The idea of Immediate Care Centers of Georgia started as a vision for Dr. Glenn McKenna nearly two years ago. The goal would be to create an urgent care center in the Tyrone and Peachtree City area, focusing on family and emergency medicine. In 2007, the work began and, though the facility has been open for a while, on Saturday, Apr. 26 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Immediate Care Centers of Georgia will have their grand opening.

There are three World Gym locations in Fayette County and all have made names for themselves and won over the minds and bodies of thousands of local residents, but there is always room for one more.

Oncology patients can now receive treatment close to home

Piedmont Fayette is expanding its cancer services, and soon cancer patients can receive treatment closer to home. Piedmont Fayette Hospital (PFH) has received approval to provide radiation therapy. The Certificate of Need (CON) application for a linear accelerator was recently approved by the Georgia Department of Community Health, Division of Health Planning.

Who would have thought that laughter can help ease ailments? Research has shown that laughter/humor is very beneficial for a well functioning body. The Chiropractic lifestyle stresses the importance of having laughter and a positive emotional outlook in your life. At Durden Chiropractic Clinic we acknowledge this important fact. We work on removing the vertebral subluxations caused by three major stressors: physical, chemical and emotional; this is done by using the Atlas Orthogonal Technique.

Fayette Senior Services will sponsor AARP’s 55 Alive Driver Safety Program classes on Tuesday, April 8 and Thursday, April 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at their new life enrichment center located at 4 Center Drive in Fayetteville (across from the Fayette County Justice Center).

There are approximately 2,200 Georgians on the transplant waiting list. For those waiting for a transplant, the newest member of the Piedmont Hospital Transplant Services, Miguel Tan, M.D., a specialist in pancreas transplant surgery with world-class experience, will help local and regional patients stay closer to home.

The physician owners of Southern Orthopaedic Surgery Center of Fayetteville LLC have announced the opening of their single-specialty ambulatory surgery center. The facility was licensed by the state of Georgia on September 25, 2007, to perform Orthopaedic outpatient surgical procedures. Conveniently located on the first floor of a Medical Office Building on the campus of Piedmont Fayette Hospital, the center maintains a staff of professionals skilled in Orthopaedic surgical care.

Emory Healthcare has launched CarePages, a free Web-based service for patients to help them stay connected and easily communicate with friends and family during a hospital stay or through a lengthy medical experience.

As of today, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is a tobacco-free health care system. The decision follows the trend of many hospitals nationwide, but Children’s is taking extra steps to provide a healthy environment and lifestyle for patients and staff alike. The tobacco-free initiative encompasses all Children’s-owned facilities and grounds.

Everyone's talking about autism, and for good reason. According to a 2007 Centers for Disease Control report, one in 150 children in the U.S. has autism, a neurological disorder that affects development and social functioning and can cause even a precocious child to disappear into his or her own self-contained world. Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the U.S. It is more common than childhood cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined.

The blemish may be gone but it has left behind a not so friendly reminder. Acne scars or discoloration left on the skin can be treated with lasers and fading creams, but dermatologists at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston say prevention and time are the best ways to handle the problem.

There are battles being fought in households across the country. The enemy: millions of germs and bacteria thriving blissfully on moist surfaces in your bathroom, ranging from countertops and cups to toothbrushes and towels.

By Greg Moffatt
Special to The Citizen

Working with children who have emotional problems is a challenge. Like any specialist, I see some of the most extreme cases. When everyone else has done what they can do, parents bring their children to me.

By Dr. Marilyn Durden
Special to The Citizen

The trees are budding, which means that pollen will soon be in the air.

By Gregory K. Moffatt, Ph.D. February 2008

I open my eyes in the morning and the sun is up, but in my head it feels like darkness. I have no energy and even though I know that I’ve had plenty of sleep I still feel exhausted. I can’t remember what it was like to wake up happy and I can’t remember what it was like to go to bed and not think it would be OK if I never woke up.

Kimberly Steinberg a native of Peachtree City is the author of the book “Back to the Basics of Healthy Eating.” Both of her children have been diagnosed with disabilities. They have sought help for their children in many different ways, one of them being Brain Balance Therapy. This is a program that integrates physical and cognitive exercises along with dietary changes.

