Crucial Care

Warsaw Women’s Center Provides Patient-Centered Treatment

Writer / Amy Lant-Wenger

Photographer / Jubilee Edgell

At first glance, Warsaw Women’s Center might seem like a fairly typical medical facility.  Moments after entering, however, it soon becomes apparent that this is not the case.

There is an air of hospitality about the place. Intimidating and austere it is not. The sounds of gentle voices and an occasional good-natured laugh can be heard within the walls, swathed in a palette of soft colors and sun-dappled windows.

Even before the patients ever encounter a member of the staff, guests are made to feel welcome, nurtured, and perhaps most importantly, safe.

This is a theme that resonates when reading a stack of comment cards left by current and former patients. When meeting with Kellie Parker, FNP, and Sarah Bailey, WHNP, the women appear downright modest over the praise lavished upon the distinguished team of health-care providers. Rounding out the staff are Jen Bohnenkamper, office manager, and physicians Dr. Timothy Cook and Dr. Donald Durecki, both MDs. Cook and Durecki have been in practice since 1988 and 2000, respectively, and Bailey has been part of the team of professionals since 1997. Parker joined the staff in 2018.

Warsaw Women’s Center actually dates back to 1984, and was formerly located elsewhere in the Warsaw area. The current site has served as home base for the past 21 years.

“We have anything a girl would want or need,” Parker says of the facility.

Those seeking care at Warsaw Women’s Center can be assessed for a wide array of physical and mental health issues. Obstetrics and gynecological services are offered, as is family planning and birth control, fertility assistance, mammograms, ultrasound and genetic testing, menopause test and bone health guidance, and Botox treatments.

Surgical procedures that are considered minimally invasive are also available, including one relatively new innovation known as a robotic hysterectomy. This enables the doctor to maneuver instrumentation precisely with the aid of robotic technology, combined with lighted and miniature instruments. It allows for complete removal of the uterus with fewer and smaller incisions. Those who have undergone this type of surgery have reported less time in recovery, fewer complications and a swifter healing process.

Genetic testing is another advancement that Warsaw Women’s Center can offer to expectant mothers. Such testing can be a source of early detection for disorders that can affect an unborn child, and the results can then be used to determine a course of treatment once the baby is born. Another benefit of genetic testing is the ability to learn the child’s gender sooner than the more traditional, 20-week ultrasound. In most instances, parents can receive the news on whether they’re expecting a boy or a girl as early as 10 weeks.

Warsaw Women’s Center also offers screening tests for hereditary and genetic cancer risks. Knowing personal and family history is the first step in determining if you might be at an increased risk for cancer. Receiving positive test results for cancer empowers patients to create a personalized plan to prevent and identify cancer at an earlier, treatable stage, or to prevent secondary cancers.

In situations where a more specialized type of treatment is likely, the physicians and staff are willing to direct patients via referrals to a facility designed to work with those in need.

Another attribute that has drawn patients to Warsaw Women’s Center is one that is very evident in even the simple act of conversation. There is a level of empathy at the facility, and a desire to truly connect with what women are conveying. This degree of dedication is what compels Parker to drive to and from Mishawaka each day to be with patients.

“I love this job,” she says.

“Patients are so appreciative of what we’ve done, and the way that we listen,” Bailey adds. “We enjoy being able to support them.”

Warsaw Women’s Center is located at 1275 Provident Drive in Warsaw. Hours of operation are Mon. through Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more info, call 574-269-4026 or visit warsawwomenscenter.com.