A Woman Owned Business / October 2006
Woman to Woman Care
 Angelita Nixon
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By Pat Lawrence
Angelita Nixon is a health professional that still makes makes house calls. A mid wife and well-woman health care provider, Anglelita often provides her services in the comfort and privacy of her patient’s own home. “My pregnant clients all want to deliver at home. And, for many women, time, location or arranging for child care makes a clinic visit so problematic, they don’t go.”
Originally from Indiana, Angelita got a bachelors degree in psychology and intended to go to medical school, but when a friend chose a midwife over a traditional hospital delivery, she was intrigued. “Of course, when she told me midwifery was still considered illegal in some places, it piqued my interest even more. I decided that was for me!” With a master’s degree in nursing from Case Western Reserve University, and certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), Angeltia is licensed to practice in both Ohio and West Virginia.
She says. “Birth is a normal process, and a healthy event. Pregnancy is an exciting time, for learning and for change. My role is to teach and to serve, and to safeguard the health of both mother and child.”
Though she came to West Virginia specifically for a position as a midwife with the Birth Center in Scott Dept, after five years her interest in home birth delivery led to opening her own practice. She has participated in over 400 births, over 80 of them outside the hospital. Her first solo birth was in December of 2003. In 2004, she had thirteen, in 2005, 21. This year she has already participated in nineteen home births and is anticipating eight more.
Although she maintains a collaborative agreement with a nearby board-certified OB-GYN physician, should the need arise for medical care or hospitalization, the services she provides do not require a physicians orders–or a physician’s office.
Angelita offers flexible scheduling for pap smears, contraceptives, routine lab work like lipid profiles and CBC’s, screening and treatment for infections, referrals for mammograms, plus menopause and peri-menopause care. She performs e cultures and screens for STD’s and annual exams for healthy women.
 Angelita in action
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The unhurried, personal attention that are integral to her practice are especially appealing for women who are uncomfortable in the traditional setting or who have had negative experiences with an exam or who have experienced abuse. Angelita says she specializes in first exams. “Young women having their first pelvic exam can be very anxious. I let them handle the instruments and explain every step.” The teens benefit from her sensitive approach, but Angelita says older women can be especially appreciative of the same kind of care and information. “Many women have never seen their cervix. I offer them the choice of viewing or even inserting the speculum themselves. Sometimes it gives a sense of taking control, something that can be missing in a usual office visit.”
Angelita rarely advertises. “I don’t want a high volume practice. My caseload is about right so my marketing is through word of mouth. It’s a very specialized service. I want to always have ample time to answer questions and discuss personal health concerns.”
Still, she keeps gaining clients. The gynecological side of the practice does allow her the luxury of a day or tow off. Except for a few scheduled weeks, “I’m on call all the time now.” So, she has started interviewing students with the goal of a possible partnership. “Many midwives prefer to work with a hospital setting, so home delivery isn’t for everyone.
She says, “The business side of handling the practice has been the biggest challenge-budgeting, accounting, insurance. Most insurance companies honor midwife care. It’s routine care according to established standards for normal birth.” The cost of midwife services from prenatal care through delivery to postpartum care, generally ranges from from 3000-$3500. Angy also bills insurance for gynecological care and family planning.
All services, from the pap tests to birth can be provided in the woman’s home or, if she prefers, in the midwife’s home office in Scott Depot.
Angelita says, “Midwife means ‘with woman’ and once described someone who was with a woman during birth. That could have been an older female in the family or in the community. Today, the word indicates a philosophy of care that focuses on the specific needs of women and minimizes unnecessary intervention for healthy women.”
For more information, call Angelita Nixon, CNM, LLC, 304-757-9006, email ANmidwife@netzero.com or visit Anmidwife.
Copyright © 2007 A Woman's View. All rights reserved.
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