According to the U.S. Census Bureau, DeKalb County had a population in 1940 of slightly less than 87,000. The area was largely rural, with farms outnumbering retail businesses by more than three to one. Residents received their medical care primarily at Grady Hospital and Emory Hospital .
By 1950, the population had climbed by 50,000. The number of farms had dropped by half, and the ranks of the technical, clerical, professional and sales professions were swelling. Changes were needed to accommodate the growing population, particularly changes in medical care. Grady Hospital provided care largely for the low-income population, and Emory Hospital was making a name for itself as a research and teaching hospital. As these two facilities became increasingly specialized, practicing physicians faced a shortage of beds, and patients in the community began to demand attention be focused on their needs.
J. Rufus Evans, M.D., was instrumental in publicizing the need for a community hospital, enlisting the support of the county’s sole commissioner, Scott Candler Sr. "Dr. Evans was the backbone of the hospital in the early days," said retired physician Ernest Atkins, M.D., one of the first surgeons on the DeKalb General Hospital medical staff. "His leadership and positive thinking got things done. If you needed something, you went to him and he’d see to it."
In 1952, DeKalb County voters approved $1 million in general obligation bonds to be used with matching government funds. A 40-acre site on North Decatur Road was chosen and the architectural firm of Bothwell and Nash contracted for the job. But when plans were submitted to the state health department, Candler and Evans were informed that no matching funds were available from federal or state sources. Plans for the new hospital were put aside for five years.
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS
During the 1950s, the population of DeKalb County doubled, increasing the need for a new community hospital. In 1957, the county commissioner’s office was expanded to a five-member board and the issue of the hospital was given a high priority.
Upon learning that government monies were becoming available through federal Hill-Burton funds, the commission recommended a $1.4 million general obligations bond referendum for a hospital, which was approved by voters. The DeKalb County Hospital Authority was created on September 19, 1957 , and it promptly put an application before the Division of Hospital Services for funds to match the $1.4 million in county bonds. The funding was approved.
The 40-acre site on North Decatur Road was purchased for $160,000, and the Hospital Authority began its search for an experienced hospital administrator. The man they chose came to the job with one of the South’s few master’s degrees in hospital administration and with a vision of a facility offering care that extended "beyond the purely medical." That man was William H. Thrasher.
August 1, 1958 was Thrasher’s first day on the job in a temporary office at the DeKalb County Health Department. "He said he started with a desk and a beat-up typewriter," his wife, Helen Thrasher, said. In addition to the administrative duties of public relations and staffing, he also was involved in the planning, building and equipping of DeKalb General Hospital .
"DEKALB GENERAL HOSPITAL STAFF IS TRAINED TO CARE"
From the beginning, Thrasher was a hands-on administrator with an open door to the public. He invited public comment, monitoring and responding to newspaper articles, letters and editorials. In the Decatur-DeKalb News , he invited public questions and comments, writing, "The DeKalb County Hospital Authority wants the public to be informed on hospital plans." Thrasher then listed his office phone, his mailing address and even the telephone number of his home.
In an article published in 1960 under the headline "DeKalb General Hospital Staff Is Trained to Care," Thrasher explained his goal for the new DeKalb General Hospital . "Hospital personnel have been instructed and recruited on a theory designed to eliminate many of the complaints often heard about hospitals. "They will look at their duties in their relationship with the patient as if they, themselves, were the patient," he said.
"A $4.5 MILLION BEAUTY"
Opening day was May 1, 1961 . Together with the 66-member medical staff, the hospital’s 300 employees began their work "Dedicated to the Glory of God and to the Improved Health of Mankind," as proclaimed by a plaque in the lobby.
"We opened with three patients and a $90,000 payroll," said retired family physician Floyd R. Sanders Jr., M.D. As president of the DeKalb Medical Society in 1960, he helped to organize the original medical staff, making hiring recommendations to the Hospital Authority. Six hours after the doors opened, the hospital’s first baby, Stacey Stull, was born. Also that day, L.C. Buchanan, M.D., performed the hospital’s first surgical procedure on Martha Ivey.
