News from Piedmont Physicians Group

Piedmont Physicians Surgical Specialists Group Introduces Acute Surgical Care Program

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

In-house team at Piedmont Hospital to expedite surgical evaluation of patients at any hour.

ATLANTA, Ga. (January 25, 2012)—A new acute care surgical program at Piedmont Hospital is now providing both emergency room and inpatient care to patients. Designed and administered by surgeons, the objective of this program is to expedite the surgical evaluation of patients in the hospital setting. A team of acute care surgeons from Piedmont Physicians Surgical Specialists group are now available in house at all times to take referrals from any physician.

"For patients with no primary care physician, or those who do not have a general surgeon, this program provides faster access to surgical care with improved safety and quality " explains Bryant Wilson, M.D., medical director of Piedmont Acute Care Surgery program. "This team is dedicated to providing surgical care 24 hours a day. Patients and physicians now have an immediate referral option to surgeons with a vested interest in maintaining the highest standard of care at our hospital."

The program provides an added benefit to surgical specialists on staff at Piedmont Hospital as they may choose to concentrate on their specialty practices while leaving on call evaluations to the new acute care surgical team.

Physicians who wish to refer a patient may call (770) 315-5744, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. For more information, visit piedmontphysicians.org.

Piedmont Physicians Opens New Family Practice in Woodstock

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Jackie Williamson, M.D., and Yacoba Hudson, M.D., join Piedmont Physicians at Woodstock.

ATLANTA, Ga. (January 18, 2012)—Piedmont Physicians Group introduces a new practice location at 9766 Highway 92 in Woodstock Ga. Jackie Williamson, M.D., and Yacoba Hudson, M.D., lead the practice, which focuses on family medicine. The new location is convenient to families in Woodstock, Canton, Acworth, Marietta, Kennesaw and Roswell.

Piedmont Physicians at Woodstock provides a variety of basic services including medical care for illness, disease and injury for patients of all ages. Additional services include preventative care, immunizations, wellness counseling, complete annual physicals, health screenings and chronic disease management.

Jackie Williamson, M.D.

“It gives us great pleasure to welcome Drs. Williamson and Hudson to the Piedmont family,” said Berney Crane, CEO of Piedmont Medical Care Corporation, the administrative parent corporation of Piedmont Physicians. “Their focus on preventative medicine will help make Piedmont Physicians at Woodstock an excellent choice for families in the community that are looking for a medical home.”

Dr. Williamson, M.D. is board certified in family medicine. Born in Texas, she earned her medical degree from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, La. She completed her residency and internship at W.O. Moss Regional Hospital in Lake Charles, La. In addition to her medical degree, Dr. Williamson earned an undergraduate degree in physical therapy and a graduate degree in human anatomy.

Certified by the American Academy of Family Practice, Dr. Williamson is on the board of directors for the SWIFT Foundation of Woodstock, Ga., working with senior adults to maintain and achieve their optimal health and fitness.

Yacoba Hudson, M.D.

Dr. Hudson is board certified in family medicine. She graduated magna cum laude from William Smith College in Geneva, N.Y., with a bachelors of science in Biology. She received her medical degree from Howard University in Washington D.C. and completed her residency at the Medical Center of Delaware in Newark, Del. Dr. Hudson has worked as a clinical preceptor, where she supervised family medicine residents, and has also acted as a medical student mentor for the Oceania University of Medicine in Apia, Samoa.

A member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society, Dr. Hudson is an certified by the American Academy of Family Practice and the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians.

Drs. Williamson and Hudson are seeing new patients and accept most major insurance plans. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday. To schedule an appointment, call 770-926-8717. For more information, visit piedmontphysicians.org.

Piedmont Heart Institute, Nuclear Cardiology Locations Receive Accreditation by the ICANL

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

ATLANTA, GA. (November 17, 2011)—Piedmont Heart Institute locations in Austell, Blairsville, Dallas, Douglasville and Eatonton, Ga., have been granted a three-year term of accreditation in Nuclear Cardiology by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Nuclear Medicine Labratories (ICANL).

