LEONARDTOWN, MD (October 7, 2013) – The St. Mary’s County Health Department recently welcomed Ms. Christine Schmitthenner, CRNP, an experienced family nurse practitioner to provide clinical services in its Health Clinic. Ms. Schmitthenner has over 30 years of experience as a Family Nurse Practitioner, and has specialized in reproductive health for well over a decade. She is passionate about her service in public health, and committed to helping residents understand their own health. She is fluent in English and speaks medical Spanish. Translation services for different languages are also available at the Health Clinic.
Ms. Schmitthenner provides information and preconception counseling to help residents prepare for healthy pregnancies and prevent unintended pregnancies. In addition to discussing birth control options, she tests for pregnancy, counsels mothers how to have a healthy pregnancy, provides complete gynecological exams, and screens and treats both men and women for sexually transmitted infections (including HIV/AIDS). Some residents may also be eligible to receive vaccination for HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), a virus known to cause cancers of the cervix, anus, and mouth/throat. Services may also be provided to eligible women who are not in need of birth control but desire to have a gynecologic examination. “The clinic assists both men and women in planning healthy pregnancies and preventing unintended pregnancies, and assists families in having healthy babies,” said Ms. Schmitthenner. “Our goal is to provide individuals the opportunity to plan pregnancy in a way that is healthy for them and their baby.”
The Health Clinic at the St. Mary’s County Health Department currently accepts the following insurance plans:
• Medical Assistance
• Medical Assistance MCOs
• Maryland Family Planning
• Primary Adult Care (PAC)
• All major insurance with out of network coverage
Clients without insurance are charged according to a state-approved sliding scale fee; select services will not be denied due to inability to pay.
Clinic appointments are scheduled Tues. – Thurs. from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Residents are strongly encouraged to call ahead to make appointments. Walk-in evaluations will be provided as allowable by the clinic schedule, though may need to be scheduled into another day.
To learn more about the services provided at the Health Clinic or to schedule an appointment, please call 301-475-4330. For more information about the clinic, please visit www.smchd.org/health-clinic . The St. Mary’s County Health Department is located at 21580 Peabody Street in Leonardtown and is accessible by various means of transportation, including public transportation.