By Linda Cashdollar,
Director of Marketing
Special to The Citizen

Heritage of Peachtree recently held a Valentine’s Day “Silent Auction”. Residents, family members and guests spent a delightful afternoon competing for the chance to come out a winner on dozens of items, from antique jewelry to rare books.

Fayette County’s annual spring fund-raiser benefiting the Fayette CARE Clinic will be held Saturday, March 1.

Held at and sponsored by Glendalough Manor in Tyrone, the evening kicks off at 7 p.m. with a reception, open bar and dance music by Harold Seay and the Boogie Shoes. The dinner buffet begins at 8 p.m. and segues into a live auction at 9 p.m. The music will pause as bidding begins and resume when the auction closes.

As you may know, blood supplies have been at severely low levels for several weeks now. Many of our mostly commonly needed blood types are at or below a day’s supply.

(ARA) - You wash your hands with soap and hot water before filling a clean sippy cup with fresh milk for your child. If you think you've completely protected them from a food-borne illness, think again. Within minutes, dangerous bacteria can multiply inside that plastic cup, exposing your child to a variety of illnesses - some that could have serious long-term health implications.

By Greg Moffatt
Special to The Citizen

The first part of this article addressed four questions one should answer in deciding whether or not to seek professional help for one's child. The four questions were:

With the new ultra-sensitive, high resolution digital infrared cameras available today a technology that has been developing over the past 20 years is creating renewed interest.

The flu is more serious than a common cold, but flu shots can help keep your family safe. Plain and simple.

In fact, influenza is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths for kids, but despite recommendations from health experts, many parents still don’t have their children vaccinated.

By DR. MARILYN DURDEN
Special to The Citizen

Most of us plan at least one Holiday trip. As your chiropractor, we endeavor to look out for your best interest….especially when it means keeping away your aches and pains! Although Holidays are usually filled with many fond and happy memories, all too often we hear our patients complain of back pain that has flared up during these times. This is especially prone to occur during excursions involving long car rides. Sitting in the driver’s seat for hours on end can wreak havoc on your body. Here are some of our favorite tips for keeping you healthier and happier during those times:

Jim Mottola, Pick Parks, and the agents and staff at Parks & Mottola Realtors in Newnan recently welcomed Michael Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer of Piedmont Newnan Hospital, as special guest speaker at one of the company’s semimonthly information and training meetings.

Finding a nearby spot to get a flu vaccine is just a click away, thanks to the American Lung Association’s fast and free “Flu Clinic Locator” now available at www.lungusa.org. The American Lung Association’s online flu clinic locator tool, the largest interactive web site of its kind, makes it easy for the public to find flu shot clinics in their local area. By typing in their 5-digit ZIP code, site visitors can receive a list of immunization clinics in their area. Site visitors may also schedule appointment reminders and sign up to receive seasonal influenza news. The Flu Clinic Locator remains active as long as public influenza immunization clinics are offered.

The Atlanta Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging and Fayette Senior Services is hosting its annual election day “Vote & Vax” flu shot program on Nov. 6, at various polling places throughout Fayette County. Flu shots are free for Medicare Part B participants and $25 for all other individuals. Residents do not have to vote to get a flu shot.

Influenza season is beginning and Fayette Senior Services is ready. In collaboration with the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), Fayette Senior Services is offering flu shots at its 8th annual Health and Wellness Fair November 1, at New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville from 9 a.m. to Noon. Flu shots are free for Medicare Part B participants and $25 for all other individuals. Pneumonia shots will also be available.

I recognize the tentativeness and worry in the caller's voice. I've heard it a thousand times. "I'm worried about my son," the caller says to me. She goes on to describe his symptoms and the reason for her concern. The cause of her tone, at least in part, is the haunting question - "Should I be worried about my child? Parents are often unsure when a problem is serious enough to seek professional help. Presented below are four questions that I ask myself when trying to determine whether or not a child needs professional help.

Parents of children with signs of ADHD, Autism/Asperger's, Dyslexia, Tourette's or other neurobehavioral disorders spend years trying various treatments to improve their child's functioning, but often reach a point where they are told by doctors, “There's not much more we can do for your child.”