BOONE, Iowa—Boone County Hospital is excited about a new partnership with Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City that will officially begin in January. Patients who are needing obstetrical care at Van Diest Family Health Clinic can now receive their prenatal care there and deliver with one of the Boone County Hospital (BCH) OB doctors at our Family Birth Center.

Currently, Van Diest Medical Center does not have a birthing center and therefore has not offered prenatal services to expectant mothers in the clinic. When one of their patients becomes pregnant, they seek these services elsewhere (typically within a 30 – 60 mile radius) and go to another hospital to deliver their baby. Dr. Nikki Ehn and Dr. Elise Duwe, both family practice physicians who specialize in obstetrics, are the providers at Van Diest Family Health Clinic with whom we are partnering to offer these obstetric services.

This is where our three family doctors who also provide obstetrical services and deliver come in. Dr. J. Lindsey Hay, Dr. Kate Linkenmeyer, and Dr. Rienera Sivesind will see Dr. Ehn’s and Dr. Duwe’s patients as a new OB before 12 weeks. The patient will then return to Van Diest Family Health Clinic (VDFHC) to be cared for by their primary care provider until 28 weeks. At that time, OB patients will return to Boone for their care until they deliver. Following delivery, patients and their babies will resume their care with the VDFHC providers.

“We are really excited for this opportunity,” says Tacy Hyberger, BCH Assistant Administrator of Clinic Operations. “This will mean two exceptional healthcare facilities working together to provide one outstanding birthing experience. We are looking forward to building on this partnership.”

As of January, we already have two Webster City patients that are excited to share in this new venture and deliver their babies at BCH.

(contributed article and photos, BCH)