News from Piedmont Mountainside Hospital

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Welcomes Patrick Kenney, D.O.

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Jasper, Ga. (July 19, 2010) – Piedmont Mountainside Hospital welcomes surgeon Patrick Kenney, D.O., to its healthcare team beginning July 19. Dr. Kenney joins Keith Barrett, M.D. at Piedmont Surgery Specialists, which has recently relocated next door to 220 J.L. White Drive in Jasper, Ga., on the campus of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital.

“Piedmont Mountainside Hospital is proud to offer the services of Piedmont Surgery Specialists,” said Mike Robertson, CEO of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital. “Dr. Kenney and Dr. Barrett are an asset to this community and to this hospital.”

Kenney earned his medical degree at the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University in Glendale, Ariz. He completed residencies at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii and Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, Calif.

Dr. Kenney accepts most major insurance plans and will begin seeing patients Thursday, July 1. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, call 706-253-2430. For more information, visit piedmontphysicians.org.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Named to Quality Honor Roll

Thu, 1 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

ATLANTA (June 30, 2010) — Piedmont Mountainside Hospital has been named to the Georgia Hospital Association’s (GHA) Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) Quality Honor Roll. Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, along with Piedmont Hospital, Piedmont Fayette Hospital and Piedmont Newnan Hospital, are four of 51 hospitals in Georgia to be placed in the Presidential category. The honor roll is based on clinical data provided by the Federal Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS), which administers the nation’s Medicare and Medicaid programs. The data, reflecting performance against best practices, was collected from January to December 2009.

“It has always been our mission to ensure that each of our patients receives the right care at the right time,” said Piedmont Mountainside Hospital CEO Mike Robertson. “This recognition validates the hard work of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital and is a tribute to the commitment of our staff members who are constantly striving to make excellent care even better.”

All acute care hospitals are required to submit care data to CMS. This data details how well a hospital’s caregivers adhere to a list of eight appropriate care measures (ACM), which are the clinical processes of care that are known to be the most effective methods of treatment for patients who have suffered heart attacks, heart failure or pneumonia. The ACM is a composite measure that determines whether or not a patient received the right care at the right time.

For instance, a recommended treatment to help prevent a heart attack is to take aspirin either before or upon arrival at the hospital, as well as at discharge. A suggested treatment for pneumonia is to administer an antibiotic within four hours of a patient’s arrival. A hospital’s adherence to these recommended clinical practices usually leads to better outcomes.

“This is a great accomplishment for Piedmont Mountainside Hospital,” said Joseph Parker, president of GHA. “This recognition further underscores the commitment of the Piedmont Mountainside Hospital staff to ensure that every patient receives the best, most effective healthcare possible.”

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Welcomes Charles Robert Haendel, D.P.M.

Thu, 1 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

JASPER, Ga. (July 1, 2010) – Piedmont Mountainside Hospital welcomes podiatrist Charles Robert Haendel, D.P.M., to its healthcare team at 620 J.L. White Drive, Jasper, Ga., beginning July 1.

“Dr. Haendel is a welcome addition to Piedmont,” said Piedmont Mountainside Hospital CEO Mike Robertson. “His talents will no doubt serve his patients and this office well.”

Haendel earned his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He completed his residency at Lakeview Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisc.

Dr. Haendel accepts most major insurance plans and will begin seeing patients Thursday, July 1. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment, call 706-253-1305. For more information, visit piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Medical Staff Elects new Medical Executive Committee

Wed, 2 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT

JASPER, Ga. (June 2, 2010) – Piedmont Mountainside Medical Staff has elected five new officers to its medical executive committee. The five physicians took office in January and are responsible for overseeing all activities of the medical staff and leading performance improvement initiatives.

“The Medical Executive Committee serves as a solid check and balance function for hospital operations” said Piedmont Mountainside Hospital CEO Mike Robertson. “They are advocates for patients, ensuring that Piedmont Mountainside Hospital consistently delivers quality care to all.”