Accreditation by the ICANL means that Piedmont Heart Institute has undergone a thorough review of its operational and technical components by a panel of experts. The ICANL grants accreditation only to those facilities that are found to be providing quality patient care, in compliance with national standards through a comprehensive application process including detailed case study review.

ICANL accreditation is a “seal of approval” that patients can rely on as an indication that the facility has been carefully critiqued on all aspects of its operations considered relevant by medical experts in the field of nuclear medicine. When patients scheduled for a nuclear medicine procedure, patients are encouraged to inquire as to the accreditation status of the facility where their examination will be performed and can learn more by visiting www.icanl.org/icanl/main/patients.htm.

ICANL accreditation is widely respected within the medical community, as illustrated by the support of the national medical societies related to nuclear medicine, which include physicians, nuclear medicine technologists, and medical physicists. In addition, several insurance companies require their providers of nuclear medicine services to be accredited. However, patients should remain vigilant in making sure that their nuclear medicine procedures are performed within accredited laboratories, because for many facilities it remains a voluntary process.

Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death in the United States. On average, one American dies every 38 seconds of cardiovascular disease – disorders of the heart and blood vessels. The American Heart Association estimates that the direct and indirect cost for cardiovascular disease and stroke in the U.S. for 2010 is $503.2 billion.

Early detection of life threatening heart disorders and other diseases is possible through the use of nuclear cardiology procedures performed within hospitals, outpatient centers and physicians’ offices. While these tests are very helpful, there are many facets that contribute to an accurate diagnosis based on nuclear cardiology testing. The skill of the nuclear medicine technologist performing the examination, the type of equipment used, the background and knowledge of the interpreting physician and quality assurance measures are each critical to quality patient testing.

For more information about Piedmont Heart Institute and to take a free, online heart risk assessment, visit piedmontheart.org.

Piedmont Physicians Group Welcomes Jennifer Gilligan, Ph.D., M.D.

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

ATLANTA, GA (October 12, 2011) – Piedmont Physicians Group welcomes internist and endocrinologist Jennifer Gilligan, Ph.D., M.D., to its practice located on the Piedmont Hospital campus. Dr. Gilligan joins Reshma Patel, M.D., and Imad El-Kebbi, M.D., at Piedmont Physicians Endocrinology located at 105 Collier Road, NW in Atlanta, Ga.

Jennifer Gilligan, Ph.D., M.D.

“Dr. Gilligan’s expertise is a great complement to this practice,” said Berney Crane, President of Piedmont Medical Care Corporation. “Her background in both medicine and public health will be an asset to both patients and the community at large.”

Board certified in internal medicine, Dr. Gilligan served most recently as a physician in the emergency room at the Veterans Association Hospital in Atlanta, Ga. Prior to her career as a medical doctor, Dr. Gilligan served in several public health research roles in Washington, D.C., including positions at George Washington University, the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the American Bar Association - Center on Children and the Law.

Dr. Gilligan earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and Spanish, a master’s in philosophy, doctorate in public policy and a medical degree from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, in Lowell, Mass. She completed her residency and fellowship at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, Ga. and is board certified in internal medicine.

A strong advocate for preventative medicine, Dr. Gilligan Is particularly interested in helping patients with chronic diseases like diabetes make lasting lifestyle changes. In her spare time, Dr. Gilligan enjoys running, yoga and Pilates.

Dr. Gilligan accepts most major insurance plans. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, call 404-367-3210. For more information, visit piedmontphysicians.org.

Piedmont Physicians Group Welcomes Dennis King, M.D.

Mon, 3 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

ATLANTA, Ga. (October 3, 2011)–Piedmont Physicians Group at Premier Medical welcomes family physician Dennis R. King, M.D., to its practice located at 2700 Highway 34 East in Newnan, Ga.. Most recently with Deerfield Internal Medicine in South Deerfield, Mass., Dr. King brings over ten years of clinical experience and joins Fatima Dalwai, M.D., Kimberly Edwards-Hall, M.D., Donald Griffin, M.D., and Theresa Hudson, M.D.

