Hillcrest set to open the 'Peggy Helmerich Women's Health Center'

A medical "first" for Tulsa. A hospital that's for women only, no men allowed. Hillcrest is getting ready to open the Peggy Helmerich Women's Health Center. <br><br>News on 6 anchor Tami Marler

Thursday, June 26th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A medical "first" for Tulsa. A hospital that's for women only, no men allowed. Hillcrest is getting ready to open the Peggy Helmerich Women's Health Center.

News on 6 anchor Tami Marler says from the moment you walk through the doors, it's obvious this hospital is unique.

â€œWe have all the state-of-the-art equipment in there, brand-new equipment, and we'll be able to do a lot for the babies now." The Helmerich Center's neonatal intensive care unit looks like the top-notch facility it is. In a few days, four board-certified neonatologists will treat as many as 32 high-risk babies at a time. Dennis Overcash will manage the unit. â€œIâ€™m looking very forward to it; we've waited quite a few years to get this, and of course we've been very blessed with the building that we have."

The rooms look like hotel suites, each one private, with the option of special-order gourmet meals. Restrooms are oversized, designed for comfort and convenience. From the hotel-style amenities to the services they offer, the focus here is on comfort, and women's health in all stages of their lives.

It's a women's facility; women can recover here, there's women in the hallways, and the amenities are geared towards women. "We went out in the beginning and asked women, 'what is it about a hospital they didn't like.â€™â€ Sandra Jackson, Hillcrest Vice President says Hillcrest also looked at what women do like, which is why they offer a salon for patients who've lost their hair or a breast to cancer.

There's also a kid-friendly waiting area, when mom has to bring her children along for appointments. "We don't want a woman to worry. We want her to feel comfortable."

The Women's Center opens on July 1st, that's when patients will be moved over from the main hospital.