Article published - June 9, 2008

Women's health center to move

By Emily Charrier

The Carolyn J. Stone Center for Women's Health and Wellness - less than two months old - will only be housed in Sonoma Valley Hospital for a few more months due to state regulations that would limit the potential for growth if the center stays within the hospital facility.

An immense fundraising effort allowed the center to purchase a state-of-the-art digital mammography machine, which organizers had hoped to install in the center. The women's center advisory committee, which oversaw the launch of the center, learned the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, which oversees all hospital design changes, did not approve an application for the machine to be installed in the hospital without a year-long review process that carries a hefty price tag. "It's odd because this piece of equipment could be installed in your house, but because it's a hospital the rules are different," said Bob Rice, spokesman for Sonoma Valley Hospital.

This was discovered only a few weeks before the grand opening of the center, which took place in April, so plans continued with opening the center in the hospital. There are no restrictions about installing the machine at another location, so the advisory committee began to look for an alternative site for the women's center itself. The shake-up may prove to be a blessing in disguise.

As a piece of the hospital, the center is not legally allowed to hire an OB/GYN - it could only recruit a doctor by encouraging him or her to set up a practice at the hospital and aid the center. Now organizers are hoping the center can become a branch of the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, or even its own nonprofit organization, which would allow the center to hire its own gynecologist.

The hospital would still see a financial boost from the women's center by providing some outpatient procedures and lab support.

Staff changes at the center have opened the door for a new executive director to come in and oversee the transition. D.A. Warren was hired last winter as medical director for the center, but decided to resign from that position and return to her first love of nursing.

"D.A. is a nurse and she wanted to go back to patient care. This job just wasn't the right fit for that," Rice said.

Dr. Patricia Brooks, the hospital's director of organizational development and change, was acting interim director of the women's center. When her position at the hospital was expanded, she did not have the time to pursue both projects.

Despite some bumps in the road, the center continues moving forward. Plans are under way to remodel the new location at 246 Perkins St., to prepare the site to house all of the center's programs. Rice said they hope to transition into the new location in the fall.

"We're moving to a bigger and better space," Rice said.

The women's center will stay open in the hospital through the summer, offering the same services and programs until the time comes to move.

While there is little to do during the summer, the hospital has asked the center's advisory committee, made up of about 40 Valley women, to help out with hospital projects during the coming months, specifically rallying support for the November bond election.

"They'd be a huge asset," Rice said.

The women's center, designed to care for women during all stages of life, is offering cardiac screening as well as educational health programs. Find out more at www.stonewomenscenter.com.