Women Living Well
About Women Living Well
Women Living Well has been created as an organization that recognizes and appreciates the many facets involved in a woman’s life and what it takes to truly live well. Wellness and health involve not only our emotional and physical health, but it also involves the complexities of our home and works lives and the peculiarities of our family and friend relationships.
Our vision at Women Living Well is to live as we speak, to respect one another and the world around us, to live well and to provide compassionate and innovative care that helps women to truly live well.
Insurance Information
Our practice accepts most major insurances. However, we encourage you to call your insurance provider about your coverage.
Hospital Affiliations
Forms
FAQ
What do I need to do to join your new practice?
Please request your medical records from your current provider. And just call for an appointment!
What hospitals are you affiliated with?
Obstetrical care is provided at Christiana Care Hospital in Newark, DE.
Major Surgical Procedures are performed at both Christiana Care Hospital and Wilmington Hospital
Minor Surgical Procedures are performed in our office if appropriate and at Christiana SurgiCenter.
Do you take my insurance?
We accept most commercial insurances. Please call for more details regarding coverage of your specific plan. We also encourage that you call YOUR insurance carrier and ensure we are in your network for coverage. You may want to ask your representative for a reference/confirmation number.
WLW has a structured program for self pay patients.
We will continue to be Medicare providers.
Do you deliver babies?
Yes! We love delivering babies. WLW is dedicated to caring for women throughout their lifespan.
Do you do obstetrical surgery?
Yes. Drs. Apel, Hodges, Akoto, and Smith are trained to do obstetrical procedures including vaginal delivery and cesarean sections as indicated. We offer external cephalic version in the hospital for breech presentation.
We support vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) in well informed patients with history of either one or two previous cesarean sections. We can treat miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy surgically or medically after we evaluate your risks and benefits.
What Gynecologic surgeries do you offer?
Drs. Apel, Hodges, Akoto, and Smith perform a variety of minor gynecologic procedures including diagnostic hysteroscopy; operative hysteroscopic myomectomy (removal of fibroids) and polypectomy (removal of endometrial polyps); Minerva and Cerene Endometrial Ablation; LEEP and cold knife cone procedures of the cervix, dilation and curettage or D&C, hymenectomy, and labioplasty.
We also perform laparoscopic evaluation of pain or abnormalities; laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis, ovarian cysts, adhesions, and tubal pregnancy; laparoscopic tubal ligation or salpingectomy (removal of fallopian tubes).
We also perform hysterectomies and strive to complete all procedures through minimally invasive techniques. All our doctors are well trained and skilled in laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and laparoscopic hysterectomies. We also perform hysterectomy with an abdominal or open incision if you are not a candidate for one of these more minimally invasive procedures.
Do you do procedures in your office?
We do endometrial biopsies and colposcopic evaluations of the cervix at our office.
We offer in-office hysteroscopy and endometrial ablations now!
All providers are certified and skilled at Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, or Paragard IUD placement. We are Nexplanon certified for insertion and removal.
What procedures do you refer to others?
We refer our patients who desire bladder suspension or have pelvic organ prolapse to the Center for Urogynecology and Pelvic Surgery at Christiana.
We refer patients who have masses which are suspicious for cancer to a gynecologic oncologist: Christiana Gynecologic Oncology or to Penn Medicine and the Abramson Cancer Center.
We refer patients with infertility or complex reproductive endocrinologic problems several local experts including: The Reproductive Associates of Delaware (RAD), Delaware Institute for Reproductive Medicine (DIRM), Shady Grove Fertility, and Mainline Infertility.
Will you manage my problems without surgery?
We will almost always offer at least one non-surgical option to your gynecologic problem.
Do you have an ultrasound machine?
We offer both obstetrical and gynecologic ultrasound within our office.
If we can not find a convenient time in our office, we will refer you to a trusted facility within the community.
Will you be my primary care provider?
We prefer for you to have a separate primary care provider. BUT we do have a primary care Nurse Practitioner, Katie Rubin, with openings to established care!
Who is in your call group?
We share hospital call coverage with a larger network of Midwives and Doctors from First State Women’s Care and All About Women.
