vim& vigor
HEALTHY
LIVING
FOR THE
GWINNETT
COMMUNITY
winter 2009 $2.95
the continuing
quest for open
heart surgery
meet the sports
medicine MVPs
stop diabetes
before it starts
ARE YOU
FOLLOWING
GMC
ONLINE?
page 3
sidney s
second
act
’
legendary actor
overcomes
prostate cancer and embraces life
sidney poitier
FdVVWI0980_00_Cover.indd 1
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contents
special
50
it starts Find out if
you or someone you
know is at risk for
the disease—then do
something about it.
features
3
6
10
forward thinking Gwinnett Medical
Center is delivering healthcare news
through social media.
16
21
is it a sign? Knowing these five
symptoms of cancer can help catch
problems early.
26
independence days Discover
how innovative technology is improving senior safety and boosting
self-sufficiency.
stopping
diabetes
before
38
40
the right stuff Some of the best
tools to get healthy are everyday
items you already own.
departments
2 Phil’s feature
GMC is approved
for an open heart
program—again.
winter
the MVPs of sports medicine Meet
the GMC physicians who are taking
care of our community’s athletes.
model behavior Three women
share their secrets for exercise,
nutrition and staying healthy despite
a busy schedule.
your heart: the owner’s manual
A handy guide to caring for your
ticker, from exercise and nutrition to
screenings and stress management.
watch and learn Are these famous
TV chefs serving up healthy delights
or fat-laden fare? Here’s what you
need to know before tuning in.
44
up to speed Emergency department
work is fast-paced, multifaceted and
rewarding. Find out how you can join
the team.
46
52
pedi-cures Follow these tips to
give your feet the TLC they deserve.
open heart is still in our hands
The GMC Foundation renews its
pledge to support cardiovascular
services in Gwinnett.
4 out of the white
coat Get to know
husband-and-wife
radiologists Brandon
and Christine Kang.
54 best-kept secret
Physicians donate
a device to save
newborns from
lifelong disability.
56 PrimeTime Health
Therapy opens
options for people
with low vision.
34
on the cover
Sidney Poitier
is one of ﬁlm’s
greatest actors, but that
didn’t make him immune
to prostate cancer. Learn
how he overcame the
disease and about tips
for prevention.
COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY GASPER TRINGALE/CPI
FdVVWI0980_01_TOC2.indd 1
vim & vigor · wi nter 2009
1
9/28/09 10:53:28 AM
Phil’s feature
back in
business
GWINNETT MEDICAL CENTER
President and Chief Executive Officer
Philip R. Wolfe
Gwinnett Health System Board of Directors
Steven Boyd, Chairman; Jock Connell; Jayaprakash Desai, M.D.; Joseph
C. Finley, M.D.; Willard Hearin, M.D.; Carolyn Hill; Eric Kreimer; Chung H.
Lee, J.D.; Tom Martin; Miles H. Mason III, M.D.; David McClesky; Edward
Open heart program for Gwinnett
Medical Center approved—again
Radford; Manfred Sandler, M.D.; Wayne Sikes; Kathryn Parsons Willis;
Philip R. Wolfe
Vim & Vigor Managing Editor
Kyle Brogdon
Editorial Board
G
Adrienne Hollis
Katie Landress
Gwinnett Medical Center recently received the good
news that the state has upheld its original approval for
an open heart program. The decision, issued by the state’s Department of Community
Health, reafﬁrms an earlier certiﬁcate of need approval and overturns an appeal decision
that was sought by Emory and Piedmont hospitals.
This news has been a long time coming, but we believed the original approval
granted just over a year ago by the state was absolutely the correct decision, and it was
disheartening to have that decision appealed by hospitals outside Gwinnett County.
The support of the Gwinnett Chamber, GMC medical staff and the citizens who
voiced their support to state ofﬁcials has been invaluable throughout this entire
process. We are truly grateful for this overwhelming community support.
Gwinnett Medical Center applied for the open heart certiﬁcate of need in January
2008 and received approval in June 2008. Piedmont Hospital, Emory University
Hospital and Emory Crawford Long Hospital appealed that decision, setting into
motion a lengthy hearing process that ultimately yielded an appeal decision that stood
to block critical open heart services from being established in Gwinnett. The state
then weighed the merits of the original decision and the appeal ruling before issuing
a ﬁnal administrative approval for the certiﬁcate of need.
