Services

We offer a full range of obstetric and gynecological services to meet your needs:

• Pre-pregnancy planning, pregnancy and delivery
• Infertility diagnosis and management
• Gynecological surgery (hysterectomy, myomectomy) using the da Vinci surgical system (See below on this page for more information about da Vinci robotic surgery.)
• Gynecological care
• Annual physicals
• Individualized plans of care for peri-menopause and menopause
• PMS symptom management

da Vinci surgical system

A letter from Dr. Ertel:

The da Vinci robot makes it possible to routinely perform laparoscopic hysterectomies on patients who would normally have an open abdominal hysterectomy. In the past year, my minimally-invasive hysterectomy rate was greater than 95%. Nationwide, 64% of hysterectomies are still abdominal. The da Vinci technology has made it possible to offer laparoscopic hysterectomy even to patients who are morbidly obese or have large fibroids. The many benefits of laparoscopic da Vinci hysterectomy include:

• Shorter hospital stay - one night instead of two
• Less pain, both short-term and long-term
• Less blood loss
• Less adhesion formation
• Shorter time back to work - typically two to three weeks instead of six
• Better cosmetic results

Castleton OB/GYN is dedicated to minimally-invasive surgery because it is the best clinical option for most patients. I think it is important for women to know that this option is available to them and they do not need to undergo the pain and lengthy recovery of an abdominal incision. I feel so strongly about this kind of hysterectomy that I teach other surgeons how to use the da Vinci robot. Hopefully, one day laparoscopic hysterectomy will be the standard of care.

Learn more about da Vinci at eCommunity.com/davinci

Sincerely,

Sylvia Ertel, M.D., FACOG

Community Hospital North

Patients may take advantage of the maternity services offered through Community Hospital North, including private maternity guest suites, neonatal intensive care unit, natural childbirth/doula services, online baby pictures, pregnancy and childbirth preparation classes, wireless Internet and more.

To learn more, visit eCommunity.com/ob or Community Hospital North online at eCommunity.com/north

Patient forms

Please fill out a patient information packet prior to your visit and bring it with you: download the packet

Insurance and payments

Please bring your insurance card so we may make a copy of it for your records. We also request that you know which laboratory your insurance is contracted with so that your lab work will go to the correct lab.

As a service to our patients, we will file your primary and secondary insurance for you. Payment is requested when services are rendered for copayments or if no insurance information is provided. We accept checks, cash, Visa and Mastercard payment. We do recognize our patients as individuals and should your personal needs be different, please contact our office so we can arrange a payment plan to suit your needs.