Women's Health

Appointments

On the second Wednesday of the month, we are closed in the morning for a monthly staff meeting. On that day, we start accepting calls for appointments at 9:30 am.

Clinic Appointments Required

  • Immunizations
  • Prenatal Appointments
  • Physical Exams
  • Return Visits (requested by your provider)

Physical Exam appointments for Family Planning can be scheduled in advance.

If you are sick and need an appointment to be seen, but the schedule is already full when you call, you will be given the first available time slot or your call may be routed to the triage nurse on call. If you walk in without an appointment, the triage nurse will have to evaluate you and determine if you will be able to be seen the same day or if you will have to schedule an appointment for the next day.

Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment. If you arrive late, we may have to reschedule your appointment. If you are unable to keep your appointment, please call ahead to cancel.

Payment Information

Cash, check, and some insurance plans are accepted for payment. We also accept VISA, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards or debit cards for payment.

If you have Medicaid or another health insurance, please bring your insurance card with you.

If you have no health insurance, you may be eligible for our sliding fee scale which is based on income and family size. To apply for the sliding fee scale, please bring proof of income for your household. We accept paycheck stubs, a letter from the employer stating hours worked and wages, or last year's income tax form. Until we receive this information, we will charge the full amount for our service.

Beginning September 1st, 2015 Caldwell County Health Department will require all clients presenting for service to provide proof of income. Income will be assessed annually unless there is a change in financial status. Clients will be asked at each visit if there has been a change in financial status/number in the household.

Clients who have met the income criteria for the following programs (i.e., Medicaid, WIC, Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) Program (Food Stamps), or the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Program) will only be required to show documentation of current eligibility and no additional income screening will be necessary.

No client will be refused services when presenting for care based on lack of documentation, however, each client will be billed at 100% until proof of income and family size is provided to the agency (must be within 30 days of service). Please note that the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) has a different set of criteria that can be found under that heading.

The fee schedule can be found on the Administration Page.

Maternity Clinic

The Women's Health Team provides client-centered services to pregnant and postpartum women. The clinical services are available to any woman regardless of financial circumstances. CCHD participates in the NC Medicaid Pregnancy Medical Home program and offers OB care management services for all pregnant Medicaid recipients in Caldwell County. Educational offerings provided by skilled staff include newborn care classes and childbirth classes.

For appointments in the Maternal Health Clinic or with Pregnancy Care Management, call 828-426-8488.

Maternity Clinic Brochure (PDF)

We offer ongoing maternity care to women up to 35 weeks. Care is then transferred to the provider who will deliver the baby. The health department does not provide delivery services.

Maternity Services

  • Pregnancy Tests (by appointment only)
  • Complete physical exams
  • Laboratory Testing
  • Counseling for financial and social services
  • WIC Nutrition Program for eligible patients (see WIC site)
  • Referral to OB Care Management

Childbirth Education

Childbirth Education Classes will be held each quarter on a Friday from 10 am to 3 pm in the Tammy Austin Green Conference Room at the Health and Human Services Building. During this class, certified Child Birth Educators will instruct expectant mothers in the different stages of childbirth, techniques in breathing and stretching, and answering questions the mother may have about their upcoming birth. While at the class the mother will receive valuable information on such topics as breastfeeding, swaddling, and child seat safety. There will be hands-on projects and giveaways. The best time to come to these classes is by the third trimester of the pregnancy which will give the mother time to practice the techniques and prepare her birth plan and decide what is best for her and her baby. To register for this exciting class, please call 828-426-8488, or call your Pregnancy Care Manager. These classes are free to all pregnant women.

Watch a short clip about Women's Health! 

Safe Surrender

North Carolina's Safe Surrender law allows an overwhelmed parent to surrender his or her baby to a responsible adult and walk away. The baby will be adopted. A baby up to 7 days old may be placed with any responsible adult. The baby must be unharmed. Safe surrender is legal and anonymous. Anyone who receives a baby in this way must keep the baby safe and warm, and call 911 or the county social services department immediately. The law is properly called the law to Decriminalize Abandonment of an Infant." The law is meant to prevent these babies from being killed or being left unsafely to die.

SIDS Counseling

Caldwell County Health Department provides nurses trained in counseling families affected by the death of an infant from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. We also provide education on how to prevent SIDS. For more information or to access this service, please call our maternal health clinic and ask for a SIDS counselor.

Pregnancy Care Management (PCM)

Medicaid Pregnancy Care Management Services is a statewide program in NC promoting healthy moms and healthy babies. This program provides care management services for high-risk women during pregnancy and for two months after delivery by a social worker or registered nurse.

Maternal Qualifications

  • Have or are eligible for NC Medicaid
  • Had a premature baby (delivered before 37 weeks)
  • Had a baby that weighed under 5.5 pounds
  • Are pregnant with twins, triplets, etc.
  • Have a medical condition (Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, etc.)
  • Have a mental health diagnosis (Anxiety, Depression or etc.)
  • Homeless or have unstable housing
  • Have difficulty with drugs or alcohol
  • Smoke or use tobacco

How will I know if I am high risk?

When you have your first visit with your prenatal care provider, they will help decide if you have any risk factors. If you have any risk factors, you will be referred to a pregnancy care manager.

A pregnancy care manager can:

  • Help you with your risk factors and make a plan to address them.
  • Work closely with you and your doctor to help address medical needs.
  • Help arrange transportation to medical appointments if needed.
  • Help you manage medicines that you might have.
  • Work hand in hand with you to help you have a healthy baby.

Family Planning Clinic

Are you ready to be a mom? Do you want more children? Are you on Birth Control?

If you answered "No" to any of these questions, you may wish to visit the Caldwell County Health Department for our Family Planning Program.

The purpose of the Family Planning program is to reduce unintended pregnancies and improve the well-being of Children and Families. Note: uninsured patients will be charged on a sliding fee scale based on household income.

Things You Need to Know About Family Planning

  • It provides family planning, birth control, and certain clinical services
  • It's confidential
  • There are no age restrictions
  • Even if you are not planning on having a baby now, you can take steps to improve your reproductive and overall health

Eligibility

Any male or female desiring pregnancy prevention and / or family planning services who:

  • Is not pregnant
  • Is not sterilized (hysterectomy, BTL, etc.)
  • Is not incarcerated
  • Note: other requirements may also apply

Covered Services

  • Family Planning
  • Yearly exams, pap smears, and breast exams (as indicated)
  • Birth Control
  • Pregnancy Tests
  • Laboratory Tests
  • HIV and STD testing
  • Help on when to have a baby
  • Referrals

FYI: Those who are uninsured or below 195% of the federal poverty level may be eligible for free Family Planning Services under the BE SMART Family Planning Program.

Primary & Acute Care

Caldwell County Health Department participates in most major health insurance programs, including Medicaid, and Medicare. The health clinic provides comprehensive medical care for those individuals covered under these programs. Please call the health department to schedule your appointment today. Let us assist you in your journey to improved health.

Breast & Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP)

The NC Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) offers free or low-cost breast and cervical cancer screenings and some follow-ups to eligible women in North Carolina.

Who is eligible for BCCCP?

Women aged 40 to 64 years who:

  • Have a household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level
  • Are uninsured or underinsured
  • Are without Medicaid or Medicare Part B

All patients coming for BCCCP appointments must have proof of income on the day of service or they will be asked to reschedule or self-pay.

Available Services

  • Clinical Breast exams
  • Mammograms
  • Diagnostic procedures, as indicated
  • Pap Smears
  • Colposcopies
  • LEEPs, as indicated

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