Women’s Health

1st Choice Healthcare provides care for women at every stage of their lives.  With an emphasis on prevention and early detection, you achieve the best possible health and well being.  Every member of our staff, from physicians and nurses to office personnel, is committed to providing you with the highest level of medical care in a comfortable, friendly environment and the personal care you deserve with obstetric and gynecological services.

Services

Programs

1st Choice Healthcare serves as a provider for the Arkansas Breast Care Program, a free breast and cervical cancer screening program.  To qualify for a free breast and/or cervical cancer screening, women must meet be:

  • Age 40-64 years older
  • Are under 40 years old but have breast symptoms
  • Do not have health insurance (including Medicare or Medicaid)
  • Have a household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level
  • Live in Arkansas

Regular screening for breast and cervical cancer is testing women for early signs even though they have no symptoms.  Regular screening can lead to early detection of breast and cervical cancer.  Accepted screening procedures for breast cancer are mammography and clinical breast exams.  Breast cancer found in its earliest stages can be much easier to cure.  In fact, if women practice early screening methods, about 1/3 of all breast cancer deaths could be prevented.    

Screening Services include clinical breast exam, Pap test and screening mammogram.

Diagnostic Services are performed for follow up on an abnormal mammogram, clinical breast exam or pap test results.

If you qualify for FREE Breast Care services, you will be enrolled and will receive your personal ID card along with complete information on the BreastCare Program.  Your BreastCare provider will make you an appointment for a clinical breast exam and Pap test if needed.  After this visit, an appointment will be made for you to get a FREE mammogram.

1st Choice Healthcare receives Susan G. Komen funding to make provisions for screening and diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds, breast biopsies and surgical consults.  To qualify, you must live in the State of Arkansas, no health insurance coverage or have a high insurance deductible.  These services, are provided at no cost to the patient, and cover only breast related symptoms, such as pain, lumps, etc…  Most breast imaging and limited biopsies may be covered with approval.

To apply for this program, you can speak with our Care Managers, nursing staff or your physician.

Women who need help paying for family planning and women’s health services may qualify for assistance through the Arkansas Women’s Health Waiver. Since 1997, this program has been helping women who do not qualify for full Medicaid protect their gynecologic health and prevent unplanned pregnancies.

The waiver helps women take control of their reproductive lives and provides a dependable source of payment for their health care providers.

  • You must be able to have children.
  • You either do not have health insurance OR your health insurance does not include wellness benefits.
  • Your family income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
  • you cannot be on any other Medicaid program
  • Only family planning services are covered. They include: physical exams, lab work, birth control, information about preventing HIV and STD’s, prescriptions for birth control, and follow-up visits.
  • If you are over age 21, you may be able to get an operation to keep you from getting pregnant.

You may pick up an application at our front desk and return it there. You must complete and return it on the date of your visit in order for that days services to be covered if you qualify.

To learn more- contact your local health department, or the DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services) office in your county.

Text4baby is a FREE cell phone text messaging service for pregnant women and new moms.  Text messages are sent three times a week with information on how to have a healthy pregnancy and care for an infant.  The text messages are timed to the pregnant woman’s due date or the baby’s date of birth.

The free text messages provide tips on subjects including breastfeeding, car seat safety, developmental milestones, emotional well being, exercise and fitness, immunizations, labor and delivery, nutrition, prenatal care, safe sleep, stop smoking and more.  To register, send a text message to the number 511411 with the word BABY or BEBE (for Spanish messages). The free Text4baby app is also available for download.

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