New nursing program taking applications

Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville has begun taking applications for its new associate degree in nursing program. Forty students will be accepted to the first class, which will begin study in fall 2009.

Program director Kim Hudson-Gallogly expects admissions to be competitive. Nursing students will be chosen based on standardized test scores and grade point average in the core courses that are required to be admitted to the program. Added consideration will be given to applicants who are students living in Gwinnett County or those who are already working as certified nursing assistants or in other allied health occupations. The deadline for applications is Jan. 15.

For information, call 770-962-7580 or go to Gwinnett Technical College.

NEW FACES: Emory Eastside Medical Center in Snellville has announced several staff additions and promotions.

Teresa Scoggins, RN, MSN, is the hospital’s new critical care nursing director. Scoggins has clinical experience in emergency, trauma and critical care nursing.

Phalba L. Adams, R. Ph., has taken over as clinical pharmacy director. She brings 18 years of pharmacy experience and is a member of the Pharmacotherapeutic Council of the Georgia Hospital Association.

Ken A. Lockridge, RN, is the new director of perioperative services. His nursing and management experience has included orthopedics, open heart and general surgical services.

Wendy Wyatt, registered dietitian and certified dietary manager, has been named director of food and nutritional services. She was previously an associate professor at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Ala.

NEW COO: Denise Ray has been named chief operating officer and senior vice president of Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. Ray’s responsibilities will include planning, coordination and implementation of hospital clinical operations.

Ray comes from administrative and leadership roles at Erlanger Health System, a five-hospital, 728-bed system in Chattanooga.

CELEBRATING EVERYDAY HEROES: On Oct. 11, WellStar Health System will host its ninth annual “Speaking of Women’s Health: Discover Your Everyday Super Heroes” conference at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

The event will challenge attendees to bring friends to find the superhero within themselves and others. Dr. Pam Peeke, assistant professor at the University of Maryland and chief medical correspondent for Discovery Health TV, will deliver the keynote address.

Tickets are $35 per person and can be obtained by calling 770-956-7827.

VACCINATION PLAN: The Department of Health and Human Resources recently released results of a plan for vaccination procedures if a serious global influenza epidemic breaks out.

The plan puts a million health care workers, such as emergency room staff and nurses skilled in vaccinating others, at the top of the list of people to receive vaccinations. Military and mission-critical personnel, public health workers and nursing home staff would be next.

Since no one can predict exactly what strain of flu would cause a pandemic, it would take time to create enough of the right vaccine to protect everyone. Experts agreed that vaccinating people involved in community security, health care and other essential services first would be the best plan for an emergency situation.

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