Midstate seeking cures for maladies

By Maggie Lee 

ATLANTA -- Being sick is tough enough. Getting ill or having an accident in rural Georgia is even worse. And if you have no money, too bad. More and more public health doors are closing. Creative ideas such as telemedicine or more state money spent more wisely must be part of the fix, officials said. Several midstate counties are short of primary care physicians, and state budget cuts may make the shortfall worse, especially for Medicaid recipients and patients at nonprofit hospitals. Sufficient trauma care is nothing more than an item on the wish list. And for the mentally ill, public hospitals may close before in-community health care is ready.

Partnership offers some answers to rural health care problems

In the midstate, Crawford, Macon, Peach and Twiggs counties don't have enough primary-care physicians, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The first two have been on the shortage list since 1978. In Baldwin County, there are a good many doctors but not enough who serve poorer patients.

The farther from a city, the worse it gets. That's why Dr. Nannette Turner, director of Mercer University's master's in public health program and president of the Georgia Rural Health Association, is watching the debate in Washington about Federally Qualified Health Centers. Those are nonprofit, federally funded clinics that must accept all patients regardless of their ability to pay. "In a lot of these communities, that's health care, that's it," she said. Like many other segments of the population, doctors are shifting toward towns and cities and away from hamlets and country crossroads. Some places simply don't have the economic base to support a physician. "Health departments do not even open every day in some communities," Turner pointed out. "Where's the physician when someone gets sick at night?" For many rural Georgians, the answer is a long drive away. Mental and dental care are the first things to get cut in bad budget times, she said. Indeed, Gov. Nathan Deal, in his draft fiscal 2012 budget, suggests cutting dental care from adults on Medicaid. Finding a specialist for many people in Middle Georgia means a drive to Macon or, in a growing number of places, a telemedicine center. Telemedicine centers are "a link up to have a full patient exam" by a specialist in Macon, Atlanta or other large hospitals, said Lloyd Sirmons, a project director at the nonprofit Georgia Partnership for TeleHealth. The partnership helps distribute what it calls "telemedicine carts," which are equipped with computers, screens, high-definition cameras and other devices that local doctors steer around the patient to help a specialist conduct the exam remotely.

The gear sounds futuristic. "There's a Bluetooth digital stethoscope" on some of the carts, Sirmons said, "that can pass heart sounds" through the Internet back to the specialist. And soon the carts will have high-definition scopes for up-close views inside the ear, nose and throat. The carts cost about $35,000 each with all of the bells and whistles. The partnership aims to get them in the field at cost or with grant money. It's those kind of innovative solutions needed to cope with the doctor dearth, Turner said.

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LOOKING FOR A PRACTICE OPPORTUNITY?CONSIDER THE RURAL NORTH GEORGIA AREA

With one visit to historical Union County, Georgia, you realize the natural beauty of the majestic woodland areas.  Nestled in a picturesque valley, the enchanted village scene offers a panoramic view of the North Georgia Mountains, located completely within the Chattahoochee National Forest.  The Union County/Blairsville area is a family-oriented community with abundant outdoor activities, yet within a two-hour proximity of major cities such as Atlanta, GA and Chattanooga, TN. 

Offering a reasonable cost of living, excellent school system, and lots to do, Blairsville provides a tranquil and stable environment for both young and old. Practice opportunities are available at Union General Hospital for a Pediatrician.

Located in the mountains of northeast Georgia, this 45-bed non-profit facility has received numerous awards and recognition  (visit our website at www.uniongeneralhospital.com and view the Informational Video found under  Practice Opportunities).

Relocation expenses paid and guaranteed salary and benefits based on experience and qualifications.  Interested candidates fax a CV to (706) 745-7677 or call Rebecca T. Dyer, CEO, at (706) 439-6490. 

MAG/GMGMA Workshops 

The Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) in partnership with the Georgia Medical Group Management Association (GMGMA) will conduct innovative CME-accredited workshops across the state in 2011. 

 Details

This Month: New Dietary Guidelines and Food Pyramid 

The 7th edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans has been released. Revised every five years, these government-issused guidelines aim to provide guidance to promote health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and-especially with this edition-to reduce the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity. This is cruical given more than two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese. While the content is not very much different than the last release, it does serve as a reminder of what is best to eat. So what do the guidelines say? They encourage us all to eat more healthy foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, and seafood.

Visit theBWH Health-e-Weight website for more nutrition-related articles, tips, and news stories

Mark your Calendar 

The Georgia Association for Primary Healthcare

Policy & Issues Forum

March 23-27, 2011

Marriott Wardman Park Hotel

Washington, D.C.

Register Now

52nd Annual Archbold Auxiliary Tea

Spring Creek Farms, Boston, Georgia

Wednesday, April, 20, 2011

3:00 p.m - 6:00 p.m.

Event is free and open to the public with donations accepted

Contact Archbold Market & Public Relations @229-227-5140 for more information

PCCN-Primary Care Clinical Network

Quality Initiative Collaborative Learning Session & PCCN Continuing Education Conference

April 27-30, 2011

Legacy Lodge and Conference Center

Lake Lanier Islands, Georgia

Register Now 

American Telemedicine Association

ATA 2011 16th Annual International Meeting & Exposition

May 1 -3

Tampa, FL

Registration 

NRHA's Annual Rural Health Conference

May 3-6, 2011

Austin, TX

Registration Information

Rural Health Clinic Conference

May 24, 2011

South Georgia Technical College

Cordele, GA

Registration

National Health Services Corps

Application Cycle Now Open

Ends May 26, 2011

More Information