State of the Art Women's Practice, Office Hours, Patient Visit & HIPAA information




		*Patient Services*

The practice – state of the art

Clinical excellence is only part of what our patients will tell you make the difference at WHANJ. Our personal approach is structured to support your individual needs and maximize your health care. We are committed to making your visit as convenient as possible.

Women's Health Alliance of NJ (WHANJ) boasts a state of the art facility, including the latest in electronic medical records, patient care and practice management. WHANJ is one of the few medical practices in New Jersey to have a truly "paperless" and "wireless" environment. WHANJ doctors and staff can be seen using Tablet PC's and wireless PDA's to track and access patient records, as well as the office visit. Prescriptions, patient handouts, insurance authorizations and lab results are retrieved /sent in near real-time, via the web. This level of state of the art technology gives each doctor more time to spend per visit with each patient.

We accept most major insurance plans and Medicare assignment

We offer emergency care for urgent problems

Phone calls are returned in a timely manner

We are conveniently located on Route 35 south in Eatontown 1 block north of the Monmouth Mall easily accessible to the Garden State Parkway and Route 18

We offer evening office hours and many available appointments

Office Hours

Monday 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM Tuesday 9:00AM to 5:00 PM Wednesday 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM Thursday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Friday 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Your first visit

We welcome all new gynecologic and obstetric patients. For your first visit, please arrive 15 minutes early in order to complete your demographic form, medical history and HIPAA forms. Please remember to bring your insurance card and drivers license. Your first visit can take up to 45 minutes as we get to know you, so please allow yourself ample time. If you are taking medications, please bring the names and dosages with you. We respect the value of your time and want to spare you long waits. Obstetrics and Gynecology does involve emergency procedures, surgical delays, and the least predictable of all, deliveries; consequently, we ask for your understanding. If we are running behind schedule, our staff will attempt to notify you, so please make sure we have a phone number where we can reach you on the day of your appointment. You may also call prior to your visit to see whether we anticipate any delays. If you are unable to keep your appointment or are going to be late, please call the office as soon as possible. If you need to cancel an appointment, please give us at least 24 hours notice. Without a cancellation, there may be a missed appointment charge.

Obstetrics

At Women’s Health Alliance of New Jersey, LLC, we are pleased to offer the following obstetric services:

Complete Obstetrical Care (both routine and high risk pregnancies)

Pre- conception Care and Counseling

Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)

Recurrent Miscarriage Evaluation

Genetic Screening

Postpartum Tubal Sterilization

At WHANJ we believe that pregnancy and birth are not an illness, but a natural process. Therefore our philosophy in obstetrics is to provide the highest quality care for you and you unborn child in the least invasive way. We strive to treat both you and your unborn child as individuals allowing you the flexibility to be an active participant in your own birth process. We do not perform routine episiotomies, but use them only when necessary. We offer the patient a choice to attempt a vaginal birth after Cesarean section (VBAC) if she is an appropriate candidate. While many of our patients opt for epidural anesthesia, if you decide that natural childbirth is the best approach for you, we will happily support you in this endeavor. While we pride ourselves on having a C- section rate that is well below the area average, we believe that any delivery (vaginal or cesarean) that results in a healthy Mom and baby is good delivery. We are skilled in caring for both low risk as well as high-risk patients. For our high risk Moms we offer a close working relationship with the Perinatologists at Monmouth Medical Center, our tertiary referral center which is equipped with cutting edge level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. For more information on what you can expect during your pregnancy, please see our Obstetrical Welcome Letter.

Obstetrical Welcome Letter

Women’s Health Alliance of New Jersey, LLC

Congratulations! It is such an exciting and wonderful time to be pregnant! We at Women ‘s Health Alliance of New Jersey are thrilled that you have chosen us to care for you and your soon-to-be bundle of joy. There is nothing more precious than a newborn baby and preparing for that newborn should be just as enjoyable and rewarding. Life's greatest miracle is giving birth and we will do everything in our power to ensure that it will also be one of the most memorable experiences of your life.