After Hours Guidance
Pregnancy
At 37 weeks and beyond, go to the hospital if you:
- Are leaking fluid from the vagina.
- Are bleeding enough to see it on your underwear or a pad.
- Are having painful contractions every 5 minutes for at least an hour.
- Have a severe headache, vision change and/or severe abdominal pain.
- Are feeling the baby move less and have been unable to feel the baby move at least 10 times in 2 hours.
- Have had any injury to your abdomen.
If you are less than 34 weeks, go to the hospital if you:
- Are leaking fluid from the vagina.
- Are bleeding enough to see it on your underwear or a pad.
- Are having more than 4 contractions an hour x2hours.
- Have a severe headache, vision change and/or severe abdominal pain.
- Are feeling the baby move less and after 28 weeks if you have been unable to feel the baby move at least 10 times in 2 hours. (Kick counts can be performed from 28 weeks and beyond.)
- Have had any injury to your abdomen.
Post Partum
Please go to the hospital if you:
- Have heavy bleeding that is filling a pad every hour x2 hours.
- Have a fever greater than 100.4 F/38.0C.
- Have a severe headache, vision change and/or severe abdominal pain.
- Worsening pain, drainage or redness of c-section incision.
- Breast pain, redness and fever that may indicate infection in the breast.
- Severe depression or thoughts of suicide.
- Gynecologic concerns
Please go to the hospital if you:
- Have had a recent procedure/surgery and have a fever and/or severe pain at an incision site.
- Have an early pregnancy and have severe abdominal pain with or without bleeding.
- Have severe vaginal pain or swelling.
Please call the office during business hours or message your healthcare provider through the Athena portal to
- Review of test results
- Request prescription refills
- Clarify medications that you can take during pregnancy
- Schedule or reschedule appointments
- Discuss irregular periods
- Discuss yeast/vaginal infection symptoms or concerns
- Discuss contraceptive needs/concerns
*The guidance offered above is not meant to be all inclusive or apply to all medical scenarios. It is impossible to provide direction in advance for every medical scenario. If at any time you feel you need to be seen by a doctor, you should come to the emergency room or call an ambulance irrespective of the guidelines above.
Women Living Well has been created as an organization that recognizes and appreciates the many facets involved in a woman’s life and what it takes to truly live well. Wellness and health involve not only our emotional and physical health, but it also involves the complexities of our home and works lives and the peculiarities of our family and friend relationships.
Our vision at Women Living Well is to live as we speak, to respect one another and the world around us, to live well and to provide compassionate and innovative care that helps women to truly live well.
Contact office for insurance information.
What do I need to do to join your new practice?
Please request your medical records from your current provider. And just call for an appointment!
What hospitals are you affiliated with?
Obstetrical care is provided at Christiana Care Hospital in Newark, DE.
Major Surgical Procedures are performed at both Christiana Care Hospital and Wilmington Hospital
Minor Surgical Procedures are performed in our office if appropriate and at Christiana SurgiCenter.
Do you take my insurance?
We accept most commercial insurances. Please call for more details regarding coverage of your specific plan. We also encourage that you call YOUR insurance carrier and ensure we are in your network for coverage. You may want to ask your representative for a reference/confirmation number.
WLW has a structured program for self pay patients.
We will continue to be Medicare providers.
Do you deliver babies?
Yes! We love delivering babies. WLW is dedicated to caring for women throughout their lifespan.
Do you do obstetrical surgery?
Yes. Drs. Apel, Hodges, Akoto, and Smith are trained to do obstetrical procedures including vaginal delivery and cesarean sections as indicated. We offer external cephalic version in the hospital for breech presentation.
We support vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) in well informed patients with history of either one or two previous cesarean sections. We can treat miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy surgically or medically after we evaluate your risks and benefits.
What Gynecologic surgeries do you offer?
Drs. Apel, Hodges, Akoto, and Smith perform a variety of minor gynecologic procedures including diagnostic hysteroscopy; operative hysteroscopic myomectomy (removal of fibroids) and polypectomy (removal of endometrial polyps); Minerva and Cerene Endometrial Ablation; LEEP and cold knife cone procedures of the cervix, dilation and curettage or D&C, hymenectomy, and labioplasty.
