About WHC
Welcome to Women's Health Consultants
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What is Maternal-Fetal Medicine?
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What makes WHC unique?
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What is WHC's mission?
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Whom will I see during my office visits?
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Who are WHC's delivering doctors?
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Where will my deliveries take place?
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With which hospitals does WHC have practice affiliations?
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Where will my ultrasound exams be performed?
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Whom should I contact if I have questions in between physician visits?
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What if I have to cancel my appointment with WHC?
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Which insurance plans does WHC accept?
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Are there fees associated with my obstetrical care that won't be covered by my plan?
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What about "Sick Visits"?
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Can I get keepsake images of my ultrasound?
What is Maternal-Fetal Medicine?
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Maternal-Fetal Medicine is a subspecialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology that focuses on complications that may place a pregnant woman or her child at risk, including past or present obstetrical problems, medical, surgical, and genetic issues. However, any expectant mother can benefit from the added expertise and focus that WHC provides in support of healthy pregnancy outcomes.
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Maternal-Fetal Medicine physicians are fully trained and qualified obstetrician/gynecologists, who upon completion of a three-year fellowship and satisfactorily completion of written and oral examinations, are certified as perinatal subspecialists by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) and as Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists by The American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AOBOG).
As part of a medical team, an MFM specialist can partner with ob-gyn, reproductive endocrinologist (fertility specialists), or family physician to make sure a woman gets comprehensive care during her pregnancy. An MFM may offer recommendations for care, monitor a woman's condition, or oversee any testing or treatment that a woman or her baby needs. Some women see their regular ob-gyn for most of their pregnancy appointments, with only periodic visits to an MFM. For other women, an MFM provides all their care.
Ideally, a woman with a chronic condition begins seeing an MFM before getting pregnant. A woman may be referred to an MFM if she has a health condition, such as:
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problems with a previous pregnancy, such as a premature delivery
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being sick or injured while pregnant
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carrying twins or more (depending on the type of twins and the provider's comfort level with managing a multiple pregnancy)
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a baby's birth defect or growth problem
A woman who also develops complications during pregnancy may also be referred to an MFM. An MFM may provide advice during labor and birth or participate in the actual delivery. An MFM may also provide care after the birth if there are complications, such as heavy bleeding, elevated blood pressure, diabetes, or seizures.
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For more information see Maternal-Fetal Medicine High-Risk Pregnancy Care, Research, and Education for Over 35 Years, from The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the SMFM Foundation.
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What makes WHC unique?
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Women's Health Consultants is led by nationally recognized, board-certified Perinatologists who combine years of clinical practice, academic teaching experience, and published clinical research. This unique “Privademic” combination of experience and expertise enables WHC to provide its patients with an uncompromised approach to clinical care that utilizes the most advanced methodologies and medical technologies in perinatal medicine.
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In support of our physicians, WHC maintains an experienced team of nurse practitioners who are board-certified/board-eligible in Women’s Health Care, RDMS/RDCS-registered sonographers with certifications in obstetrics/gynecology, medical assistants trained in perinatal and OB/GYN care, and other medical and administrative personnel.
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Conveniently located in Chicago’s Gold Coast, our upscale, private offices are provisioned with the latest medical technology, including 3D/4D ultrasound equipment. We offer a welcomed alternative to large, crowded hospitals where navigating a labyrinth of parking facilities, elevators, hallways, and checkpoints in search of your physician can be a daunting experience. From convenient parking and access to our state-of-the-art medical facility to our responsive administrative staff to the finest Maternal-Fetal Medicine care available in Chicago, Women's Health Consultants strives to deliver a truly unique experience that is welcoming, attentive, personalized, and uncompromised when it comes to the health and safety of you and your baby.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals across the nation are prohibiting family members or other loved ones from accompanying patients to appointments. As an alternative to other hospital-based gynecological and obstetric services, Women’s Health Consultants enables expectant mothers to experience the added care and important emotional support provided by an attending family member or other loved one by welcoming them during all appointments and deliveries.
Our facility adheres to all prescribed CDC health protocols while providing the space that our patients and their family members or other loved ones need during their visits with us. In addition to WHC’s staggered appointment scheduling that ensures patients do not congregate within the waiting room, all patients and visitors are required to wear masks during visits, hand sanitizer is provided for patients’ convenience, and the facility is deep-cleaned and sterilized daily.
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What IS WHC'S MISSION?
Our mission is to provide our patients with world-class maternal-fetal medicine care that incorporates the latest medical research and utilizes cutting-edge clinical approaches and state-of-the-art technology in a uniquely compassionate environment that is attentive, personalized, and uncompromised when it comes to the health and well being of mothers and their babies.