In the midst of appeals from Emory and Piedmont, we saw a tremendous amount
of community support for GMC’s open heart program. Gwinnett is a special place, and
it was uplifting to experience the swell of shared concern for our situation.
However, further appeals are under way, as the certiﬁcate of need process allows
for Emory and Piedmont to seek court review. These hospitals have chosen to take
this course of action. Gwinnett Medical Center remains focused on providing our
community with the excellent heart care it needs and deserves.
Philip R. Wolfe, FACHE
President and CEO
open heart updates
For the latest updates on GMC’s open
heart program, please continue to visit
openheartgwinnett.org, or follow us
at facebook.com/gwinnettmedical or
twitter.com/gwinnettmedical.
go
2
Aaron McKevitt
Keyonda Noel
Andrea Wehrmann
PRODUCTION
V.P./Creative Director: Beth Tomkiw
Executive Editor: Tom Weede
Editors: Shelley Flannery, Sam Mittelsteadt, Matt Morgan,
Amanda Myers, Kari Redfield, Jill Schildhouse, Julie Wlodychak
Copy Editor: Cindy Hutchinson
Creative Director: Lisa Altomare
Art Directors: Erica Brooks, Maggie Conners, Ralph Groom,
Monya Mollohan, Kay Morrow, Tami Rodgers, Keith Whitney
Senior Production Manager: Laura Marlowe
Ancillary Production Managers: Tanya Clark, Angela Liedtke
Imaging Specialist: Dane Nordine
Prep Specialists: Julie Fong, Sonia Washington
V.P./Business Intelligence Group: Patrick Kehoe
Postal Affairs & Logistics Director: Joseph Abeyta
V.P./Sales and Product Development: Chad Rose,
888-626-8779
V.P./Strategic Marketing: Heather Burgett
Strategic Marketing Team: Robyn LaMont, Barbara Mohr,
Andrea Parsons, Todd Speranzo
ADVERTISING SALES
Advertising Sales Representatives
New York: Phil Titolo, Publisher, 212-626-6835
Phoenix: Soliteir Jaeger, Associate Publisher, 888-626-8779
Mail Order: Bernbach Advertising Reps, 914-769-0051
ADMINISTRATION
Vim & Vigor Founder: J. Barry Johnson
Chairman: Preston V. McMurry Jr.
President/Chief Executive Officer: Christopher McMurry
Chief Operating Officer/Financial Officer: Audra L. Taylor
President/Custom Media: Fred Petrovsky
Gwinnett Medical Center
678-312-4321
1000 Medical Center Blvd., Lawrenceville, GA 30045
gwinnettmedicalcenter.org
TM
If you prefer not to receive Vim & Vigor from
Gwinnett Medical Center, please call 888-626-8779.
Vim &Vigor,TM Winter 2009, Volume 25, Number 4, Georgia Region 2 is
published quarterly by McMurry, McMurry Campus Center, 1010 E. Missouri
Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85014, 602-395-5850. Vim & Vigor TM is published for
the purpose of disseminating health-related information for the well-being
of the general public and its subscribers. The information contained in
Vim & Vigor TM is not intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing.
Please consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment and/or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines. Vim &
Vigor TM does not accept advertising promoting the consumption of alcohol
or tobacco. Copyright © 2009 by McMurry. All rights reserved. Subscriptions
in U.S.: $4 for one year (4 issues). Single copies: $2.95. For subscriptions
and address changes, write: Circulation Manager, Vim & Vigor,TM McMurry
Campus Center, 1010 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85014.
vim & vigor · w inte r 2 0 0 9
fdvvwi0980_02_phil.indd 2
9/29/09 8:36:09 AM
forward
thinking
GMC keeps you
connected through
social media
O
ver the last decade, the Internet
has granted people invaluable tools
for communicating information.
Social media, also called Web 2.0, is a
compilation of websites with content created
by consumers. Popular social media sites such
as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube represent
a major change in the way people are now
discovering and sharing information.
Through these Web 2.0 sites, people can publish
pictures from vacation, broadcast updates on
their whereabouts and provide links to websites
and articles that they ﬁnd interesting.
