Some changes may be coming to HCHC's Obstetrics Unit

By MEGAN COOPER

Mt. Pleasant News

Some changes could be coming in the near future to the obstetrics unit at the Henry County Health Center.

HCHC CEO Robb Gardner discussed with board of trustees during Tuesday?s meeting about the possibility of adding two midwives to the provider list.

?We have Dr. Kent Metcalf and Dr. Kent Rynders leaving at the end of December,? began Gardner. ?After that, come January we only have Dr. Robert Smith left.?

According to Gardner, the future of the unit will have to be discussed, and so he brought the situation to the board to plant the seed.

?What?s our next step? Our plan? Do we continue as we are now?? asked Gardner of the Trustees. ?I know I want to say that we are still invested in providing those services, but we might have to change the model.

?We talked about adding certified nurse midwives to the provider list,? said Gardner. ?They would be there to deliver babies and help with women?s health. It?s a different step but it?s a direction we could take. Of course education would be needed.?

According to Dr. Joel Ryon, the midwives would provide prenatal care from the beginning.

?A midwife encompasses everything,? said Gardner. ?Family Medicine is supportive of them as well and I think it could be good.?

Board member Carmen Heaton stressed that having prenatal care in Henry County is needed and is in our community?s best interest.

?We want the model to be successful,? added Gardner. ?We will get all the information needed to approach this for the August meeting. Dr. Robert Smith is supportive of this as well and he worked with midwives in the military. Midwives are there from the beginning and up to 28 days after birth, it?s an important step. I will bring an official recommendation to the August meeting.?

Construction on HCHC is nearing completion as the last part of the work is the canopy by the radiology department.

?They put the metal siding on last week,? said Gardner. ?Everything is coming along nicely. There were some weather delays, but it should be done in the middle of August. It looks great and will help to protect patients.?

The canopy will serve to give a more professional atmosphere when the mobile MRI truck comes to assist patients and to give them more protection from the elements when they are receiving treatments.

Board member Jan Towne was in charge of the inspection of the hospital this time around, and instead of doing an interior inspection, she took it upon herself to do an exterior inspection, which came back with good results.

?I checked the exterior of the hospital as if I were someone new to the community,? said Towne. ?I even looked at the parking lot, the signage to get to the hospital and so much more. It all looks great. The landscaping was beautiful and the hospital really does look nice. The only thing I saw that needed some attention was the sign on South Jefferson Street. It?s faded, but other than that, everything looks good and it?s clear how to get to us here.?

The Henry County Board of Trustees will meet again in regular session on Tuesday, Aug. 19, at 12 p.m. in the HCHC board room.