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Time to Celebrate! How to safely celebrate the holidays during a pandemic

by: Dr. Bradley Pierce The holiday season is approaching quickly! We at NGHS want to equip you with ways to have a fun, celebratory holiday season while staying as safe as possible. We understand that this year will look different than years past, but that does not change the beauty of the season. Here is […]

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Are you worried about weight gain during the holidays?

Want a plan to help keep you on track? Northeast Georgia Physician’s Group (NGPG) Bariatric & Metabolic Institute (BMI) is one of the region’s only weight loss centers to offer surgical and nonsurgical weight loss options.   To meet the needs of our entire community, we offer multiple nonsurgical weight loss options. We understand that surgery is not the best […]

Doctor talking about hernia repairs using mesh

Importance of using mesh in hernia repair surgery

Hernia mesh, also known as surgical mesh, is a medical device used to support damaged tissue around a hernia while it heals. During hernia surgery, the hernia mesh is placed across the damaged area in the upper stomach, abdomen or groin and attached with sutures. The pores in the mesh allow tissue to grow into the device. The […]

The 1 in 10: Type 2 Diabetes

About one in 10 people in the United States have diabetes. That is roughly 34 million people. And 95% of those people have Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes means the human body does not use insulin properly. The journeys for people with Type 2 Diabetes are all completely different, and it is important to […]

5 Things You Should Know About Nurse Practitioners

When thinking of your go-to healthcare provider, what’s the first expert that comes to mind? Most likely it’s a physician (an MD or DO). While physicians are certainly a key leader on your care team, they work very closely with a variety of other experts, including nurses, patient care techs and nurse practitioners (NPs). Chances […]

Five Steps to Weight-Loss Surgery

The journey to weight-loss surgery may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. At The Bariatric Weight Loss Center of Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC), we’re here to guide you along the way. Below is an outline of the five common steps to weight-loss surgery:  Step 1: Get a referral Contact our team directly or have your primary care provider refer you to a bariatric surgeon […]

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Stress is more common than you think

The Mental Health Foundation states that in the past year, 74% of people have felt so overwhelmed by their stress that they were unable to function at their full potential. Many things can cause stress, but it is important to know and utilize effective methods to cope with stress, no matter its cause. Simple Ways […]

Technology & Trust: What it means for our patients

For many physicians, the joy of working in health care stems from helping people. This call to help others often creates a sacred bond of trust between the physician and the patient. For better or worse, the evolution of society and technology has made a profound impact on this relationship. While texts, emails and social […]

Fall Season & Virus Season: How to Safely Celebrate Colder Weather

The fall season is finally here, and it’s exciting! It is essential to remember that with the colder weather comes the peak of virus season, including COVID-19, flu, the common cold, and more. Here is how you can safely celebrate the emergence of fall weather while also preventing the spread of viruses.  Tips for Celebrating  […]

Should I Get a Flu Shot If I Have Heart Disease?

There’s so much to love about the fall season – cooler weather, changing leaves and Halloween. But all these autumn favorites are accompanied by the early arrival of flu season. As we brace ourselves for an increase in stuffy noses and coughing, there’s one key thing everyone should be doing: getting their flu shot. Even though […]

Butternut Squash & White Bean Bisque Recipe

Heart-Healthy Recipe: Butternut Squash & White Bean Bisque

This heart-healthy fall recipe is great for individuals with heart failure – and is oh so delicious! About Georgia Heart Institute For patients with heart disease, life can be challenging. At Georgia Heart Institute, we help patients manage their heart health and lead fulfilling lives–even for those with advanced heart disease. Learn more about our program […]

Weight-Loss Surgery Patients: Who are they?

Candidates for Weight Loss Surgery What do you think of when you hear the words “weight-loss surgery”? Most people may associate those three words with people on reality tv shows; however, according to the CDC, 30-35% of Georgians are obese. Obesity is an epidemic in the United States and can lead to 40-60 other chronic health conditions. […]

9 Key Risk Factors For Heart Disease Everyone Should Know

When it comes to a condition as common as heart disease – the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. – it may feel impossible to stop or prevent. But that isn’t at all the case. In fact, everyday, simple steps can go a long way in supporting your heart […]

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Dry Needling: What it is and how it can help

What is Dry Needling? While the term might be intimidating, dry needling is a safe, often minimally-painful technique for patients with musculoskeletal pain. Dry needling is defined by the American Physical Therapy Association as “a skilled intervention that uses a thin filiform needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying myofascial trigger points, muscular, and […]

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No One is Alone: National Suicide Prevention Week

September 6th-12th is National Suicide Prevention Week. To honor this, we would like to educate you on the complexity of suicide and empower you by giving you simple ways to help someone who may be experiencing emotional pain. If you or someone you know is in a critical state regarding suicidal thoughts or behaviors, please […]

COVID-19 and Worsening Heart Failure

Author: Ugochukwu O. Egolum, MD, FACC At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, we noticed a sharp decline in the number of patients with worsening heart failure being admitted to Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) – possibly due to fear of contracting the virus. Our research was based on looking at what happened to […]

Northeast Georgia Health System Shares More COVID-19 Data Highlighting The Pandemic’s Impact

Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is releasing more data about COVID-19 to increase awareness of how the virus is spreading, who is being infected and how it’s impacting the availability of the system’s hospital beds. The data will be updated before 3 p.m. each day. “As we participate in conference calls and discussions with organizations, […]