Meet DeKalb Medical's 1st Baby of 2013

Griffin Guest was born at 5:48 a.m. Jan. 1, weighing over 10 pounds.

DeKalb Medical sent along this happy news. DeKalb Medical ushered in its first baby of the New Year at 5:48 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan 1. Griffin Guest made his debut weighing in at more than 10 pounds. He is the first child of Mr. Marshall and Mrs. Sarah Guest, who reside in Decatur. Mother Baby Unit Nurse Manager Cheryl Norman, at left, presented the family with a lovely gift basket on behalf of March of Dimes, to celebrate its 75-year anniversary. Fox 5 reported that Metro Atlanta's first baby of 2013 was Farron "Curtis" Chandler, who born exactly at midnight at Piedmont Hospital. In Commerce, Ga., a baby was born in Walmart on Wednesday, becoming Banks County's first baby of 2013, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reported.

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DeKalb Medical Wellness Center's New Hours

The Wellness Center at DeKalb Medical will switch to new operating hours starting July 1.

The Wellness Center at DeKalb Medical, which features an indoor pool and indoor track along with cardio and weight machines, towel service, classes and newly-renovated locker rooms, is switching some of its weekend operating hours starting on July 1. The center will be open from 5:30am to 7:30pm on Fridays and 8am to 4pm on Sundays. Otherwise, the hours remain the same: 5:30am to 9pm on other weekdays and 8am to 4pm on Saturdays. Click here for a schedule of classes at the Wellness Center. The center has discounted membership fees for employees of DeKalb Medical, the City of Decatur, the DeKalb County School System and City Schools of Decatur. Thanks to Nick at the Wellness Center for the tip.

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DeKalb Medical Wins Vanguard Award

DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis will honor DeKalb Medical with a CEO's Community Hero award on April 29.

The CEO's Community Hero Awards, hosted by DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis in partnership with The Champion Newspaper, celebrates county residents and organizations that have made a big impact in the county through their volunteerism. Among the honorees this year is DeKalb Medical, which will receive the Vanguard Award for an organization. The Vanguard Award is given to the organization that best represents the National County Government Month slogan for the year. This year's slogan is Healthy Counties, Healthy Families. DeKalb Medical has a variety of community outreach programs aimed at keeping the county healthy, including health screenings, talks by physicians, Lunch and Learn and special events for teens and seniors. The Community …

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POLL: Would You Use the New Light Rail Line?

MARTA approved a new $1.16 billion line connecting Lindbergh Station and its Avondale station with several North Druid Hills-area stops in between. If built, we want to know, would you be a frequent user?

MARTA approved yesterday a $1.16 billion plan to build 8.8 miles of light rail between its existing Lindbergh Station and Avondale train stops. Also known as its Clifton Corridor plan. The new rail would whiz through the Emory area on its way with several stops in the North Decatur/North Druid Hills area, including Emory-Clairmont, North Decatur, Suburban Plaza and DeKalb Medical Center. It's a big, juicy, ambitious whopper of a transportation plan, and while MARTA's sign off is significant, this project has quite a few more approvals and hoops to step through before you're standing on a train platform. (Including a regional one-cent sales tax vote July 31 that would cover $700 million of the project's cost.) MARTA officials said yesterday…

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Winn Medical Center Near DeKalb Medical Sells for $3.7M

Atlanta-based Ackerman & Co. bought the complex of 62,000 square feet and is current looking for tenants, according to Neighbor Newspapers.

Doctor Who Performed First Surgery at DeKalb Medical Dead at 91

Dr. Leslie Cooper Buchanan of Decatur, who helped the medical center open in 1961, died Wednesday of respiratory failure.

Dr. Leslie "Buck" Buchanan, a well-known former chief of medical staff and early father to DeKalb Medical, died Wednesday, according to news reports. He was 91. Buchanan, who performed the first surgery at the medical center after it opened in 1961, died of respiratory failure in Budd Terrace, Emory Healthcare, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Buchanan was deeply involved in the community. Among many duties, he taught at Emory University in the '90s and served in leadership positions at North Decatur Methodist Church. He was also a well-known Rotarian. From the AJC story: Dr. John S. Kennedy of Stone Mountain, who took over Dr. Buchanan’s 34-year surgical practice when the latter retired in 1987, said he quickly found his …

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Personal Information Stolen From DeKalb Medical Patients

The Secret Service is investigating how information was stolen from the North Decatur health system's Hillandale facility.

Some bad news for DeKalb Medical. The U.S. Secret Service is investigating how patients' personal information was stolen from the health system's Hillandale facility, WSB-TV reported. About 7,500 patients may have been affected by the theft, which investigators believe was used to file fake tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service. The information stolen was taken from patients who visited the system's Hillandale facility between July and October 2010, the TV station reported. “DeKalb Medical is deeply committed not only to the care of our patients, but to the protection of all information entrusted to us. We sincerely regret that this personal information was compromised and are notifying and offering services to all individuals …

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Weekend Planner

Want to know what's going on in the neighborhood this weekend? Patch lets you know.

It’s Thursday, and you’ve got no idea what you’ll do for the weekend. Patch is coming to the rescue with a line up to suit all ages. From sleep support to park support (and some relaxing entertainment in between), enjoy these weekend bets. 1.  DOC TALKS: ABCs OF GOOD SLEEP When/Where: Thursday from 6pm to 7pm in the DeKalb Medical Theatre Why Go: If you are having problems with sleep - or if you wish to improve your sleep - this event is for you! Join Dr. Joseph Weissman, a DeKalb Medical neurologist, as he discusses overcoming sleep disorders. Weissman will offer tips for improving sleep and will also explain when help should be sought to treat sleep problems. Pricing:  This event is free but registration is required. 2.  KITTREDGE PARK …

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