The DeKalb News Era called the hospital "A Dream Come True," and other news organizations called the facility "unique" and "progressive" for the metro Atlanta area. Some of the features repeatedly highlighted in these stories:
- Facilities for in-service training of employees
- Central air conditioning
- Half-baths in all rooms
- Thermostats in all rooms for temperature control
- Television sets, radios and telephones in each room
- Central radio system allowing broadcast of the chapel’s religious services
- Temperature-controlled cart for delivering meals
- State-of-the-art equipment for developing X-rays in fewer than 10 minutes
- A system of progressive patient care, creating zones for seriously ill patients, intermediate patients and those well enough for "self-care."
"In those early years, it really was a county hospital," said Sanders, who served for many years on the Hospital Authority and later the hospital’s board of directors. "We offered the major services — obstetrics, surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics and a small psychiatric unit. We were used to making referrals (to specialists at other facilities) then. Now, we have services of all kinds, with our own specialists in almost every area. We offer nearly everything except open heart surgery."
COMMUNITY-BASED CARE
During the 1980s, DeKalb General Hospital took major steps toward making community-based healthcare a reality in DeKalb County by adding many new services designed to meet the community’s needs. This included the Outpatient Surgery Center, Pain Center, Diagnostic and Treatment Center, Diagnostic Imaging Center, Diagnostic Breast Center , Pediatric Rehabilitation Center, Cancer Center and three neighborhood Family Care Centers .
The Wellness Center at DeKalb General Hospital opened in 1985 to women only but soon expanded its services to men due to popular demand. To better serve its members, The Wellness Center expanded to a larger facility in 1996. It has also added The Center for Integrative Medicine, which combines traditional and alternative therapies to treat the body, mind and spirit. Modalities/therapies include Healing Touch, Reflexology, Yoga, Tai Chi, Herbal Consults, Massage, Accupressure, Meditation, Body-Focused Psychotherapy, Guided Imagery, Feldenkrais and Nutrition Consults. Today, the 18,000-square-foot Wellness Center combines state-of-the-art facilities with professional staff to create a comprehensive health and wellness program. Features include the latest circuit-training equipment, an indoor track and swimming pool, lockers, a towel service, a demonstration kitchen and an aerobics studio.
Every staff member is a trained health professional, and all are certified in CPR. The staff includes registered nurses, health educators, exercise physiologists, registered dietitians, massage therapists, fitness technicians and customer service representatives.
From yoga to smoking cessation and vegetarian cooking to meditation classes, The Wellness Center provides education classes to meet every member’s needs. All classes are led by instructors with certification in the fields in which they work.
EVOLVING AND GROWING
While continuing to expand community-based healthcare, DeKalb General Hospital's organizational structure also evolved to meet the growing healthcare needs of the community. In 1989, DeKalb General Hospital changed its name to DeKalb Medical Center to more accurately describe the variety and scope of services offered. In 1992, a corporate restructuring resulted in the formation of a parent company, DeKalb Regional Healthcare System (DRHS), to oversee the growing number of facilities and services. In 1994, DRHS purchased Decatur Hospital , further expanding the organization’s offerings to the community.
In 1997, the board of directors of DRHS decided to affiliate with PROMINA Health System, Georgia’s largest not-for-profit, locally owned and operated health system. "PROMINA shares a corporate culture and vision that reflects our own," said John R. Gerlach, who was then the chief executive officer of both DeKalb Medical Center and DeKalb Regional Healthcare System. "We joined PROMINA seeking to improve and protect the quality of local health care, while providing easier, more affordable access to vital health services. Together with our physician partners, we’re working to improve the quality of healthcare we provide to our community."
