ThedaCare Physicians-Oshkosh Providers Offer Obstetric Care
Family practice physicians who provide obstetrics care have a unique perspective that many others in the medical field don’t – providing care to patients throughout their entire lives.
“Family physicians care for people throughout their lives from pre-conception to death. It’s such a wonderful opportunity to take care of a family and guide their health,” said Eric Smiltneek, MD, a family care physician at ThedaCare Physicians-Oshkosh. “I have several families where I see the grandparents, parents and children. It’s neat.”
Rimas Janusonis, MD, another family care physician at ThedaCare Physicians-Oshkosh, said he enjoys getting to know patients throughout their life. “It’s a real kick to deliver a baby and then take care of that child and watch him grow up,” he said. “Taking care of multiple family members provides you with a unique perspective.”
Caring for patients, including providing obstetric care to pregnant women, is rewarding, said Dr. Smiltneek. “Taking care of a mom and her baby during pregnancy and then taking care of them both after the birth isn’t something everyone gets to do,” he said. “You develop great relationships.”
For moms with new babies, Dr. Janusonis sees both baby and mom at the same appointment. “After the baby is born, we can check them both out and make sure everything is going the way it should be,” he said. “I really enjoy being able to offer such a variety of care to families.”
Treating several members of the same family provides key insight, Dr. Smiltneek said. “If you know someone in the family is struggling with a health problem, you can check for how that’s affecting other family members, whether it’s causing some stress or – if it’s hereditary – is that something another parent needs to be on the lookout for?”
For example, if a parent has high blood pressure, the family physicians can be on the lookout for signs of the disease developing in other family members or taking preventative measures, such as stressing healthy eating and exercise.
“Providing care to families throughout their lives is a real joy. I sometimes feel like another member of the family as I get to know everyone,” Dr. Janusonis said.
ThedaCare™ Physicians includes more than 120 employed physicians at 23 locations throughout the region and includes specialists in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics and general surgery. According to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, ThedaCare Physicians is a leader in offering same-day access at many of its locations, including lab results and a plan of care before the patient leaves that appointment. ThedaCare Physicians is also the leader in implementing an electronic medical records system, including a patient portal called MyThedaCare that allows patients to access to their medical information, make appointments, refill prescriptions, and consult their physician appointment from their home computer. Two FastCare locations in the Fox Cities serve many immediate needs of patients.
ThedaCare™ is a community health system consisting of five hospitals: Appleton Medical Center, Theda Clark Medical Center, New London Family Medical Center, Shawano Medical Center, and Riverside Medical Center in Waupaca. ThedaCare also includes ThedaCare Physicians, ThedaCare Behavioral Health, ThedaCare At Work, and ThedaCare at Home. ThedaCare is the largest employer in Northeast Wisconsin with more than 6,175 employees. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
