OB/GYN
Dr. Glen Scarbrough said, in sharing why he chose this field, “Medicine, and Ob/Gyn chose me. My parents were in healthcare and my father, Dr. R.W. Scarbrough, was an Ob/Gyn physician.” In fact, Dr. G. Scarbrough, a surgeon with a specialty in laparoscopy, came to OB/GYN Associates specifically to practice medicine with his father. Laparoscopy is a less invasive method of surgery. In Ob/Gyn, it is utilized for tubal ligations, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, urinary incontinence issues and in some cases, hysterectomies. All of the physicians at OB/GYN Associates believe in treating the whole
6 Coastal Health
person; it is an intrinsic facet of the practice. That belief, in conjunction with the respect and care the six physicians have for one another, is truly the heart of OB/GYN Associates of Savannah. Why Join SCMG? In many ways the reasons for joining a larger organization such as SCMG are the same as the reasons the founders joined together in 1995—to pool funding, knowledge, resources and technology. The 1995 decision to join together was a horizontal integration, meaning all of the participants were in the Ob/Gyn field. Dr. Toraya explained
that vertical integration, such as OB/GYN Associates joining SCMG, allows various medical practice disciplines to come together in a centralized plan. In turn, this means they have available, as a part of SCMG, referral options within the larger organization such as eye care, sleep medicine, internal medicine, and so on, should their patients need to seek additional types of medical care. In addition, the practice can now expand the types of services, particularly testing options, which they are able to offer under one roof. The practice now offers mammograms at the office rather than having to send a patient to an imaging site or hospital. Tests for bone density, complete blood testing, and gynecological ultrasound are now also available in the office. The fact that these resources are now available to the practice is a clear advantage for patients, as they will not have to go to other locations to complete their care. When a practice joins SCMG, the autonomy of the small practice remains intact, particularly in how the day-to-day operations are handled. The physicians of OB/GYN Associates of Savannah would like for their patients to know that the faces patients are used to seeing, and the processes they have come to expect, have not changed. The same six physicians and staff, with their teamwork, compassion, knowledge, and care for each individual will be available. The faces and friendly welcoming of the office personnel— receptionists, lab personnel, nurses, medical assistants, office manager— remain the same. The vertical integration of OB/GYN Associates with SouthCoast Medical Group extends the services and resources available to the practice while retaining the positives inherent in an autonomous practice. In exchange, OB/GYN Associates brings a ready-made Ob/Gyn department to SCMG, a division previously missing in the larger organization. The mission of SCMG, “To provide compassionate, quality and costconscious healthcare to every patient.” is well-served in this partnership.