Dennis R. King, M.D.

“Dr. King brings a wealth of experience to Piedmont Physicians Group,” said Berney Crane, President of Piedmont Medical Care Corporation, “His background in family medicine and health education will certainly be a welcome asset to the practice and a convenient resource for many patients in Newnan.”

Dr. King received his clinical psychology degree from California State University in San Diego, Calif. and his medical degree from the Santiago University of Technology in the Dominican Republic. He completed his family medicine residency program at the University of Tennessee in Memphis where he was Chief Resident in his third year.

With his clinical psychology background, Dr. King served as an instructor and lecturer at Cleveland State College in Cleveland, Tenn. and the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has managed mental and behavioral health programs at the San Bernardino County Department of Mental Health in San Bernardino, Calif. and at St. Bernadine Medical Center in San Bernardino, Calif.

Board certified in family medicine, Dr. King is a member of the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians. He has served as a family physician at Cornerstone Family Practice in Chattanooga, Tenn., Lexington Clinic in Lexington, Ky. and most recently at Deerfield Internal Medicine in South Deerfield, Mass. In addition, he has served as a physician consultant for over ten years for a variety of companies and written a number of articles related to health and treatment options.

Dr. King enjoys spending time with his wife and two college-aged sons. He likes to play guitar and tinker with his 1965 Mustang.

Dr. King accepts most major insurance plans. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on Saturdays. To schedule an appointment, call 770-304-0987. For more information, visit piedmontphysicians.org.

Regular Screenings Can Save Your Life

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST

Eden Fleming English, M.D.
Piedmont Physicians at Ball Ground

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. It is also the second leading cause of cancer death among women. Despite these facts, more than 7 million women aged 50-74 have not had a mammogram in the last two years.

Eden Fleming English, M.D.

Screening means checking for a disease before symptoms appear. The mammogram, or X-ray of the breast, is the best way to screen for breast cancer. Mammograms can detect cancers when they are early and easier to treat, before they are big enough to be felt or cause symptoms. Regular mammogram screening has been shown to lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. Screening should be discussed with your doctor, but in general women should be screened age 50-74 at least every 2 years. Women 40-49 may also benefit from screening. Women 75 and older may still benefit from screening if their overall health is still good. Mammograms are covered by most private insurance plans and Medicare. The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) also provides free or low cost mammograms across the nation.

Clinical breast exam is a breast exam done by a medical provider. These can be done yearly or if symptoms appear. Self-exams can be done at home. Neither self breast exams nor clinical breast exams have been shown to decrease the risk of dying from cancer. These exams can be used more as tools to direct the mammogram technician to pay particular attention to an area of concern.

When doing exams, it is important to know what is normal. No breast can really be called typical. What is normal for one woman may not be normal for another. Breast tissue can be dense, lumpy, or uneven, and still be considered normal. Breast tissue also changes with aging, and with periods or pregnancy. The most important thing is to be familiar with your own breast tissue. If you notice a spot that is consistently getting bigger or causing you discomfort, bring it to the attention of your provider so appropriate action can be taken.

Many conditions can cause lumps in the breast. Not all breast lumps are cancers, in fact most turn out to be benign. The most common causes of breast lumps are fibrocystic breast condition and cysts. Sometimes the mammogram or ultrasound can distinguish these conditions from cancer. Other times a biopsy is needed to determine if a breast lump is cancer. A biopsy generally involves putting a needle into a lump to collect a sample of the tissue for a pathologist to look at under the microscope.

If caught early, breast cancer is often easily treated with a lumpectomy, which is simply surgically removing the area of the breast that is affected. Mastectomy, or complete removal of the breast, is generally reserved for cancers that are more advanced. Chemotherapy and radiation are also options to treat more advanced or aggressive cancers. Screening with mammography allows more cancers to be caught in the early stages, when simple lumpectomy is all that is needed for cure. Let October be your reminder to be screened. It just might save your life!

