MDNews - San Antonio

Patients always meet with both physicians. Dr. Van de Putte or Dr. Vargas will be the lead physician following, providing care to and delivering babies for expectant mothers, and patients are always familiar with both practitioners. "It's important for my patients to know that, when the big day arrives, I will likely be the person to deliver their children," Dr. Van de Putte says. "But in the event of my absence, they can rely on somebody I trust, who can provide a high level of care, and whom they've already met." Operating the practice in such a way fosters a personalized atmosphere for their patients. "It's a different feel at Southwest General Hospital," Dr. Vargas notes. "Many gynecology practices in San Antonio are large, and patients may get lost in the shuffle. Here, physicians know each other's patients." Wide-Ranging Surgical Capabilities The collaborative nature of the practice offers more than a sense of confidence and familiarity to their patients; Dr. Van de Putte and Dr. Vargas combine their surgical skills to offer comprehensive surgical care for OB/GYN patients. "We are eight years apart in our training, and there were some strides made in minimally invasive gynecological surgeries during that time that I was fortunate enough to be trained in," Dr. Van de Putte says. "We use a team approach and operate together. It's nice to have such a balance of traditional and new techniques coming together for the needs of each surgery and patient." The team approach enables patients to benefit from minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical techniques for hysterectomy and the removal of ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterine masses. Drs. Vargas and Van de Putte also offer in-office hysteroscopy, cervical excisional procedures, noninvasive tubal ligations, colposcopy and abnormal pap smear evaluations. The physicians also evaluate and provide surgical treatment for pelvic floor weakening and prolapse conditions, as well as associated problems such as incontinence. "Incontinence takes a tremendous toll on people," Dr. Van de Putte says. "If they're constantly having urinary accidents, they may feel trapped at home and as if they can't go anywhere. Surgical correction for this problem makes a huge difference in these patients' lives. I tell "Returning to South San Antonio brings everything fullcircle for me. I've been very much at peace here. I feel that this is where I'm needed. In medicine, you can sometimes get drained and burned out, but it reenergizes me when I think that this is my work. This is my life commitment." — Leticia Vargas, M.D., M.B.A, OB/GYN at Southwest General Hospital MDNEWS.COM I MD NEWS San Antonio |7

• Cover