Health & Safety

Information to assist with healthy living and lifestyle choices; patient, child and elder care.

Stronger opioid overdose reversal medicines worsen patients’ withdrawal symptoms

The idea of driving 80 miles per hour down the highway and having the car thrown into reverse — that’s a good comparison to...

Northeast Georgia Medical Center matches new class of fellows in cardiovascular disease

GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) will be joined by more physicians to care for patients with cardiovascular disease. Six new physicians...

More options, less stigma: How Georgians in recovery are breaking barriers to addiction care

For Jocelyn Wallace, a former paramedic from Douglas County, her opioid addiction started like many others — with a prescription to treat her pain...

Former U.S. surgeon general says new ‘fentanyl fighter’ should be available without a prescription

A former surgeon general is advocating for the use of an overdose reversal spray that is stronger and longer-lasting than Narcan. He says Georgia...

Public insurance claim database goes live in Georgia early next year

Early next year, the public will have access to a new tool that makes the cost of health care more transparent — it’s a...

NGHS partnership aims to improve dialysis experience and outcomes

Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) has entered a partnership to provide dialysis treatment in a way that may reduce infections and improve recovery time. Northeast...

Blindness Awareness Day event Saturday at Clarkesville Elementary School

Almost 20 million Americans — 8 percent of the U.S. population— have visual impairments. Such impairments, including blindness, are one of the leading causes...

Braselton surgery center receives accreditation

Patients in and around Braselton now have a new, accredited destination for surgeries outside the hospital. The Braselton Surgery Center, an affiliate of the...

State health officials warn of salmonella infections from pre-cut cantaloupe

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is urging Georgians to be cautious about eating pre-cut cantaloupe if they cannot verify its...
Gov. Brian Kemp signs mental health legislation

Insured Georgians can access mental health, addiction treatment

If your payments for mental health services are higher than for your primary care doctor or you can't see your mental health provider as...

The Alzheimer’s Association is funding $600K in Georgia. A new study is enrolling

Due in part to an aging population and the ability to detect Alzheimer's disease more accurately, more and more people are being diagnosed with...

Free COVID and flu testing kiosks available in Northeast Georgia

ATHENS, Ga. – The Northeast Health District is now offering COVID and influenza PCR testing at kiosks at five locations throughout the district. These...