Gone are the days when you have to wait until
the next time you see friends in person to get a
glimpse of what is going on in their lives. With
the social media technology available today,
those details are available instantly to a user’s
group of social media friends, or “followers.”
getting into the act
For that same reason, Gwinnett Medical Center,
as a part of its continued effort to inform the
people of the community about GMC news and
events, has become a pioneer in Web 2.0.
“We are dedicated to keeping our community
apprised of the happenings our facilities and
new services we offer,” says Adrienne Hollis,
director of marketing and communications at
GMC. “Keeping our community informed needs
to be as easy as possible for our
constituents, and we feel that
social media is the best avenue
by which we can do that.”
A large group of the
Gwinnett community already
has begun following GMC via its Facebook,
Twitter and YouTube pages. Over the past year,
these followers have been kept up to speed on
several major projects that affect our entire
community—such as updates on the open heart
campaign, the progress of the new north tower
and the introduction of GMC’s imaging center
in Hamilton Mill. GMC will
continue to use social media to
keep you informed of classes,
events, new services and more
that matter to you.
GMC on
the Web
Staying informed of what’s going
on in your community and at GMC has never been easier!
• Facebook.com/gwinnettmedical
• Twitter.com/gwinnettmedical
• Youtube.com/gwinnettmedical
go
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9/28/09 10:55:21 AM
out of the white coat
dynamic duo
Married couple Brandon and
Christine Kang share a passion for
radiology—and for each other
I
It’s common to see two
physicians working as a team
at Gwinnett Medical Center,
but this dynamic duo of
interventional radiologists
work together at home as well.
Brandon Kang, M.D., and
Christine Kang, M.D., are
with the North Metropolitan
Radiology Associates and have
been practicing together at
GMC and GMC – Duluth for
almost four years. Brandon received his medical
degree from the University of Tennessee and
Christine attended Northwestern University
Medical School. Brandon was awarded America’s
Top Radiologist by the Consumers’ Research
Council in 2007 and 2008.
The Kangs met during their residency
training at the University of Tennessee
in Memphis. The training class only
4
consisted of ﬁve residents, so, as two Koreans in
the same class, Brandon and Christine became
fast friends. Brandon helped acquaint Christine
to Tennessee and they worked on their studies
together. Soon, they became a couple.
The rest is history, as they say. But Brandon
wanted to make their engagement extra
memorable. The couple
planned to meet some
friends for dinner one
night. Earlier in the day,
Brandon mentioned to
Christine that he hurt his
back, and he was going
to get an X-ray. Christine
tried to cancel their
dinner date for that night
but Brandon insisted on
attending. Brandon met
Christine for dinner with his co-worker,
who had his X-ray. When their co-worker
said that Brandon was ﬁne and did not
need back surgery, Brandon disagreed
and asked Christine to read the X-ray for
a second opinion.
Christine was greatly surprised, as
the X-ray read “Will you marry me?”
Her answer, of course, was yes.
vim & vigor · w inte r 2 0 0 9
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Q &A
1
My first job was (HIM) a cook at
McDonald’s and (HER) a part-time
secretary in my father’s practice.
2
I realized I wanted to be a doctor when
(HIM) I volunteered at a children’s
hospital in college and (HER) I was a little
girl! I loved following Daddy to the hospital.
3
6
When I really get away, I like
to (HIM) play a round of
golf and (HER) spend time
with my husband and family.
To unwind after a long day
we share our days over a
nice dinner together.
7
My favorite hospital television show is
(HIM) House and (HER) Grey’s Anatomy;
I love the mindless drama!
8
4
My inspiration is (HIM) my
parents and (HER) my father.
5
fdvvwi0980_04-5_coat.indd 5
Our favorite thing
about Gwinnett is
its diversity.
Our favorite restaurant is Haru
Ichiban in Duluth. We can’t
get enough of their sushi!
9/28/09 10:56:47 AM
MVP
s
of sports
medicine
Gwinnett Medical Center physicians are at the top of their
game, so our young athletes can stay at the top of theirs
G
winnett residents are passionate about
their sports. On any given day, you’ll
find recreational teams practicing on
fields across Gwinnett County, gyms filled with
workout warriors keeping themselves in good
physical shape and high school sports teams
honing their skills for the competition. Come
each weekend, these athletes kick it into high
gear for football games, pickup basketball, a
10k race or any other number of activities.
But along with this love of sport inevitably
comes injury. Athletes of all ages know that
staying at the top of their game means staying
healthy, and recovering from injuries quickly
when they occur.