IMPROVING CARE FOR SOUTH DEKALB
Improving quality care also meant improving healthcare access for a burgeoning population in south DeKalb County. For more than three decades, DeKalb Medical Center led the fight to establish a new hospital dedicated exclusively to serving south DeKalb. Since 1970, when DeKalb County voters first approved a $1.95 million bond referendum to help fund a south DeKalb hospital, DeKalb Medical Center was at the forefront, devoting countless hours, energy and resources to making a hospital in the south DeKalb community a reality.
In October 1974, the hospital developed a four-phase concept for bringing medical services to south DeKalb. The four phases included an outpatient diagnostic center/medical office building; expanded outpatient services and additional medical office space; an inpatient facility; and a continuing care retirement facility. Two years later, in 1976, DeKalb General Hospital acquired the site for its south DeKalb facility.
For the next three decades, DeKalb General Hospital kept alive its plans – and the community’s dreams. Despite round after round of legal opinions, position papers, feasibility studies and moratoriums questioning the need for new hospital beds, the hospital administration never lost sight of the community’s need for a hospital to call its own.
Finally, after receiving a certificate of need (CON) approval from the state in 1990, the DeKalb Medical Center Board of Directors selected Ms. Julia Jones to spearhead the opening of the new south DeKalb hospital --- what would later become DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale.
In 1994, DeKalb Medical Center launched the first phase of its Hillandale facility, opening an outpatient diagnostic treatment center designed to attract new physicians to the area. On August 6, 2001, a new Minor Emergency Center and an Outpatient Surgery Center opened at Hillandale. The Minor Emergency Center provides the community with 24-hour treatment of minor illnesses and injuries, as well as occupational medicine and rehabilitation services.
Then, on Feb. 13, 2002, DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale cleared one of its final regulatory hurdles, receiving approval from the Department of Community Health. Following a ceremonial groundbreaking on March 15, 2002, construction cranes, bulldozers, and concrete mixers swarmed the Hillandale site for the next three years.
At 7 a.m. on July 18, 2005, a new era of healthcare dawned in south DeKalb County, as DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale opened its doors to the public. The new $65 million six-story, 191,000 square foot facility, located on a 40-acre campus in Lithonia, became the first master-planned digital hospital in Georgia. The state-of-the-art hospital is equipped with the latest computerized and wireless technology to streamline patient care, reduce errors, and speed medical diagnosis.
DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale had arrived. And, a dream finally came true.
WOMEN'S & INFANT SERVICES
Following the success of Hillandale, DeKalb Medical Center turned its attention to improving services for another growing community need: women's & infant services.
New DeKalb Medical Center President and Chief Executive Officer Eric Norwood, appointed CEO in 2003, spearheaded the design, construction and opening of a new state-of-the-art facility dedicated to caring for newborn infants and their families.
On January 29, 2007, DeKalb Medical Center opened a new, $55-million Women’s & Surgery Center at its main campus in Decatur. The freestanding, five-story, 163-thousand square foot facility offers innovative technology, top clinical staff, and a spa-like setting.
“The Decatur community is going through a rebirth and revitalization, and so are we. We see this new facility as a reinvestment and a way to give back to our community,” said Norwood. “We are expanding the spectrum of vital health services to meet the ever-growing healthcare needs of women and families in this community.”
Those vital health services include a comprehensive array of obstetric, gynecological, and maternity services, with an emphasis on family centered maternity care. The Women's & Surgery Center features 18 private Labor-Delivery-Recovery (LDR) suites, which give expectant mothers the convenience and comfort of staying in the same room before, during, and after delivery. There are also 62 private, postpartum Mother-Baby rooms with high speed internet access, refrigerators, private bathrooms, and roomy window seat couches which allow guests to spend the night.
The center also includes three operating/delivery rooms fully equipped for cesarean deliveries and four nurseries, including a term nursery and a Neonatal Intensive Care nursery. The NICU is composed of the Intensive Care Nursery, the Special Care Nursery and the Growing Preemie Nursery. A specialized 21-bed Antepartum Unit is available for mothers who require hospitalization prior to the birthing process. Supported by the expertise of perinatologists who are specially trained to care for high-risk pregnancies, the unit is respected throughout the region and frequently receives referrals from around the state.
