Primary Care Procedures in Women's Health

There are many reasons for primary care providers to offer women s health procedures in an office setting, from the value patients place on continuity of care to the lack of access to specialty care that patients may experience in rural areas. Primary Care Procedures in Women s Health has been designed to introduce simple office procedures to clinicians, as well as office staff who must familiarize themselves with new equipment and new billing and coding information. Each chapter in this book is written by a primary care physician and outlines one women s health procedure and its background information, indications, contraindications, complications, equipment, procedure steps, an office note, patient instructions and a patient handout. Tricks, helpful hints, algorithms and a wealth of illustrations are included through the book. Primary Care Procedures in Women s Health is a manual that will allow all providers including family physicians, general internists, residence, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physicians assistants to be competent and comfortable performing a spectrum of office-based procedures. This book is a user-friendly guide to procedures in women s health for primary care physicians. The spectrum of office-based procedures is covered, including pelvic examination; contraceptive procedures; and dermatologic procedures, both cosmetic and non-cosmetic. Key information is readily accessible, and chapters present indications, risks, and decision trees for guidance on how to proceed based on results. Procedures are detailed step-by-step. The accompanying illustrations add clarity, and imaging is provided where appropriate. Case studies facilitate the integration of procedures into clinical practice. Coding and reimbursement are outlined as well. This practical book also features patient handouts that explain procedures and address complications. Lists of disposable and non-disposable supplies are ideal references for assistants. Physicians, residents, and other providers of women s health care will find this text an indispensable aid for learning new procedures and improving existing skills.