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How We Deliver On Our Mission
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Expertise: We call upon decades of academic teaching and research, and clinical experience.
Innovation: We utilize the latest technology and clinical approaches when it comes to caring for our patients.
Teamwork: We purposely have structured a small, highly cohesive team of Perinatal medical experts who work closely together, consult with each other, and collaborate on successful patient outcomes.
Focus: Our focus is Maternal-Fetal Medicine with a specialized focus on Fetal Sonography. We don't try to be all things to all of our patients. Ultimately, our focus is on the health and well-being of the mothers and babies that we are fortunate to have as our patients.
Compassion: We recognize that birth is a special time for an expectant mother and her family, and we strive to keep the process as natural as possible. Our staff and employees are committed to ensuring our patients’ experience is uncompromised in every way possible.
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Who are WHC's delivering doctors?
Dr. Pombar and Dr. Mehendale are designated delivery doctors at Women's Health Consultants. We realize that the delivery of your baby is a very personal experience. Unlike larger group practices where you may not meet the doctor who will deliver your baby, WHC's focused approach to patient care means that you will have a greater opportunity to get to become acquainted and interact with our entire staff, including our delivery doctors.
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Whom will I see during my office visits?
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Depending on the nature and reason for your visit, you could see a variety of our staff, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and sonographers:
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Where will my deliveries take place?
We deliver at Rush Medical Center. By the fifth month of pregnancy, we ask that you submit a completed preadmission registration form for Rush Medical Center. Copies of the form will be provided to you by our clinical staff.
At this time, tours of the maternity facility are suspended due to current levels of Covid-19 cases. Once this suspension is lifted, we recommend that each patient schedules a tour of the Rush Medical Center maternity facilities.
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With which hospitals DOES WHC HAVE PRACTICE affiliatIONS?
In addition to Rush Medical Center, where we do deliveries, we are available for outpatient consultation and ultrasounds at St. Joseph Hospital, Little Company of Mary, Silver Cross Hospital, and the Fetal Center at Lurie’s Children’s Hospital.
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Where will my ultrasound exams be performed?
In our office located at Silver Cross Hospital. We are located in Pavilion A, 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., Suite 215, New Lenox, IL 60451 where we have
state-of-the-art 3D/4D equipment.
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​Whom SHOULD I CONTACT if I have questions in between physician visits?
Depending on your specific question and particular situation, our staff of physicians, nurse practitioners, and sonographers are available to answer your questions in between scheduled physician visits.
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What if I have to cancel my appointment with WHC?
When making an appointment with WHC, we set aside a significant amount of time in preparation for and in anticipation of your consultation. Unfortunately, when you don't show for your scheduled appointment, another patient loses an opportunity to be seen.
Accordingly, if you need to cancel or re-schedule, we request that you notify us no later than 48 hours in advance of an extended appointment or consultation, and at least 24 hours in advance of a routine or ultrasound appointment. If we do not receive an appropriate notification, then you will be responsible for a cancellation fee which is $50.00 for a new patient appointment and $25.00 for a routine or ultrasound appointment.
Please call our office as soon as you need to cancel your appointment. If you call our office after business hours, please leave a message and we will confirm with you by phone on the next business day. Cancellation charges are not covered by insurance and are due before any future appointments.
WhICH Insurance plans does WHC accept?
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Women's Health Consultants participates in a wide variety of insurance plans. For complete information, please visit our Insurance Carriers page.
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Are there fees associated with my obstetrical care that won’t be covered by my plan?
The payment provided by insurance companies for obstetrical care provided by WHC is limited to the following:
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All normal, uncomplicated prenatal visits
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Obstetrical delivery
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One (1) well post-partum visit
Other services and fees that might occur during the course of your care may or may not be covered. We recommend that patients contact their plan administrators to learn the limits of their individual policies.
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What about "Sick Visits"?
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In the event you experience a medical complication during your pregnancy, any related visits and associated costs are not covered as part of the global obstetrical package. The global obstetrical fee only covers routine, uncomplicated OB care. Examples that could result in additional fees include hospital care during acute illness or pregnancy complications, or unscheduled office care for illnesses like infection or complications due to underlying medical conditions. When billed to your insurance company, these visits may result in additional co-pay, coinsurance, or deductible expenses.
Can I get keepsake images of my ultrasound?
At WHC, patients have the option of getting digital
keepsake images from their ultrasound scans.
The cost is $5.00 per visit and due at the time of service.