Midlands Profiles
Columbia Women’s Healthcare
Columbia Women's Healthcare's mission of care is not just a concept, but is a practice of specialized, individual care for each patient. In 1998, three well- etablished practices came together to form Columbia Women's Healthcare. This merger brought together over 150 years of combined physician experience offering extensive and wide-ranging obstetric care and gynecologic services. Each physician is board certified and is a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Columbia Women's Healthcare is in the forefront of obstetric care ranging from preconconceptual counseling to delivery and postpartum care. The physicians are skilled in routine and high-risk obstetrics; thus providing individualized medical care and careful monitoring for each patient. Assisted by technology, a physician can use in-house advanced ultrasound imaging to focus on prenatal development and health. Expectant parents can see their unborn child from a yawn or stretch to the heartbeat. What a beautiful experience!
"Our patients come from all walks of life and all socio-economic backgrounds," says Dr. Myles Davis. "We take care of their medical problem, but also we enjoy talking with them and their family."
The Practice also offers other areas of specialized care such as prenatal genetic testing including amniocentesis and serum marker screening. A Board Certified perinatologist is on staff to assist with and monitor high-risk pregnancies that could require non-stress tests and home monitoring. The physician's goal is to give imminent care to the patient, from conception through the pregnancy and labor, to the baby's birth.
"I've had many of the same patients for the last 25 years," says Dr. Mary Neuffer. "The beauty of private practice is we see our patients and become a part of their family for most of their life."
Left to right: Albert E. Odom, MD, Kathryn L. Moore, MD, Harold A. Moore, MD, Myles D. Davis, MD, John H. Moore, MD, Mary K. Neuffer, MD and Alexander R. Smythe, II, MD ©Photo by Molly Harrell
Columbia Women's Health Care also offers a wide-range of gynecologic services ranging from routine yearly examinations to full evaluation and treatment of most gynecologic concerns. These could include well-women preventive exams, treatment options for menopause, surgical and non-surgical management of fibroids, diagnosis and management of pelvic pain or screening and treatment of osteoporosis.
For the past 2 years Columbia Women's Healthcare has been offering patients, who are appropriate candidates for hysterectomy, the minimally invasive laparoscopic technique. This avoids many obstacles of the abdominal hysterectomy such as five to nine inch incisions and 3-day hospital stay. This technique allows for a shorter recovery time, less post-operative pain and less disruption of the natural support structures.
Many are able to return to a normal schedule in 1-2 weeks. Where this is appropriate for the patients' course of care, each of the physicians at Columbia Women's Healthcare can provide this advanced surgical service.
What sets Columbia Women's Healthcare apart from other practices? "We have long-tenured employees who work so well as a team," emphasized Shirley Keels, Administrator. "From the clerical staff to the lab technicians, to nurses and physicians, we are all here for our patients"
When asked what motivates him to come to work each day, Dr. Alexander Smythe emphatically stated that looking forward to being with the patients is a tremendous motivation. "I wake up each day eager to get to my office so that I can begin doing what I love best; seeing my patients and caring for their needs!"
