Local Hospital Expands Access to Permanent Birth Control, Adds Local Specialists

Daviess Community Hospital announced in mid November that it had begun offering laparoscopic sterilization procedures at its Same Day Surgery unit in Washington through a new partnership with Jasper Obstetrics and Gynecology. The collaboration brings four board certified obstetrician gynecologists into hospital based practice, expanding local options for permanent contraception and surgical women's health care.

Laparoscopic sterilization, commonly known as getting your tubes tied, is a minimally invasive procedure performed under general anesthesia using small abdominal incisions. Most patients are able to return home the same day. By providing this procedure locally, Daviess Community Hospital aims to reduce the need for patients to travel to larger regional centers, and to keep surgical care within the community health system.

The partnership includes four physicians with strong clinical credentials and local ties. Jennifer Greulich, MD, is a Dubois County native who returned with her family after residency training at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and she has emphasized full spectrum women’s care for her home community. Megan Isaacs, MD, originally from Terre Haute, previously practiced at UAP Clinic for five years and maintains a faculty appointment with the Indiana University School of Medicine, where she has served as a clinical educator. Jennifer Lueken, MD, a Forest Park High School graduate, completed residency at the University of Louisville and was recognized for exceptional laparoscopic skill, with a clinical focus on minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. Kristin Spellmeyer Werne, MD, a Jasper native who is fluent in Spanish, has participated in medical mission work abroad and has been honored for excellence in patient care.

Hospital leaders framed the expansion as part of a broader effort to connect local surgical expertise with patient centered care. “When patients can stay close to home for care, surrounded by people and providers they trust, outcomes and experiences improve,” said Justin D. Harris, MSHA, MBA, FACHE, CEO of Daviess Community Hospital.

For local residents, the change has practical implications. Access to hospital based sterilization may lower transportation and time costs for patients, support better coordination with primary and obstetric care, and enable women to receive procedures in a facility with established perioperative services. This is particularly relevant for patients in rural parts of Southern Indiana who previously faced longer travel times to obtain permanent contraceptive care.

The expansion also raises questions about equitable access to reproductive health services. Making permanent contraception available locally can strengthen reproductive autonomy for those who seek it, but it must be paired with robust counseling, informed consent, and access to a full range of contraceptive options to ensure care is equitable and patient centered. Hospital officials say the partnership with the Jasper physicians will provide coordinated, hospital based surgical care for patients across Daviess, Dubois and nearby counties.

As services continue at the Same Day Surgery unit in Washington, patients and referring clinicians in the region will have a new, locally anchored option when considering permanent contraception and related gynecologic procedures.