May 28, 2026

Improving access to timely, patient-centered care is at the heart of the Women’s Health Transformation initiative underway across CommUnityCare Health Centers. A multidisciplinary team of providers, clinical staff and operational leaders has been working to strengthen how women access care throughout every stage of life, from pregnancy and postpartum care to specialty gynecological services. 

CommUnityCare Health Centers provided more than 19,440 OB/GYN visits in Fiscal Year 2025, according to UDS data, making women’s health services a critical area of focus across the organization. 

The work is centered on a simple goal, which is removing barriers that can delay care and create a more seamless experience for patients. 

“Priorities surrounding women’s health transformation work come from the lens of how patients experience care here,” said Dr. Melinda Lopez, Director of Women’s Health. “Everything from how easy it is for them to schedule a visit, to what happens when they arrive, to how we continue supporting them after they leave.” 

One of the first major efforts launched in March 2026 is a pilot program at the Southeast Health & Wellness Center designed to improve early entry into prenatal care. 

Patients beginning prenatal care typically attend an initial obstetric intake appointment and then return later for an ultrasound. The pilot combines those services into one visit, allowing patients to receive an ultrasound and meet with an obstetrics provider during the same appointment. 

“Early prenatal care is a critical quality measure because it allows providers to identify potential concerns earlier, confirm how far along a pregnancy is and connect patients to appropriate services sooner,” Dr. Lopez said. “We see the greatest benefits when patients are able to enter care during the first trimester, ultimately improving outcomes throughout the pregnancy.” 

The goal is to reduce lengthy delays and help patients begin care faster. The long-term vision is to connect all patients with both services within two weeks of reaching out for care. 

The transformation effort is also focused on expanding access to specialty women’s health services, including colposcopy, a procedure used after abnormal cervical cancer screening results following a pap smear. 

Historically, access to colposcopy appointments has been limited, creating long wait times for patients. In Fiscal Year 2025, CommUnityCare Health Centers screened 37,504 women ages 24-64 for cervical cancer. During that same period, 2,216 patients received care related to abnormal cervical findings across 4,254 visits, highlighting the importance of timely access to follow-up services such as colposcopy. 

To address this need, expanded-access Saturday colposcopy clinics for select patients every other month to help reduce delays and provide more appointment options. 

Additional women’s health providers and staff have also received advanced colposcopy training through MD Anderson in Houston to expand provider capacity and increase appointment availability across the system. 

“The first colposcopy clinic saw a 100% patient show rate,” said Dr. Lopez. “Patients were extremely appreciative and expressed gratitude for weekend availability and earlier appointments.” 

Supporting these efforts is a recent $650,000 award through the Texas Department of State Health Services FQHC Incubator Project-Based Funding program. The funding will support point-of-care ultrasound equipment, expanded sonography staffing, women’s health educational and clinical resources and workforce development. 

For CommUnityCare Health Centers, the work represents a continued commitment to improving access, strengthening patient experiences and advancing women’s health outcomes across Central Texas.