POINT PLEASANT — The area’s only Center for Women’s Health will open its doors on Monday, May 6 at Pleasant Valley Hospital.

The Center for Women’s Health has been years in the making and recently made the leap from idea to reality. The hospital will celebrate the opening of the center on May 15 with tours and a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Designed by women for women, the new center is located in an expanded area inside the main lobby of PVH. This private and conveniently located space is newly renovated and designed to meet the outpatient needs of women. Women can now receive all of their diagnostic tests and annual screenings during one visit at one convenient location.

“The Center for Women’s Health enhances our ability to deliver care and ultimately improve health outcomes and reduce disparities for many women who find it a challenge to come to multiple appointments,” stated Tom Schauer, chief executive officer.

Agnes A. Enrico Simon, MD, president of the medical staff, further commented, “The location will serve as a medical home for women’s health enabling us to offer diagnostic tests and annual screenings in one convenient place and often during the same visit. This enhances our ability to provide coordinated care for our patients.”

Appointments are available with Tammy Lynch, nurse practitioner board-certified in Women’s Health Care (WHNP-BC). She completed a Master of Science Degree and a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Program at the Ohio State University. Lynch received her certification in Women’s Health from the National Certification Corporation. Lynch also completed post-graduate work in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program from the West Virginia University School of Nursing. She was certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

The Center for Women’s Health serves women of all ages in need of outpatient diagnostic tests and annual screenings. Diagnostic tests include those for obstetrics and gynecology, laboratory, breast, heart, and vascular. Annual screening examinations include mammogram, breast, pap smear, bone density, physical examination, and check-ups. Other diagnostic tests and screenings are available.

The Center for Women’s Health includes members of Pleasant Valley Hospital’s Radiology Department. The Radiology Department maintains a gold seal accreditation by the American College of Radiology (ACR). The ACR gold seal accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR practice guidelines and technical standards, following a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and the medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess the qualifications of the physicians and staff, image quality, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality of care provided to their patients.

Suresh K. Agrawal, MD, medical director of radiology, stated, “We are pleased to have the latest medical imaging technology and to earn and maintain the highest level of accreditation from ACR, the ACR gold seal. We are among a limited number of hospitals in the tri-state area holding the highest level of accreditation in image quality and patient safety.”

“The decision to build the center was, in large part, due to our recognizing that women in the area need a specialized center that can provide timely services,” stated Connie Davis, senior director of ancillary services. “Women are responsible for balancing the needs of their home and growing families, and some women are also responsible for caring for their parents and other relatives. With everyone depending on her, we know this means she has little time to focus on her health needs. That is why our team of women at Pleasant Valley Hospital decided to design The Center for Women’s Health.”

Davis went on to say, “We also created a community focus group for the center that consists of women from ages 15 to 64. The focus group members are from Mason and Jackson Counties in West Virginia and Gallia and Meigs Counties in Ohio. We look forward to expanding the center in the near future using their direction and ideas.”

This focus group will continue to be a part of the Women’s Health Center and initial feedback from those involved included: hiring staff who listen to women and are accountable for their care; offering affordable diagnostic testing for those who are insured, underinsured or not insured; addressing not only the physical health of women but mental health issues; addressing the needs of new mothers; assuring the new center was aesthetically inviting to women.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 304-675-4301.