Dr. English is accepting new patients and welcomes most major insurance plans, 678-454-6800. For more information visit piedmontphysicians.org.

Dinner and Discussion: Freedom from Menopause: Learning to manage the change

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST

JASPER, Ga. (September 23, 2011) -- Shifting levels of estrogen, progesterone, DHEA, testosterone, cortisol and other hormones change a woman’s hormone balance throughout her life, most notably during peri-menopause and menopause. In this dinner and discussion with Piedmont Physicians Obstetrics and Gynecology, women will learn ways to effectively manage one of life’s most talked-about changes. An “Ask the doctors” session with Vincent Molinari, M.D., Allison Ward, M.D., Karen Hamilton-Grimes, M.D. and Mark A. Supan, M.D., will follow. The dinner will be held on:

Thursday, October 6, at 5:30 p.m.
Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Education Room
1266 Highway 515 South
Jasper, Georgia 30143

The program is free; however, registration is limited. Call toll-free 1-866-900-4321 for program and dinner reservations. For more information about Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, visit piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.

Piedmont Heart Institute Hosts Chronic Total Occlusion Workshop

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST

Cardiologists convene to discuss difficult heart procedure.

ATLANTA, Ga. (September 12, 2011)—Piedmont Heart Institute hosted renowned cardiologists from around the world August 28 through 31 for a workshop focused on a procedure to treat coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO). Piedmont Heart Institute cardiologists performed more than 20 such cases over the three-day period with more than 35 internationally recognized cardiologists in attendance. The course was organized by the Piedmont Heart Institute and led by directors Doctors Dimitri Karmpaliotis, David Kandzari and Nicholas Lembo.

“A CTO represents a coronary artery that has been occluded for a long period of time, typically months, if not years,” said Dr. Karmpaliotis. “Among individuals identified with coronary artery disease, CTOs are common, occurring in as many as one-third of patients.”

Despite remarkable advances in interventional cardiology over the past three decades, revascularization decisions for patients with CTOs have remained a dilemma.

“Because of technical challenges to treat these difficult lesions, historically lower rates of procedural success and uncertainties regarding patient selection, CTOs have been described as the last great barrier to success in interventional cardiology,” commented Dr. Kandzari. “In particular, the presence of a CTO accounts for the most common reason for referral to coronary bypass surgery. Alternatively, in patients who have undergone prior bypass surgery, it is a frequent indication for treatment with medical therapy alone, though it may not necessarily be the best option.”

As a minimally invasive procedure, doctors enter the body through an artery in the leg to approach the heart. Using guide wires the size of a human hair and with the help of live X-ray imaging, they advance through the coronary blockage. Once through, a balloon is inflated allowing for the placement of very small, specialized metal stents. Embedded within the artery wall, the stents serve as a scaffolding to help hold the artery open and prevent recurrent blockage.

“The procedure requires a great deal of dedicated skill and practice,” Dr. Lembo noted. “Recently, considerable success has been achieved in CTO angioplasty and stenting, representing a clinically significant and meaningful advancement beyond conventional treatment. Through adoption of sophisticated techniques and advanced training, interventional cardiologists at the Piedmont Heart Institute have established one of the nation’s largest CTO programs with some of the highest reported success rates.”

Through leadership in clinical trials, education and development of new technique and technology in treatment of CTOs, Piedmont Heart Institute is internationally recognized as a leading center in the treatment of complex coronary disease.

For more information about Piedmont Heart Institute and to take a free, online heart risk assessment, visit piedmontheart.org.

Piedmont Physicians Group Welcomes Nagamalar Raju, M.D.

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

ATLANTA, Ga. (August 31, 2010) – Piedmont Physicians at Mountainside welcomes internist and sleep medicine specialist Nagamalar Raju, M.D., to a new location on the Piedmont Mountainside Hospital campus. Dr. Raju will be joining Carl McCurdy, M.D., and his practice at 1020 J.L. White Drive Jasper, Ga.

Nagamalar Raju, M.D.

