This month, a Women’s Health Program will be formalized in the Women’s Health Centre at Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH). The Program will offer services to women from adolescent to geriatric ages. Women are able to self refer to the centre, allowing access to care for women who are without a family physician. 

The focus of the Program will be to provide annual physical assessments, recommended routine screening for disease and wellness promotion.  The Program will be a point of access for women to preventative screening based on practice guidelines for tests such as pap smears, mammography, bone density and screening for chronic diseases such as arthritis, diabetes and lipid disorders.

“Education and regular screening are keys to prevention and detection of disease. Women will have access to current information and health promotion on topics such as nutrition, pre and post menopause issues, sexual health and healthy lifestyle,” said Susan Plewes, Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at SMH. “With this Program and the anticipated return of Labor and Delivery, the SMH Women’s Health Centre will be able to provide enhanced services for all women and newborns in the community.”

The Women’s Health Program will enhance the care that is currently available in the Primary Care Clinics at SMH. There will be integration with existing programs at Stevenson Memorial Hospital, such as diabetes education, mental health services, kidney care, eye care, and cardiac rehabilitation.  A multidisciplinary team including registered nurses, nurse practitioners, dietitians, family physicians and other professionals will provide comprehensive care to clients of the Program and will refer to specialists when necessary.

“The well women visits to our Primary Care Clinics over the last two years have demonstrated the vast need for this kind of support”, said Lorraine Johnston, Nurse Practitioner in the Primary Care Clinic at Stevenson Memorial Hospital.  “Many women have not had screening for a number of years because they don’t have a family physician and they use the Emergency Department, or after hour clinics in other communities, for primary care.”

Access to other important programs and services will be provided utilizing the network within New Tecumseth and surrounding hospitals.  For example, by providing service to women in the older age group, the Program will complement the services currently provided by Simcoe County Public Health.  The Program will also endeavor to provide some appointment times later in the day to accommodate women in the work force. 

“Without a family physician, many women in our community are not having tests that help in the early detection of diseases,” said Dr. Nigel Gripper, Chair of the SMH Board. “The hospital is trying to assist women through this Program and is also actively engaged in the search for more physicians, both obstetrician/gynecologists and family practitioners, to serve the entire community.”

Initially the Women’s Health Program will be offered one day a week on Thursdays and appointments can be booked now by calling (705) 434-5114.  As the demand for services grows, clinic times will be increased.