To help community members conquer their
pain, Gwinnett Medical Center offers a full
range of services for athletes of all ages and all
levels of competition. Gwinnett Medical Center –
Duluth also holds the reins as the leading sports
medicine provider in Georgia, performing more
sports medicine procedures than any other
hospital in the state.
“The level of sports medicine expertise at
Gwinnett Medical’s hospitals, imaging and
outpatient facilities is exceptional,” says T. Scott
6
Maughon, M.D., chairman of the GMC Sports
Medicine Committee. “We are leading the way
in sports medicine care and are the experts at
getting athletes of all ages back to their game as
quickly and safely as possible.”
In addition, GMC is committed to elevating the
level of care provided to athletes in our community
by sponsoring several outreach activities.
Gwinnett Football League
In 2006, GMC forged a partnership with the
Gwinnett Football League (GFL) to provide
educational training to assist in injury
prevention and effective on-site care. Each
year in August, GMC’s Sports Medicine
program sponsors the GFL’s annual trainers
clinic, a four-hour educational session designed
to teach parent volunteers how to serve as team
trainers. More than 300 parents attend the
event, which features sessions on heat illness,
cardiovascular health, orthopedic injuries,
and concussions and other head injuries.
Presenters at this year’s event included Gary
Levengood, M.D.; Mathew Pombo, M.D.; Yvonne
Satterwhite, M.D.; and Manfred Sandler, M.D.
continued on page 8
In addition, GMC’s athletic
meet your team
the
Gwinnett Medical
Center’s sports
medicine team
includes fellowship
trained surgeons
and radiologists,
athletic trainers
and rehabilitation
professionals.
vim & vigor • w inte r 2 0 0 9
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9/28/09 11:15:07 AM
orthopedic
surgeons
Many of Gwinnett Medical Center’s affiliated
orthopedic surgeons are sports medicine experts,
having trained at some of the country’s finest
sports medicine programs. They provide medical
coverage for high school, college and professional
teams. For more information about these specialists,
visit gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/sports.
T. Scott Maughon, M.D.,
chairman
Team physician for
Wesleyan High School
Frederick Chi, M.D.
Mark Cullen, M.D.
Team physician for Buford,
Dacula, North Gwinnett, St.
Pius X and Winder-Barrow
high schools
Snehal Dalal, M.D.
Team physician for Duluth
High School
Stephen Kroll, M.D.
Gary Levengood, M.D.
Team physician for
Brookwood, Norcross
and Mountain View high
schools
M. Jonathan Mathers, M.D.
Team physician for Central
Gwinnett High School
Brian Morgan, M.D.
Team physician for Mill
Creek High School
C. Michael Morris, M.D.
Team physician for Greater
Atlanta Christian School
Mathew Pombo, M.D.
Team physician for Shiloh
and Berkmar high schools
Scott Quisling, M.D.
Team physician for
Peachtree Ridge High School
Yvonne Satterwhite, M.D.
Team physician for
Providence Christian
Academy and Mount
Pisgah High School
Darrell K. Scales, M.D.
Team physician for Hebron
Christian Academy
Jesse Seidman, M.D.
David Stokes, M.D.
Todd Zeigler, M.D.
fdvvwi0980_06-8_sports3.indd 7
vim & vigor • wi nter 2009
7
9/28/09 1:13:40 PM
get with the program
For more information on how Gwinnett Medical Center is transforming sports
medicine in the community, visit gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/sports.
certified athletic trainers
Gwinnett Medical Center’s team of certified athletic trainers (ATCs)
provides on-site coverage for high schools, community events and
professional sports organizations. GMC provides full-time athletic
trainers at eight local high schools—Central Gwinnett, Berkmar,
Brookwood, Duluth, Hebron, Mountain View, Norcross and Shiloh—and
for the Gwinnett Gladiators.
