TriStar is growing and a number of noteworthy happenings have occurred recently. The TriStar Centennial Medical Center welcomed Craig T. Wright, M.D. to the medical staff. He joined Sterling Primary Care, part of TriStar Medical Group. Dr. Wright began seeing patients August 7th in his Patterson Street office.
The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center at TriStar Centennial earned a three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Cancer (NAPBC) for providing the highest quality of care. “This accreditation is a testament to our dedication and commitment to offer patients every advantage in their battle against breast disease” said Patti Moser, administrator for Sarah Cannon Cancer Center. “We are honored to be recognized by the NAPBC and believe this accreditation is a strong foundation by which we will continue to build out our offering as a breast center of excellence.”
The TriStar Centennial Medical Center also announced Laura Asherbranner as the new director of respiratory services. She comes from the StoneCrest Center to join the Centennial team. She was instrumental in developing the cardiopulmonary services at StoneCrest since it opened in 2003 and has increased her talents and leadership ever since. “Laura brings with her an excellent track record of creating a collaborative working environment and developing successful teams,” said Andrew Bedi, Associate Administrator, at TriStar Centennial Medical Center. “Her comprehensive knowledge and experience will allow TriStar Centennial to continue providing industry-leading respiratory care services for our patients.” In her new role, Asherbranner will oversee respiratory services for all of TriStar Centennial’s cardiopulmonary services.
The most recent news from TriStar is that the Centennial location now offers non-surgical treatment for Barrett’s Esophagus. An innovative, minimally-invasive outpatient treatment that destroys pre-cancerous tissue in the lining of the esophagus is being performed at TriStar Centennial Medical Center. The procedure, endoscopic radiofrequency ablation therapy using the HALO System, has been featured in the New England Journal of Medicine as a highly effective treatment for the eradication of Barrett’s esophagus. During the 30 minute procedure, an ablation catheter is positioned on the abnormal esophageal tissue and using controlled bursts of heat, the physician removes a very thin layer of the diseased esophagus. Barrett’s esophagus is a condition where cells of the esophageal lining are damaged, most commonly as a result of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
“While GERD is not an indication of Barrett’s esophagus, it is a precursor to the condition since overexposure of acid to the esophageal lining is known to cause cell mutation. Left untreated, as many as 15 percent of patients with GERD are diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus, which in turn can increase a patient’s risk for esophageal cancer, one of the deadliest forms of cancer,” said Frist Clinic gastroenterologist Jon Schneider, M.D. “The ablation procedure allows us to quickly and effectively treat this condition, eliminating the need for major surgery, which until recently was the standard of care.” To learn more about this minimally-invasive procedure or to schedule a consultation with a TriStar Centennial Medical Center gastroenterologist, call TriStar MedLine® at (615) 342-1919.
