| New Women's Center Serves Patients with Complex Gynecologic Conditions |
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It’s no secret that millions of women endure the embarrassment of incontinence, suffer with pelvic pain or experience problems with sexual desire. Yet, many women are unsure about where to go or whom to see when a problem is not readily “fixed” during a routine visit to the gynecologist.
Sensitive to addressing a wide range of gynecological issues with top-notch medical treatment in a comfortable, confidential atmosphere, Good Samaritan Hospital has implemented the first phase of its Women’s Center for Specialized Care.
Gathered in Suite 100 of the Good Samaritan Medical Office Building are some of the most well-known specialty physicians in the region and across the country. Medical professionals are available to provide diagnosis and treatment for a range of women’s health issues, including
- Urogynecology (prolapse, bladder and incontinence problems)
- Pelvic pain and vaginal and vulvar disorders
- Gynecologic cancer (cancer of the ovaries, uterus, cervix, vagina and vulva)
- Sexual dysfunction
Procedure rooms are available for diagnostic tests of the bladder and other pelvic organs. Physical therapy and acupuncture offer women additional options to alleviate symptoms and promote healing. “Our diagnosis and treatment work synergistically with these therapies. We’re heading toward an all-encompassing women’s health area,” states Rachel Pauls MD, medical director of the center.
The center's gynecologic oncologists subspecialize in cancers of the female reproductive organs, offering women both surgical and medical options in treating endometrial, ovarian and other women's cancers. “We provide total patient care,” explains Helmut Schellhas MD, gynecologic oncologist. “We are specialty-trained to perform surgery, manage chemotherapy treatment and perform follow-up gynecologic exams.”
He sees the potential to perform outpatient procedures at the center, such as biopsies and treatment of minor lesions in the lower genital tract.
For patients who meet appropriate criteria, robotic-assisted surgery is performed by Dr. Schellhas' partner, Jack Basil MD, as well as Dr. Pauls and Steven Kleeman MD. Robotic-assisted surgery can be used for bladder repairs, hysterectomies, removing cancer of the reproductive organs, and repairing pelvic organ prolapse (collapse of supporting structures that hold an organ in place).
“Our specialists seek solutions for complex health conditions, serving women for whom standard gynecologic treatments may not work,” explains Marcia Swehla, director of TriHealth Women’s Services.
This superior care, Swehla notes, is provided in an atmosphere that makes patients feel “welcome, invited and well cared for. We want women to feel comfortable and at ease.” Dr. Schellhas concurs: “It's an elegant facility that provides a wonderful environment for patient care.”
“Our Women’s Center has been a long time in the works,” Swehla continues. “We’re excited to have it open and to allow it to evolve as we add services and increase our team of medical experts.”
Plans for 2008 include bringing a colorectal surgeon to the center and adding integrative health services such as healing touch and guided imagery.
For more information about the Good Samaritan Women's Center for Specialized care, call (513) 862-1888.
This article was originally published in the Winter 2008 issue of Compassion, a quarterly publication of Good Samaritan Hospital and the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation. © 2008
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