The ATC team:
• Tim Simmons, ATC, LAT, coordinator, athletic training services
• Tovan J. Willey M.Ed., ATC, LAT, head athletic trainer, Berkmar
High School
• Jay Pearson, ATC, LAT, head athletic trainer, Brookwood High School
• Sarah Kristen Bailey, M.S., ATC, LAT, head athletic trainer, Central
Gwinnett High School
• Mindy Simmons, M.S., ATC, LAT, CSCS, head athletic trainer, Duluth
High School
• Gina Shipman, M.S., ATC, LAT, head athletic trainer, Hebron Christian
Academy
• Cristina Vega, ATC, LAT, head athletic trainer, Mountain View High School
• Suzie Williams, ATC, LAT, head athletic trainer, Norcross High School
• Kristen J. Johnson, M.S., ATC, LAT, head athletic trainer, Shiloh High
School
• Dani Ellis, ATC, LAT, head athletic trainer, Gwinnett Gladiators Hockey
radiologists
Gwinnett Medical Center’s dedicated team of board-certified radiologists
and registered technologists provides a comprehensive range of imaging
services. For sports-related injuries, GMC offers “Friday Night Lights,” an
express pass to imaging services available for injured high school athletes.
For more information about GMC’s imaging team, visit gmcimaging.org.
therapists
Whether they are treating professional athletes or weekend warriors, the
physical and occupational therapists of Gwinnett SportsRehab have what
it takes to get athletes back on their feet. Gwinnett SportsRehab has clinic
locations in Duluth and Lawrenceville to meet your athletic training and
rehabilitation needs. For more information about the services offered, visit
gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/sportsrehab or call 678-312-2803.
8
go
trainers were on hand to teach the parents basic
taping techniques.
“The physicians are here,” says Erik Richards,
GFL president. “Gwinnett Medical is here
providing medical care regardless of the level
of play. It just made good sense to partner up.”
concussion management
In 2008, GMC provided all Gwinnett County
high schools and the Gwinnett Football League
with the ImPACT Concussion Testing program.
This breakthrough technology is designed to
manage concussion treatment and ensure a
safe, timely return to play for injured athletes.
GMC’s goal is to reduce the chance of follow-up
concussions, thus helping the student-athlete’s
performance on the ﬁeld and in the classroom.
In addition to donating the program to
schools, GMC’s certiﬁed athletic trainers
provided on-site training to teach others how
to administer the test. This year, GMC has
expanded the scope of the ImPACT program
to cover all full-contact sports, including
football, soccer, basketball, lacrosse and
wrestling. The GMC ImPACT program is
overseen by physicians who serve on the
GMC Sports Medicine Committee. To learn
more about the ImPACT program at GMC,
visit gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/ImPACT.
athletic training services
Athletic training encompasses the prevention,
diagnosis and intervention of emergency, acute
and chronic medical conditions involving
impairment, functional limitations and
disabilities. GMC provides full-time athletic
trainers, or ATCs, at eight local high schools:
Central Gwinnett, Berkmar, Brookwood,
Duluth, Hebron, Mountain View, Norcross
and Shiloh. The ATCs work closely with high
school coaches and the GMC-afﬁliated team
physicians to prevent, manage and assess
orthopedic or musculoskeletal injuries and to
facilitate the athlete’s access to medical care.
In addition, a GMC athletic trainer provides
coverage for the Gwinnett Gladiators, Gwinnett’s
ECHL hockey team.
vim & vigor · w inte r 2 0 0 9
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9/28/09 11:15:51 AM
Because of You,
Gwinnett is Having a Change of Heart
In the midst of appeals from three Atlanta hospitals, a tremendous amount of
community support for GMC’s open heart program continues. Gwinnett is a special
place, and it is uplifting to experience the swell of shared concern for our situation.
Thank you - You are Transforming Healthcare!
gwinnettmedicalcenter.org
fdvvwi0980_49_heartad.indd 49
gwinnettmedicalcenter.org
9/28/09 11:18:11 AM
stopping
diabetes
before it starts
Could you or someone you
know be at risk? Read on
F
ifty-seven million Americans have prediabetes,
making them at risk for type 2 diabetes, according
to the American Diabetes Association. Prediabetes
is defined by blood glucose levels that are higher
than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as
diabetes. Most individuals develop signs and symptoms
of prediabetes prior to developing type 2 diabetes. If you
take action to manage your blood glucose when you have
prediabetes, you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes.
“For individuals who are at risk for prediabetes, it is
important to have their blood glucose checked periodically
by their physician,” says Cris Hartley, manager of diabetes
and nutrition education at Gwinnett Medical Center. “Having
yearly checkups, knowing your family history, maintaining
a healthy diet and staying active are all ways to prevent
prediabetes or, once developed, keep type 2 diabetes at bay.”
what is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes results from insulin resistance, a condition
in which the body fails to properly use insulin, combined
with insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed
with diabetes have type 2, and nearly 6 million have it and
do not know it. Many people have no signs, or symptoms may
be unnoticeable. And some people have symptoms but do
not suspect the disease. Symptoms include increased thirst,
increased hunger, fatigue, increased urination (especially at
night), weight loss, blurred vision, numbness and tingling
in hands or feet, and slow-healing cuts or sores.
