Passavant Area Hospital expanded women’s health care services offered on the hospital’s campus with the opening of a renovated facility dedicated to women’s health.
The Passavant Women’s Health Center opened Tuesday and allows women in the Jacksonville area greater access to obstetric and gynecologic care, including care related to high-risk pregnancies, closer to home.
“Our mission is to improve the health of the people and communities we serve,” said Harry Schmidt, Passavant president and CEO. “Passavant Area Hospital serves rural communities in which women tend to have restricted access to specialized health care compared to women living in more urban communities. We are happy our new Women’s Health Center will provide women increased access to the basic and specialized care not previously available to them.”
The Center is located at 610 N. Westgate, on the northwest corner of the Passavant campus. The public is invited to tour the facility and meet the physicians during an open house event 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, February 1.
With the Center’s opening, women who require access to care for a high-risk pregnancy have the option to receive those specialized services at Passavant instead of making the drive to Springfield or beyond.
Dr. Robert Abrams, associate professor and division chief for maternal-fetal medicine at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, has expanded his practice to accommodate patients with high-risk pregnancies at the new facility in Jacksonville.
Abrams obtained his medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at University of Illinois-Chicago Medical Center. Following two years in private practice, he pursued a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at Loyola University Medical Center. Abrams has been with SIU Maternal-Fetal Medicine since 2007.
“Before opening new services or expanding on existing services, we consider industry trends and analyze community needs,” said Schmidt. “Morgan and the surrounding counties present great need for expanded access to women’s health care services so we are we are responding to that need with our new Women’s Health Center.”
The Center will be staffed by three physicians and one nurse practitioner.
Passavant obstetrician-gynecologists Drs. Alexander Hrynewych and Jeffrey Olejnik have each moved his practice to the new facility. Both physicians formally saw patients within Passavant’s OB/GYN offices on the third floor of the hospital proper.
“The new space is easier for our patients to find and, because we have more exam rooms and staff, we’ll be able to better accommodate our patients,” said Hrynewych. “I’m impressed by the new facility – it’s beautiful, everything is top-of-the-line.”
New to Passavant is Dr. Alexander Raw. Raw completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the SIU School of Medicine in Springfield. He earned his medical doctor degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2013 and holds undergraduate degrees in chemistry and biology from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Also new to the hospital is Caitlen Wiese, a board-certified family nurse practitioner.
To schedule an appointment with one of the providers at the Passavant Women’s Health Center, call 217-243-8455.