UC renovates OB-GYN clinic

The University of Cincinnati recently renovated its obstetrics and gynecology office, effectively doubling the size of the clinic.

The office, which is on East campus, was expanded to 25,000 square feet and went from six to 12 exam rooms and from one procedure room to two.

The office was moved from the fifth floor and renovated in order to expand the practice.

Karen Hurt, the office manager, said the renovation has been extremely beneficial.

"At our old space we could only have two to three physicians practicing at one time," she said. "Now we can easily accommodate four at a time."

The office currently has six practicing doctors and five certified nurse-midwives. The certified nurse-midwives are registered nurses with masters (or sometimes doctoral) degrees who are board certified and licensed to practice in all 50 states. The nurse-midwives offer obstetric care and mostly see pregnant women, but also see some gynecology problems and provide contraceptive placements. 

The office also recruited Dr. Mary South who specializes in urogynecology and pelvic reconstructive surgery. There is also a gynecology oncologist on staff, who specializes in cancer treatment.

Regular obstetrics and gynecology services – including pap smears, breast exams and STD testing – are offered at the East Campus office. They also offer prescriptions for birth control, diaphragms and intra-uterine device (IUD) placements, but do not offer condoms. They do not provide abortion services.

Certain operations, such as the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) procedure, which removes abnormal cells that cause dysplasia, and colposcopy procedures (looking at the cervix through a special magnifying device called a colposcope) can be done at the office.

The human papillomavirus vaccine, Gardasil, can also be administered at the clinic.

Hurt said the campus office is convenient.

"If you need a mammogram done, or lab work or a pelvic ultrasound, you can get all of it done in the same building," she said.

The proximity to campus and the expanded space will allow more students to take advantage of the facility.

"[Regular gynecology exams] are extremely important," Hurt said.

Because the office is located on East Campus, not many students are well informed of its availability.

"I hadn't heard of the office," said Latisha Sullivan, a third-year biology student. "It would be helpful for girls that can't get home to their regular gynecologist, or for girls who don't have a car to get to the office."

There is also another clinical site in West Chester.

Student health insurance is accepted at the OB-GYN office, with a referral from the patient's regular doctor. They also offer private health insurance, but do not accept Medicaid. If students don't have student health insurance, they can still make an appointment with a $150 deposit.

Returning patients without health insurance pay $75. The office is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For more information, call 513-475-8588, or visit www.ucphysicians.com.