Supporting its Patients and Community With Care and Philanthropy: Why OBGYN West supports Ridgeview Foundation

More than 40,000 patients a year trust the team at OBGYN West that includes 10 physicians, two physician assistants and one nurse practitioner at its Waconia, Chaska, Eden Prairie and Minnetonka locations. They provide a full spectrum of services at any stage of a woman’s life, including well women visits, mammography services, contraception, preconception counseling and infertility care, pregnancy, OB visits, post-partum, perimenopause and menopause.

OBGYN West is with their patients every step of the way.

Caring for Their Own

The team at OBGYN West doesn’t just see patients. Instead, it cares for mothers, daughters, sisters, neighbors and friends.

“The patients who are constantly telling their friends and family to come here, that speaks for itself, and we’re all proud of that,” said Ashley Andersen, MD. “When I’m out in the community, whether it’s with women at a neighborhood party or my son’s daycare, I’m always hearing from patients who love the care they’ve gotten here.”

The Secret Sauce

OBGYN West’s secret sauce lies in the internal culture that has been carefully cultivated over the years.

“We’re a family,” said Chris Gooder, OBGYN West Executive Director. “What makes this place special is not just the physicians, but the staff. We have people who enjoy coming into work, they enjoy seeing their coworkers, they enjoy taking care of their patients.”

“It’s all about the relationship,” said Dr. Andersen. “I have some patients who I’ve seen through that entire time. I’ve done surgery on them. I’ve delivered their babies. I get Christmas cards from their families.”

The team at OBGYN West performs 30-40 percent of its deliveries at Ridgeview. Therefore, its relationship is strengthened through philanthropic support of Ridgeview Foundation.

Giving Back

“Nine years ago, we made a commitment to get more involved in our communities,” said Gooder. “There’s a direct benefit to working with Ridgeview. Through our philanthropic work with the them, we have been able to raise money for Ridgeview initiatives that benefit the hospital, community and our patients. Working with the Ridgeview Foundation helps improve services, quality and patient care which makes Ridgeview a great place to receive care of any type.”

“It’s important to give back to the community to push health care forward in the western suburbs and advance the surgical technology in labor and delivery,” said Matt Weinrich, MD, OBGYN West partner whose been practicing for 20 years. “We need to stay competitive and that requires philanthropy.”

OBGYN West has been a member of the Ridgeview Foundation Corporate Partner program since 2013. Its team is regularly seen on the golf course for the annual Golf & Taste Celebration and at Under the Harvest Moon.

“By investing in Ridgeview Foundation, it helps to grow and support not only Ridgeview, but gives back to us and our patients. And, that benefits us all,” said Dr. Andersen. “It always feels good to give back to a worthy cause. And to give back to something you believe in really benefits the community. It’s something we are able to do and we feel really good about it.”

“I love my job,” said Dr. Weinrich. “It’s bringing a baby into the world. It’s amazing and there’s not a better job in medicine.”