The Savvy Patient - Healthy Pregnancy Equals a Healthy Baby

2011-08-10T15:17:19-07:00

In this week’s “Savvy Patient” column in the San Diego Union-Tribune, Dana M. Shipp, M.D, provides valuable tips to help ensure a healthy pregnancy.

Preparing for a baby’s arrival is important — but charting a course for mom’s health during pregnancy is even more vital. Here are some tips for planning a healthy pregnancy.

Add folic acid. Folic acid plays a key role in promoting a baby’s neurological development.
Get fit. Women should strive to reach a healthy body mass index, or BMI, before becoming pregnant.
Eat healthy, not for two. Instead of “eating for two,” pregnant women should “eat twice as healthy.”
No alcohol or tobacco. Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should refrain from alcohol and tobacco.

For more healthy pregnancy tips and to read the full article: Healthy pregnancy equals a healthy baby

Scripps Acquires North County OB-GYN Medical Group

2011-03-23T09:33:20-07:00

Scripps Health has acquired North County OB-GYN Medical Group in a deal to be completed by June 1. The acquisition will create the eleventh Scripps Clinic location in San Diego County.

North County OB-GYN’s obstetrics and gynecology physicians will join Scripps Clinic Medical Group, which includes more than 400 physicians practicing in more than 50 areas of medicine and surgery. Scripps Health contracts for the exclusive services of the Scripps Clinic Medical Group physicians through the Scripps Medical Foundation.

The providers of North County OB-GYN include Kirstin Lee, MD; Allan Silver, MD; Tracy Ruymann, MD; Kelly Harkey, MD, MPH; Elizabeth Silverman, MD; Renee Nelson, MD; Kimberly Washkowiak, MD and Azar Bastanfar, CNP. Each of the physicians is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the practice’s ultrasound program is accredited by the American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine.

“North County OB-GYN Medical Group is a well-respected part of the San Diego medical community,” said Larry Harrison, chief executive of Scripps Medical Foundation. “The physicians and staff will expand the excellent services Scripps Clinic provides to the community.”

Scripps Health will acquire the assets of North County OB-GYN Medical Group, currently located in the XiMED building on the campus of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, and the practice’s 26 employees will be employed by Scripps Health. During this transition and beyond, the physicians of North County OB-GYN Medical Group will continue to coordinate the medical needs of their patients.

“This is an ideal partnership based on a shared vision for patient care,” said Robert Sarnoff, MD, president of Scripps Clinic Medical Group. “Patients should expect the same high-quality care and service they have always received.”

North County OB-GYN has a long-standing relationship with Scripps Health and all of the physicians currently practice at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. The group delivered more than 730 babies at Scripps La Jolla in 2010.

“As members of the Scripps La Jolla medical staff, we know that Scripps is a strong, well-run organization with a reputation for delivering high-quality care,” said Kirstin Lee, MD, president of North County OB-GYN. “After practicing in the community for more than 40 years, we look forward to providing excellent care to our patients under the Scripps Clinic name.”

This is Scripps Health’s fifth medical group acquisition since 2008. Previous acquisitions include Sharp Mission Park Medical Group, Penn Elm Medical Group, Del Mar Medical Clinic and North Coast Women’s Care.

Scripps Health - All News for Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN)

The Savvy Patient - Healthy Pregnancy Equals a Healthy Baby

Scripps Acquires North County OB-GYN Medical Group