“Piedmont is pleased to welcome Dr. Raju to Piedmont Physicians Group,” said Berney Crane, CEO of Piedmont Medical Care Corporation, the administrative parent corporation of the Piedmont Physicians Group. “Her background in internal medicine, in addition to her experience in sleep medicine, will help address a growing need for specialized health services in the community.”

Dr. Raju received her medical degree and did her internship at Coimbatore Medical College in Coimbatore, India and completed her residency at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa. Dr. Raju began her 13-year career as a resident medical officer at K.R. Hospital in Coimbatore, India, before making her way to Rahway, N.J., where she worked in internal medicine with a group practice and most recently was a sleep physician at Prime Heart Sleep Lab in Maplewood, N.J.

Board certified in internal medicine, Dr. Raju is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Association of Sleep Medicine.

On top of her work as a physician, Dr. Raju also spent time teaching. For four years she taught medical students and interns at Stanley Medical College in Tami Nadu, India. She also spent four years teaching in the internal medicine department at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa.

Dr. Raju also has won the “State Rank” award from the government of Tami Nadu for outstanding performance in home science subjects during her higher secondary examination. In her spare time she spends time volunteering and is a member of organizations such as the National Cadet Corps and the National Social Service in India.

Dr. Raju accepts most major insurance plans. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, call 706-692-2437. For more information, visit piedmontphysicians.org.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Introduces New Urology Practice

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

Piedmont Physicians Urology to be located on Piedmont Mountainside Hospital campus.

JASPER, Ga. (August 26, 2011) – Piedmont Physicians Group welcomes urologist Edward Rojas, M.D. and Piedmont Physicians Urology to the Piedmont Mountainside Hospital campus. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Rojas comes most recently from Gordon Hospital, in Calhoun, Ga.

Edward Rojas, M.D.

“Dr. Rojas brings a great deal of experience to the Mountainside community,” said Berney Crane, President and CEO of Piedmont Medical Care Corporation, “The expansion of our services with specialists like Dr. Rojas is in response to a growing need for urological care closer to home.”

Originally from Puerto Rico, Dr. Rojas received his urology residency training at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb. Board certified in urology, with an emphasis in adult and pediatric urology and endourology, Dr. Rojas is an active member of the American Urological Association. Prior to joining Piedmont Physicians Urology, Dr. Rojas was in private practice for over twenty years, during where he pursued training in the latest prostate cancer treatment options including urologic laser surgery.

An active member of the communities he serves, Dr. Rojas enjoys volunteering as a social foster parent and helping underprivileged children with schooling.

Dr. Rojas speaks English and Spanish and accepts most major insurance plans. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, call 706-253-9020. For more information, visit piedmontphysicians.org.

PAPP Clinic and Piedmont Physicians Form Partnership

Thu, 4 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

NEWNAN, Ga. (August 4, 2011)—On July 29, 2011, PAPP Clinic joined Piedmont Physicians Group. PAPP Clinic, which signed an exclusive letter of intent to pursue an affiliation with Piedmont Healthcare in February, is a multispecialty physician group with six locations, 37 physicians in 11 medical specialties, and close to 250 employees. Prior to joining PAPP, Piedmont Physicians Group currently had 11 office locations in Coweta County with 18 primary care physicians and specialists.

“Since 1919, Papp Clinic and its physicians have developed a deep understanding of the healthcare needs of this community,” said Stan W. Smith, M.D., president of PAPP Clinic. “Together as part of Piedmont Physicians Group, we will continue to provide the quality care we are known for and work towards shaping the future of healthcare for area residents.”

Since early 2007 when Piedmont Healthcare welcomed Piedmont Newnan Hospital to its family of providers, Piedmont has worked to grow and expand hospital and physician services, improving healthcare access and options for community members closer to home. With construction on a new hospital facility on Poplar Road at I-85, Piedmont Newnan Hospital leadership anticipates opening by spring 2012.

“Quality healthcare closer to home is a common goal of both Piedmont Physicians Group and the PAPP Clinic,” said Berney Crane, president and chief executive officer for Piedmont Medical Care Corporation, the administrative parent company of Piedmont Physicians Group. “The PAPP Clinic partnership combines the best of both our organizations and is sure to play a vital role in providing for the daily healthcare needs for this community for many years to come.”