The medical executive committee is an elected organization charged with a number of tasks related to overall hospital operation. Among its many responsibilities, the committee makes recommendations regarding medical staff structure, clinical privileges for physicians, performance improvement activities and quality-related aspects of all contracts for patient care services.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital currently has over 130 physicians on staff and 350 employees in a variety of supporting disciplines all focused on quality patient care. The hospital has received top ratings in patient satisfaction among metro Atlanta hospitals according to the HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey released for the past two years.

The newly elected medical executive committee officers are urologist Joel Rosenfeld, M.D., who serves as president; cardiologist, Roberto Pereira, M.D., secretary and treasurer; orthopaedic surgeon John Schnars, M.D., chief of surgery; gastroenterologist and hepatologist Michael Galambos, M.D., chief of medicine; and internist Moiz Master, M.D., who serves as president elect. Appointed members include Mike Robertson also serves on the committee as CEO and president of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital as well as orthopaedic surgeon Folsom C. Proctor, III, M.D., who serves as vice president of medical affairs.

For more information on Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, visit piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Generates $87 Million for Pickens County’s Economy

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EDT

JASPER, Ga. (Apr. 13, 2010) – In 2007, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital generated more than $87.7 million in revenue for the local economy according to a recent report by the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA). The report also found during the same time period, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital provided over $4.6 million in total uncompensated care (not including unpaid costs of Medicaid and Medicare) and sustained more than 410 full-time jobs throughout the Pickens County area.

The report revealed that Piedmont Mountainside Hospital had direct expenditures of over $35.4 million dollars in 2007. When combined with the economic multiplier developed by the United States Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, the total economic impact of those expenditures was more than $87.7 million. This output multiplier considers the “ripple” effect of direct hospital expenditures on other sectors of the economy, such as medical supplies, durable medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. Economic multipliers are used to model the resulting impact of a change in one industry on the “circular flow” of spending within an economy as a whole.

“This GHA report shows Piedmont Mountainside Hospital has a significant positive impact on our local economy,” said Mike Robertson, CEO of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital. “We will continue to work hard to ensure the community has access to quality and affordable healthcare services.”

While Piedmont Mountainside Hospital remains a major component of the area’s economic engine, the hospital’s leadership, like the rest of the Georgia hospital community, is concerned about a wide array of economic challenges that have made it increasingly difficult to meet the community’s healthcare needs including a fast-growing uninsured population and new state legislation. Presently, more than a third of all hospitals in Georgia are operating with negative margins.

“We are concerned with the current operating environment for hospitals,” said Robertson. “Piedmont Mountainside Hospital has made a commitment to maintain high quality standards and excellent customer service for the community 7 days a week, 365 days a year. That task just became more difficult with a new 1.45 percent tax burden on patient care.”

According to Robertson, state lawmakers must work to protect the state’s healthcare system with the same fervor that they do other initiatives like education and public utilities.

“Piedmont Mountainside Hospital is an integral part of our community and is the foundation for quality of life,” said Robertson. “With the continued support of the community and our elected lawmakers, even in these challenging economic times we have the ability to do what is necessary to protect our local healthcare system and preserve access to healthcare for all residents of Pickens County.”

For more information about Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, visit piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Opens Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization Lab

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EDT

JASPER, Ga. (March 18, 2010) - Piedmont Mountainside Hospital recently announced the addition of a new diagnostic cardiac catheterization lab to its existing cardiology services. Opening March 1, our newly constructed in-house lab now allows us to provide critical diagnostic services to help detect coronary artery disease.

The centerpiece of the new lab is an advanced vascular X-ray system, which provides physicians with superior image quality for use in a variety of diagnostic and interventional procedures. One of the most useful procedures now available is cardiac catheterization, which allows physicians to view your heart at work and pinpoint areas of concern.

In addition to adult diagnostic cardiac catheterizations and pacemaker implantations, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, in partnership with Piedmont Heart Institute Physicians, offers a wide range of interventional radiology procedures including angiography, balloon angioplasty, stent-graft procedures, varicose vein treatment and much more.

