Hope House pregnancy center now offers limited medical services
Published 9:26 pm Wednesday, March 14, 2018
- The Hope House pregnancy center always wanted to provide ultrasounds to abortion-minded patients and are now able to with the recent transition into a pregnancy medical clinic.
Editor’s note: The following article has been corrected from its original version.
MOULTRIE, Ga. — Hope House Pregnancy Care Center converted into a pregnancy medical clinic as of Jan. 21.
The Hope House identifies as a life affirming center and advocates for life. While it provide information on all of a pregnant woman’s options, it offers support only for childbirth with the options of parenting and adoption.
Prior to being a medical clinic, Hope House pregnancy care center could only offer self-administered pregnancy tests and educational support options such as prenatal and parenting classes to their clients.
The free medical services provided to patients are pregnancy testing and limited obstetrical ultrasounds.
Those services are performed by registered medical professionals including registered nurse, Kayla Jones, sonographer Mandy Mackey and radiologist Dr. Lee McGill.
Jones conducts the pregnancy tests and gathers the patient’s medical history and informs the client on whether or not they’re pregnant.
Mackey has 17 years of experience and performs the sonograms.
Hope House CEO Katrina Bivins said the clinic has administered approximately 20 ultrasounds since the crossover and close to 35 pregnancy tests.
Once the pregnancy tests and ultrasounds are performed, the clinic refers expectant mothers to the Sterling Women’s Center and other places in the community where they can get resources to help them throughout their pregnancy.
Bivins said that the clinic hopes to start offering testing soon for sexually transmitted diseases and infections.
The ultrasound scans are read by Dr. Lee McGill, and he writes the ultrasound reports. McGill volunteers as the medical director at the Hope House clinic.
In a press release from Bivins, McGill said, “As a radiologist, I interpret imaging studies to help provide care for those who are ill. An opportunity arose during the clinic’s medical preparation for me to also use my skills in medicine and imaging to be part of the Hope House legacy as well.”
“When asked to become the medical director by my wife, I did not hesitate,” McGill said. “We both saw an opportunity to minister to and educate expecting mothers about the gift God has given them.”
The House of Hope holds prenatal and parenting classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays where expecting parents learn about baby development and growth.
The classes are led by volunteers and Donna Collum, the ministry coordinator.
“We’re here to offer support to the mother and father, not just save a baby’s life,” Bivins said. “And we do that through support and education.”
Expectant mothers and fathers earn points after attending classes and are able to spend their “mommy money” and “daddy dollars” at the mommy mall on brand new baby items such as formula, diapers, baby wipes, clothes, shoes and toys.
The mommy mall is funded through the clinic’s budget and through different women’s church groups and individuals in the community who donate items from baby showers.
The Hope House is supported through the Hope House thrift store, churches and local individuals through monetary donations.