CRMC | Women's Services

Women's Services

Throughout every stage of your life, no matter what your healthcare needs, you can turn with assurance to Chesapeake Regional Medical Center and know you'll find specialized healthcare tailored to your needs.

Women throughout Hampton Roads count on us for preventive screenings and education. For breast health and breast cancer services. For physician referrals, fitness classes, nutritional counseling and aging issues. When it comes time to start their families, more women come to our BirthPlace to deliver their babies than anywhere else in the region. Older adults, will discover better health and good times in our programs. And our support groups provide a valuable outreach to women and family members experiencing illness, loss or grief.

In caring for your health and your family's, turn to the caring professionals in ours. We know women are special. So that's the way we treat them.

The Women's Unit at Chesapeake General Hospital

With its friendly, relaxed atmosphere, this unit is completely dedicated to women of all ages who have a wide variety of needs. We are dedicated to pampering women with attentive care and distinctive touches such as private rooms, special meals and nutritional counseling. For gynecological services, breast or abdominal surgery, plastic surgery, breast reconstruction, urological surgery and other specialized treatment, you won't find a more caring group of professionals than those in our Women's Unit.

The BirthPlace the preferred place to have a baby

There are many reasons our hospital delivers more babies than any other in the region. Women trust us to provide the care they need at this very special time in their families lives. At our BirthPlace, they find a sincere concern for their well being. A comfortable atmosphere for the whole family. And a level of skill that puts even the most nervous new mother and father - at ease. Many area doctors rate us as the preferred place in Hampton Roads to deliver babies. Take our tour, meet our staff and you'll understand why.

Board-certified obstetrician/ gynecologists are on duty during evening and early morning shifts, nights and weekends to handle emergency cases. This in-house OB/GYN hospitalist program ensures that there is always a qualified doctor at hand.

To schedule a BirthPlace or sibling tour, contact Rhonda Jenkins by email at rhonda.jenkins@chealth.org or call 757.312.6508.

Complete breast health services at the Women's Center

Chesapeake Regional Medical Center's Diagnostic Center of Chesapeake offers you a place to get the most sophisticated testing available. The recently expanded center is located on the first floor of the hospital's W. Stanley Jennings Outpatient Center, just steps away from the hospital. The Women's Diagnostic Center, as part of this new larger facility, offers you convenient parking, flexible scheduling and the privacy you need. You also get the confidence of knowing that if any further consultation or services are required, Chesapeake General Hospital is right next door.

The 19,000-square-foot center brings together in one facility many of the hospital's diagnostic services, including some of these familiar women's services:

Mammography. A mammogram is essential in protecting your health. To make it easier for you to get this life-saving test, we offer a variety of appointment times, Monday through Friday. And our equipment is top-notch, yielding high-contrast images for the early detection of any lumps or abnormalities. To schedule an appointment, call 757.312.6137.
R2 ImageChecker System. At Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, we have a new superhuman sentry on the lookout for breast cancer. Our R2 ImageChecker is truly a revolutionary piece of sophisticated computer-aided equipment that can spot details which could lead to detecting cancer at the earliest, most treatable stage. Used in conjunction with a mammogram, the ImageChecker pin-points tiny calcifications and abnormal changes in breast tissue that otherwise would go unnoticed. For every 100,000 cancers detected by mammography, the ImageChecker can be expected to find an additional 20,500 more.
Breast Biopsy. Should your doctor want to take a tissue biopsy from your breast, we offer a safe, accurate non-surgical procedure called a Stereotactic Biopsy aided with Mammotome. This state-of-the-art technique uses ultrasound imaging to locate the areas of the breast where tiny tissue samples are extracted for further study. You experience little pain, and the procedure is quick, requiring no sutures
Breast Cancer Services. If you develop breast cancer, we have inpatient and outpatient services to help, and volunteers who walk you through your treatment journey. Chesapeake Regional Medical Center offers surgery and a complete range of therapies, including radiation therapy and chemotherapy that can be undertaken close to home. Ongoing support, nutrition education and special classes help you look and feel your best in the event of hair loss or skin discoloration.
Bone Densitometry. Unlike any ordinary, X-ray, bone densitometry detects mild bone loss that may lead to osteopenia or osteoporosis, diseases in which the bone's mineral content and density are low. This increases your risk of fracture as you age. It is also used to measure the amount of calcium in specific regions of the bones. From this we are able to estimate your bone strength.
Ultrasound. Also known as a sonogram, an ultrasound uses high frequency, inaudible sound waves that are bounced off body tissues and then recorded to give information about the anatomy of an internal organ. While you typically associate an ultrasound with pregnancy, it is also used by radiologists, neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists, cardiologists, gastroenterologists and OB/GYNS to detect a wide variety of conditions.