“This new lab and the expanded new services it provides play an important role in the overall health and well-being for so many in our community,” said Mike Robertson, president and CEO of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital. “We are pleased to be able to provide a state-of-the-art service that patients once had to travel for. In fact, in the first two weeks of the lab being open, we almost exceeded our projected volume for the entire month.

As a not-for-profit facility, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital relies on the generosity of donors to expand the services it provides to the community. Events like the December Love Light Tree Ceremony helped raise over $2,100 specifically for this new diagnostic cardiac catheterization lab. The event is an annual fundraiser sponsored by the Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Auxiliary, where Love Lights and Star Lights may be purchased in honor or memory of family members, friends, or loved ones.

For more information about Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, go to piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Hosts Gilmer County Health Fair

Wed, 3 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. (Mar. 3, 2010) – Piedmont Mountainside Hospital invites the residents of Gilmer and surrounding counties to their Health Fair on Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 7 – 11 a.m. at the Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Outpatient Center, located at 309 Highland Parkway in East Ellijay. Members of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital’s clinical staff will be on-hand to provide health information, answer questions, conduct various health screenings and discuss screening results.

“At Piedmont Mountainside we are always striving to make it easier for residents to stay healthy,” said Mike Robertson, president and CEO of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital. “This is a great opportunity for the community to get a year’s worth of health screenings in one place, in one day and for a nominal fee.”

The following health screenings will be offered:

Special Blood Chemistry for $25.00 (a $350.00+ value) which includes: Cholesterol and Triglyceride; Glucose BUN and Creatinine - Sodium, Potassium and Calcium; Total Protein, Albumin & Globulin - Total Bilirubin - Alkaline Phosphatase
Free: EKG’s, Height, Weight and Blood Pressure
Discount Mammogram Certificates & Breast Awareness Information
Optional PSA Prostatic test available for men for $10.00 (a $100.00 value)

*Please remember, do not eat or drink anything but water for 12 hours prior to the tests.

The Health Fair is sponsored by Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, Gilmer County Bank, Piedmont Heart Institute and Piedmont Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. For more information, please call 706-299-5564 or visit piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Women’s Center Offers Prepared Childbirth Classes for New Moms

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

JASPER, Ga. (Feb. 22, 2010) – The Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Women’s Center wants to help all expectant moms get ready for the arrival of their new bundles of joy. Registered nurses Rosemarie Nelson and Pam Hayes teach Prepared Childbirth classes at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital one Saturday per month from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The next two classes will be held on Saturday, March 13, and Saturday, April 17, in the conference room located behind the Mountain Thyme Cafeteria.

The class, which is recommended to be taken by week 34 of pregnancy, is designed to educate new moms, as well as provide a "refresher course" for women who already have children on a variety of childbirth topics. Topics will include labor and delivery, epidurals, circumcision, proper car seat safety and options for cord blood donation. Expectant moms and loved ones will tour the Women's Center facility and will have an opportunity to ask the staff questions.

The cost of the class is $96, which is covered by Medicaid and many other insurance companies. Check with your insurance company for coverage. Please bring your photo ID and a copy of your insurance card.

For more information about the prepared childbirth classes or the Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Women's Center, please call 706-301-5246 or visit piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Invests $2.2 Million In Piedmont Outpatient Center in East Ellijay

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

JASPER, Ga. (Feb. 16, 2010) - Piedmont Mountainside Hospital (PMH) recently invested more than $2.2 million in the new outpatient center in East Ellijay, Ga. The multimillion-dollar project involved renovating and expanding the two-story, 11,000 square-foot building, located at 309 Highland Parkway in East Ellijay.

“Even in these tough economic times, we remain committed to investing in our community and having a positive impact on our local economy,” said Mike Robertson, president and CEO of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital. “This outpatient center has already created at least 21 jobs in Gilmer County and will continue to enhance the quality of care provided to the local communities of East Ellijay, Ellijay, Cherry Log and Gilmer County as a whole.”

