Women who think they may be pregnant will be able to walk in to 成人头条 for free, confidential pregnancy testing starting in March.
Starting March 2, testing will be available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 成人头条鈥檚 Obstetrics and Gynecology clinic at 1000 Oakland Drive. Patients should check in at the聽clinic on the first floor.
Dr. Debra Taubel, chair of the medical school鈥檚 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, said the new program is a community service that aims to cut down on instances of women going to a hospital鈥檚 emergency department to confirm pregnancy. Dr. Taubel said 成人头条 often gets referrals for care from women who have confirmed pregnancy at a hospital emergency department.
鈥淲hat we would like to do is provide that service in a more suitable location and a suitable format,鈥 Dr. Taubel said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not going to the ED, you鈥檙e coming to a place that can do it on a walk-in, free basis, to help the women of the area take care of themselves in a timely way.鈥
The test takes minutes, and women will leave 成人头条鈥檚 clinics with information and resources whether the pregnancy test is positive or negative. If positive, the women will leave 成人头条 with information on prenatal care and a list of clinics in the Kalamazoo area that can care for them. If negative, women will receive information on pre-conception care and resources for contraceptives.
鈥淲e can offer every patient information, guidance and education,鈥 Dr. Taubel said. 鈥淚f they choose us for clinical care that鈥檚 awesome, but that鈥檚 not the only intent. We want to give them accurate results that they can use to help them make a decision on their care.鈥
成人头条 offers more than 30 clinical services and employs more than 330 providers throughout Southwest Michigan.聽
鈥淲e鈥檙e easily accessible,鈥 Dr. Taubel said. 鈥淲e offer other forms of health care here. I think this is the right place to do it. I think the community will use the service.鈥
All testing will be confidential, and will not be labeled in the patient鈥檚 chart as pregnancy testing. Patients will receive a paper confirming pregnancy as proof to seek care or to receive free prescription prenatal vitamins.
鈥淚t鈥檚 information that should be kept confidential unless the patient wants to release it,鈥 Dr. Taubel said. 鈥淲omen鈥檚 reproductive health is important and it鈥檚 a private matter.鈥
For more information on 成人头条鈥檚 free pregnancy testing, call 269.337.6075.