In addition to maternity services, the new Women's & Surgery Center offers surgical services utilizing the latest state-of-the-art technology, including computer-guided navigation for neurosurgery, orthopedics, and ENT procedures. Weight loss surgery includes laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic gastric banding. The Surgery Center also offers intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy which treats abdominal cancer patients without the risk of traditional chemotherapy.
"We started out as a small surgical department," said retired physician Ernest Atkins, M.D. "Back then, all surgeries were inpatient procedures and patients usually had to stay several days. Now, many of the same procedures are done as outpatient surgeries. Patients go home the same day and in most cases do as well or better than if they had stayed in the hospital."
PUSHING BEYOND
The launch of a new $55-million Women's & Surgery Center epitomized DeKalb Medical Center's commitment to strengthen services and realign resources to serve key healthcare needs in the community.
In May 2007, “DeKalb Medical Center” relaunched as “DeKalb Medical,” to better reflect a three campus system which each serves the unique needs of a specific community. DeKalb Medical’s main campus on North Decatur Road was renamed “DeKalb Medical at North Decatur,” reflecting the quality care provided to residents of North Decatur and surrounding communities. DeKalb Medical at Downtown Decatur continued to excel at long-term acute care (LTAC). DeKalb Medical at Hillandale continued to evolve to better serve residents of south DeKalb.
In efforts to inform the public about these available resources, DeKalb Medical adopted a new theme of care: Pushing Beyond.
“We are Pushing Beyond the notion that healthcare is merely a prescription for your illness but, instead, treatment for your entire mind, body, and spirit. We are Pushing Beyond traditional treatment options, to include the latest technology and non-traditional therapies. We are Pushing Beyond the notion that terminally ill cancer patients should simply lose hope,” said DeKalb Medical CEO and President Eric Norwood.
Norwood cited the great hockey player, Wayne Gretzky, who was once asked why he was such a great player. Gretzky replied by saying, "I don't skate to where the puck is, but where the puck is going to be."
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
Technology
In anticipating future challenges, DeKalb Medical continues to invest in infrastructure and technology to better serve patients.
To greatly reduce the possibility of physician error, DeKalb Medical Center implemented a new Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) system at its Hillandale and North Decatur campuses. The Computerized Physician Order Entry allows physicians to use a computerized system for all orders, including prescriptions and lab tests.
“The CPOE system is a combination of software and processes. In addition to implementing software, the ability to apply CPOE processes to positively affect care, and to measure and improve care, is why this computerized system will ensure patient safety at DeKalb Medical," said DeKalb Medical Applications and Integration Director Mark Trocino.
The hospital also introduced one of the first hospital-based pharmacy robots in the Atlanta area. Other innovative improvements made by DeKalb Medical include the introduction of a sophisticated communication system, involving wireless telephones and chartwall desks placed outside every patient room. By simply pressing their call lights, patients can be connected immediately with their caregivers by wireless telephones, making it easier for them to request help or information. Physicians can more readily locate patient charts and initiate orders through a special telephone interface that notifies the nursing unit secretaries by wireless telephones.
Hospitalist Program
DeKalb Medical pioneered its hospitalist program in 1990, years before the term "hospitalist" was conceived. The MEA (Medical Emergency Associates) program was one of the first of its kind in the nation and has provided a blueprint for similar programs at other metro hospitals. The MEA program is a group of in-house physicians who specialize in providing round-the-clock care to hospital patients.
Diagnostics
DeKalb Medical is one of the first hospitals in the region to implement a multimillion-dollar, digital Picture Archival and Communication System that will allow images to be viewed using computers instead of the standard X-ray film and view boxes.