Although every pregnancy is different, the majority of our expectant Moms can look forward to having an appointment scheduled with us about once a month until reaching 28-30 weeks, followed by visits every 2 weeks until reaching 36 weeks, and then weekly visits until delivery. In some circumstances your appointments may be more frequent due to complications, high-risk situations, or simply to alleviate any lingering concerns you may have as a Mom to be. You see, at Women’s Health Alliance we have an open door policy about seeing our patients as often as needed! Most of your visits will be routine and consist of weighing you, checking your blood pressure, urine, measuring your uterus, listening to your baby's heart beat and asking you questions about how the pregnancy is progressing.

First Trimester

At your initial OB visit, which usually occurs between 6-8 weeks you can expect to be started on prenatal vitamins and have a special vaginal ultrasound scan, performed by Dr. Chakraborty or Dr. Price. This particular scan is performed vaginally because the baby is only a few millimeters long at this stage and too small to be seen any other way. The purpose of this early ultrasound is two fold; first to ensure that you have a normal pregnancy in the uterus, and second to confirm your due date so that you have the most accurate due date possible. During the first trimester you will also have routine blood work and STD screening performed. Depending on your age, family history and ethnic background the blood work may also include genetic screening for certain inherited medical conditions or diseases, and/ or a nuchal translucency (NT) ultrasound to help detect Down's Syndrome or other chromosomal problems as early as possible.

Second Trimester

At 16-20 weeks, you may choose to have a Maternal Serum Screening Test called a Quad Screen or Tetra Screen that tests your risk for birth defects like Down's syndrome, Spina Bifida and Trisomy 13. We feel that it is extremely important for us to offer this test to you, and highly recommend that you have this testing performed. However, the test is totally optional and we will not push it on you if you decide that it is not in you and your baby’s best interest. The test consists of drawing a tube of blood from your arm and sending it to a lab for interpretation. Depending on the results of this test you may be offered a specialized ultrasound scan and/or an amniocentesis. Mom’s who will be age 35 at the time of delivery are routinely sent for a specialized scan and offered an amniocentesis.

At 18-20 weeks all low risk patients under age 35 will sent you for a routine ultrasound examination. The radiologist will look at your baby in detail to make sure he or she is developing normally, to look for common birth defects and to reconfirm you due date. If you and the Dad desire, you may possibly see the sex of your baby. Further follow up ultrasound scanning may occur as the need arises and as medically indicated.

Third Trimester

At 26-28 weeks, we will do a glucose screen called a 1 hour Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT). Sometimes pregnancy can cause form diabetes called Gestational Diabetes. You will be given a bottle of a sweet liquid which comes in cola or orange flavor similar to flat soda, and you will be asked to drink it one hour before arriving at the lab. One hour after drinking this solution, you will have your blood drawn to test the glucose (sugar) level. You do not have to fast for this test. You will also have your blood count checked at this time. Your iron requirements double during pregnancy and sometimes anemia (low hemoglobin) occurs. If your hemoglobin is low, we will recommend an additional iron supplement. At about 36 weeks, we will obtain a Group B Strep culture from your vagina that consists of a cotton swab (like a Q-tip). This will test for Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a bacterium found in the vagina, bladder or lower intestine of 15% to 35% of all healthy women. GBS infections may be acquired when the baby comes in contact with the vagina of a Mother who is a GBS carrier. These infections are very rare in healthy full term infants, but when they do occur the effects can be severe. Therefore, if your test results are positive, you will be given IV antibiotics during labor as a precaution to prevent transmission to your baby. At 36 weeks and beyond we will see you weekly and a vaginal exam may be done to check for cervical dilation. You may experience some slight spotting after this exam, don't be alarmed as this is normal.

Childbirth Classes

Comprehensive childbirth education programs designed to meet the diverse needs of all our OB patients and their families are available through both Monmouth Medical Center and Riverview Medical Center. You may visit the Monmouth Medical Center website to check out the offerings and register online or call The Center For Kids & Family at 732-923-6990.

You may also view the offerings at Riverview Medical Center via their Childbirth Education website

Or call 1-800-560-9990 to register.

