MultiSpecialty Clinic Welcomes OB/GYN Outreach, But What Does that Mean?

As a certified nurse midwife, Josie Rutherford notes that expecting mothers have at least 13 prenatal appointments, and that doesn’t include ultrasounds, labwork or additional testing. That’s why it was important to give Marshalltown residents options for prenatal care close to home, in addition to routine women’s health services.

Thanks to a partnership with UnityPoint Health – Grinnell, obstetric and gynecological appointments are now available on Tuesday mornings in the MultiSpecialty Clinic located inside the new UnityPoint Health hospital in Marshalltown. New and existing patients can make appointments for OB/GYN visits by calling (641) 236-2905 and asking to be scheduled at the Marshalltown clinic.

But what does this mean for women? With this partnership, women’s health and obstetric providers make visits to Marshalltown on a weekly basis. Specifically for expecting mothers, they can have prenatal and postpartum appointments, some ultrasound appointments and OB lab work that includes one- and three-hour glucose screening – all with UnityPoint Health providers close to home. However, deliveries will not occur at the hospital in Marshalltown. Instead, deliveries will be planned for another location – one that the mother will choose.

“Marshalltown and surrounding residents had to travel for prenatal appointments,” says Rutherford. “Now, we’re able to bring our services to patients so they don’t have to worry about transportation costs, taking additional time off work or making arrangements for their other children, in order to travel for appointments leading up to delivery.”

It’s important for expectant mothers to be clear that deliveries will not occur at the hospital in Marshalltown. Instead, a birth plan (including the intended birthing location) will be established as part of the prenatal appointments.

“The OB providers make sure we are all on the same page when it comes to delivering the same great care to each of the patients we see,” says Rutherford. “In the end, we all want the same result, a happy and healthy mom and baby.”