Chamber to host Health Care Lunch & Learn

Chamber to host Health Care Lunch & Learn

by Mimi Collins, Administrator, The Longstreet Clinic, Chairman of Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Committee

The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Health Care Committee will host a Lunch & Learn on April 17 at Chateau Elan Winery. The lunch meeting will focus on the South Hall medical community and will provide an opportunity for participants to learn of the exciting growth of healthcare services in this area and across the region.

The Northeast Georgia Medical Center is undergoing a large expansion project on its main campus in Downtown Gainesville and is also planning an exciting new campus in South Hall County. The Northeast Georgia Medical Center and the surrounding medical community have long been known for its superior care and in the last 10 to 20 years have developed from a community hospital to regional referral center.

Northeast Georgia has also been well known for quality and comprehensive obstetrical and neonatal services. The Northeast Georgia Medical Center delivers close to 4,000 babies a year and offers state-of-the-art normal and intermediate nurseries, a level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and a staff of neonatologists (pediatric sub-specialist trained to care for sick neonates) to care for the most vulnerable babies.

Gainesville-Hall County is now able to offer full time comprehensive services for high-risk pregnancies. In the past, many women with significant complications during pregnancy were forced to drive to Atlanta on a regular basis to receive necessary prenatal care, and many would actually have to plan for delivery at an Atlanta hospital.

Today, Gainesville-Hall County has a full time Perinatologist, Dr. Alex Allaire, to provide these services in our region. This highly specialized practice along with the neonatology practice allows the region access to comprehensive care during both pregnancy and birth.

The Northeast Georgia Medical Center is also on the cutting edge with regard to cardiology services and provides a full range of cardiac care including cardiac cath and open-heart services. As part of its focus on women, the Northeast Georgia Medical Center along with the Northeast Georgia Heart Center is expanding screening and evaluation services to focus on the unique needs of women.

The April 17 Lunch & Learn will provide an overview of this expansion and the plans for the next 5 to 10 years will be presented for both Northeast Georgia Medical Center¹s Gainesville and South Hall campuses. A focus on the $50 million Women¹s and Children¹s expansion and the organization’s overall focus on comprehensive women’s service will be highlighted. Physicians participating on the panel will represent the obstetrical, neonatal and cardiology services available in the community for women and children. Authorities will also discuss what the expansion plans will mean to patients and physicians in our region.

PANELISTS

Health Care Lunch & Learn

Chad Bolton

Director of Planning, Northeast Georgia Health System

As Director of Planning at Northeast Georgia Health System, Chad Bolton is responsible for supporting the Health System¹s strategic planning process, physician manpower planning and compliance with Georgia¹s Certificate of Need laws. Chad has worked in the planning department since 1994, first as a planning analyst and then as department manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the University of Georgia.

Lalitha Medepalli, MD, FACC

Cardiologist, Northeast Georgia Heart Center

Dr. Lalitha Medepalli obtained her medical degree at MBBS Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, India and completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at New York University. Dr. Medepalli completed her fellowship in cardiovascular disease at Mount Sinai University in New York. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology.

Keshma Saujani, M.D.

Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Center for Women¹s Health, The Longstreet Clinic

Dr. Keshma Saujani earned her medical degree at St. Georgia University School of Medicine. She completed her internship and residency at the State University of New York, Buffalo.

Alexander D. Allaire, M.D.

Perinatologist, The Longstreet Clinic

Dr. Alexander Allaire obtained his medical degree at Emory University School of Medicine and completed his internship and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Emory University. He received a MSPH at the University of North Carolina School of Public Health, Chapel Hill. He completed his fellowship in perinatology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He is Board certified by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the subspecialty board of Maternal-Fetal Medicine.