when the county’s figure briefly dipped below 100—the threshold for what public health officials consider high community spread—that number has been on a sharp rise.
While Cobb’s climb has prompted two “surge alerts” over the last three weeks from Dr. Janet Memark, the Cobb and Douglas Public Health director, other areas of the state, particularly in rural counties of northeast Georgia, have seen that 14-day average shoot above 1,000.
Statewide the 14-day average is 619 confirmed cases per 100,000.
Memark’s alerts also were issued with the holiday season in mind. Last week, she wrote her most urgent message yet, warning of a “dire situation” as the combined PCR and antigen test figure soared close to 700.
On Tuesday, 347 more cases were confirmed in Cobb, continuing a trend of reported cases at or above 300 since early December, including a single-day record of 464 on Dec. 18.
Also on Tuesday, 6,242 more cases were confirmed across Georgia, a single-day record for reported cases.
Those figures do not specify what’s known as the “date of onset”—or when someone reports having COVID symptoms and gets tested. Georgia DPH keeps a tally of those figures, and they have been sharply rising as well over the last three months.
Cobb set—for now—a record of 446 date of onset cases on Dec. 14. That’s a provisional figure, since it comes within a 14-day window. On the same day, a record 5,379 cases also were comfirmed in Georgia, although that too is a number that is likely to be revised.
Since March, Cobb has 33,330 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 537 deaths, including six more reported Tuesday.
In East Cobb, a ZIP Code swipe map updated Monday by Commissioner Bob Ott (above, with school icons shown in blue) shows 8,038 confirmed COVID cases and 120 deaths, broken down as follows:
30062: 2,349 cases, 30 deaths
30066: 2,150 cases, 30 deaths
30067: 2,044 cases, 23 deaths
30068: 1,227 cases, 35 deaths
30075: 268 cases, 2 deaths
The case totals for ZIP Code 30062 are the second-highest in Cobb County, trailing the Powder Springs ZIP Code of 30127, where 2,652 cases have been reported. (They’re also the two biggest ZIP Codes in the county, with respective populations of 65,662 and 66,395.)
In Georgia there have been 518,902 cases and 9,503 deaths since March, with 52 more fatalities reported Tuesday.
The rate of hospitalizations also has been a concern for public health officials in recent weeks. According to a statewide dashboard, 83 percent of in-patient hospital beds are currently in use; for ICU beds it’s 87.7 percent of capacity and for emergency beds it’s 60 percent.
In Cobb and Douglas counties (Region N) 90 percent of 1,287 total beds are currently in use.
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Initial COVID vaccine shipments being stored at Kennestone Hospital. Source: Wellstar Health System
Submitted information:
The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is launching a vaccine dashboard that will track the number of providers enrolled to give vaccines, allocations and shipments from vaccine manufacturers, and vaccines administered. The dashboard will reflect the previous day’s totals, and will be updated Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. The dashboard can be found on the DPH website at https://dph.georgia.gov.
The Food and Drug Administration granted Emergency Use Authorization to Moderna for its COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 18, 2020. Georgia’s first allocation of Moderna vaccine is 174,000 doses and shipments are expected to begin arriving today through Wednesday. These shipments will be sent directly to providers.
DPH is also anticipating a second allocation of 60,000 Pfizer vaccine doses this week of which 20,000 will be set aside for long-term care facilities, specifically skilled nursing facilities, to begin vaccination Dec. 28. Most long-term care facilities in Georgia are working with CVS and Walgreens on vaccine administration to residents and staff.
It is important to note that Pfizer only ships Sunday through Thursday to avoid vaccine arriving over the weekend when some facilities are closed and to avoid issues for facilities without ultracold storage that are using dry ice for temperature control. The remaining 10,000 doses of vaccine from the first Pfizer allocation of 84,000 will arrive at facilities today.
There are more than 537,000 healthcare workers in Georgia, and as of Friday, the state had received approximately 72,000 doses of vaccine. With the expected Moderna shipment and second allocation of Pfizer vaccine, that number will more than quadruple over the next several days, providing greater access to vaccine for more healthcare workers and residents and staff of long-term care facilities. It is up to each provider to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for prioritizing vaccination among their staff, as well as adhering to the vaccine provider agreement they signed when they enrolled as a provider. This will help ensure that vaccine is administered first to those healthcare workers in direct contact with COVID-19 patients or those who handle COVID-19 materials.
