Question: How long has Wellstar Health Systems been in existence?
Answer: Wellstar Health System was founded as a not-for-profit health system serving Atlanta/Greater Atlanta in 1993. Wellstar Health System was founded as a not-for-profit health system serving Atlanta/Greater Atlanta in 1993 and continues to be nationally ranked and locally recognized for our high-quality care, inclusive culture, and exceptional doctors and team members.
Q. What is its main mission?
A. Our mission is to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve by providing personalized care at every age and stage of life. We do this by actively and regularly listening to the people in the communities we serve so we can best understand and respond to what they want, need, and expect from their healthcare provider. Truly personal, quality care means our patients have choices and access to the right care, at the right place, and at the right time. This is how we provide “More than Healthcare. PeopleCare.”
In 2019, Wellstar provided more than $784 million in charity care, unreimbursed care, and community programs.
Q. How does being integrated with so many facilities benefit its patients?
A. Wellstar Health system is one of the largest and one of the most integrated healthcare systems in Georgia. Our state-of-the -art facilities include: 11 hospitals; 300+ medical office locations; 9 cancer centers; 55 rehabilitation centers; 3 hospice facilities; 1 retirement village; 21 imaging centers; 15 urgent care locations; and 5 health parks. Every day, our team of 24,000+ healthcare professionals provides personalized care for patients at every age and stage of life.
Wellstar is the only health system in Georgia with a network of Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 trauma centers located in metro Atlanta to serve the most critical patients with a range of emergency care options. Wellstar recently opened Wellstar Avalon Health Park, the fifth of its kind, giving patients in greater Atlanta easier access to a variety of high-quality, personalized healthcare services available at one convenient location.
Q. How does Wellstar stand out from other health care systems?
A. Wellstar puts patients and communities in the driver’s seat by listening and providing an extensive choice of facilities and a wide breadth of services so that patients have access to all the options they need to make the best, most informed healthcare decisions. Each Wellstar hospital and healthcare facility offers an access point to a compassionate care team and a wide range of service lines that work in concert to provide personalized care for each patient’s needs.
By taking the time to listen and understand the individual needs of the communities they serve throughout Georgia, Wellstar is recreating the standard for Georgia healthcare.
Q. I understand that Wellstar reaches out to the communities it serves? What kinds of prevention and wellness programs have been started in communities and how can people find out about these?
A. As part of Wellstar’s overarching Community Health Strategy, and in response to critical community health gaps revealed by Wellstar’s annual Community Health Needs Assessment (food insecurity, opioids and behavioral health, women’s health, cancer, suicide, and access to primary care), the health system is launching the Wellstar Center for Health Equity. The purpose of the Wellstar Center for Health Equity is to accelerate the health system’s strategic efforts to address priority health needs throughout Georgia.
Wellstar convened a group of system-wide experts and community partners to provide services, equipment, prevention and wellness programs such as free mammograms, school health programs, hospital chapels, healing gardens, and more. For example, Wellstar partnered with local organizations to provide first books to every baby born in 2020 at Wellstar Kennestone and Wellstar Douglas Hospitals.