Please register for childbirth classes prior to your third trimester of pregnancy. Don’t forget to check out other class offerings such as sibling classes, breastfeeding classes, postpartum support groups and exercise classes. We are looking forward to partnering with you for an enjoyable and successful pregnancy. If there are ever any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (732) 935-0700.

Sincerely,

Andrea N. Price, MD
Anu Chakraborty, MD

Gynecology

Women’s Health Alliance of New Jersey, LLC, is pleased to offer the following gynecologic services:

Advanced Laparoscopy and Minimally Invasive Surgery (including Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy and Ovarian Mass Removal)

Hysterectomy Alternatives (including endometrial ablation with Nova sure)

Menopause Management (including natural alternatives to Hormone Replacement Therapy)

Preventative Well Woman Gynecology

Adolescent Gynecology

Contraceptive Counseling & Emergency Contraception

Laparoscopic Tubal Sterilization

Cancer Screening

Pelvic Pain

Endometriosis

Fibroids (myomectomy, hysteroscopic removal, uterine artery embolization)

Irregular Bleeding

Vaginitis

Infertility

Our approach to women's healthcare is to manage problems as thoroughly and conservatively as possible by first educating our patients. Next, we perform a thorough history and physical examinations and order the proper diagnostic testing. Treatment options are proposed and the patient makes the decision on her treatment approach with our guidance. If surgery is necessary, we attempt to be as minimally invasive as possible. Much of our gynecologic surgery is done laparoscopically, which includes total laparoscopic hysterectomies, laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomies, removal of endometriosis, ovarian cyst removal and ectopic pregnancies. Another minimally invasive operative procedure we perform is endometrial ablation. This procedure offers an alternative to hysterectomy for treatment of abnormal and excessive uterine bleeding not stemming from uterine cancer. The procedure is safe and effective and is performed as an outpatient procedure. Patients can resume normal activities the next day.

The benefits of laparoscopic surgery

Laparoscopy is a form of minimally invasive surgery. The surgeon inserts a tiny telescope (laparoscopic) about the width of a fountain pen though a small incision at the umbilicus (belly-button). The laparoscopic is equipped with a camera and a light source that allows the surgeon to see very clearly your uterus, tubes and ovaries on a video monitor. Several additional smaller (5mm) incisions are usually made just at the pubic hairline and in the left and right lower abdomen in order to place specially designed surgical instruments. The surgeon is then able carry out the same procedure as in traditional open surgery, only through very tiny incisions. A device called a uterine manipulator may be placed in the uterus through the vagina to move the uterus around during the procedure. Following the procedure the instruments are removed and the incisions are then closed with special glue or with stitches that dissolve and covered with a band-aid. Typically you will be able to go home the same day a few hours following your surgery.
What conditions can be treated with Laparoscopy?

Operative Laparoscopy is performed for multitude of different conditions. Some of these may include:

Hysterectomy

Removal of an ovary

Treatment of endometriosis

Diagnoses and treatment of pelvic pain

Ovarian cyst removal

Removal of fibroid tumors

Tubal Sterilization (getting your tubes tied)

Treatment of ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy in the fallopian tube)

What is open surgery (laparotomy)?

Open surgery involves making a large incision in the lower abdomen to expose the pelvic organs. The same procedure is carried out through this incision as would be carried out through the laparoscopic. As a result of this large incision post operative recovery is slower and more painful. Patients often need to stay in the hospital for up to five days, and may require up to six to eight weeks of convalescence before they feel able to return to normal activities. There is also a higher risk of infection due to greater exposure of the body tissues to the outside. What are the advantages of laparoscopic surgery? There are several major advantages of laparoscopic surgery over traditional “open surgery”. These include:

Faster recovery time (several days as opposed to several weeks)

Minimal scars

Minimal post-operative pain

Decreased chance of infection

Decreased chance of adhesions (internal scar tissue)

Most patients go home either the same day, or the day following surgery.

What does HIPAA mean to me and my doctor?

Download patient forms in PDF format