As both Pfizer and Moderna are able to ramp up production of vaccine in the coming days and weeks, supply should better meet demand for each phase of allocation and administration. Until that time, providers and the public are urged to be patient as we work together to get vaccine distributed in the most efficient and equitable way possible. The criteria for allocating vaccine is based, first and foremost, on supply and shipping, neither of which DPH controls. DPH does use the following criteria for allocation of vaccine to providers:
Number of individuals within a defined group (phase) to be immunized
Previous allocations of vaccine doses received
Number of doses used from previous allocation
Ultracold storage capacity and ability to use large number of doses versus smaller may determine Pfizer versus Moderna allocation
Geographic considerations and access in rural/underserved areas of Georgia
Healthcare workers have several options for getting vaccinated:
Health care workers affiliated with a health care system (hospital, clinic or private practice) or pharmacy should contact their respective facilities about the process for vaccinating eligible employees.
Health care workers with access to a community hospital or pharmacy can seek vaccination there.
Health care workers without access to these facilities – including those who have started the enrollment process to become a COVID-19 vaccine administration site but have not yet been approved – should contact their district health office (https://dph.georgia.gov/media/60761/download) for vaccination
All Georgians are urged to continue to follow basic COVID-19 prevention measures: wear a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently and follow the guidance of Public Health and the guidelines in the Governor’s Executive Order.
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Wellstar Health System announced Thursday that it’s received 3,900 doses of Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, which will be administered voluntarily to its frontline staff.
Some of those workers were getting the vaccine on Thursday at Kennestone Hospital. According to a Wellstar press release, they include those in emergency and intensive-care departments, urgent care, skilled nursing facilities, paramedics and adult and pediatric primary care offices.
Wellstar said another shipment will be coming next week as part of the first phase of vaccine distribution, and that those in line to be vaccinated are essential workers and individuals ages 16 and older.
The Georgia Department of Public Health determines how an estimated 84,000 doses of vaccines are being distributed across the state.
More from Wellstar about the vaccine rollout can be found by clicking here.
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This was the scene Monday morning westbound on Roswell Road between East Piedmont Road and Sewell Mill Road: Long lines at a rapid COVID-19 pop-up facility at East Cobb United Methodist Church.
Conducted by Viral Solutions, a private company, the rapid-testing set-up includes a drive-through tent in the parking lot of the church sanctuary.
No appointments are needed, and there are no out-of-pocket costs for the tests, according to Viral Solutions, which says it’s accepting all forms of insurance.
These are the standard “PCR” tests, which detect the presence of the COVID-19 virus, and they’re the most common form of COVID test. The test results are reported in 24-36 hours.
This is one of five pop-up sites in metro Atlanta for Viral Solutions.
The location at East Cobb UMC (2325 Roswell Road) is open from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1-5 p.m. Monday-Friday (with a lunch break from 12:30-1) and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Cobb and Douglas Public Health is continuing free COVID-19 test this week, including Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Life University in Marietta.
Free testing also takes place at Jim Miller Park. For more information click here.
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After a recent drop in the 7-day moving average of COVID cases in Cobb, that figure has risen to more than 100 a day. Source: Georgia Department of Public Health. Click here for more.
With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, the director of Cobb and Douglas Public Health said rising COVID-19 cases are stressing hospital capacity and she’s urging the public to reduce “non-essential” activities for the time being.
That includes limiting gatherings such as parties and weddings, which she said have been common sources for what she said is “pretty substantial community transmission” in Cobb County.
In a videotaped message posted Friday by Cobb County Government (see below), Dr. Janet Memark said hospitals are at near capacity with new COVID-related admissions—up nearly 20 percent in recent weeks—and there’s only one critical care bed left.
“These are very dangerous times for us,” said Memark, who didn’t provide any hospital figures. “The weather is going to get colder and we’re moving inside and there’s increased travel.”
She said citizens “know what works”—wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing—but “we should try to do our best and not go out and do too many things that are not essential at this point.”
She recommended against eating out in crowded places and going to bars, because along with weddings and other social gatherings, “that is where we are having the transmission.”
On Friday, there were 186 new reported cases of COVID-19 in Cobb, continuing a rising trend in November.
For the month, there have been 2,453 new cases in the county, for an average of 122 a day. Since March, Cobb has 25,178 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Cobb also has 487 deaths, the second-most in Georgia, and 26 have been reported this month.
That data is according to the date that cases and deaths are reported to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Its daily status report is issued in the afternoon.
Another set of metrics—date of “onset,” or when a positive COVID case is confirmed, and date of death—also is on the rise in Cobb.
The 14-day moving average of cases according to date of onset (in the chart at the top) was 115 a day as of Nov. 7. After a summer surge of cases, that figure had dropped to 37 a day in late September.
