For woman living in and around Boone County, they need look no further than Boone County Hospital (BCH) for their obstetrical and gynecological care. The hospital has two obstetricians/gynecologists (OB/GYNs) on staff—Dr. Tracey McIntire, D.O., and Dr. Daniel Gabrielson, D.O.
Dr. McIntire joined BCH in September 2006 as a full-time OB/GYN. Over the past seven months, she has been pleased with the continued growth of her practice. “For many residents of the Boone area, they were traveling outside of Boone to get the OB/GYN care they needed because there wasn’t a full-time obstetrician/gynecologist available in Boone,” says Dr. McIntire. “I am thrilled to be the doctor they have chosen for their care. And, I’m happy to say, in the upcoming months I will be delivering babies for several of the patients that started coming to me in the fall.”
Dr. Gabrielson began working at BCH part-time approximately two years ago. In addition, he provides OB/GYN services in Fort Dodge, Webster City and Clarion. Since starting at BCH, Dr. Gabrielson has been able to offer some new procedures and services to his patients. “I am very pleased with Boone County Hospital. The hospital provides all the obstetric and gynecological services you would find in a larger city,” says Dr. Gabrielson. “In fact, I have seen some of these larger communities incorporate services in their hospital that are already provided in smaller community hospitals such as BCH.
Dr. McIntire provides complete prenatal and delivery services for mothers expecting a baby. In September 2006, BCH began offering epidural services to mother’s during the birthing process. The timing of the new service coincided with the addition of Dr. McIntire. She also provides many gynecological services including annual physical exams, preventive medical treatment and reproductive services.
A newer procedure Dr. McIntire offers is called a hysteroscopy, an x-ray which allows the doctor to visualize inside the uterus and the fallopian tubes to see abnormalities or obstructions that may be inhibiting a pregnancy or that may need to be removed to avoid health complications. If there are any obstructions or scar tissue present, Dr. McInitre can use a wand-like telescope with an attached camera, known as a hysteroscope, to visualize the tissue and to remove the obstruction, such as a cyst or polyp, right away which can be more convenient, less costly and less painful for her patient. “This procedure has been very beneficial to my patients,” says Dr. McIntire. “It allows an immediate opportunity for me to see what is going on inside my patient’s uterus.”
Dr. McIntire also provides sterilization procedures including a minimally invasive procedure known as Essure, a hysteroscopic sterilization performed on an outpatient basis. Dr. McIntire uses a fiber-optic hysteroscope with a camera and inserts it vaginally rather than making an incision on the patient’s abdomen.
Another procedure Dr. McIntire can perform called an endometrial ablation can be helpful for women who experience heavy bleeding during their periods. Radio waves are used to remove the inner lining (known as the endometrium) of the uterus. The procedure can reduce or completely eliminate vaginal bleeding and can sometimes be a less complicated alternative to a hysterectomy due to the fact that it is less invasive. Since the procedure can completely eliminate a woman’s menstrual cycle, it should only be performed on women who are not planning any more children.
Dr. Gabrielson has a special interest in urogynecology. This specialty involves evaluating and treating conditions affecting the female pelvic organs, along with the muscles, nerves and ligaments that control these organs. Common conditions include incontinence, a loss of bladder or bowel control, and pelvic prolapse. These conditions can cause pressure or pain in the lower abdominal region and can lead to more complex problems. According to Dr. Gabrielson, some of the newer techniques are really showing a lot of promise, compared to some of the procedures that may have failed more often in the past. However, he indicates very few OB/GYNs and urologists are doing this procedure either due to lack of training or the difficulty of the procedure.
Dr. McIntire and Dr. Gabrielson are excited to be a part of Boone County Hospital and look forward to serving and providing care for woman of all ages. Both doctors are accepting new patients. To find out if you might be a candidate for a specific procedure or to schedule an appointment with one of the doctors, please call (515) 432-7766. |