Physicians at PAPP Clinic are now seeing new patients and accept most major insurance plans. For more information on Piedmont Physicians, visit piedmontphysicians.org.

Piedmont Heart Institute Enrolling Patients in Clinical Trial

Wed, 3 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

Replacing Heart Valves Without Surgery

ATLANTA, Ga. (August 3, 2011)—Piedmont Heart Institute Physicians are currently accepting patients for the Medtronic CoreValve® U.S. Clinical Trial. Piedmont Hospital is one of 40 hospitals across the United States to participate in the trial to evaluate a revolutionary non-surgical, less-invasive procedure as a treatment alternative to open-heart surgery for patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Patients who have severe aortic stenosis as well as a predicted high risk of requiring aortic valve surgery may be eligible to participate in the clinical trial. For more information about the CoreValve trial and eligibility, visit clinicaltrials.gov and search for the CoreValve trial.

“With an estimated 5 percent of those over the age of 65 experiencing some form of aortic stenosis, there is significant need for new treatment options that do not involve invasive surgery,” said Piedmont principal investigator Vivek Rajagopal, M.D., an interventional cardiologist with Piedmont Heart Institute Physicians. “As the population ages, the need for this procedure will continue to grow.”

According to an abstract published in the European Heart Journal in 2003, worldwide, approximately 300,000 people have been diagnosed with this condition (100,000 in the United States), and approximately one-third of these patients are deemed high risk for open-heart surgery, the only therapy with significant clinical effect that is currently available in the United States.

For trial participants randomly selected to receive the CoreValve System, physicians channel a catheter (thin tube) with a porcine, prosthetic valve through a small opening in the patient’s femoral artery to reach the heart. The physician guides the CoreValve System to the aortic valve, where it self-expands to replace the diseased aortic valve; the procedure is completed without open-heart surgery or surgical removal of the native valve.

In the United States, the CoreValve System will not be commercially available until the successful completion of this clinical trial and approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The CoreValve System received CE (Conformité Européenne) Mark in Europe in 2007.

For more information or to be considered as a participant in the trial, contact the Piedmont Heart Institute at 404-605-5003 or email phri@piedmont.org.

Piedmont Physicians Group Calls on Cherokee and Pickens Citizens for Blood Donations

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

Piedmont Physicians at Ball Ground hosts blood drive July 27.

ATLANTA, Ga. (July 12, 2011)—The need for blood transfusions is far outpacing donations. In response to this statewide need, Piedmont Physicians at Ball Ground is partnering with Ball Ground Pharmacy and the American Red Cross to host a blood drive July 27. The drive takes place at 470 Valley Street, in Ball Ground, Ga., from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Because it has a limited shelf life, the need for blood is constant. Donating blood is a simple process that helps to save more than five million people in need of blood transfusions each year in the United States. Blood is needed every two seconds for emergency medical situations and is often needed for the treatment of accident victims, cancer patients, hemophiliacs and surgery patients. Piedmont Physicians at Ball Ground asks that you visit redcrossblood.org and schedule your appointment using the sponsor code “phcball.” Your single donation could save up to three lives across the state.

All blood types are needed, but type O negative donors can make the difference between an adequate blood supply and a shortage.

Donors must be 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors must not have given blood in the last 56 days. Walk-ins are welcome; however appointments will be honored first.

All participants receive an American Red Cross t-shirt and will have their name entered into a raffle for door prizes. In addition, the American Red Cross is offering a chance for those that present to donate to enter into a drawing for a monthly $3,000 prize.

Piedmont Physicians Group is First Multi-Site Practice in the Country Recognized by Bridges to Excellence as Patient-Centered Medical Home

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

ATLANTA, Ga. (May 25, 2011)—Bridges to Excellence, a Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute (HCI3) program, has recognized Piedmont Physicians Group as a patient-centered medical home. Piedmont Physicians Group is the first multi-site physician practice group in the United States to receive the distinction from Bridges to Excellence (BTE) Medical Home, with its Diabetes Care and Hypertension Care Recognition Programs receiving particularly high marks. The Medical Home designation is a validation of the success of Georgia’s first accountable care organization (ACO), conceived by CIGNA and Piedmont less than a year ago.

