OXFORD — McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital's new Women's Health Services center provides information as well as health care to the Oxford area and rural eastern Indiana.

        “There's a lot of acknowledgment that women's health is different than men's health,” said Sandy Balentine, a nurse and director of women's health services.

        “Women respond differently to different diseases. Take heart attacks, for example. Instead of the crushing chest pain men often suffer, women have more backache and nausea. As a result, they often ignore the symptoms.”

Information center
               The center, which opened March 1 at 5151 Morning Sun Road, will help women identify health concerns. A resource room features reference books, audio books, brochures, computers and varied research materials on mental and medical health.

        National groups also have named the center a cancer information site, where women can obtain the latest information on treatment and other issues.

        “We want women to get good information,” Ms. Balentine said.

        The center also publishes Women's Health Connection, a quality newsletter focusing onwomen's health issues.

Hospital plans expansion
               In the future, McCullough-Hyde might transfer its mammography unit to the women's center, said Lynn Brown, director of imaging. Hospital nurses have been trained to give breast examinations, she said.

        This summer, the hospital will start a two-year expansion project.

        “We need more space,” Ms. Balentine said. “We'll go to all-private rooms for pa tients. We're already experiencing an increase in emergency room activity” because of the closing of Mercy Hospital Hamilton's emergency room.

        Women's Health Services center also offers massage therapy, one of the oldest forms of the healing arts. It stimulates the body to help it carry out regular functions.

Meeting women's needs
               Soon the center also will offer private consultations in Oxford with Cincinnati boutique owners who offer mastectomy supplies, wigs and turbans, compression garments and exercise devices.

        In addition, the center will offer seminars in subjects such as nutrition, heart disease, CPR, domestic violence, yoga and osteoporosis.

        “The best thing we can do is offer knowledge,” Ms. Balentine said. “We want to focus on issues relating to women.”

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