Housecall

Are you planning to start or grow your family at Columbus Community Hospital? If so, you'll be cared for by an exceptional team that includes dedicated obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYNs) and a nurse-midwife from Columbus Women's Healthcare.

These providers partner with CCH's labor and delivery nurses to deliver hundreds of babies here each year, while also providing surgical and postsurgical care at the hospital and comprehensive women's health services in their outpatient clinic.

From prenatal checkups to delivery

Comprehensive obstetric care begins in the Columbus Women's Healthcare office, with prenatal care visits for both uncomplicated and high-risk pregnancies, including multiple births, preeclampsia and diabetes. The team manages all types of deliveries at CCH and often performs any special monitoring required to evaluate pregnancy concerns. The obstetrics team works closely with CCH labor and delivery nurses to make sure moms and babies have a safe, positive birth experience.

"It starts with education in the clinic, along with the patients seeing us, getting to know all of us and building rapport," said Nicholas Wulf, DO. "That transfers through to when they're admitted to the hospital. And then their labor and delivery nurse provides a lot of support."

The practice's certified nurse-midwife, Heidi Abbott, often remains present in the room during labor to provide extra-supportive patient care.

"When you get to help bring a life into the world and be part of that moment for a family, nothing can beat that," said Kady Kiichler, MD.

Expert surgical and recovery care

The OB-GYN physicians also perform gynecologic surgeries at CCH, including procedures that help with ovarian cysts, pelvic pain, endometriosis, uterine polyps and abnormal menstrual bleeding. Procedures range from hysteroscopic endometrial ablations to da Vinci robotic-assisted hysterectomies. The technology enables surgeons to make smaller cuts than in traditional surgery.

"Our focus is minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, so we use small incisions or no incisions," Wulf said.
Many surgeries — even some hysterectomies — are performed on an outpatient basis. Patients who stay for recovery receive care both from CCH's nurses and their OB-GYN physician in the maternal child health unit.
In addition to providing postoperative care, the OB-GYNs diagnose and manage the gynecologic conditions of women who come to the emergency room, as well as those who are hospitalized for such issues.

Care throughout your life

In its outpatient clinic, the OB-GYN team provides complete women's health care for all stages of life. That includes well-woman exams and management of abnormal periods, fertility issues, gynecologic pain and menopause symptoms. Team members also provide incontinence treatments and perform minor in-office procedures.

The group cares deeply for patients while staying current with the newest research and recommendations, noted Kara Weishaar, MD.

"We also use shared decision-making with our patients," she said. "This means that the women we care for can trust us to offer counseling and recommendations on all of the options available, and to support them in making the best treatment choices for their individual situations."

Focused on you and your family

In the clinic and at CCH, the OB-GYN team is focused on you and all your gynecologic needs. Wulf, Kiichler, Weishaar and Abbott are joined by nurse practitioners Jennifer Nekl, APRN, and Karla Coria, APRN, who provide care to patients in the clinic and assist with procedures. Together, they take the time to personalize your care.

"We really want to get to know you and see what your concerns are — how can we help?" Kiichler said. "We make sure you walk out of our office feeling like we listened."

From the front desk to the care team and everyone in between, patients are at the heart of everything they do. Their top priority is offering the best, evidence-based care possible for the community.

"We value our community, and we value being here," Kiichler said. "It's a privilege to provide care."

Categories: Women's health