Other new technology now available at the Diagnostic Imaging Center includes two MRI scanners — an open MRI and a recently upgraded traditional MRI scanner — as well as state-of-the-art helical CT scanners and advanced fluoroscopy technology. The Diagnostic and Treatment Center, and its physicians, is one of the few facilities in Atlanta with expertise in endoscopic ultrasound, revolutionary technology used to more accurately diagnose gastrointestinal diseases. DeKalb Medical also offers interventional radiology (IR), a new technology employing imaging techniques to guide therapeutic or diagnostic procedures. Less invasive, less painful and usually less expensive than traditional surgery, IR procedures offer a simple, safe alternative in a growing number of medical situations.
Emergency Department
DeKalb General Hospital was the first hospital in the Southeast to have full-time emergency physicians in the emergency department. Today, DeKalb Medical's 24-hour emergency department is equipped and staffed to handle all types of emergencies. In 2006, DeKalb Medical at North Decatur's ER treated more than 67,000 patients while DeKalb Medical at Hillandale treated more than 43,000.
New bedside registration and discharge procedures, which have decreased wait times for patients, coupled with a Fast Track program for the treatment of minor emergencies and illnesses, have made strong strides toward reaching patient satisfaction goals.
Cardiology
DeKalb Medical's cardiac care services utilizes a multidisciplinary approach that includes wellness, education and prevention programs to encourage more healthful lifestyles as well as emergency chest pain care, diagnostic cardiac catheterization, coronary care and rehabilitation services. The cardiac care program emphasizes the emotional and physical well-being of patients and families.
Oncology
From the beginning, DeKalb Medical has offered innovative inpatient and outpatient cancer care and support services to the DeKalb community. Today, the DeKalb Medical Cancer Center prides itself on making the treatment process less frightening and more hopeful. The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons validated the program’s excellence, acknowledging DeKalb Medical as a comprehensive community hospital cancer program. Only a fraction of the country’s hospitals have been able to achieve such approval.
The DeKalb Medical Cancer Center offers one of the region’s most active clinical research programs. The cancer studies have included the nation’s largest breast cancer prevention trial, the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR). The Cancer Center became one of the first in the state to offer comprehensive counseling and genetic testing services for those with a family history of breast, ovarian and colorectal cancers.
The Cancer Center provides the latest treatment options, including surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The program combines the most advanced treatment technology available with a dedicated team of physicians, clinical nurses, nutritionists, physical, speech and occupational therapists, social workers and chaplains to provide emotional and coping support. Patients and their families are treated as partners, working together for the best possible outcome.
"We are committed not just to curing this disease, but also to enhancing life for every patient and family who become a part of our survivor network," said Cancer Center Director Betty Castellani. "Our patients are the fabric of our institution and the heart of our endeavors."
The center makes care accessible through programs such as Easy Access, which allows individuals with cancer symptoms to call 404-501-EASY for an immediate appointment with a cancer specialist. And a group of trained specialists is continually available to provide informed second opinions on treatment plans. Additional programs include a specialized oncology unit to care for patients undergoing stem cell transplants, patient education programs, professional seminars, screening programs and a community resource center.
In keeping with its commitment to enhance the lives of patients and family members, the Cancer Center offers one of the largest support systems in the country, including seven weekly patient support groups and one weekly group for family members. Specialized groups include breast cancer support, prostate cancer support and a children’s group, The Tree House Gang, for those coping with a parent’s illness. All groups, led by trained facilitators, are uniquely designed to provide patients with information, coping skills, treatment reinforcements and a level of commitment that enables every patient to maximize his or her opportunities to survive the disease.
Senior Services
To help seniors maintain their independence in safe and healthful ways, DeKalb Medical developed its Senior Spectrum program, including an outpatient Senior Health Center, a specialized ACE (Acute Care for Elders) Unit and a senior membership program. Senior Spectrum offers a broad range of services, such as primary healthcare services, acute hospitalization, rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, health and wellness programs, educational classes, help in accessing senior resources and fun social events. The program is committed to helping seniors successfully navigate the healthcare system to receive the most appropriate, affordable care.
REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY
In addition to providing outstanding clinical services at each of its three campuses, DeKalb Medical also reaches out to the community, delivering services to those who would otherwise not have access to healthcare.
