WellStar Pediatric Center Opens On July 7

MARIETTA, Ga., July 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- WellStar Health System is expanding the quality and accessibility of pediatric care in Northwest Georgia. WellStar Pediatric Center opened its doors in Kennesaw July 7, offering a range of medical services specifically designed for patients from newborns up to 21 years old.

Families in Northwest Georgia often travel long distances to receive pediatric care tailored for young patients. With WellStar Pediatric Center, families can stay close to home and receive a wide range of services. Patients will benefit from low-dose radiation imaging tests, sports injury rehabilitation, pediatrician office visits and afterhours care.

"Our smallest patients require specialized care," said Avril Beckford, M.D., chief pediatric officer for WellStar Health System.  "Parents have been traveling long distances and experiencing long waits to receive pediatric care. WellStar Pediatric Center provides the child-centered care in our community that parents have been asking for. WellStar is able to deliver on our mission to provide world-class care close to home for families in Northwest Georgia."

Surrounded by comforting aquatic decor and caring team members, pediatric patients will enjoy playing with kid-friendly technology including an interactive fish tank wall in the waiting room. The center's specially trained pediatric experts include radiologists, pediatricians, subspecialists, physical therapists and supportive child life specialists – professionals who guide and reassure children and their parents during tests and procedures. Pharmacy services will also be available as a benefit to save parents an additional trip to the pharmacy for commonly prescribed medicines.

Children often do not understand medical tests – something that may cause anxiety or scare them. At WellStar Pediatric Center, a child-sized CT, known as a "kitten Scanner," paired with an interactive cartoon will allow young kids to scan an alligator, a robot and other toys. They'll see the scan of the toy on the screen and hear the story of how the toy ended up needing the scan.

"Through play, these little patients will learn what to expect during their own imaging tests," Beckford said. "We wanted to give them these fun tools to help calm fear of the unknown and turn the experience into something new and fun."

Once in the imaging suite, children will be soothed by choosing a living projection of environments such as a seascape view from a submarine window or a cartoon jungle scene with monkeys and zebras. Accompanying music and natural light will further set the scene with the goal of making the patients as comfortable as possible.

The OrthoSport WellStar Rehabilitation area will feature the use of a low-impact Hydro Track, an underwater treadmill that cuts recovery time in half in a safe environment.

The WellStar Pediatric Center will be open seven days a week to accommodate patients and their parents:

• WellStar Medical Group's KenMar Pediatrics will have offices at the Pediatric Center with appointments available from Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m., plus a fast track service from 7 a.m.-9 a.m. with no appointment necessary.
• The afterhours component of the center is available to any child, no matter the child's primary care physician. Hours are Monday through Friday, 5 p.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. No appointment needed.

The new WellStar Pediatric Center is located at 1180 Barrett Parkway NW in Kennesaw. Visit wellstar.org/forchildren or call 770-956-STAR (7827) for more information.

About WellStar Health System
Recognized as the fifth most integrated healthcare delivery system in the country, WellStar Health System is the largest not-for-profit health system in Georgia and serves a population of more than 1.4 million residents in five counties. The vision of WellStar is to deliver world-class healthcare. A national leader in the transformation of healthcare delivery, WellStar launched the Center for Health Transformation and the Georgia Health Collaborative that will have far-reaching effects on healthcare both locally and nationally. WellStar includes WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center (anchored by WellStar Kennestone Hospital) and WellStar Cobb, Douglas, Paulding and Windy Hill hospitals; the WellStar Medical Group; Urgent Care Centers; Acworth Health Park; Health Place; Homecare; Hospice; Atherton Place; Paulding Nursing and Rehabilitation Center; and the WellStar Foundation. For more information, call 770-956-STAR or visit wellstar.org.  

SOURCE WellStar Health System