GEORGETOWN Georgetown Community Hospital (GCH) and UK Healthcare have been partnering on various service lines for several years. In 2010, a partnership between UK OB/GYN and GCH Women’s Health began when Joseph Haynes, MD, OB/GYN, started practicing at GCH exclusively.
UK Healthcare is a natural partner in any service line, says William Haugh, CEO at GCH. “Georgetown Community Hospital is a community hospital, and we do an excellent job meeting the needs of the citizens in Georgetown and Scott County. There are service lines that do not make sense for us to provide, and that is where UK is a great partner. UK is a comprehensive, complex academic medical center that excels in providing highly specialized services throughout Kentucky and bordering states,” says Haugh.
“When you look at OB/GYN specifically, UK is a great partner because of the resources available through the expertise of their faculty, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, Chandler Hospital, UK Medical School, Kentucky Kids Crew, and their Level III NICU,” adds Haugh.
UK Physicians with Kentucky and Scott County Roots
Lauren Beaven, MD, OB/GYN, grew up in Georgetown from the age of seven, attending Scott County High School, then Georgetown College, and University of Kentucky College of Medicine. She completed her residency at the UK Chandler Medical Center. OB/GYN was the specialty that made her feel at home. “I was able to find everything I needed from a career in medicine, to be happy and successful. I love caring for women, educating them, helping them grow their families, and keeping them healthy so they enjoy long productive lives,” says Beaven.
“Being at UK offered me the opportunity to give the best care I am capable of while serving the community I grew up in,” says Beaven.
Joseph Haynes, MD, OB/GYN, grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, attended the University of Missouri, Columbia, and medical school at the University of Kansas, Kansas City. During college Haynes says his mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, leading to his interest in the field. “While she has passed, my ambition to improve the health of all women endures,” says Haynes.
Haynes came to UK for residency. “My wife has an interest in horses, and we liked the area and people so well we didn’t want to leave. When the opportunity came up to develop a new practice in Georgetown about four years ago, with UK’s support, I went for it,” says Haynes.
Beaven and Haynes are employed by UK Healthcare with their practice solely in Georgetown delivering babies and performing surgery at GCH, providing general obstetrics and gynecology care. “It’s a private practice feel with the resources of UK to support us,” says Haynes. “Our foundation is on evidence-based medicine. We are a small practice that is growing rapidly. We expect to add a third partner in August 2015,” adds Beaven.
Specialized Training
Both Beaven and Haynes trained in residency on the da Vinci Surgical System, and GCH has a new da Vinci robotic system with expectations to use the robot within a year for the more complicated laparoscopic procedures. Both are proficient with traditional laparoscopy and do most hysterectomy cases vaginally or with traditional laparoscopy, as indicated. However, with the rise in c-sections and obesity, those cases are becoming increasingly difficult.
If there’s one theme or modus operandi at GCH Maternity & OB/GYN, it’s providing personalized care and patient involvement, say Beaven and Haynes. “We strive to educate our patients and accommodate any needs and wishes that are safe. We’re interested in new strategies for pre-term birth prevention, as well as prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders with a simple blood test.” Beaven and Haynes strive to keep c-section rates as low as possible, while providing safe delivery, so they do not deliver electively before 39 weeks, unless it is medically indicated. They encourage breastfeeding and kangaroo care. “Most pregnancies are normal, but it is our job to identify problems before they become serious, if possible,” says Haynes.
“Pregnancy is also a great time to improve overall health habits, such as eating habits or smoking,” adds Beaven.
Emerging Trends: Balancing Traditional Care with New Technology
“I think the trend is getting back to basics, with a pull-back in some technologies,” says Haynes. With warnings about using mesh and the power morcellator, there is a continued effort to prevent bad outcomes for patients. With an interest in minimally invasive surgery, the vaginal approach is their first choice for hysterectomy. “We are interested in single-site hysterectomies at Georgetown Community Hospital,” says Beaven. “Some patients with fibroids and heavy bleeding may be able to avoid a hysterectomy altogether with devices like the Novosure and Myosure,” says Haynes.
With the resources of UK, Beaven and Haynes have colleagues in Maternal Fetal Medicine, Urogynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Pediatric and Adolescent GYN, Oncofertility, and GYN Oncology that they work with closely. “Having friends at the front lines of research allows us to stay current on best practices,” says Haynes.
Younger patients are welcomed. Says Beaven, “We discuss available birth control and preventing sexually transmitted infections. We also educate about HPV and the vaccine for it.” Pap smear screening is now recommended to start at age 21 for most individuals. Low-risk patients may not need pap smears as often as before, but a yearly visit is still important. As patients age, there are more diseases to screen for. Cholesterol and thyroid screening, mammograms, colonoscopies, and bone density testing all become important. Counseling on other issues like smoking, eating healthy, and exercising is also part of their routine. “We believe we can help women of all ages to be their healthiest,” says Haynes.
The OB/GYN Misconception
Every specialty has lingering misconceptions among the profession and the public. “The biggest misconception from the general public is that we just deliver babies,” says Dr. Haynes. “Certainly we offer routine screenings, office procedures, ultrasound services, and surgical options for gynecologic conditions. But the other misconception is that our job is always so happy. Any woman that has suffered through a miscarriage, infertility, pelvic pain, stillbirth, or a cancer diagnosis will tell you that a compassionate and empathetic physician can make a difference in a person’s life. We will be there in good times and bad.”