Latest news with #AtriumHealth
Business Journals
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Charlotte's new med school ready for inaugural class (PHOTOS)
Expand Charlotte-based Atrium Health delivered The Pearl, a $1.5 billion, 700,000-square-foot innovation district in midtown last month. Melissa Key/CBJ
Business Journals
01-07-2025
- Health
- Business Journals
One woman's story of how she overcame polycystic ovarian syndrome to become a mom
Erica spent years dealing with irregular periods and unwanted hair growth — symptoms she didn't realize were connected to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) until she was diagnosed. In this inspiring video, she shares how working with Dr. Rebecca Usadi at Atrium Health Fertility Center led to answers, treatment and the joy of becoming a mother — twice. Learn more about PCOS, fertility care and the power of expert support through Atrium Health Women's Health. Atrium Health is a nationally recognized leader in shaping health outcomes through innovative research, education and compassionate patient care. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Atrium Health is an integrated, nonprofit health system with more than 70,000 teammates serving patients at 40 hospitals and more than 1,400 care locations.
Time Business News
15-06-2025
- Health
- Time Business News
MyWakeHealth to MyAtriumHealth: A New Era of Digital Healthcare
In today's fast-paced digital world, healthcare has taken a major step forward. No more waiting in long lines or making repeated phone calls — now, managing your health is just a few clicks away. MyWakeHealth was one of the platforms that empowered patients to take control of their medical care from the comfort of their home. But in 2024, a new chapter began. Wake Forest Baptist Health joined forces with Atrium Health, launching the upgraded and improved MyAtriumHealth. This article walks you through what MyWakeHealth offered, how the transition happened, and what exciting new features MyAtriumHealth brings to your healthcare experience. MyWakeHealth was an online patient portal created by Wake Forest Baptist Health. It provided a secure way for patients to stay connected with their healthcare providers, access medical information, and manage appointments — all from their phone or computer. Through MyWakeHealth, users could: View medical records Schedule or cancel appointments Check lab test results Send secure messages to their doctors Request prescription refills Pay medical bills online Even attend virtual doctor visits It was designed to make healthcare easier, faster, and more personal. To access the portal, users simply had to: Visit login Enter their username and password Use the 'Forgot Password' option if needed Log in securely to see appointments, medications, and health history But now, there's a better and bigger system in place. In 2024, MyWakeHealth officially became MyAtriumHealth after the merger of Wake Forest Baptist Health and Atrium Health. The result? A bigger, smarter, and more powerful digital health platform. Larger Provider Network: You now have access to even more doctors, hospitals, and clinics under one system. You now have access to even more doctors, hospitals, and clinics under one system. Improved Telehealth: Easier video visits and online check-ins with your healthcare team. Easier video visits and online check-ins with your healthcare team. Smart Device Integration: Connect fitness trackers like Fitbit and Apple Health to monitor your health data in real time. Connect fitness trackers like Fitbit and Apple Health to monitor your health data in real time. Upgraded Mobile App: A new and user-friendly app to schedule appointments, message providers, and view your records from anywhere. Feature MyWakeHealth MyAtriumHealth Healthcare Network Wake Forest Baptist only Wake Forest + Atrium services Virtual Care Basic telehealth Advanced video visit tools Device Sync Not supported Supports smart device syncing Mobile Experience Basic app Modern, full-feature app Dashboard Simple layout Streamlined and customizable If you were using MyWakeHealth before, here's how to move to MyAtriumHealth in a few easy steps: Use your existing login details – no need to create a new account. Download the MyAtriumHealth app – available for Android and iOS. Verify your identity – follow the instructions to complete your account setup. Explore the new features – from synced health data to improved online visits. With technology at its core, MyAtriumHealth is built to make your healthcare experience smooth, safe, and accessible — no matter where you are. Fast and Easy Access: View test results, appointments, and medications in one place. View test results, appointments, and medications in one place. Strong Security: Your health data is encrypted and protected at all times. Your health data is encrypted and protected at all times. Real-Time Health Tracking: Get insights by syncing your health apps and wearables. Get insights by syncing your health apps and wearables. 24/7 Availability: Manage your health anytime, anywhere. The shift from MyWakeHealth to MyAtriumHealth is a major upgrade in digital healthcare. It's not just a new name — it's a smarter, more connected way to take care of yourself and your family. Still using the login? No problem — you can access the new system with the same login info. If you haven't switched yet, now is the perfect time to experience what MyAtriumHealth can do for you. Personal Health Insights: Get health tips based on your medical history and lifestyle. Get health tips based on your medical history and lifestyle. Family Account Access: Manage health records for your children or aging parents under one login. The future of healthcare is digital, and MyAtriumHealth is leading the way. Embrace the change and take charge of your health journey today! TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Local 7-year-old gets ‘new lease on life' after new gene therapy
