Pleasant Valley Hospital held a ribbon cutting for its Center for Women’s Health on Wednesday. Pictured are hospital staff, community leaders and members of the focus group of ladies who contributed to the center’s development by women for women.

slideshow

POINT PLEASANT — Made for women, by women - that’s a powerful statement and foundation.

It’s also a powerful start for Pleasant Valley Hospital’s Center for Women’s Health which had its official ribbon cutting on Wednesday.

Women can now get all their diagnostic tests and annual screenings during one visit in one convenient location - and it’s a location which appears more like a spa than a hospital. PVH went to great lengths to make the center not only private but soothing. In fact, the changing rooms are more like something a person might find in a high-end department store.. There is art on the walls and even a little poetry by Maya Angelou reminding all - “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Before cutting the ribbon and opening the doors Wednesday, Tom Schauer, PVH chief executive officer, gave the welcome, telling those gathered that the center will enhance the hospital’s ability to deliver care and ultimately improve health outcomes and reduce disparities for many women who find it a challenge to schedule multiple appointments.

Schauer said the center will be home to Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner Tammy Lynch. Lynch is board certified in Women’s Health Care.

Following Schauer, Connie Davis, senior director of ancillary services arrived at the podium, speaking about building the center to recognize women in the area do have specialized needs. Meeting these needs in a timely, convenient and non hospital “clinical like” environment were all part of the mission for the center. Another goal of the center, Davis said, is to connect patients to the services and physicians needed to ensure rapid diagnosis and treatment.

Davis also spoke about the center organizing a community focus group consisting of women from ages 16-64 which helped direct the center’s growth and direction. In short, this is a center created by women for women in a very real sense.

Tiny Merry of Gallipolis, Ohio, who is also a member of the focus group, spoke about the pressures facing women and how often, women take care of themselves last - an unfortunate reality the Center for Women’s Health hopes to alleviate.

Finally, Dr. Agnes Simon took the podium and spoke about how the Center for Women’s Health will strengthen the coordinated care PVH currently offers. Screenings at the center will include physical examinations, check ups, bone density testing, mammography, ultrasound, non-surgical breast biopsy, EKG/stress test, vascular/stroke screening, pap smear, birth control, chest X-ray and much more.

To schedule an appointment at the Center for Women’s Health, call 304-675-4301. The center is located just to the left when entering the main lobby at PVH.