Programs to help you stay healthy and celebrate life

Through our Lifestyle Center, you can learn important skills to take care of the people you care about most. For information, call Lifestyle Center at 757.312.6132.

Maternity and Parenting. Chesapeake Regional Medical Center provides new parents with everything they need to know to start their families from prenatal and birthing classes to postpartum and parenting. At the Lifestyle Center Store, new nursing mothers will find professional lactation advice and assistance, as well as products and apparel, to make breastfeeding comfortable and convenient. Call 757.312.6508 to register.
CPR/First Aid. Take our CPR course and be prepared for life-threatening emergencies. Taught in accordance with the standards of the American Heart Association, this important class can mean the difference between life and death. Call 757.312.6132 to register.
Good Nutrition. Attend lectures about nutrition, cooking classes and counseling sessions with registered dietitians. Let our professionals help you adjust your eating habits to get the nutrition you need, achieve weight goals and avoid foods that can lead to health problems. Call 757.312.6530 for appointments.
Osteoporosis Screenings. Chesapeake Regional Medical Center offers the latest technology in osteoporosis detection. Heel density screenings scan the heel to determine your risk of fracture. Our bone densitometer provides detailed bone density analysis through hip and spinal scans. For more information, call 757.312.6132.
Other Health Screenings. Staying healthy means periodically monitoring your well-being. Chesapeake Regional Medical Center regularly schedules opportunities for community health screenings, including those for total blood cholesterol, diabetes, skin cancer, breast cancer and more. Call 757.312.6132 for the latest schedules.

Fitness programs designed just for women

Getting fit is easy with our full schedule of programs and services. Whether you're an exercise veteran or someone who hasn't worked out in a while, we can help you achieve fitness success the Lifestyle Center. The center offers a full range of fitness classes, health and wellness seminars and special events, and a store stocked with fitness and lactation supplies. For rate and schedule information, call 757.312.6132.

Personal Training. Let the skilled personal trainers in our Lifestyle Center teach you the right exercises and supervise your workout to give you the results you want. It's great workout for women who have never exercised.
Supervised Exercise Training. Designed for individuals with diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or a serious weight problem, this program can change your life. You meet with an exercise specialist who conducts an assessment and designs a routine especially for you. To ensure your safety, workouts are supervised by health professionals.
Aerobics and Fitness Classes. Whatever level of exercise you want to pursue, we have classes several times of the day at our Lifestyle Center. You'll find everything from strength training and low-impact aerobics to Pilates and Yoga.
Massage. Ease your tired muscles with a relaxing deep massage from one of our certified massage therapists. Affordable appointments are available during the day, evening or on weekends. Call 757.312.6132 to schedule one.

The most sophisticated diabetes care you can find

If you or someone you care about is living with diabetes, you have a great resource in Chesapeake Regional Medical Center. Our program is recognized by the American Diabetes Association and offers complete services — from education and nutrition counseling to glucose monitoring supplies, camps and workshops. Our certified diabetes educators and diabetes medical specialists are available to help you manage your diabetes so it doesn't manage you. For more information, call 757.312.6132.

Our services include:

Diabetes education
Glucose meters and testing strips
Gestational diabetes classes
Free diabetes screenings
Diabetes camps for children
Home health services
Nutritional counseling
Cooking classes
Pharmacy services
Support groups

Special services for older adults

As women age, we offer programs that encourage health and fitness, socialization and well-being. For more information about any of these programs 757.312.6132.

Special Fitness Classes. Classes with older adults in mind are regularly offered Lifestyle Center. These include Chair Fitness class, Tai Chi for those who want to improve their circulation.
Caregiver Education. If you have an older family member with depression, dementia or age-related memory impairment, this group may hold answers to your questions. Members discuss signs and symptoms of illness, management strategies and methods for coping with caregiver burdens and stress.

Support groups sensitive to your needs

If you've undergone a serious illness or operation, experienced the loss of a loved one or suffer from depression, consider joining one of our support groups. Groups meet in several locations for your convenience. Call our Lifestyle Center at 757.312.6132 for information or click here for dates and times.