Wellness on Wheels
In 1999, DeKalb Medical introduced the Wellness on Wheels (WOW) Mobile Van. Funded by the DeKalb Medical Foundation, the WOW Mobile Van brings primary healthcare services and health information to those historically underserved by traditional health care.
“In DeKalb County, there are so many people who don’t have access to medical care. They may be indigent, have no health insurance or simply lack transportation,” said Wellness on Wheels Director Janet Rizan. We offer screenings for them and try to connect them to primary care facilities which can help them.”
In partnership with the DeKalb County Board of Health, WOW provides free services in residential communities in southwest DeKalb, Clarkston and the Buford Highway corridor. WOW services include preventive health care such as flu shots and pediatric and adult immunizations as well as free screenings for breast cancer, prostate cancer, hearing, vision, high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. A grant from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation enables WOW to offer free mammography screenings.
International Medical Center
DeKalb County's ethnically diverse population also prompted development of the International Medical Center in 1997. Located in the Buford Highway corridor, the International Medical Center offers adult and pediatric medical services from providers who speak many languages and understand different cultures. Services include health screenings, preventive medicine, X-ray and laboratory facilities and on-site referrals.
Physicians Care Clinic
In 1992, DeKalb Medical physicians Dr. Stephen Leff and Dr. Gary Botstein opened The Physicians Care Clinic, providing free care to the uninsured and the needy. At the PCC, any DeKalb County resident who earns less than 150% of the federal poverty level receives free services from a team of approximately 40 physicians at the PCC offices. Another 25 physicians offer free services from their own office, in partnership with the PCC. Services run the gamut from primary care (respiratory infections, the flu, ear infections, and other minor ailments) to disease maintenance (treatment for diabetes, hypertension, etcetera) to minor surgeries and biopsies. While DeKalb Medical physicians donate their time, the hospital itself donates pharmacy services, imaging, lab work, physical therapy, and other clinical support.
TRADITION OF QUALITY CARE
Many independent organizations have acknowledged DeKalb Medical's tradition of outreach, community service, and quality care.
In 2007, The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations conducted an extensive review and recertified DeKalb Medical as a Primary Stroke Center. The DeKalb Medical laboratories at North Decatur and Hillandale both received outstanding reviews from the American Association of Blood Banks. The American Association for Bariatric Surgery designated DeKalb Medical as a "Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence." DeKalb Medical at Downtown Decatur is JCAHO certified for treating respiratory failure. DeKalb Medical has also been recognized by the Georgia Hospital Association through its CARE Quality Awards for improvements in performance and quality of patient care. DeKalb Medical earned a first-place CARE Award for its care of patients with congestive heart failure.
CHALLENGES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
DeKalb Medical CEO Norwood acknowledges there will continue to be challenges for the healthcare industry, including financial challenges.
DeKalb Medical has always operated as a self-supporting, not-for-profit community hospital, receiving no tax dollars. The hospital system’s operating budget comes solely from patient fees, and all excess revenues over expenses are reinvested into facilities and services to improve the level of patient care across the system. The DeKalb Medical Foundation was established in 1991 and since then has funded improvements in facilities, technology and community outreach programs.
A leader in progressive medicine and patient care, DeKalb Medical now employs more than 3,800 medical, nursing and support staff members and more than 700 medical staff members. And every year, more than 200 volunteers support the DeKalb Medical staff by donating nearly 64,000 hours of their time and talents. During the past 40 years, this dedicated group of volunteers has donated more than one million hours to the hospital and its patients.
These volunteers, employees and physician partners are working together to ensure continued excellence in serving the community. As always, the goal is a healthy community and patients who are satisfied with their total care experience.
After nearly a half century of service, the mission of DeKalb Medical remains immutable.
In the words of the hospital’s first administrator, William Thrasher, "The medical staff and personnel of the hospital are here comforting you, helping you until you can help yourself. Because you are not just another case to us — you are human beings in trouble, frightened and sick. Taking care of you comes first."