Speakers Bureau
The WGHS Speaker's Bureau features
a variety of health related topics. Our knowledgeable
staff is available to speak to your organization or community
group on the following topics. To arrange for a speaker,
call 706-845-3478 or e-mail info@wghs.org
Advance Directives
The time to talk about end-of-life decisions is when you are healthy and alert. If you wait until you are incapacitated by illness or injury, your loved ones may not know your wishes regarding important health care decisions. This one-hour session discusses Georgia laws regarding living wills and durable power of attorney for health care.
Carol Todd, Director
Legal Services
AIM for 10,000 Steps
This program is a workable exercise plan for people who do not have time to exercise. Pedometers, which count every step you take during the day, have been proven to be excellent motivators to get people up and moving. And when physical activity increases, weight loss follows. The AIM for 10,000 Steps pedometer program tools makes exercise available to most everyone.
Linda Mack, RD, LD, CDE
Director, Nutrition Services
Assisted Living
A new concept for many people, assisted living is often misunderstood. This program explains the special combination of housing, support services and health care designed to respond to the individual needs of those who require help with activities of daily living.
Susan Burdick, Director
Kathy Howard, Marketing Coordinator
Vernon Woods Retirement Community
Asthma Education
This session will highlight the benefits of peak flow meters, the use of spacers, and exercise for asthma therapy.
Ralph Duraski, BS, RRT
Director, Pulmonary Medicine
Asthma Therapy
Offering an overview of current practices of asthma therapy, this program highlights information regarding available medications and proper use of these medications to improve patient compliance and effectiveness.
Amanda Akers
Pharmacy
Audiology
Through this program, our staff audiologist will address the many facets of hearing loss, tinnitus, and hearing aids.
Sarah Joy Rank, MA, CCC-A
WGHS Audiologist
Breast Cancer
Early detection is the best protection. Learn how to conduct an effective breast self-exam and to understand the screening process and the treatment of breast cancer.
Wanda Lowe, RN, CDE
Patient Education Coordinator
Caring for the Caregiver
Caring for a chronically or terminally ill person for many months can be physically, emotionally and psychologically draining. Learn how to take care of yourself so you can take care of your loved one.
Cathy Wiggins, RN
Director, West Georgia Hospice/Hospice LaGrange
Children and Grief
Many children find it hard to understand and express their feelings when a loved one dies. This program offers principles and tools to enable children to express and deal with the grief process. Addressing the basic principles of grief in children of different ages, this program educates participants on recognizing normal and abnormal issues.
Cathy Wiggins, RN
Director, West Georgia Hospice/Hospice LaGrange
Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is epidemic. It leads to hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic diseases among our children. This program offers alarming facts and figures regarding childhood obesity and presents tips for adopting a healthier lifestyle for your entire family.
Linda Mack, RD, LD, CDE
Director, Nutrition Services
Coumadin™
Coumadin is an effective medication for treating heart and other circulatory conditions, but you must be wise about how it interacts with food and other medications you put into your body. Through this program, one of our pharmacists offers an overview of therapeutic management to include drug-drug interactions, drug-food interactions and other pertinent patient education.
Amanda Akers
Pharmacy
Customer Service in Assisted Living
At Vernon Woods, we model many of our services from the hospitality industry, which places our customers (our residents) first. Through this program, we detail the training that each Vernon Woods staff member receives to help achieve resident satisfaction.
Susan Burdick, Director
Vernon Woods Retirement Community
Diabetes
With one in 14 residents living with diabetes, West Georgia has a much higher rate than the national average of one in 20. Many people don’t even know they have it. Though this program, participants learn what diabetes really is, how to adopt a healthier lifestyle, and manage the complications of diabetes.
Wanda Lowe, RN, CDE
Patient Education Coordinator
Diabetes, A National Epidemic
When obesity is an epidemic, a diabetes epidemic can't be far behind. Not only are people being diagnosed with diabetes at record levels, we also are seeing Type 2 diabetes in children. Diabetes can be prevented. Learn the facts before it is too late.
Linda Mack, RD, LD, CDE
Director, Nutrition Services
Food and Nutrition
Confused by all the conflicting information about fad diets, good and bad fats, mega doses of vitamins and herbal remedies? Let a registered dietitian, the Nutrition Expert, help clear the path for a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Linda Mack, RD, LD, CDE
Director, Nutrition Services Grief in the workplace
When a co-worker dies or an immediate family member of a coworker dies, it affects your work family. This program offers information on the stages of grief and how grief affects relationships in the workplace. It helps you identify needs and learn how to respond to those needs including information on rituals for healing.
Cathy Wiggins, RN
Director, West Georgia Hospice/Hospice LaGrange
Heart Attack
Do you know the symptoms of a heart attack? Seeking emergency care immediately can mean the difference between life and death. Through this program, our nurses not only explain the risk factors, they also discuss symptoms that should alert you to seek immediate treatment
Sue Brown, RN
Jane Bower, RN
WGHS Intensive Care Unit
Hospice
Hospice is a philosophy of care that affirms life and encourages the patient to live as fully as possible during the last stages of life. This program offers a history of the hospice movement in America and the importance of excellent end of life care. It helps family members understand death and the grieving process, as well as recognizing the symptoms and needs of patients and their families. This program also offers ways to be helpful when someone you know is dying.
Cathy Wiggins, RN
Director, West Georgia Hospice/Hospice LaGrange
Hypertension
High blood pressure can be controlled. This program offers a therapeutic overview of high blood pressure and ways to manage it medically.
Amanda Akers
Pharmacy
OTC medications
"Be MedWise®.” This program offers essential information about the medications you or your child may be taking, as well as the potential risks associated with combining prescription and over-the-counter products without professional advice.
Amanda Akers
Pharmacy
Pain Management
How can you manage your pain effectively? This program helps you understand the assessment and reassessment of pain, as well as the pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for managing pain.
Charlene McClanahan, R.Ph.
West Georgia Health System pharmacist
Pulmonary and Critical Care
Highlights the many facets of the department that include: pulmonary embolism, COPD, emphysema, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, sepsis, tobacco abuse, and sleep apnea.
Kenneth T. Horlander, MD
Board certified in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Renal Disease and Dialysis
Educate yourself on the end stage renal disease caused by hypertension and diabetes. Prevention and choices for the future will be our main focus.
Cathy Phillips, RN
Director, West Georgia Dialysis
Sleep Disorders
Learn about the symptoms, diagnosis, and management of sleep disorders.
G.J. Giesler, MD
Board certified in Pulmonary Medicine
Smoking Cessation
Highlighting the difficult, but important task of quitting smoking.
Ralph Duraski, BS, RRT
Pulmonary
Stroke
Recognizing the symptoms of stroke can help you avoid debilitating effects and even death if you seek help immediately. Better yet, learning to risk factors and adopting a healthier lifestyle to combat those risk factors can help you avoid stroke altogether. Through this program, our Stroke Team nurses will offer information on the two types of strokes, risk factors and current treatments.
Sue Brown, RN
Jane Bower, RN
WGHS Intensive Care Unit
Connie Green RN
Sandra Hill, RN
Evelyn Stewart, RN |