50
am I at risk?
To find out your risk for type 2 diabetes, check each item
that applies to you.
• I have a parent, brother or sister who has diabetes.
•M
y family background is Alaska Native, American Indian,
African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian-American or
Pacific Islander.
• I have had gestational diabetes, or I gave birth to at least
one baby weighing more than 9 pounds.
•M
y blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or above, or I have
been told that I have high blood pressure.
•M
y cholesterol levels are not normal. My HDL (“good”)
cholesterol is below 35 mg/dL or my triglyceride level
is above 250 mg/dL.
• I am fairly inactive. I exercise fewer than three times
a week.
vim & vigor • w inte r 2 0 0 9
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9/28/09 11:19:43 AM
• I have polycystic ovary syndrome, also called PCOS
(women only).
•O
n previous testing, I had impaired fasting glucose or
impaired glucose tolerance.
• I have other clinical conditions associated with insulin
resistance, such as a condition called acanthosis
nigricans, characterized by a dark, velvety rash
around my neck or armpits.
• I have a history of cardiovascular disease.
“Anyone 45 years old or older should consider
getting tested for diabetes,” Hartley says. “If you are
45 or older and overweight, getting tested is strongly
recommended. If you are younger than 45, overweight
and have one or more of the risk factors, you should
consider getting tested. Ask your doctor for a fasting
blood glucose test or an oral glucose tolerance test. Your
doctor will tell you if you have normal blood glucose,
prediabetes or diabetes.”
how can I prevent diabetes?
Just 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity,
with a 5 to 10 percent reduction in body weight,
can drastically decrease your chances of developing
prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. In a study conducted
by the Diabetes Prevention Program, 58 percent of
participants decreased their chances of diabetes by
following these recommendations. It is clear that lifestyle
changes are the cornerstone to prevention. we’re here to help
The Diabetes & Nutrition Education Center, an
affiliate of Gwinnett Medical Center, is Atlanta’s
premier resource to meet your diabetes, nutrition
and health needs. The center’s diabetes education
program is nationally recognized by the American
Diabetes Association. The program is designed to
help you learn how to take charge of your health,
whether you just found out you have diabetes or
have had it for years.
Contact the locations in Lawrenceville
or Duluth to learn more about preventing or
managing diabetes.
In Lawrenceville:
Gwinnett Medical Center Campus
100 Medical Center Blvd., Suite 105
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
678-312-4117
In Duluth:
Glancy Campus
3215 McClure Bridge Road
Duluth, GA 30096
678-312-6040
The GMC Diabetes & Nutrition
Education Center is on Facebook.
Go to facebook.com and search
“GMC Diabetes” to find the page.
You’ll get diabetes management
and prevention tips as well as
general nutrition information.
Become a fan today!
vim & vigor • wi nter 2009
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51
9/28/09 11:20:30 AM
open
heart
is still in our
hands
GMC Foundation continues a
campaign to support much-needed
cardiovascular service
O
n July 30, donors joined together for the public
announcement of the Open Heart Capital Campaign
and to view the philanthropy center in the
new lobby at Gwinnett Medical Center. The evening was
inspirational, as donors who had generously given to the
open heart cause applauded the success of the campaign.
Manfred Sandler, M.D., chief cardiologist and GMC
Foundation board chair, announced that more than
$5.6 million has been raised toward the $8 million goal
to expand cardiovascular services at GMC.
“It has often been said that the best way to predict
the future is to create it,” says Bill Russell, chair of the
GMC Foundation major gifts committee. “I am ecstatic, yet
certainly not surprised how local community leaders have
Thanks to generous donors, the GMC Foundation has raised more than $5.6 million to expand cardiovascular services at GMC.
52
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fdvvwi0980_52-3_foundation.indd 52
9/28/09 11:21:32 AM
Clyde and
Sandra
Strickland’s
$1 million
donation led
the efforts to
support an
open heart
program at
GMC.
rallied expeditiously to support this most important Open
Heart Capital Campaign. It is extremely gratifying to report
that pledged philanthropic gifts received to date are over
halfway toward achieving the campaign’s goal.”