Breast Cancer Support. Meet other women who have breast cancer and learn how they managed through this difficult time. Group meetings are facilitated by a breast cancer survivor and an oncology nurse.
Cancer Support. If you have cancer or have a family member who does, Chesapeake Regional Medical Center offers many programs of support. At these meetings, you can share your feelings, hear from others and learn techniques from professionals to help you feel better.
Grief and Loss Support. If you've experienced the loss of a loved one, come meet with others who understand your grief and can help you through this difficult time.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Group. Losing a baby brings overwhelming feelings of sadness. If you've lost yours through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth or infant death, we can help. All family members are welcome.
Early Memory Loss Support Group. Members of the early memory loss support group focus on the needs of people who have early stages of dementia or memory impairment.
Stroke Survivors and Care Partner Support Group. Participants will learn self-care strategies that can increase functional quality and healthy coping skills to help them live with the effects of stroke.

Chesapeake Regional Medical Center orthopedic surgeon pioneers total knee replacement for women only

Until designers created running bras and shorts tailored to the female anatomy, women had to adopt men’s baggy sports clothes as their own.

The same thing occurred in the world of orthopedics. Historically, surgeons have used implants that average somewhere between the size of men and women’s knees. Women often complained about the comfort and fit.

Now a narrower and thinner knee replacement implant has been designed exclusively for women and contoured especially to fit their anatomy... more

Solutions for women's tribulations

Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy

More than 600,000 women who undergo hysterectomies each year could face less pain, scarring and recovery time with a new minimally invasive surgical technique offered by a Chesapeake Regional Medical Center physician.

In the Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy, Dr. Peter J. Kemp cuts three to four tiny incisions in the naval and abdomen. A thin, lighted telescope-like instrument that transmits a video signal and small surgical instruments are then inserted through the incisions.

The surgeon separates the uterus from the cervix then excises thin pieces and removes them through one of the incisions. This leaves the cervix, or the bottom portion of the uterus, intact which may help support the pelvis and avoid future surgery. The large, visible scarring normally associated with an “open” surgery is minimalized.

The procedure can be completed on an outpatient basis, usually allowing a woman to be home recovering within 24 hours and back to normal activities in a week. A traditional hysterectomy is performed through a cut in the abdomen or the vagina, and the entire uterus and cervix is removed. This procedure is invasive and can require lengthy recovery.

“This is changing the way that women look at this very personal procedure,” said Kemp. “Women can undergo this procedure and return home within 24 hours, with only Band Aids to cover their small incisions, which is quite a contrast to traditional hysterectomies.”

Incontinence is very common and even more treatable

If you suffer from incontinence, there's something you should know. It's a very treatable condition. Incontinence is the inability to fully control bladder and bowel muscles. It often begins during pregnancy, when the pelvic floor muscles become weakened. Many treatment options are available that can cure or improve the condition. Chesapeake General offers programs, including non-surgical solutions, through our physical therapy department.

Biofeedback therapy

Biofeedback therapy is a simple, non-surgical way to cure urinary incontinence. Although biofeedback is not new, using it to treat urinary incontinence is. The computerized biofeedback program helps patients locate and contract pelvic floor muscles and displays the strength of the contraction. By using biofeedback therapy, patients usually are able to see improvement after eight to twelve treatments. Call 757.312.6122 for more information.

A gentle touch can provide relief from the pain of lymphedema

Lymphedema is a condition caused by lymphatic fluid and proteins that accumulate in body tissues, resulting in painful swelling of the arms and legs and other parts of the body. At Chesapeake General's Rehabilitation Services department, women can find relief through a comprehensive, five-phase treatment program which includes manual lymphatic drainage, compression bandages, therapeutic exercise, skin care and customized compression. Treatment is personalized to the needs of each patient. Call 757.312.6122 for information.

Find your style of giving

With donations from the community, the Chesapeake Regional Health Foundation has helped make possible many of the special programs and services for women at Chesapeake General Hospital and its family of providers. Through your donations and support, you can personally contribute to the health and well-being of your community. But helping comes in all forms. At Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, it is easy to find a way that best suits your style of giving. Want to donate some of your time. There are an array of volunteer opportunities. We welcome those who believe in the rewards of helping others. For more information on our volunteer services, call 757.312.6109. To make donations, call 757.312.6314.

Expect to be treated like the important person you are

In your quest to live an enriching life, think of us as your enthusiastic partner. Yes, we offer skillful care when you have an illness. But we're also a wealth of information and resources to ensure your ongoing well-being throughout every phase of your life. Through our Lifestyle Center, senior programs, pregnancy services, diabetes education, screening programs and much more, we can help you feel better, have more energy and enjoy the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. As a woman, you can have it all.

Good health is something to celebrate. Let us help you feel your best with programs designed for the person everyone depends on you.