The Piedmont Outpatient Center officially opened Dec. 7, 2009, and is home to Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Imaging Services, which provides patients in East Ellijay with increased access to imaging services including echocardiogram, cardiac stress testing, ultrasound, routine x-rays, digital mammography, bone density screenings, nuclear medicine and CT scans. The center is also home to the offices of Piedmont Heart Institute Physicians and Piedmont Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine.

“Now, more than ever, people need increased access to healthcare services closer to home,” said Robertson. “Not only are we focused on providing top quality care to residents of Gilmer County with this new facility, but we are thrilled to have also contributed new jobs to the area.”

For more information on PMH, go to piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Now Offering Pain Management Services

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

JASPER, Ga. (Feb. 17, 2010) –Piedmont Mountainside Hospital is pleased to announce that they are now offering pain management services in their Specialty Clinic, conveniently located on the hospital campus.

“Pain is an unpleasant feeling that lets you know that something may be wrong. It is one of the body's warning signals indicating that a problem needs attention,” said Mike Robertson, president and CEO of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital. “These special services and treatments will be important to many patients in our community, and we are excited to be able to bring these services to area residents.”

Pain starts in receptor nerve cells located beneath the skin and in organs throughout the body.
When there is an illness, injury, or other type of problem, these receptor cells send messages along nerve pathways to the spinal cord, which then carries the message to the brain.

Now seeing patients, the clinic offers the following diagnostic services and treatments:

Acute and chronic pain management
Neck and back pain
Sciatica (leg pain)
Herniated disc
Shingles pain
Pain after whiplash
Failed back surgery pain
CRPS – Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Arthritis pain
Headache
Diagnostic and therapeutic spine injections
Steroid injections
Trigger point injections
Botox injections

Other services provided in the Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Specialty Clinic include wound care, speech therapy, infusion services, neurology, general surgery, nephrology, interventional radiology, ENT and pediatric cardiology.

The Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Specialty Clinic accepts most major forms of insurance. Professional fees and physician services will be billed separately. A physician referral is required and patients will be seen by appointment only. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 706-692-9016.

Piedmont Mountainside and Atlanta Falcons Physical Therapy Centers Present Dessert & Discussion:

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

“The Use of Physical Therapy for Arthritis, Osteoporosis and Other Common Ailments”

JASPER, Ga. (Jan. 26, 2010) – Physical therapists aim to help patients overcome physical challenges they might face due to an injury or illness, including many common conditions that inhibit people in their daily functions. As techniques become more advanced, many people may be unaware of the ways physical therapy could potentially enhance their quality of life.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital and Atlanta Falcons Physical Therapy Centers in Jasper, formerly Jasper Physical Therapy, invite Pickens County and surrounding area residents to a Dessert and Discussion titled “The Use of Physical Therapy for Arthritis, Osteoporosis and Other Common Ailments.” The Dessert and Discussion will be held on Thursday, Feb. 4, at 5:30 p.m. in the Education Room, lower level, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital.

The Dessert and Discussion will address a number of physical therapy topics such as exercise and osteoporosis, hand therapy and its applications for common hand problems, needling techniques and trigger point therapy, and physical therapy as it relates specifically to women’s health issues. The panel will include Sara Bolden, DPT; certified hand therapist Martha Meier, OTR/L, CHT; Jay Potter, PT, MS; Larry Steinbeck, PT, MS; and Atlanta Falcons Physical Therapy Centers managing director and AMB Group’s director of business development, Dan Gordon, MBA.

“Physical therapists can work with individuals to prevent loss of mobility by developing fitness and wellness programs for healthier and more active lifestyles,” said Potter. “We want people to know that conditions such as osteoporosis can be significantly helped with exercise and proper therapy.”