Another indicator used to monitor community spread is a 14-day average of cases per 100,000 people. That now stands at 271—100 is considered “high community spread”—and it has been a figure Cobb school superintendent Chris Ragsdale relied on earlier in the school year regarding reopening.
But he told Cobb Board of Education members this week “there are no metrics” in determining classroom or school closures, and that each situation will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
There have been no closures since Cobb students opting for face-to-face learning returned to schools.
On Friday, the Cobb County School District reported 106 new COVID cases among teachers and staff, and 105 the week before that.
Of the 721 cases reported in the district since July 1, 434 have come since students began returning to school.
Memark has said that she’s not seeing transmission in the schools—a point Ragsdale also made to the school board—but she said students going to school and adults going to work who are sick “is happening way too often, and it is going to be a major problem for everybody.”
She said that the schools will continue to be “disrupted by this,” and urged parents to determine what environment is best for their children.
Cobb school district parents have until Nov. 29 to decide learning options for the spring semester, although another choice window could open in the spring.
Across the country, Memark said only three states are not seeing surges in new COVID-19 cases.
“If you have people who are medically fragile or are coming from areas that have very high rates like us, you’re definitely at risk of exposure or exposing others to COVID at this time,” she said.
There have been nearly 400,000 reported COVID-19 cases in Georgia and 8,591 deaths. Since last Sunday, there have been 11,477 cases reported according to date of report, and 5,232 according to date of onset.
In that time, there have been 144 deaths reported according to date of report and 49 by date of death in Georgia.
More COVID-19 information and resources from Cobb and Douglas Public Health can be found here.
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The Davis Direction Foundation, a Marietta-based addiction recovery non-profit, is holding a substance abuse prevention event, “Beyond the End Zone,” in East Cobb and virtually on Thursday.
The event is from 5-7 p.m. in the conference center at Piedmont Church (570 Piedmont Road) and will feature two guests from the football world.
They are Heisman Award Winner George Rogers, who will be in person to share his story of recovery (and the trophy will be there too!), as well as Las Vegas Raiders player Darren Waller doing the same via Zoom.
The $25 cost per ticket includes a BBQ dinner and auction and proceeds will benefit the foundation’s programs (more details here, and ticket purchases here).
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This season, a flu vaccine is more important than ever. Cobb and Douglas Public Health staff urges you to get an annual influenza vaccination to reduce the chance of getting the flu and spreading it to others during this critical COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the CDC, getting a flu vaccine is not only important because it protects yourself, your family and your community from flu, but a flu vaccine this season can also help reduce the burden on our healthcare systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To decrease the chance of getting the flu simultaneously with COVID-19, it is imperative that our community get vaccinated with the flu vaccine.
“We want everyone to be properly protected from the flu, so we are encouraging community members to either call us to make an appointment or to walk in to one of our convenient health center locations,” Priti Kolhe, CDPH district immunization director, said.
CDPH Immunization Clinic staff is offering annual flu vaccines to everyone six months and older at the Acworth, Marietta, Douglasville and Smyrna Public Health Center locations. CDPH staff is also offering onsite vaccinations to local businesses and community events for groups of 20 or more people.
Recommendations for Senior Patients: In addition to the flu vaccine, CDPH staff also recommends pneumonia shots for anyone over 65 years old, or anyone with a chronic illness or weakened immune system. Medicare pays for the flu and pneumonia vaccines. The shingles vaccine is also recommended for anyone over 50 years of age.
For more information about the flu vaccine or to schedule an appointment, call 770-514-2300 or visit cobbanddouglaspublichealth.org.
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Cobb citizens wanting to get tested for COVID-19 for free have a larger window to do that.
Cobb and Douglas Public Health has increased the hours to get a free test at Jim Miller Park. Anyone can go to Jim Miller Park (2245 Callaway Road) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday-Friday or 7 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
Cobb and Douglas Public Health has been offering pop-up testing at several other locations in the county, including both campuses of Kennesaw State University.
Testing will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the main campus in Kennesaw in the old BrandsMart parking lot 93305 Busbee Drive, NW, Kennesaw).
On Friday and Saturday, testing will be done at KSU’s Marietta campus (643 Clair Harris Road), also from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
You’re asked to pre-register first, and you can do that and get more information by clicking here.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Dr. Zachary Levin of Levin Orthodontics (1229 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 100) sends word that his practice will be having a Red Cross blood drive Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
He said the anyone in the public is invited and that there will be medical-grade infection control, free parking and refreshments.