“Quality can be a difficult thing to measure in healthcare,” said James Sams, M.D., medical director of Piedmont Physicians Group. “Recognition from Bridges to Excellence has been one of our goals since the inception of our accountable care organization practice model. Being the first multi-site group in the country recognized by this organization as a Medical Home helps validate Piedmont Physicians Group’s position as a primary care center of excellence.”

BTE Recognition Programs are based on nationally accepted quality measures that are most predictive of improved patient health. Clinicians who follow those measures will consistently provide better care at lower costs. Perhaps most importantly, BTE Recognition indicates a superior level of patient care.

Coordination of care is the cornerstone of the medical home concept. A team that includes a clinical care manager, care coordinator and two health coaches has enabled Piedmont Physicians Group to reach many patients with gaps in care and help them get back into the office and under medical supervision. Piedmont Physicians Group proactively manages chronic diseases including diabetes through the use of technology.

“By reducing preventable complications that affect most patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, we can significantly improve the health of patients and reduce costs,” said Francois de Brantes, HCI3 executive director. “We applaud Piedmont Physicians Group for providing coordination of care for their patients by creating a medical home and demonstrating superior outcomes in managing those patients.”

Piedmont Physicians Group and CIGNA launched the pilot ACO in June of 2010. This program includes approximately 14,000 individuals covered by a CIGNA health plan who receive care from one of more than 100 primary care physicians who are members of the Piedmont Physicians Group. With a comprehensive, accountable and collaborative approach to medical care, the pilot is expected to provide better care coordination and improved access. The ACO model is designed to both improve quality and reduce costs with its proactive approach to patient care.

An ACO is a variation on the patient-centered medical home model of health care that rewards primary care doctors for improved outcomes and lower medical costs. CIGNA's program with Piedmont is one of the first patient-centered pilot programs in the Atlanta area involving a medical practice and a single private payer and is the first accountable care organization in Georgia.

For more information on Piedmont Physicians Group, visit piedmontphysicians.org.

Piedmont Physicians Group Salutes Bidemi Leyimu, M.D.

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

Dr. Leyimu called for active duty in United Stated Army.

PALMETTO, Ga. (May 23, 2011)—Piedmont Physicians Group salutes Bidemi Leyimu, M.D., as she temporarily leaves her practice to serve a tour of duty in Iraq with the United States Army. Patients of Dr. Leyimu should note that their care will not be interrupted at Piedmont Physicians at Sharpsburg or Piedmont Physicians at Palmetto. Physicians are available to see Dr. Leyimu’s patients at both locations at the same office hours they are accustomed to.

“Dr. Leyimu has earned a great deal of respect for her service to her community both in and out of the office,” said Lisa Villella, regional manager for primary care at Piedmont Physicians Group. “Patients can count on a continuum of care at both of her office locations during her deployment. Her patients and co-workers have been extremely supportive, and could not be more proud of her military service and commitment to help those beyond our community.”

Dr. Leyimu has provided care to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, since 2004. She served most recently in the United States Army at Lawrence Joel Army Health Clinic in Fort McPherson, Ga. Prior to that she was stationed at Fort Benning, Ga. where she was responsible for evaluating the needs of soldiers returning from duty in Iraq.

Dr. Leyimu is a 2009 recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal. This prestigious award is selectively given to members of the United States Armed Services who distinguish themselves by outstanding achievement or service to the United States.

Piedmont Physicians at Sharpsburg is located at 61 Robinson Lake Road in Newnan, Ga. and Piedmont Physicians at Palmetto is located at 815 Weldon Road in Palmetto, Ga. Office hours at both locations remain 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, please call 678-633-3260. For more information, visit piedmontphysicians.org.