Atlanta Falcons Physical Therapy Centers offer professional-quality physical therapy and occupational therapy to athletes and non-athletes. They recently acquired Jasper Physical Therapy, which has served the Jasper community since 1998 as an outpatient physical therapy practice providing a full range of rehabilitation services.
Physical therapy services offered at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital include orthopedic, neurological, and obstetric physical therapy, pelvic pain and incontinence therapy, and wound /ostomy treatment. Other services available include occupational therapy, certified hand therapy, lymphedema therapy, speech-language pathology and cardiac rehab.

There are more than 165,000 physical therapists in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Labor and roughly 3,690 physical therapists in Georgia. Physical therapy is considered a “hot job” by the U.S. Department of Labor and one projected for fast growth and high return. U.S. News and World Report also rank physical therapy as one of the best careers in 2009.

Registration is required for this free event as seats are limited. The dessert begins promptly at 5:30 p.m., and the lecture will follow. To register, please call 1-866-900-4321. To learn more about Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, please call 706-301-5372 or visit piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Names Folsom C. Proctor III, M.D., Vice President of Medical Affairs

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST

JASPER, Ga. (Dec. 04, 2009) – Piedmont Mountainside Hospital is pleased to announce that Folsom C. (Sonny) Proctor III, M.D., has been named the vice president of medical affairs (VPMA) effective January 1, 2010. Dr. Proctor will serve as a liaison between the medical staff and administration. In this role, he will be responsible for all aspects of hospital medical affairs including: the credentialing process, medical staff office and help lead quality management, infection control, Joint Commission readiness, inpatient medical service and medical staff development.

“Dr. Proctor has already worked closely with the Piedmont Mountainside family in various physician leadership roles,” said Mike Robertson, president and CEO of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital. “We are excited to continue our work with him and have him serve in this new role as vice president of medical affairs.”

Dr. Proctor, a Piedmont Clinic member, was president of the PMH Medical Staff in 2008 and 2009, is a member of the Medical Executive Committee (MEC) and a founding member of the Piedmont Physician Advisory Cabinet. He also has been involved in the past two strategic plans for Piedmont Mountainside as an MEC member. Dr. Proctor has a private orthopaedics practice at Mountainside Orthopaedics in Jasper, Ga.

“I am honored to serve in this new role, which provides me with increased opportunity to impact the quality of care provided to our patients,” said Dr. Proctor.

Board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Dr. Proctor has been a member of the Advisory Board of Directors for the Good Samaritan Free Clinic and a physician member of the Pickens County Board of Public Health since 2004.

Dr. Proctor earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in biology at Wake Forest University. He is active in numerous medical associations including: the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, of which he is a Fellow, Georgia Orthopaedic Society, Michael Hoke Society – where he served as president-elect and past president – the American Medical Association and Medical Association of Georgia.

For more information about Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, visit www.piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Celebrates National Radiologic Technology Week

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST

JASPER, Ga. (Oct. 30, 2009) – Each year radiologic technologists around the country join in celebrating National Radiologic Technology Week, an event that commemorates the discovery of the x-ray and recognizes the dedicated professionals practicing in the radiologic sciences. This year, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital (PMH) wants to recognize its radiology staff for their exceptional work and patient care during the week of Nov. 8-14.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital offers interventional radiology, unique non-invasive techniques used to assess patients’ health conditions or treat pain. Interventional radiology can often be an option for patients that should not receive surgical treatments for health reasons, and can provide the same results as a surgery.

One example of interventional radiology is vascular scanning, which assesses the blood flow in arteries and veins throughout the body. Vascular scanning is used to detect plaque which may cause narrowing in the arteries that supply blood to the brain, and may lead to strokes or mini-strokes. Patients should consider this type of ultrasound if intense, cramping pains occur in the calves, thigh, buttocks or hips.

Kyphoplasty, which is a minimally invasive spinal surgery procedure used to treat pain, is also an interventional radiology procedure. It is most commonly performed for spinal compression fractures caused by osteoporosis, a condition that weakens the bone, or other conditions that may have led to a spinal fracture.