A 7-year-old from Gastonia became the first child in the area to get a new gene therapy at Atrium Health after not even being able to stand on his own just a few months ago. Lucas Solano was diagnosed with an incurable muscle disease at a young age. Something as simple as walking up stairs wasn't possible for Salano before the therapy. 'When he was a baby, he was a toddler: completely normal, he would climb up the stairs, he crawled, he walked within normal age range, and then all of a sudden it was like he couldn't play outside, he would ask for help to get upstairs,' Mother Maria Solano said. Maria says her son was diagnosed with a muscle deterioration disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. ALSO READ: Atrium Health gives free health screenings to 2,000 student athletes However, Lucas' life changed about six months ago. He was the first at Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital to receive the new gene therapy that produces a missing protein that helps build muscle. It's changed his life completely. 'He has a whole new lease on life,' Maria Solano said. The therapy is all about building muscle strength. 'The whole idea is that we are able to improve their muscle strength and be able to continue to walk for a longer period of time,' Dr. Urvi Desai said. Desai said children diagnosed with the disease can lose their ability to walk in their teens and die young and says the new treatment is allowing Lucas to live his best life, doing things he loves. 'There's always hope and he's a testament to that, Sergio Solano, Lucas' father, said. Lucas received treatment in December. Atrium Health says since then, 5 more children have received it. Atrium said three more children are set to get the therapy in August. (WATCH BELOW: Atrium Health launches home care program for pediatric patients)
Business Journals
03-06-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
A heart of gold: Atrium Health brings life-saving surgery to Barbados
For years, Karen Haynes, a 52-year-old guidance counselor from Barbados, struggled with the debilitating effects of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a genetic condition that affects the main pumping chamber of the heart. Once an active individual who enjoyed beach strolls and workplace fitness activities, Haynes found herself unable to perform even the simplest tasks, like climbing stairs or responding quickly to student emergencies. Haynes, a dedicated mother and wife to her husband of more than 20 years, soon found herself struggling to do the things she always loved. 'One of my favorite self-care activities is walking on the soft, white sandy shores of the beaches of my beautiful island paradise,' Haynes recalls. HCM affects the walls of the left ventricle, and they can become thick and stiff. Over time, the heart can't take in or pump out enough blood during each heartbeat to supply the body's needs. The shortness of breath and fatigue became unbearable, and after extensive research, Haynes knew she needed expert care. As her condition worsened, she researched about her condition, joined webinars and online meetings, learning more about the potentially life-saving surgical options that patients like her could benefit from. Her relatives, currently residing in the U.S., pointed her to the nearby facility at Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute. After a virtual consultation with Dr. Dermot Phelan, he confirmed the severity of her condition. In March 2023, Haynes traveled to Atrium Health in Charlotte, where advanced testing revealed her high risk of sudden cardiac death. Although she received a defibrillator upon her return to Barbados, Haynes' condition continued to decline, and it became evident that surgery was her only option. expand A unique solution: Bringing expertise to Barbados The thought of undergoing such a complex procedure was daunting, particularly since there were no surgeons in Barbados experienced in performing septal myectomies, a procedure that involves the surgical removal of a portion of the thickened heart muscle (septum) to improve blood flow and relieve obstruction in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Additionally, the financial burden of traveling back to the U.S. for surgery seemed insurmountable — Haynes' insurance had classified her condition as pre-existing, and the costs would not be covered. Then, what Haynes describes as a 'miracle' happened. In what felt like divine intervention to Haynes, Atrium Health, through its International Medical Outreach Program, made the extraordinary decision to bring the expertise to her. Dr. Larry Watts, a world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon, led the effort, traveling with his surgical team — including perfusionist Mindy Couper and scrub technician Kayla Boutross — to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados. The team collaborated with local cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Alan Smith, anesthesiologist Dr. Michael Fakoory and interventional cardiologist Dr. Dawn Scantlebury to successfully perform the surgery, a first for the country. 