❋ sending a clear message
Two years ago, Clyde and Sandra Strickland made a $1 million
donation to the Gwinnett Medical Center Foundation that
led the efforts to transform healthcare by supporting an open
heart program at GMC.
GMC’s hospital family, including physicians, employees
and Auxiliary members, joined these efforts and have
given more than $2 million to support open heart surgery
at GMC. Bartow Morgan Jr., CEO of The Brand Banking Co.,
and Wayne and Ann Mason also made leadership gifts
of $750,000.
Although the economy has taken a downward turn and
people have experienced devastating losses, the citizens of
Gwinnett County have rallied together to send one message:
Having open heart services at Gwinnett Medical Center is
essential to the people who live and work here.
“The people of this community have made their voices
heard loud and clear in supporting our efforts to bring this
critical healthcare service to Gwinnett County,” says Jason
Chandler, GMC Foundation president. “GMC Foundation is
now focused on making this program a reality as quickly as
possible. That means we’re working with the community to
raise philanthropic support in order to create a world-class
open heart program at Gwinnett Medical Center. Once again,
open heart is in your hands.”
from ABC to GMC
Emmy Award winning ABC news journalist
Bob Woodruff and Lee Woodruff, a contributor
to Good Morning America, will serve as
featured speakers for Gwinnett Medical Center
Foundation’s Cornerstone Society Donor
Appreciation Gala on February 27, 2010.
The black-tie event will be limited to donors of
$1,000 or more in 2009. The GMC Foundation is
a not-for-profit philanthropic organization that
supports Gwinnett Medical Center.
Gwinnett Medical Center Foundation
Cornerstone Society Donor Appreciation Gala
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Those interested in attending must
join the Cornerstone Society by
call or click to donate
To donate to the Open Heart Capital Campaign, call
the GMC Foundation at 678-312-8500, or visit
gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/foundation
and click “Donate Now.”
go
December 31, 2009. For additional
information, please contact
the Gwinnett Medical Center
Foundation at 678-312-8500 or visit
gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/foundation.
C
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best-kept secret cooling effect
New therapy helps reduce brain
damage in critical newborns
U
Using ice to treat injuries is one of the oldest
first-aid methods. Every mother has probably
used an ice pack on a child’s bruised knee after a
soccer game or to soothe a bee sting. Ice therapy
is an easy technique, proven to be safe and
effective at reducing swelling, relieving pain
and decreasing muscle spasms.
Although the use of ice therapy for selfcare techniques has been around for ages, a
cooling therapy system for more traumatic
conditions is a modern and rapidly changing
healthcare technology.
Gwinnett Medical Center is the first and
only hospital in Georgia to acquire a new, FDAapproved technology known as the Olympic
Cool-Cap System, which treats infants who
have had deprivation of oxygen or blood flow
to the brain during pregnancy or delivery.
❋ the cool-cap
The Cool-Cap treatment, developed
by Natus Medical Inc., consists
of cooling affected infants for
72 hours, then slowly rewarming
them for an additional four hours.
It is essential that treatment begin
within six hours of birth, which
is now possible in GMC’s neonatal
intensive care unit (NICU), in the
Gwinnett Women’s Pavilion.
Traditionally, insufficient oxygen
or blood flow to the brain, called
hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
(HIE), is a devastating condition
in newborns that leads to death or
lifelong disability. The Cool-Cap
system employs state-of-the-art
technology called selective head cooling, which
has been extensively studied for many years
and has been shown in multiple clinical trials
“Treatment with the
Olympic Cool-Cap
System can prevent
or significantly reduce
the severity of
neurologic injury.”
54
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to be effective at reducing the severity of brain
damage that results from HIE.
“HIE can result in severe lifelong disability
that may show up as mental retardation,
cerebral palsy [inability to purposefully use
muscles to sit up, crawl, walk or talk], seizures
or death,” says Kim Cooley, R.N., neonatal
clinical nurse specialist. “Treatment with the
Olympic Cool-Cap System can prevent or
signiﬁcantly reduce the severity of neurologic
injury that results from HIE.”
