HEALTH
The Paper | Thursday, August 27, 2015
7A
Dr. Charlotte Ebner greeted at Medical Plaza 1 office Patients from her Barrow County practice and others stopped by the Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Braselton Family Medicine office to welcome Dr. Charlotte Ebner to the practice in Medical Plaza 1in Braselton. The Aug.20 meet-andgreet was well attended with Dr. Ebner and her husband Billy greeting a continuous line of well-wishers. Among them was Lisa Brewer (top R), who brought a bouquet of flowers to welcome her family physician to the neighborhood. Brewer lives nearby off Highway 211 and said Ebner’s move is a plus for her. Also stopping in was (top L) Carla Cobb, Charlie Bell Cobb, Brena Wellborn and Mary Ford Sims, who had attended a retired educators gathering at which Sims was the inspirational speaker. The Braselton Family Medicine office, in Suite 200 of Medical Plaza 1 at 1515 River Place, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call 770848-9310 to schedule an appointment, or visit ngpg.org/ Braselton-family-medicine .
Medical office design gets cardboard critique with community input By LEANNE AKIN
lakin@clickthepaper.com
Northeast Georgia Physicians Group is continuing on Northeast Georgia Health System’s “Quest for Excellence” with its Go Lean management system effort on the design of the new OB/GYN and Urology offices which will be built on the Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton campus. Karlie Vavrinek, administrative director at Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG), was among those greeting visitors to the third floor of the hospital on Aug. 19 to be a part of an information-gathering session which is helping transform a conceptual office crafted from cardboard into a final design to improve health care delivery. During the tours, participants walked in a smaller waiting room since the goal is to have less of a wait for patients. “We encourage patients to print out forms and fill them out before coming in for their appointment so their wait time will be minimized,” said Vavineck. Walls constructed of cardboard provided the illusion of the office’s built-out environment but the flexibility of the faux design meant the input of patients, staff and the community could be put into action. Walls could be reconfigured relatively easily to determine if the input would indeed enhance the flow, address a concern or improve the overall office design to better serve the patients. Off-stage and on-stage areas gave a flow within the office footprint to allow staffers to move into patient rooms where check-out
LeAnne Akin The Paper
A desk stood in place of a sink and other props provided a visible imagine of what one of the 10 patient exam rooms for the Northeast Georgia Physician Group OB/GYN and urology office to be constructed at Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton may look like. The hospital is targeting its plans to begin delivering babies in late 2016. located on the way to the patient room. A mini-lab, non-stress test room and
monitoring area, ultrasound and procedure rooms for gynecological procedures are
conveniently located along with a wet room. Final design work can now begin.
LeAnne Akin The Paper
Northeast Georgia Physician Group OB/GYN and urology office staffers gather near the centralized nurses’ station which is rounded by 10 exam rooms, currently crafted from cardboard. The exercises generated valuable information and comments and adjustments can be made on final designs – much better than finding out a design isn’t ideal after the actual walls are already in place. could be handled in addition to bloodwork being taken in the room and urine specimens handed through a pass through from restrooms attached to patient rooms where one-on-one attention can be provided. Staffers are actively involved in the planning process and served as hosts and hostesses for community and shared insight into how the different areas of the office space would be utilized. “They do the work, they need to design the work,”
Looking for a new designer Consignment Store?
said Vavrinck, who noted that having the 10 patient rooms positioned around a center nurses’ station where doctors would consult with nurses and a keen eye could be kept on all patients would reduce foot traffic and enhance efficiency as the staff can work better as a team. “We can create real synergy and enhance communications,” she said. Rather than an entry desk, patients may be greeted by a sign-in kiosk and a financial assistance staffer would be
GAINESVILLE, GA
920 Queen City Parkway, Gainesville GA 30501, (770) 533-4800 Pilgrim’s Case Ready Complex The Gainesville, Ga., poultry processing operation is located in the beautiful foothills of north Georgia, the “Chicken Capital of the World.” The original facility was built in the spring of 1950 and processed its first bird in June 1950, as part of Georgia Broilers Inc., which was established in February of the same year. In March 1962, Georgia Broilers became part of the Pillsbury Company and in June 1967, the name was changed to Pillsbury Farms. In April 1974, the Pillsbury Company sold the three operating divisions of Pillsbury Farms (El Dorado, Arkansas; Gainesville, Georgia; and Alexandria, Louisiana) to
the Imperial Foods Group of England. At that time, the company was reorganized as J-M Poultry Packing Company Limited. The Company was purchased by ConAgra Poultry Company in July 1982. It operated as a ConAgra facility for the next 21 years, until Nov. 23, 2003, when it was purchased by Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation. In December 2009, Gainesville Pilgrims joined the JBS USA family. The Gainesville Complex is comprised of one Processing Plant, one Hatchery, one Truck Shop and one Feed Mill. We employ about 1,400 team members.
We are always looking for more GREAT Team members! Community Involvement: American Red Cross-Women’s Heart Awareness Gainesville City PD “Shop with a Cop” Gainesville City “Back to School Supply Drive” Hall County Special Olympics Hall County Chamber of Commerce Hall County Relay for Life HC “Georgia Sheriffs Youth Homes” Hall-Dawson CASA
URGENT CARE
Now accepting consignments. Bring in your seasonal clothing items.
for treatment of minor illnesses and injuries
Open 7 Days a Week 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Specializing in Chicos Resale & Other Name Brands. We also consign Jewelry, Purses, and boots.
Call for appointment
770-219-7777 • ngpg.org/urgent-care
Cathy’s Boutique
No appointment necessary Accepting patients 6 months & older
678-450-1544
Braselton • Buford • Cleveland • Dacula • Dawsonville • Gainesville
4311 Mundy Mill Rd
•
Oakwood, GA 30566