New innovative technology plus multiple reaccreditations, quality awards and national recognition for staff highlighted the first quarter of FY 2026 for Piedmont Augusta.
In July, Piedmont Augusta was nationally recognized for its commitment to providing high-quality stroke care by receiving the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plusquality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability, according to a news release from Piedmont Augusta.
The hospital also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with thrombolytic therapy, the news release continued.
Piedmont Augusta received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes™ Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.
Piedmont further expanded access to lung care options by merging with Augusta Lung Associates. The new name of the Augusta Lung Associates location is Piedmont Physicians Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine at Broad Street. At this time, the office will remain at 1201 Broad Street, Augusta, as our new joint facility is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in early 2026.
In August, Piedmont Augusta conducted successful DNV surveys for their LVAD program and Comprehensive Stroke Center.
Piedmont Augusta was the first hospital in the CSRA to offer an innovative approach to provide relief for patients suffering from a distinct type of chronic low back pain (CLBP) called vertebrogenic pain. The Intracept® Procedure is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure which targets a nerve located in the vertebrae called the basivertebral nerve (BVN).
During the procedure, Dr. Steven Hanling advances a specialized probe into the vertebrae and uses radiofrequency energy to heat the BVN, rendering it unable to transmit pain signals to the brain. The Intracept Procedure generally takes an hour to perform and is implant free, preserving the overall structure of the spine.
The Advanced Heart Failure Program at Piedmont Augusta reached a milestone Aug. 19 by implanting its 500th CardioMEMS HF sensor, the first of its kind remote home monitoring system for heart failure patients. For congestive heart failure patients, the CardioMEMS HF sensor provides real-time notification of patient changes, and simple, convenient access to secure data for proactive, personalized patient management. It can lead to improved quality of life, lower hospitalizations and reduced mortality, according to Advanced Heart Failure Medical Director Darshak Karia.
Piedmont Augusta performed its 100th Aquablation, an innovative, minimally-invasive surgical procedure to treat an enlarged prostate. Using traditional visual imaging as well as robotic technology, a surgeon controls a heat-free waterjet to remove problematic prostate tissue that is obstructing the bladder. Aquablation doesn’t require an incision and takes less than an hour to complete, operating with precision, tailoring to the patient’s anatomy, so there are fewer complications and a faster recovery time.
The Piedmont Augusta Family Care Center hosted the grand opening of the Fairey Family Room in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. In this beautiful new space, families can stay overnight with their longtime NICU babies prior to discharge.
The parents care for their baby with the clinical team close by, which eases the transition from hospital to home, reducing stress and empowering parents with skills they need for discharge. The room was made possible by a gift to Piedmont Augusta Foundation by the Fairey Family.
Breastfeeding is not only good for babies, but also great for moms and the environment. Piedmont Augusta was excited to support area families by celebrating National Breastfeeding Month with activities to raise awareness about breastfeeding among patients and staff, as well as special onesies for all babies born at Piedmont Augusta during the month of August.
In September, Piedmont Augusta Vascular Surgeon and Medical Director of Vascular Surgery Houman Tamaddon, M.D., was named one of America’s Top 10 Vascular Surgeons for 2025 by Newsweek. Dr. Tamaddon also recently became the first in the region to implant the Zenith® Iliac Branch System, a cutting-edge device developed by Cook Medical for the treatment of complex iliac artery aneurysms.
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