❋ lifesaving donation
Two GMC physicians, Leslie Leigh, M.D., and
Dan Suskin, M.D., donated the cooling therapy
system to the Gwinnett Women’s Pavilion’s
NICU. For the past 13 years, these doctors and
the neonatal nurse practitioners of Gwinnett
Neonatology have provided the highest care
and the latest advances in neonatal care to the
families of our community—and they wanted
to continue providing that high level of care
by donating this new technology.
“Dr. Leigh and I felt very strongly that
if we even saved one baby’s future, the cost
of the equipment would be well worth it,”
Dr. Suskin says. “It is essential that treatment
begins within six hours of birth, and we
believe that the best way to ensure this would
be for the NICU at GMC to have the means to
offer this therapy.”
stay tuned for
more secrets
GMC physicians Dan
Suskin, M.D., and Leslie
Leigh, M.D., donated
the Olympic Cool-Cap
System to the Gwinnett
Women’s Pavilion neonatal
intensive care unit.
info
Gwinnett Medical Center is dedicated to
providing the latest technology to save lives
and transform healthcare. More secrets will
be unveiled in future issues of Vim & Vigor.
vim & vigor · wi nter 2009
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9/28/09 11:23:30 AM
primetime health
in sight
Treatment gives hope to people with low vision
N
Nearly 14 million Americans—that’s
about one in 20 people—have impaired
vision. According to Lighthouse Inc., a
leading nonproﬁt organization dedicated
to preserving vision and providing
vision rehabilitation services to people
of all ages, the older visually impaired
population is the third-fastest growing
group of people needing rehabilitation
services in the U.S., outpaced only by
those with arthritis and heart disease.
The most common conditions
causing visual impairment are macular
degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic
retinopathy, cataracts, stroke and a variety of
hereditary diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa.
People with low vision experience physical,
economic and psychological changes that
diminish their quality of life. Without assistance
and training, they may have difﬁculty using
low-vision devices and completing necessary
daily living tasks such as grooming, meal
test yourself
Does your vision cause any difficulty with the following activities, even
when using glasses or magnification devices?
• Reading books and newspapers • Dressing
• Managing finances
• Performing self-care
• Operating appliances
• Managing medications
Doing
fine
handiwork
•
• Navigating stairs, steps and curbs
• Preparing meals
If you answered “yes” to any of these activities, you might benefit
from the low-vision treatment program at Gwinnett SportsRehab.
Your healthcare provider can refer you for an evaluation. Evaluations
are performed in the clinic and in the home to assess safety/lighting
issues related to low vision.
For more information or to make a referral, call Gwinnett SportsRehab
at 678-312-2562.
56
preparation, ﬁnancial management, home
maintenance, shopping, reading, and community
and leisure activities.
Occupational therapy helps people to
independently participate in their meaningful
daily activities. Training is provided in the use
of optical and nonoptical aids to promote safe
and independent living by teaching people to use
remaining vision to help complete activities;
modifying activity and environment to
safely complete needed activities; training
people in the use of adaptive equipment to
compensate for vision loss; and creating a
safe home environment to help prevent falls
and injuries.
you’re invited
Learn more about low-vision therapy
at a FREE presentation:
• Feb. 16, 2010
• Gwinnett Women’s Pavilion,
Rose Room
550 Medical Center Blvd.
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
• To register, call HealthLine
at 678-442-5000
go
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Gwinnett Medical Center
1000 Medical Center Blvd.
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
Non-Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
Vim & Vigor
Eight stories of the latest technology.
MILLIONS OF LIVES TO HEAL.
It’s not about a building. It’s about transforming healthcare. And as one of
“America’s safest hospitals,” according to Forbes,1 we’re taking the lead as
the best healthcare provider in the region with the opening of our new
patient tower.
Every detail of our healthcare system has been designed with the patient in
mind. Which means the most advanced and complete care possible not just
in Atlanta, but in the nation.
Our new tower is a shining example of the right way to expedite the healing
process for every patient we treat. Each room is private, spacious and staffed
by highly trained nurses and supported with the latest technology. We also
feature comfortable guest retreats and suites that allow family members to
be even closer to patients.
Rebecca Ruiz and David Whelan; “Full List: America’s Safest Hospitals”;
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/26/safest-hospitals-health-malpractice-forbeslife-cx_rr_0127safesthospitals_chart.html; accessed 4-20-2009
1
Lawrenceville • Duluth
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9/28/09 11:25:23 AM