Valley OBGYN, a private physician-owned practice, recently expanded by opening an office in Liberty Lake.

Operating in about 3,000 square feet at 1334 N. Whitman Lane, the new office offers the practice's full scope of women's health services for obstetrics and gynecology care, including a new midwifery program.

The Liberty Lake office is the practice's first expansion since it started just over 30 years ago in 1984, said Amber Pedersen, Valley OBGYN administrator. The main office is located in Spokane Valley at 1415 N. Houk.

Pedersen said Valley OBGYN providers saw a need to offer in-demand services closer to residents in Liberty Lake and outlying areas. 

"We saw the demand for that area, which was not being serviced by our specialties," Pedersen said. "We thought it would be a great service to provide Liberty Lake, and for Post Falls, Otis Orchards and other outlying Valley areas. We see patients even from the Hayden area."

As one example of its specialties, she said Valley OBGYN has a high rate of success helping clients have successful vaginal deliveries after C-sections. 

"We do have the highest success of VBACs in the Greater Spokane area," Pedersen said. 

The newly leased space in Liberty Lake will have two full-time providers on site during its hours of operation, as the practice's nine providers rotate through the new office.

"It's a full scope practice, so we can do all our procedures there," Pedersen said. 

The practice employs 25 people overall. The staff includes five physicians, two midwives, a nurse practitioner and a physician's assistant. A new physician will join the staff in September.

Among its services, the practice offers comprehensive obstetric care through pregnancy and delivery, education about pregnancy and a physician on call 24 hours a day. Its providers also see patients for high-risk pregnancies, infertility problems and for infertility treatment.

Additionally, Valley OBGYN's midwifery program that started in June includes midwives Lisa Freeland and Wendi Fairweather. It's a patient-centered program in which a midwife, who takes on an educational and advocacy role, works with people during a pregnancy from conception to the birth at a hospital.

For gynecology services, care includes annual exams, pap tests and minimally invasive surgeries such as abdominal hysterectomy, endometrial ablation, laparoscopic hysterectomy and robotics. The practice also sees patients for managing symptoms of menopause and offers procedures to help women who have endometriosis, urinary incontinence, pelvic pain and pelvic prolapse, among other services.

Melissa Morgan, a lactation specialist, also offers full lactation services in Liberty Lake to include classes, Pedersen said.

The Liberty Lake office is accepting new patients, she added. 

"We have a large base of Liberty Lake patients, and we hope to grow that base," Pedersen said. "We're very excited to be part of the community of Liberty Lake. Most of our physicians live in Liberty Lake. We're looking forward to growing and evolving with the community."

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