“For true informed consent before surgery, patients should be aware of all of their treatment options,” said Roly Alvarez, radiology services manager at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital. “Patients considering surgical treatment should consider seeing an interventional radiologist to determine if he or she could benefit from a non-invasive procedure.”

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital wants to raise awareness in the community of the importance of radiology services such as mammography and sonography to be proactive in health conditions, as well as the option of interventional radiology for a patient that has been informed they must undergo surgical procedures.

The PMH Imaging Center offers a range of health services including routine x-rays, diagnostic radiology, CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, interventional radiology, mammography, bone density screening and ultrasound. For more information call 706-301-5401 or visit piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST

JASPER, Ga. (Oct. 28, 2009) – Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women in the United States. Nearly 193,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Treatment and cure are possible but early detection is perhaps one of the most significant factors in their success. In recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital is encouraging all women to get their mammograms.

In October of last year, Betty Sitten of Talking Rock, Ga., found a lump in her breast. She was 70 years old when she learned she had breast cancer.

Sitten underwent four chemotherapy treatments, surgery, and four additional chemotherapy treatments followed by 33 radiation treatments. But now, after all of the visits to doctors’ offices, treatments and therapies, Sitten is cancer-free.

Throughout her treatment, Sitten participated in the Look Good, Feel Better workshops held at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital.

“You go in with no eyebrows, hair or eyelashes and they show you how to look yourself again,” said Sitten. “We shared stories, were shown tips, given wigs, an outfit and even a kit to take home! When you left you not only looked good but felt good again. It was wonderful.”

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month began in October of 1985 in an effort to raise awareness about the disease in order to increase early detection and survival. After more than two decades, recent studies by the American Cancer Society show that breast cancer death rates are declining.

“It’s always easy for us to create an excuse to put off getting a mammogram,” said Rosa Langella, M.D., of Piedmont Mountainside Hospital. “But whether it’s lack of time, an ‘oh it won’t happen to me’ attitude, or fear, we want to encourage all women to take that step towards early detection and schedule a mammogram. It could potentially save your life.”

“I’d never had a mammogram,” said Sitten. “But I would certainly suggest everyone get one. If I had, they might have found my cancer earlier.”

To schedule an appointment for your mammogram, or for more information about Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Women’s Services, please call 706-301-5246 or visit piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Encourages Men to Get Screened During Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST

JASPER, Ga. (Sept. 24, 2009) – Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. More than 230,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed this year. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and Piedmont Mountainside Hospital would like to remind all men to get regular screenings.

Prostate cancer is dangerous because there is often no way to detect it in the early stages; however, surviving prostate cancer is greatly increased when diagnosed early. Because symptoms of prostate cancer may not occur until the disease is advanced, screening is the first step. Screening includes a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) done by a trained professional. Current recommendations of the American Urological Association are that all men begin screening at age 40 and be retested on a regular basis thereafter. Though there is debate over the use of PSA, the death rate from prostate cancer has steadily declined since its regular use in the 1990s.

“One out of every six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and more than 25,000 men will die from it this year,” said Joel Rosenfeld, M.D., urologist at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital. “Our goal is to increase the number of prostate screenings per year, so we can help patients detect it early, when the survival rate is higher.”

The Prostate Cancer Education Council (PCEC) suggests the following tips to prevent prostate cancer:

Get screened – The best prevention against advanced prostate cancer is early detection.
Women speak up – As many as 60 percent of men screened say that their wives, girlfriends or another female encouraged them to get checked.
Diet makes a difference – A Harvard study showed that a diet high in dairy and fatty foods, particularly those of animal origin, increased the risk of developing prostate cancer by 80 percent. Supplements and food sources rich in anti-oxidants (vitamin E and selenium) have been shown to control cell damage and may prevent prostate cancer.
Get active – A healthy exercise program will increase circulation, lower stress and may decrease levels of prostate-stimulating androgens.

For more information on Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, visit piedmontmountainsidehospital.org.