'It was like going into someone else's home, cooking in their kitchen and sleeping in their bed — you have to be respectful,' says Watts. 'But the team in Barbados was incredibly gracious and eager to learn.' 'This was a direct answer to prayer and the exhilarating reassurance that miracles happen still,' Haynes says. 'I knew this surgery would give me my life back, and I am forever grateful.' Using FaceTime, Phelan provided real-time assistance from Charlotte, guiding the team through crucial moments of the procedure and ensuring the best possible outcome. 'This wasn't just about saving one life — it was about proving what's possible,' says Watts. 'Now there's a pathway for more patients in Barbados to receive this kind of care.' A successful outcome The surgery was a success, and Haynes' life was transformed. Gone were the relentless struggles to breathe, the crippling fatigue and the fear that had forced her to give up cherished beach strolls with her husband after a frightening fall near the water's edge — an episode she later realized was caused by her condition. 'Regardless of a person's strength of character or pain tolerance, there are certain things that are utterly incapacitating — and the inability to breathe is one of them,' Haynes says. 'I now have the opportunity to live again, to enjoy the simple joys of life I had to give up.' Her recovery was met with joy and gratitude, not just from her family, but from an entire medical community that had come together to make history. Watts and his team's dedication had not only given Haynes a second chance, but also paved the way for improved cardiac care in Barbados. expand The Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center of Excellence Haynes' story is a shining example of the expertise housed at Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute's Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center of Excellence. Recognized as one of only 46 such centers in the United States and one of two in North Carolina, the center offers comprehensive diagnostics, advanced therapies and access to clinical trials for patients like Haynes. 'Over the past five years, we've expanded from one HCM clinic every two weeks to two clinics weekly, with a multidisciplinary team of four cardiologists and two advanced practice providers,' Phelan says. 'We've also participated in multiple landmark clinical trials and strive to bring new therapeutic options to our patients.' The center's dedication to innovation and excellence makes it a beacon for patients worldwide, particularly those in regions where specialized care is unavailable. "Our Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center of Excellence in Charlotte offers comprehensive, state-of-the-art care, combining advanced imaging, cutting-edge treatments and access to groundbreaking clinical trials," says Phelan. "With a dedicated team of specialists, we provide individualized care plans, ensuring patients receive the most precise and effective therapies available for managing HCM." The broader impact Haynes' journey is not just about one patient's recovery —it's about what is possible when medical institutions prioritize global health and outreach. Her experience serves as a call to action for increased collaboration between institutions like Atrium Health and hospitals in underserved regions. She now dreams of a future where Barbados has its own Center of Excellence for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, allowing more patients in the Caribbean to receive lifesaving care. 'There are likely many more patients in Barbados and the wider Caribbean who need this surgery,' Haynes says. 'I hope my experience serves as a catalyst for building a sustainable program where they, too, can receive treatment without the same challenges I faced.' Her gratitude extends beyond the surgical team to her family, friends and local colleagues who supported her through the toughest times. She remains especially thankful for the unwavering dedication of the Atrium Health team, from Watts and Phelan to the compassionate staff who went beyond their call of duty to offer reassurance and support. Looking ahead For Atrium Health, Haynes' case is a stepping stone toward even greater international collaboration. The team hopes to build upon this success, refining their outreach efforts and exploring ways to enhance partnerships with hospitals worldwide. 'This case shows what's possible when we combine expertise, technology and compassion,' Watts says. 'It's about creating a legacy of care that extends beyond borders.' Haynes, now feeling healthier and stronger, looks forward to resuming the activities she once cherished — teaching her students without limitation, walking along the beach with her husband and simply enjoying the gift of breath. Atrium Health's work in Barbados serves as a powerful reminder that health care innovation knows no borders. Through dedication, expertise and collaboration, lives are being changed — one patient, one surgery, one miracle at a time. Atrium Health is a nationally recognized leader in shaping health outcomes through innovative research, education and compassionate patient care. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Atrium Health is an integrated, nonprofit health system with more than 70,000 teammates serving patients at 40 hospitals and more than 1,400 care locations.
