%20(1).png)
Women's Health in Direct Primary Care
WOMENS’ HEALTH SCREENING IN YOUR DPC PRACTICE
PAP SMEARS:
American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) GUIDELINES
- Guidelines for management of normal screening results
- Guidelines for management of abnormal cervical screening results
In some states, pathology charges cannot be billed through client billing account. Please check on your state guidelines HERE.
MAMMOGRAMS
Screening guidelines for mammograms vary between ACOG, AAFP, ABIM, and USPSTF. Encourage your female patients to have regular mammograms at the interval that you choose to follow in your practice. Cash pay mammograms and further diagnostic testing are readily available at private radiology centers. For more information check out
CONTRACEPTION
Beyond screening, contraceptive management falls easily under the umbrella of primary care. Most generic oral contraceptives cost less than $10 per month and can be easily ordered from your pharmaceutical supplier.
Many patients are also great candidates for long-term, implantable contraception. Training for insertion and removal of IUDs and Nexplanon is available through the respective manufacturers and in the case of Nexplanon, is required for ordering. Once training is completed, finding another doctor near you who inserts these devices and can mentor you through the first few is a great way to increase your confidence.
The implantable devices themselves can be obtained several ways. For insured patients, a prescription must be sent to the contracted specialty pharmacy. Usually, this information is found on the insurance card. For uninsured patients who qualify, patient assistance programs (PAP) are available for Kyleena, Mirena, and Skyla. For uninsured patients who do not qualify for a PAP, Canadian pharmacies are often a reasonable option for cash pay. Paragard and Nexplanon do not have a PAP but Canadian pharmacies may still be an option. Needymeds.org is a great resource for checking for whether there is a PAP for medications.
PROCEDURE SUPPLIES:
- IUD insertion:
- Long (~11 inch) locking forceps.
- UV forceps or ring forceps work well for both cleaning the cervix during insertion, as well as for IUD removal later.
- You will also need a tenaculum, a uterine sound, and a long pair of blunt scissors.
- Disposable uterine sounds are available, but experience has shown them to be insufficient for sounding a nulliparous or stenotic cervical os.
- Nexplanon Insertion
- Local anesthetic
- Marker and a ruler
- Nexplanon Removal:
- #11 blade scalpel
- Small clamp
- PAP smears:
- Liquid-based pap containers, brushes, and spatulas (provided by labs)
- Specula
- PAP light system
- Water-based lubricant
The content of this page is restricted to active members.
If you are an active member please log in. If you have recently applied for membership, please allow staff 3-5 days to review your application. Otherwise, if you feel you are reaching this by mistake, email hello@dpcalliance.org for assistance.
Women's Health in Direct Primary Care
WOMENS’ HEALTH SCREENING IN YOUR DPC PRACTICE
PAP SMEARS:
American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) GUIDELINES
- Guidelines for management of normal screening results
- Guidelines for management of abnormal cervical screening results
In some states, pathology charges cannot be billed through client billing account. Please check on your state guidelines HERE.
MAMMOGRAMS
Screening guidelines for mammograms vary between ACOG, AAFP, ABIM, and USPSTF. Encourage your female patients to have regular mammograms at the interval that you choose to follow in your practice. Cash pay mammograms and further diagnostic testing are readily available at private radiology centers. For more information check out
CONTRACEPTION
Beyond screening, contraceptive management falls easily under the umbrella of primary care. Most generic oral contraceptives cost less than $10 per month and can be easily ordered from your pharmaceutical supplier.
Many patients are also great candidates for long-term, implantable contraception. Training for insertion and removal of IUDs and Nexplanon is available through the respective manufacturers and in the case of Nexplanon, is required for ordering. Once training is completed, finding another doctor near you who inserts these devices and can mentor you through the first few is a great way to increase your confidence.
The implantable devices themselves can be obtained several ways. For insured patients, a prescription must be sent to the contracted specialty pharmacy. Usually, this information is found on the insurance card. For uninsured patients who qualify, patient assistance programs (PAP) are available for Kyleena, Mirena, and Skyla. For uninsured patients who do not qualify for a PAP, Canadian pharmacies are often a reasonable option for cash pay. Paragard and Nexplanon do not have a PAP but Canadian pharmacies may still be an option. Needymeds.org is a great resource for checking for whether there is a PAP for medications.
PROCEDURE SUPPLIES:
- IUD insertion:
- Long (~11 inch) locking forceps.
- UV forceps or ring forceps work well for both cleaning the cervix during insertion, as well as for IUD removal later.
- You will also need a tenaculum, a uterine sound, and a long pair of blunt scissors.
- Disposable uterine sounds are available, but experience has shown them to be insufficient for sounding a nulliparous or stenotic cervical os.
- Nexplanon Insertion
- Local anesthetic
- Marker and a ruler
- Nexplanon Removal:
- #11 blade scalpel
- Small clamp
- PAP smears:
- Liquid-based pap containers, brushes, and spatulas (provided by labs)
- Specula
- PAP light system
- Water-based lubricant