August 2010

DeKalb Medical Doubles Top Doc List

More than twenty DeKalb Medical doctors have made Atlanta Magazine’s 2010 “A" list as the “Top Doctors” in their fields. The number who “made the grade” is twice the size of last year. The annual survey asks local members of the medical community where they would refer their own family for the treatment of various health conditions. Listed among this year's Top Doctors are:

Walgreen's & Wellness Store Coming

Staying well will be a little easier for DeKalb Medical patients and employees with the opening of a new drug and health store in October. Walgreens Pharmacy and the DeKalb Medical Health and Wellness Store will serve customers side-by-side in a newly renovated space across from Chick-fil-A in the Professional Office Building on the North Decatur campus. While Walgreens will fill prescriptions and provide bedside drug delivery in some instances, the Health and Wellness Store will cater to DeKalb Medical patients and physicians by stocking items that are specific to their diagnoses and recommended treatment. Designed to provide more than just convenience, “The Health and Wellness store will put products patients need to recover at home right here at their fingertips,” explains Director of Retail Kathy Reeves. For instance, the store will carry “hip kits” for joint replacement patients, cold packs for surgery patients, health snacks and more. Construction is underway.

Flamers Launches Lunch Delivery

Too busy to leave your desk for lunch? No worries, the owners of Flamers Grill understand your frustration. They are offering lunch delivery directly to your office at the North Decatur campus. “Our delivery time is within 20 minutes of taking your order,” says Flamers Grill Owner Wendell Jones. The service is easy to use. Simply call ext. 11264 to place your order. Delivery is available as long as you place a minimum order of $6.00. Delivery hours are from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Happy Birthday Hillandale

Hillandale celebrated its fifth anniversary in July. “We’ve made tremendous progress in the past five years and will continue to grow our surgical offerings and service to the community in new ways,” said Vice President and Administrator Clay Fowler. All employees were treated to a free meal in the Bistro.

OR Nurse Named Member of the Year

For Dorothy “Dottie” Graves, R.N., working in the OR is a passion. “The patients are not always well, and I like being able give them extra ‘TLC’,” shares Graves, who joined the DeKalb Medical family 12 years ago. Grave’s love of her profession and accomplishments in patient care have been recognized by the national Association of Operating Nurses (AORN) who recently selected her as Georgia’s Member of the Year.  Graves received the award for exemplifying OR best practices. “Dottie goes above and beyond everything that is required of her,” shares OR Manager Michele McCammon. Proficient in general surgery, ENT and vascular cases, “Dottie is a valuable employee who contributes to an environment of safe, compassionate care for everyone who comes through our OR,” says McCammon.

Dottie Graves Named AORN Member of Year

Submitted by Webmaster on 9 August 2010 - 2:28pm
Dottie Graves Named AORN Member of Year

Nursing Scholarship Applications Open

Are you a dedicated nurse who is looking for a little help in advancing your career? DeKalb Medical is taking applications for the Dr. Mark Coppage Nursing Scholarship awards beginning now through October 1, 2010. The scholarships provide up to $5,000 toward tuition. Since establishing the program in 1993, more than 100 Coppage scholarships have been awarded to nursing students totaling more than $255,000. For more information, please e-mail Susan Voss-Smith at susanv.smith@dekalbmedical.org

Norwood Named Chairman of VHA

President and CEO Eric Norwood, FACHE is the new Chairman of the Board for the Voluntary Hospitals of America (VHA) Georgia Division. Norwood will lead the direction of the VHA and its 21 private, not-for-profit hospital members as they strive to improve clinical quality and economic performance during challenging times. "VHA Georgia has been instrumental in improving state-wide quality scores through the benchmarking of best practices," says Norwood. During his two-year tenure as Chairman, Norwood says he will focus on strengthening strategic collaboration between Georgia’s hospitals and their physicians to improve healthcare for everyone.

Can You Help Out at the Book Festival?

DeKalb Medical is looking for “a few good volunteers” for the 5th Annual AJC Decatur Book Festival. As the presenting festival sponsor of an event that attracts as many as 100,000 people to downtown Decatur, we need as many volunteers on hand as possible. Bookzilla

Volunteer shifts are flexible. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, September 4 and Sunday, September 5. If you are interested in representing DeKalb Medical by volunteering to staff a tent or circulate the crowd during the festival, please contact Gail Winston at 404.501.5428 or e-mail her at gail.winston@dekalbmedical.org.

New Heart and Vascular Center Opens

DeKalb Medical can better serve patients with vascular disease with the opening of its new $2.2 million Heart and Vascular Center. With 15 patient bays, the state-of-the-art endovascular suite provides lifesaving diagnostic and treatment services for patients with peripheral artery disease and other circulatory disorders. DeKalb Medical expects to perform 1500 endovascular procedures a year at the new Center.