Supporting maternal health: Family Health Centers celebrates grand opening of OB/GYN office

Family Health Centers Inc. celebrated the grand opening of the office that its interim chief executive officer said is an example of the quality, comprehensive care that FHC provides to the community.

Everything from STD testing to colposcopies will be performed at the office located at 1760 Village Park Drive.

“We’re doing pretty much the full scope of obstetrics and gynecology here. We see patients when they come in with their positive pregnancy test, we’re providing maternal care, we’re also seeing those patients for just routine GYN care, STD screenings and, more often than not, just some moral support,” Dr. Erika Lubsey said.

Lubsey is joined by other office staff, including, but not limited to, midwifes Genessis Cardenas, Jazmin Townes and Charlotte Wilkes.

“We have identified that there is a need in this area to support maternal health and our patients and bringing some of those patients back to the Family Health care center so that we can better serve our community, enrich our patients, enrich their family and introduce a lot of the services that we have available,” Lubsey said.

The office includes eight exam rooms, a procedure room and two ultrasound suites.

“One of the ultrasound suites is a little bit more technologically advanced. We’re able to do colposcopy, we’re able to do endometrial biopsies, we’re able to do IUD insertions. … contraceptive needs and things of that nature,” the doctor said.

Lubsey continued, “In addition to our routine screening, our MAs (medical assistants) also provide phlebotomy. We do our lab draws and things here so patients don’t necessarily need to go to another site.”

“We’re also providing some of those genetic screenings and things that you do in pregnancy, as well as we have a vendor that does hereditary cancer screenings that we provide for our patients. We’re just kind of doing the gamut of obstetrical and gynecological care in there,” she said.

FHC interim CEO Doris Williams-Haigler said, “We have a great team of providers and staff here at this site.”

She noted that FHC’s main Orangeburg site at 3310 Magnolia St. is undergoing continued renovations that necessitated the temporary relocation of the OB/GYN department.

“We had to end up moving adult medicine in where OB/GYN services were at the main site. So we had to relocate them over here. … I just want to thank the community for all of their support for whatever endeavors that the Family Health Centers embarks on,” Williams-Haigler said.

“We do appreciate it and look forward to expanding wherever we can to improve the community’s health care outcomes,” Williams-Haigler said. She also thanked the FHC board for their support.

FHC board member Dr. Lakeisa Tucker said, “We are truly excited about the OB/GYN office being open to clearly address some of the social determinants, especially those dealing with maternal health.”

She continued, “If you know what the rates are, especially in African-Americans, they are very, very high. So to have this practice being open here today is quite an honor for the Family Health Center, as well as for our community.”

Lubsey said the office’s aim is to provide local, evidence-based care for the community. Midwives will be an important component of the care.

“Having that midwife that can take a little more time with them, talk with them, answer those questions, it really is just kind of adding on to it. We know that having midwives actually decreases mortality,” she said.

The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment with one of the FHC OB/GYN providers, call 803-531-8990 or 803-531-6900.