Woman's Health
The Women’s Health & Wellness Center is helping women improve their quality of life. (For Spectrum Health Beat)

Every month since April 2020, millions of women have delayed their medical care, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.  

While much of this trend can be attributed to the pandemic, data shows that many women are generally more likely to put their needs second to caretaking and other home and work responsibilities.

In this environment, it’s more critical than ever to make it easier for women to prioritize their well-being.

One year after opening a space dedicated to women’s health, the Spectrum Health Women’s Health & Wellness Center is doing exactly what it’s designed to do—make it easier for women to get the coordinated, preventive care they need.

This model of whole-person care makes a health team shine.

“I can’t think of a better model for patient and provider collaboration than at the Women’s Health & Wellness Center,” Sarah Arnold, MD, a provider at the center, said.

“Our entire team of patient care specialists, medical assistants, nurses and providers have partnered together over the last year to create a place where our patients can be heard, become educated about their choices and feel empowered to make decisions about their care.”

The best way for health teams to understand the “why” of a patient’s care plan?

“Lean over and ask the urogynecologist or psychotherapist sitting next to you,” Dr. Arnold said.

The Women’s Health & Wellness Center is designed to make it easier for women to get the coordinated, preventive care they need. (For Spectrum Health Beat)

Specialty service

The stories and outcomes the Women’s Health & Wellness Center team has witnessed in the past year show that women can improve their quality of life and reconnect with a healthier, happier version of themselves.

Maggie Jensen, of Fruitport, Michigan, lived with a condition called pelvic organ prolapse.

While she had sought help before, she did not feel empowered to act until she met Elizabeth Leary, MD, in October 2020.

Maggie had finally found a woman doctor who set her at ease and provided her with options that would work for her specific medical needs.

She’s thrilled she can golf again with her husband and maintain an active life without discomfort or worry.

Maggie’s is one of the countless success stories at the Women’s Health & Wellness Center.

The Women’s Health & Wellness Center continues to innovate and add services, cultivating an experience that puts each woman at the center of her care. (For Spectrum Health Beat)

By combining multiple specialty services and physicians in one location, the Women’s Health & Wellness Center has made it easier than ever for women to get the care they need.

Through dedicated care navigators, coordinated appointments at the center have increased over 350%, allowing women to schedule multiple appointments into one time-saving visit.

Expedited mammogram results have been so popular that the center is now offering same-day results every day.

The Women’s Health & Wellness Center will continue to innovate and add services, cultivating an experience that puts each woman at the center of her care.

“I want to know why you are here, what barriers you have to seek care and what goals are important to you,” Dr. Arnold said. “We embrace this collaborative care model to help bring personalized care plans to our patients, that speak directly to them.”