FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN SEMINOLE COUNTY STOPS PREGNANCY MEDICAL SERVICES

SANFORD - As of Monday, March 9 the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County (DOH-Seminole) is no longer offering prenatal medical services. The announcement comes after continuous public health budget cuts and numerous physicians providing the same service in the private sector. The health department’s existing prenatal patients will continue to be seen at the Sanford office until 34 weeks, after which time patients will transition to Heathrow OB/GYN located by the Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford.

“We are pleased to announce the partnership with Heathrow OB/GYN and Central Florida Regional Hospital to ensure mothers and babies receive quality care and live long healthy lives,” said Dr. Swannie Jett, health officer of the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County. “Infant mortality is an important indicator of the health of a community because these children are its most vulnerable members and therefore their rate of mortality reflects the overall quality of life for a population. As a public organization it is our job to build partnerships that facilitate access to quality health care.”

DOH-Seminole will continue to monitor the infant mortality rates of Seminole County and provide other pregnancy services to raise awareness of the importance for soon-to-be mothers to receive regular health checkups. DOH-Seminole continues to offer basic family planning services which includes low-cost pregnancy testing. The Sanford office also offers Healthy Start, a program which reaches out to pregnant women and new mothers and connects them with health care and other necessary resources. Further, certified birth certificates and WIC can be received at both the Sanford and Casselberry Offices.

For the full list of services offered at DOH-Seminole and their locations, visit the website at www.seminolecohealth.com

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