April Newsletter
Letter From the Director
Dear Patients,
This month, we are thrilled to finally be opening the doors to our West Chester location! Construction is currently wrapping up, and providers and staff will be moving in the first two weeks of April. We will begin seeing patients at the new location on Monday, April 15. Check out the Center Scoop section of this issue to learn more about which programs and specialties will be up and running this month.
Plans are currently underway for a community open house on Saturday, May 18. So mark your calendars and spread the word. This is a great opportunity for women to tour the Center, meet the providers and find out what a multispecialty women’s health center is all about!
In this issue, we feature four Provider Perspectives (formerly Words of Wellness) on the latest health and medical news. Check them out for expert viewpoints on hot topics in Primary Care, Sexual Health, Breast Health and Integrative Medicine. And also in this month’s Center Scoop, we highlight My UC Health, a new patient service that provides secure and convenient online access to your health information, and an efficient option for communicating with us about appointments, test results and recommendations.
This month in Provider News, we welcome nurse practitioner Ann Stone to the Center. She will begin seeing patients in our Primary Care group on April 15. Lastly, be sure to check out the Support the Center section of this issue to find why your help is vital to our vision of improving women’s health in our region.
For our current patients, thank you for your patience as we transition our Red Bank Road practice to new procedures and to the EPIC medical records system. We appreciate your feedback and will continue to look for opportunities to enhance your experience with us.
And lastly, for our patients with Anthem who have questions about the ongoing negotiations with UC Health, please know that UC Health and our affiliated providers are working diligently to remain a part of Anthem’s network. As soon as decisions have been made, we will provide you with detailed information. In the meantime, if you have questions, please contact our community relations department, 513.585.7600.
As always, I thank you for the opportunity to partner with you in your health care and look forward to seeing you at the new West Chester location!
Lisa Larkin, MD, FACP, NCMP
Director, UC Health Women’s Center
Associate Professor and Division Director, Midlife Women’s Health and Primary Care,
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Center Scoop
UC Health Women’s Center – West Chester Opening in April
Drum roll, please! The UC Health Women’s Center is pleased to announce it will begin seeing patients at its West Chester location on Monday, April 15. Finally, women living in Greater Cincinnati will be able to receive comprehensive, evidence-based multispecialty care under one roof.
Check out our diverse specialty and program offerings
With many different specialty providers focusing on women’s health issues, we’re able to offer a variety of programs tailored to the special health needs of women. We’re pleased to offer our patients the following specialties at this time:
- Primary Care & Women’s Health
- Obstetrics
- Gynecology
- Urogynecology
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Integrative Medicine
In addition to these specialties, we’re also offering the following programs at this time:
Breast Health
We use a team approach to help our breast cancer patients. By doing so, we’re able to treat the “entire” patient, not just the cancer. Of course, we’ll do everything medically possible to get rid of the cancer and prevent it from ever coming back. But we also know how important things like good nutrition, sound emotional health and exercise are in a cancer patient’s complete recovery. That’s why, in addition to your core medical team (radiologists, surgeons, oncologists and nurses), we also include key ancillary providers (behavioral health, nutrition, integrative medicine, sexual health and menopause specialists) when developing your individualized treatment plan. Together, they thoughtfully consider all medical and holistic options, as well as take into account your personal preferences.
Sexual Health
We realize that women with sexual health problems may sometimes feel self-conscious. With that in mind, we are committed to helping put our patients at ease by providing an atmosphere that is professional, private and, above all else, compassionate. All of our patients are first evaluated by our certified women’s health nurse practitioner. She will then confer with other specialists, and, together, they will determine what course of treatment would be most beneficial. If this includes referrals to other specialists within the UC Health Women’s Center, our nurse practitioner will make the appropriate arrangements.
Menopause
Our menopause program is led by Dr. Lisa Larkin, a menopause practitioner certified by the nation’s leading menopause organization, the North American Menopause Society. Dr. Larkin’s goal is to collaborate with each patient’s primary care physician to manage menopause symptoms. Dr. Larkin provides patients with safe and scientifically based alternatives to menopause management. She uses only evidence-based, FDA-approved bioidentical hormones. This approach is in direct contrast to the highly advertised anti-aging clinics that use compounded systemic hormones and injectable pellets – which haven’t been proven safe or effective – for symptoms of aging.
Watch for next month’s newsletter or visit our website for an overview of all our specialty services.
Track Your Care Online with My UC Healt
My UC Health is a new patient service that allows you to access portions of your medical record through a secure, password-protected website. You’ll be able to stay informed about your health care and communicate with our offices anytime and from any computer. You can:
- Request appointments, see test results, renew prescriptions and send questions to our office.
- View your health summary, including medications, allergies and immunizations.
- View your family’s records, or allow another user to access your health information. There is no additional cost for using My UC Health.
To sign up, you’ll need three things:
- An activation code. This will be printed on a summary sheet that you’ll receive at the end of your next visit to your primary care physician’s office. The activation code is valid for 60 days.
- The last four digits of your Social Security number
- Your date of birth
With these three pieces of information, you can complete the sign-up process online at uchealthsites.com/myuchealth.
Once registered, you can keep your health information organized and accessible through the My UC Health patient website. It’s an easy way to store your important health information – and help you improve your health along the way.
Provider News
Welcome, Ann Stone, ANP
This month, we welcome nurse practitioner Ann Stone to our Primary Care practice. Ann has been practicing in the primary care setting since 1996, focusing on disease prevention and health education, and helping patients manage chronic illnesses and anti-coagulation medications. She also brings 30 years of nursing experience to her new role at the Center. A graduate of Miami University and Indiana University, Ann holds a bachelor’s degree in health education and master’s degrees in nursing and education. She will begin seeing patients on April 15. To schedule an appointment, call 513-475-UC4U (8248).
Provider Perspectives: Advisory Panel Rejects Non-Hormonal Drug Therapy for Hot Flashes
Provider Perspectives: Can a Mediterranean Diet Help You Prevent Heart Disease?
Provider Perspectives: Study Shows Sharp Rise in HPV-Related Oral Cancers
Provider Perspectives: Advanced Breast Cancer on the Rise in Younger Women