Dr. Lori Gore-Green | Women's Health Professional

Dr. Lori Gore-Green's Portfolio of Experience as a Women's Health Professional

Rural Areas Suffer Drop in OB/GYN Recruitment

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Dr. Lori Gore-GreenTraveling for healthcare services may be common for patients living in remote areas, but the difficulties accessing quality OB/GYN services has a direct link with an increased death rate among new mothers and their babies.

The face of the healthcare industry has been steadily changing over the last 30 years. As world-class tertiary hospitals pay doctors bigger salaries and buy out surrounding practices to stay afloat, the number of rural hospitals providing specialized services has dropped significantly. This is particularly the case with quality OB/GYN care — between 1985 and 2000, rural hospitals providing these services dropped by 23%, and that trend shows no sign of slowing down.

It has become notoriously difficult to recruit obstetricians and gynecologists to rural and remote areas. Smaller pay is only one of the barriers facing OB/GYN doctors considering the move — the lifestyle change is another. Getting accustomed to a small-town life isn’t necessarily easy for doctors who have grown up and studied in a suburban or urban environment.

Some hospitals are incentivizing the deal by offering new doctors things like student loan forgiveness, extra vacation time, and shortened work weeks. Mercy Medical Center, which serves the northern Iowa and southern Minnesota areas, is even offering a guaranteed income loan for the first year, which will then be forgiven after three years of service.

Only time will tell whether this trend really takes off. In the meantime, small rural hospitals are doing their best to partner up with clinicians in different specialities so they can continue to offer the right combination of skills to their patients. This works for about two-thirds of pregnancies who only need the kind of support offered in a rural clinic, but the other third require a more advanced care setting with emergency services.

The 6 Preventative Screening Tests That Are Critical For Women’s Health

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Dr. Lori Gore-GreenGetting preventative screening tests is one of the most important ways that you can take charge of your health and make sure that you’re continuing to make healthy choices. Certain personalized factors may increase your chances of getting a condition, so always check with your doctor to see if you should get tested more often.

Here are 6 of the most important preventative screening tests for women’s health:

Blood Pressure Test: Blood pressure is important to track because high rates of blood pressure can dramatically increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. At the same time, high blood pressure does not normally have obvious symptoms associated with it, so make sure to get checked at least once every two years to keep an eye on this important number.

Mammography: Mammography imaging of your breasts is critical to detecting abnormalities and tumors. There are different recommendations out there, but the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) now recommends that women get themselves checked out each year starting at the age of 40.

Blood Glucose Tests: Over 23 million Americans have type 2 diabetes with another 86 million estimated to have prediabetes. Untreated, this disease can cause serious medical issues, including heart disease and stroke. It’s recommended that you get a blood glucose test every three years, starting at the age of 45, and more frequently if you have an increased risk.

Lipid Panel: It’s a good idea to get a fasting lipoprotein profile (lipid panel) every four to six years once you’re 20 years old to keep an eye on your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. If your doctor determines that you have an increased risk for stroke or heart disease, then you’ll want to get yourself checked more regularly.

Pap and HPV Tests: The Pap test (also known as a Pap smear) and the HPV test are both used to screen women for cervical cancer. The USPSTF recommends starting these tests at the age of 21 and getting screened once every three years.

Colonoscopy: Most colorectal cancers can be prevented by getting regular colonoscopies every 10 years or so. They aren’t fun, but they’ll help your doctor detect any small polyps so they can be removed before they turn into a cancerous issue down the road. Start scheduling your regular colonoscopy appointment once you turn 50 years old.