Shannan Calhoon, a certified nurse midwife – or CNM – is delivering more than babies, and delivering comprehensive care to women of all ages at Primary Care GYN, PLLC , in LaGrande Princesse.
The office is part of Dr. Arakere Prasad’s practice.
A CNM is a licensed healthcare practitioner, certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board, and educated in two disciplines: nursing and midwifery. She provides primary health care to women of childbearing age.
Prasad made the decision to open a separate office to give primarily healthy patients primary care. The office opened in February in the Princesse Health Center next door to the Princesse Pharmacy.
“This was the perfect opportunity to get away from the urgent care and sick walk-ins,” Calhoon said. “The patients love it here. They don’t get lost in the shuffle and everything is more efficient.”
Calhoon is responsible for providing antepartum, labor and delivery, and postpartum nursing care. She also does gynecological exams to women generally from puberty through menopause and beyond. She gives newborn care, assistance with family planning decisions, preconception care, menopausal management and counseling in health maintenance and disease prevention.
Calhoon can write prescriptions and order mammograms and other diagnostic tests. She can even admit and discharge patients at Juan F. Luis Hospital.
“This is such an enjoyable job it doesn’t seem like work,” Calhoon said. “The best part about being a midwife is being able to celebrate the most precious and intimate time in a couple’s life.”
Calhoon has been been providing care to women for 20 years. After graduating from the University of Indiana with a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing, she accepted a commission in the United States Army. While serving in the Army as a nurse, she attended the obstetrics and gynecology nursing specialty course and earned the award for distinguished honor graduate. She graduated from the University of Miami with a master’s of science degree in nursing and earned the excellence in academic and clinical 0performance award. She has worked as an OB/GYN nurse in military and civilian hospitals.
“It’s important as a midwife to listen to the needs of my patients and to provide them with the best care possible and the most up to date information available,” Calhoon said.
Calhoon, a wife and mother of one child, moved to St. Croix for her husband’s job six years ago. When she’s not delivering babies Calhoon is hiking and running, aiming at her personal goal of participating in one of St. Croix’s triathalons.
Women still have options to choose caring competent healthcare providers on island even in this time of uncertainty about the future of care on St. Croix, according to Calhoon.
“A nurse practitioner can be a primary healthcare provider for all annual health care needs,” she said.
Calhoon is accepting new patients. Her hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments can be made by calling 1-340-773-2273.
