Amy Riley, CNM and Dr. Ben Warren, Harbin Clinic Women's Center Cartersville
With a new year comes a renewed energy to invest in health and future goals, but sometimes knowing how to reach goals or how to get started can be a barrier to success.
This January, Harbin Clinic is highlighting women’s health as a part of cervical cancer awareness month while also reminding the community that their network of expert providers is prepared to support every stage of a woman’s life and health journey, from adolescence through menopause and beyond.
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- Dr. Raymond Jarvis, Harbin Clinic Women’s Center Rome
Cervical Cancer and Valuable Prevention:
Cervical cancer was once one of the most common causes of cancer deaths for American women, but today it is one of the most preventable forms of cancer thanks to opportunities for screening.
Annual wellness exams are a crucial step women of all ages can take to protect their health. They can expect providers to perform preventative screenings for breast cancer and gynecological cancers, such as ovarian, uterine and cervical cancer. These exams are essential to help women maintain their overall health and detect potential precancerous cell growth. In addition to a yearly exam, women between the ages of 21 and 65 should expect to have a Pap smear every three years and HPV testing every five years for those ages 25 to 65.
“Annual visits with an OB-GYN play a significant role in overall health and cancer prevention for women,” explains OB-GYN Dr. Ben Warren. “It allows physicians to identify the diseases in preliminary stages. For example, we can detect cervical cancer before it becomes precancerous or cancerous. For our patients, this outcome is the ideal situation.”
Along with screenings, annual visits include conversations on health and lifestyle behaviors, personal goals and a physical exam of breasts and pelvis. These visits are a great time for focused health guidance from your provider on potential health goals such as pre-pregnancy counseling or reproductive health, nutrition and exercise, mental wellness and more.
“Many of our goals at the Harbin Clinic Women’s Centers focus on establishing trusted relationships with our patients and recognizing the role their health history plays in the hopes they have for their future,” says OB-GYN Dr. Diana Vallecilla. “Regularly scheduling an annual well-woman visit allows us to walk beside you in your circumstances and stay a part of the conversation.”
Superior Care and Cutting-Edge Technology in Two Locations
If you are looking to schedule your annual wellness exam, Harbin Clinic Women’s Health has two locations, in Rome and Cartersville. They are staffed by obstetricians and gynecologists, certified nurse midwives (CNM), and highly trained nursing and support staff dedicated to healthcare excellence for women. The centers also house state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment technology such as 4D ultrasound equipment.
For those less familiar with CNMs, they have unique training and are excellent at acting as advocates for moms-to-be. They support personalized methods of care and healing, guided by the best evidence available. CNMs often use deep breathing, massage, visualization, varying a woman’s position during birth, etc. to help women with the natural, yet challenging, task of birth.
Harbin Clinic’s CNMs are supported with the full care team, including OB-GYNs, pediatricians, and with the regional hospital systems where they deliver babies. Both CNMs and OB-GYNs offer women the same nonsurgical, gynecological and obstetrical services such as: annual gynecological exams, full-spectrum prenatal care with all tests and screenings, birthing privileges and postpartum follow-ups. Mothers can also still receive medications such as epidurals while seeing a CNM if they choose to do so.
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- Dr. Diana Vallecilla, Harbin Clinic Women’s Center Rome
Describing the importance of this care, Harbin Clinic CNM Kim Millsap says, “As a Certified Nurse Midwife, I get to do the powerful work of providing women emotional support while focusing on prevention and health during all stages of their lives, including pregnancy and birth. And I do so in partnership with the excellent care team at the Women’s Center in Cartersville.”
Harbin Clinic providers offer a full range of specialized obstetric and gynecologic services, including adolescent gynecology, family planning, prenatal care, gynecologic surgery (including minimally invasive surgery), infertility evaluation and treatment, menopause treatment for hot flashes, osteoporosis, incontinence, bladder prolapse and annual well-woman exams.
Start your year out right with important preventative screenings while also experiencing the consistent, compassionate care of Harbin Clinic Women’s Centers at www.harbinclinic.com.