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Wellstar Health System, one of Georgia’s largest and most integrated healthcare systems, is inviting the community to attend its first-ever Wellstar Foundation virtual gala and interactive online fundraiser on Aug. 1, from 6 to 7 p.m. WSB-TV award-winning anchor Fred Blankenship will serve as the emcee of the Wellstar Starlight Grand Gala and joins celebrities, community members and healthcare heroes in raising vital donations for the Wellstar Foundation’s COVID-19 relief fund. Sponsored by ApolloMD and Bank of America, the benefit will feature performances, a live silent auction and wine wall, and a virtual photo booth.
“Our hope is to make the virtual gala just as fun as our annual live event is each year, with the bonus of being able to invite and engage with many more people on the online platform,” said Lisa Mello, Wellstar Foundation director of Strategic Giving. “What a unique opportunity to share how donations to the Wellstar Foundation are helping make Georgia well, now and in the future!”
The initial line-up of performers includes rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer Michelle Malone; Atlanta Braves opera singer Timothy Miller; and country music group Brian Collins Band. Attendees will also enjoy heartfelt messages from celebrities and community members showing appreciation to Wellstar team members for working on the frontlines throughout the pandemic.
The COVID-19 relief fund supports Wellstar’s 11 hospitals, six health parks, pediatric centers, hospice facilities, and other medical offices. The fund also offers supplies and educational materials to members of the community, procures tablets that connect patients with loved ones, and provides aid to Wellstar team members in need due to the pandemic.
There are multiple ways to participate during the virtual event that include wine wall purchases starting at $25, a silent auction featuring exciting experiences, and the opportunity to donate directly to the COVID-19 relief fund. As a not-for-profit, Wellstar relies on community support to fund hospital enhancements, community programs, and resources for individuals in need. Contributions to the Wellstar Foundation support our vision of delivering world-class healthcare to everyone in our service area.
The virtual gala is free and open to anyone who would like to attend. Register now by visiting wellstar.org/gala.
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At the new Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Emergency Department ribbon-cutting on July 16 are, L-R: Otis Brumby III, Wellstar Health System Board of Trustees Chair; First Lady of Georgia Marty Kemp; Governor of Georgia Brian P. Kemp; Candice L. Saunders, president and CEO of Wellstar Health System; and Mary Chatman, EVP of Wellstar Health System and president of Wellstar Kennestone and Windy Hill Hospitals.
On Thursday the new $126 million Wellstar Kennestone Emergency Center opens to the public, more than two years after construction began.
Last week Gov. Brian Kemp was on-hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 263,000-square-foot facility, which can handle up to 600 patients a day and 220,000 patients a year.
Here are a few of the features of the new center:
Separate entrances and wings for pediatric and adult patients
A new, streamlined care initiation intake process
Private exam rooms instead of curtain dividers, with adjacent PPE don/doff rooms
Flexible spaces equipped to treat both high and low acuity cases
Planned spaces and processes for de-escalation, isolation and decontamination for patients who present with infectious disease, behavioral health, or chemical contamination issues
A second floor dedicated to behavioral health with 12 beds for specialized behavioral health and crisis intervention services
Three separate ambulance bays for different levels of patient severity, with parking for up to 17 ambulances
14 negative pressure rooms
Direct access to the high acuity/trauma care area from the rooftop helipad via an elevator
Improved vehicular access for patients and emergency vehicles, and an on-site underground parking garage for patient drop-off
Imaging rooms directly adjacent to trauma rooms
Additional critical care equipment, technology and more
The new center is one of three Level II trauma centers in metro Atlanta, and has 170 parking spaces. Access is from Cherokee Street. More information can be found here.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
A salute to health care workers at the entrance to East Cobb Health Park.
Submitted info:
The Cobb2020 Partnership and the Cobb Chamber, sponsor an annual Health Hero Award recognizing qualified individuals and agencies who, through outstanding, significant and innovative activities and accomplishments, have made a significant positive impact on the health of the Cobb community.
Each year, the efforts of one individual and one business to improve and support community health and healthcare infrastructure are awarded. Through the first half of 2020, hundreds of Health Heroes have stepped up to assist local businesses and the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, displaying strong determination to protect employees and ensuring people have what they need to continue to work, live and play safely.
To be considered for the award, prospective nominees must:
Provide health and wellness services, support health issues, or support the healthcare workforce in Cobb County;
Currently live or work in Cobb County. Organizations must have a location in Cobb County; and
Be a member of the Cobb Chamber.
The application deadline is July 17th. Apply at cobbchamber.org/healthhero. The award will be presented during the Cobb Chamber’s Healthcare & Biotech Industry Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 8th, 2020 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Wellstar Vinings Health Park.
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