We also perform laparoscopic evaluation of pain or abnormalities; laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis, ovarian cysts, adhesions, and tubal pregnancy; laparoscopic tubal ligation or salpingectomy (removal of fallopian tubes).
We also perform hysterectomies and strive to complete all procedures through minimally invasive techniques. All our doctors are well trained and skilled in laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and laparoscopic hysterectomies. We also perform hysterectomy with an abdominal or open incision if you are not a candidate for one of these more minimally invasive procedures.
Do you do procedures in your office?
We do endometrial biopsies and colposcopic evaluations of the cervix at our office.
We offer in-office hysteroscopy and endometrial ablations now!
All providers are certified and skilled at Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta, or Paragard IUD placement. We are Nexplanon certified for insertion and removal.
What procedures do you refer to others?
We refer our patients who desire bladder suspension or have pelvic organ prolapse to the Center for Urogynecology and Pelvic Surgery at Christiana.
We refer patients who have masses which are suspicious for cancer to a gynecologic oncologist: Christiana Gynecologic Oncology or to Penn Medicine and the Abramson Cancer Center.
We refer patients with infertility or complex reproductive endocrinologic problems several local experts including: The Reproductive Associates of Delaware (RAD), Delaware Institute for Reproductive Medicine (DIRM), Shady Grove Fertility, and Mainline Infertility.
Will you manage my problems without surgery?
We will almost always offer at least one non-surgical option to your gynecologic problem.
Do you have an ultrasound machine?
We offer both obstetrical and gynecologic ultrasound within our office.
If we can not find a convenient time in our office, we will refer you to a trusted facility within the community.
Will you be my primary care provider?
We prefer for you to have a separate primary care provider. BUT we do have a primary care Nurse Practitioner, Katie Rubin, with openings to established care!
Who is in your call group?
We share hospital call coverage with a larger network of Midwives and Doctors from First State Women’s Care and All About Women.
Pregnancy
At 37 weeks and beyond, go to the hospital if you:
- Are leaking fluid from the vagina.
- Are bleeding enough to see it on your underwear or a pad.
- Are having painful contractions every 5 minutes for at least an hour.
- Have a severe headache, vision change and/or severe abdominal pain.
- Are feeling the baby move less and have been unable to feel the baby move at least 10 times in 2 hours.
- Have had any injury to your abdomen.
If you are less than 34 weeks, go to the hospital if you:
- Are leaking fluid from the vagina.
- Are bleeding enough to see it on your underwear or a pad.
- Are having more than 4 contractions an hour x2hours.
- Have a severe headache, vision change and/or severe abdominal pain.
- Are feeling the baby move less and after 28 weeks if you have been unable to feel the baby move at least 10 times in 2 hours. (Kick counts can be performed from 28 weeks and beyond.)
- Have had any injury to your abdomen.
Post Partum
Please go to the hospital if you:
- Have heavy bleeding that is filling a pad every hour x2 hours.
- Have a fever greater than 100.4 F/38.0C.
- Have a severe headache, vision change and/or severe abdominal pain.
- Worsening pain, drainage or redness of c-section incision.
- Breast pain, redness and fever that may indicate infection in the breast.
- Severe depression or thoughts of suicide.
- Gynecologic concerns
Please go to the hospital if you:
- Have had a recent procedure/surgery and have a fever and/or severe pain at an incision site.
- Have an early pregnancy and have severe abdominal pain with or without bleeding.
- Have severe vaginal pain or swelling.
Please call the office during business hours or message your healthcare provider through the Athena portal to
- Review of test results
- Request prescription refills
- Clarify medications that you can take during pregnancy
- Schedule or reschedule appointments
- Discuss irregular periods
- Discuss yeast/vaginal infection symptoms or concerns
- Discuss contraceptive needs/concerns
*The guidance offered above is not meant to be all inclusive or apply to all medical scenarios. It is impossible to provide direction in advance for every medical scenario. If at any time you feel you need to be seen by a doctor, you should come to the emergency room or call an ambulance irrespective of the guidelines above.
