Valley Women's Healthcare
OB/GYNs at Valley Women's Healthcare
At Valley Medical Center, our highly-skilled obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYNs) specialize in the healthcare needs of women in every phase of life—from adolescence, through childbearing years, menopause and beyond.
Our Services
Pelvic exams and pap tests
Cervical cancer is one type of gynecological cancer. It can be prevented by getting a routine, annual pelvic exam and Pap test. An important screening test to detect cervical cancer at a stage when there are often no symptoms, pelvic exams and Pap tests (or Pap smears) are samples of cells taken from the cervix to look for cellular changes. An “abnormal” Pap test does not necessarily mean a woman has cervical cancer. The pelvic exam and Pap test are recommended every one to three years (depending on risk factors) for sexually active woman and those over age 21.
Breast exams
Manual breast exams performed by a healthcare provider are recommended annually for all women 18 years and older. Our healthcare providers can also train you to properly perform your monthly breast self-exam. Talk to our physicians about the best time for you to begin mammogram screening for breast cancer, usually at age 40. Mammograms are recommended in addition to manual breast exams and are performed at The Breast Center at Valley Medical Center.
Birth control counseling
The decision on which method is right for you should be made with your healthcare provider, as well as with your partner. Our physicians can discuss your options and if necessary, provide a contraceptive prescription that best meets your needs. Birth control refers to any activity, medication or equipment used to prevent pregnancy. There are many types of birth control available for women who do not wish to become pregnant. Our physicians can discuss your options and if necessary, provide a contraceptive prescription that best meets your needs, including emergency contraception.
Additional preventive health services include:
Annual exams, adolescent and adult gynecology, cholesterol screening, and cancer screening.
As soon as a woman discovers she is pregnant, she should establish a schedule of prenatal care with her healthcare provider for the entire duration of the pregnancy. Our patients deliver at Valley Medical Center’s state-of-the-art Birth Center. Our obstetric physicians are also available to meet in advance of pregnancy to provide preconception counseling, infertility evaluation and help women prepare for a healthy pregnancy. Our providers offer specialized pregnancy care for those over 30, or are seeking a vaginal delivery after a previous Cesarean. We also have Maternal Fetal Medicine physicians at Valley for higher-risk pregnancy consultations and care.
- Evaluation of abnormal bleeding
- Pre-menopausal evaluation
- Menopause
- Hormone replacement therapy
- PMS
- Bladder control
- Evaluation of abnormal pap smears including colposcopy
- Vaginal and urinary infection
- Treatment of genital warts
- Pelvic pain evaluation
- Hysteroscopy
- Hysterectomy
- Endometrial ablation
- Tubal ligation
- Routine ultrasound
- Pregnancy planning and options
- Pre-pregnancy planning
- Obstetrics
- Pregnancy after 30
- Vaginal birth after previous cesarean
- High risk obstetrics
- Infertility evaluation
Valley’s urogynecology team specializes in treating disorders of the pelvic floor ranging from urinary incontinence to pelvic organ prolapse. We offer cutting edge diagnostic and treatment options, both surgical and non-surgical, to help our patients return with confidence to their normal activities.
Services provided include:
- Stress urinary incontinence: leakage of urine when exercising, laughing, coughing, sneezing or standing up
- Overactive bladder: frequent urge to urinate with or without leakage
- Mixed incontinence: both stress incontinence and overactive bladder
- Fecal incontinence
- Pelvic floor disorders or weak pelvic floor including postpartum concerns
- Pelvic pain
- Pelvic organ prolapse of the bladder (cystocele), rectum (rectocele), or uterine
- Urinary dynamic studies
- Recurrent UTI's
- Dyspareunia (painful intercourse)
Click here to see hours and contact information for this clinic.
Our physicians are experts in gynecological health issues for woman of all ages, including those needing midlife and menopausal care. Cysts, fibroids, inflammation, urinary and vaginal infection, heavy, irregular or painful periods, severe PMS symptoms, pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding, hormonal issues, urinary incontinence and sexually transmitted diseases are some of the gynecological conditions diagnosed, treated and managed by our OB/GYNs. Valley Medical Center provides convenient, on-site diagnostic ultrasound services for their patients.
Should surgery or a gynecological procedure be necessary, our staff includes gynecologic physicians and surgeons experienced in minimally-invasive and robotic surgery approaches. Procedures include hysterectomy, pelvic reconstructive surgery, myomectomy, uterine fibroid embolization, uterine fibroid radiofrequency ablation, tubal ligation, endometrial ablation, and hysteroscopy.
DocTalk Videos
Cervical cancer screening is part of regular preventive care for women and people with a cervix. In this DocTalk video, Jennifer Burzawa, MD, a gynecologic oncology provider with Valley’s Oncology and Hematology Clinic, explains the screening, HPV vaccines, and what happens next if there’s an abnormal result.
