Piedmont Fayette is pleased to announce that the popular wellness event will return starting May 13 in Peachtree City. Participants will have the opportunity to get some fresh air and exercise, hear about topics important to the featured physician, and get to know them outside the office. Neurohospitalist Ernesto Fernandez, M.D. will lead the first walk of the season and will discuss how to spot the signs of a stroke and how to prevent strokes from occurring.
According to the American Heart Association, someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. Stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability, but 80 percent of all strokes can be prevented with lifestyle changes.
“A stroke is when the blood flow to the brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells don’t get the oxygen they need and they start to die,” said Dr. Fernandez. “Knowing the signs of a stroke and acting quickly can help lead to better outcomes. However, it is also important to know what the risk factors are and working to improve them.”
The key to optimal recovery of a stroke and decreasing disability is to B.E.F.A.S.T.:
- Balance – Is there trouble with balance or coordination?
- Eyes – Has the person experienced blurred, double, or loss of vision?
- Face – Look for an uneven smile
- Arm – Check if one arm is weak
- Speech – Listen for slurred speech
- Time – Call 911 right away
Walk with a Doc takes place on the second Saturday of every month from May through October. The walks start promptly at 8:30 a.m. at the Peachtree City Market at Aberdeen Village and go to Battery Way Boat Dock and back (approximately 40 minutes). Walk participants are encouraged to shop with Peachtree City Market vendors after the walk.
“We are so excited to invite the community to join us for the 2023 Walk with a Doc series,” said Paige Muh, Director of Community Relations for Piedmont Fayette. “This walk also coincides with Healthcare Week, so Piedmont Fayette employees are encouraged to join the walk and showcase their Piedmont pride.”
Walk with a Doc is free, but reservations are required. Email PFHRSVP@piedmont.org to save your spot.
Visit piedmont.org/walkwithadoc for more information.
About Piedmont:
Piedmont is empowering Georgians by changing health care. We continue to fuel Georgia’s growth through safe, high-quality care close to home through an integrated health care system that provides a hassle-free, unified experience. We are a private, not-for-profit organization that for centuries has lived up to our purpose to make a positive difference in every life we touch in the communities we serve. The Leapfrog Group, a non-profit organization that rates hospitals on safety, has consistently awarded Piedmont more A grades than any system in Georgia. Across our 1,600 physical locations we care for 3.7 million patients and serve communities that comprise 80 percent of Georgia’s population. This includes 22 hospitals, 65 Piedmont Urgent Care centers, 25 QuickCare locations, 1,875 Piedmont Clinic physician practices and nearly 3,100 Piedmont Clinic members. Millions of patients conveniently engage with Piedmont online, as they visited Piedmont.org and Piedmont MyChart over 30 million times, scheduled more than 515,000 online appointments and over 154,000 virtual visits. With more than 37,000 care givers we are the largest Georgia-based employer of Georgians, who all came for the job, but stayed for the people. In 2023, Piedmont has earned recognition from Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity and also as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women. In 2022, Forbes ranked Piedmont on its list of the Best Large Employers in the United States. In addition, Piedmont provided nearly $360 million in Community Benefit in Fiscal Year 2022, including approximately $310 million in uncompensated care.
For more information, or booking your next appointment, visit piedmont.org.