Pregnancy and the birth of a child are often seen as occasions for joy, but the physical challenges of hormone imbalances and sleep disruptions can turn these times into emotionally painful and difficult transitions. While perinatal mood disorder, previously known as postpartum depression, is common, fortunately it is very treatable. In her DocTalk below, OB/GYN MaryEllen Maccio, MD, gives practical insights into this condition, what to watch for and how to get help if you or someone you care about may be experiencing it.
Eric Schmit, DO, offers information about painful periods, where to go for help if you are experiencing pain during your menstrual cycle, and encouragement to start more conversations with not only healthcare providers, but also your friends and family.
Eric Schmit, DO, OB/GYN, and Olga Valieva, DO, OB/GYN, with Valley Women’s Healthcare explain what fibroids are and the various treatment options.
Tajana Kundacina, DO, discusses the recent FDA approval of over-the-counter birth control pills, who will benefit from having access to these pills, and how it is different from what is currently available by prescription. Watch the video below or read the transcript at the bottom of the page. (Recorded August 2023).
Service Locations
Valley Womens Healthcare Clinic | VMC Specialty Care
Call 425.690.3480
Fax 425.690.9480
Valley Womens Healthcare Clinic | VMC Specialty Care
Call 425.690.3480
Fax 425.690.9480
Valley Womens Healthcare Clinic | VMC Specialty Care
Call 425.690.3481
Fax 425.690.9081
Valley Womens Healthcare Clinic | VMC Specialty Care
Call 425.690.3479
Fax 425.690.9479
Urogynecology Clinic - VMC Specialty Care
Call 425.690.3474
Fax 425.690.9055
Frequently Asked Questions
New Patient
If you are a new patient, please identify yourself as a new patient when you call. It is helpful if you have your insurance card handy when you call to make the appointment. The more information you give initially, the less time it will take to set up your account when you arrive. For all new patients please download and complete the Patient Registration Form as well as the Annual/ Preventative Exams Form if relevant to your visit. Please read and complete all forms and bring them with you to your first appointment. We request that new patients arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled appointment time; this allows us to process your paper work promptly and accurately.
Forms
Patient Registration
Annual Preventive Exam Information
Medical record requests
If you have an address or insurance change to make, please arrive early and notify the reception desk staff that you need to make a change. It is important that you bring your insurance card to each appointment and present it at the reception desk.
We support and encourage young families, so we are happy to have your children accompany you to most of your appointments. There are certain circumstances, however, that require special consideration. If your child may be ill, we ask that you leave that child at home to avoid exposing all patients, especially pregnant mothers, to illness. Also, if you have an ultrasound scheduled, the room is small and generally only accommodates three persons, in addition to the patient. For longer appointments or ones that involve gynecologic exams, it may be better to leave young children at home.
We have contracts with most major health insurances. The most accurate information will be provided by your insurance carrier, so if you have any doubts about this, please contact your insurance.
As part of those contracts, we are required to collect co-payments from patients at the time of service. Your insurance will be billed for our services to you. Any portion not covered by the insurance will then be your responsibility and timely payment is appreciated.
If you have an insurance for which we are not preferred providers, we ask that you pay at time of service. The most accurate information regarding your insurance plan’s coverage of our physicians is obtained by calling your insurance directly. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact Patient Financial Services at 425.467.7188.
If you have no insurance, payment is expected at time of service unless other arrangements have been made with the business office. OB patients with no insurance must arrange a payment plan before being seen. We request that patients who have outstanding balances on their accounts pay in full or make arrangements with the business office personnel before their appointment.
We value your time, and so we make every effort to closely follow scheduled appointment times. We have a busy obstetrical practice, so there will be times when the doctor is behind schedule because he or she has been to the hospital to deliver a baby. Our front desk staff will notify you when the doctor is running more than 20 minutes behind schedule, and give you the option of rescheduling. If you have waited more than 15 minutes in the waiting room, please let the front desk staff know so they can give you an update on the estimated appointment time.
If you are more than 15 minutes late for your scheduled appointment time, we will ask you to reschedule, to avoid making patients wait who have arrived on time. Occasionally, your doctor may still be able to see you, so feel free to call or check in with the front desk if you are running late.
To process your refills accurately, 48 hours notice is needed on all prescription requests. The most efficient way to obtain your refills is to call your pharmacy directly. If there is a problem in refilling your medication, or there are other questions, we will ask the pharmacy to have you call us.
In the interest of patient safety, narcotic refills are never done after office hours.
We offer several types of immunizations:
- GARDISIL, the vaccine to prevent certain forms of cervical cancer, to patients between ages 19-27. We suggest that you check with your insurance company to make sure this is a covered benefit, before you receive the vaccine.
- We recommend a tetanus booster to patients every 5-10 years, and this is usually discussed and done at your annual exam.
- We have a limited number of flu shots available in the fall which we reserve for high risk patients who cannot get the vaccine elsewhere.
- We prescribe the shingles vaccine to appropriate patients, and that vaccine is administered by your local pharmacist.
We perform our deliveries and surgeries at Valley Medical Center in Renton.