Honest Care Means Giving You the Full Picture

Women's HealthFirst is proud to offer a wide range of obstetric and gynecologic services in-house, across all four of our Northwest Chicago locations. From prenatal care and surgical services to in-office diagnostics and lab work, we handle the vast majority of your care right here, with the same trusted team at every visit.

But great, coordinated women’s care isn't just about what happens inside our walls. There are certain specialized services and clinical situations where partnering with an outside expert is the right call for your health. When that happens, we refer with purpose. We choose partners we trust, communicate your full care history clearly, and stay actively involved in your journey so nothing gets lost in the handoff.

Transparency is part of how we care for you. The following is an honest overview of the services and situations we refer out for, and what you can expect from that process.

When We Use Our Women’s Health Referral Network

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Fertility Treatment

We provide comprehensive fertility evaluations and preconception counseling to identify potential concerns and give you a clear picture of your reproductive health. When a patient's needs go beyond what we can provide in-office, we refer to trusted reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) specialists who can guide you through the next steps, whether that's IUI, IVF, or other advanced fertility treatment.

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Pelvic Floor & Bladder Health

Conditions like urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and pelvic floor dysfunction often benefit from specialized physical therapy or urogynecologic expertise that goes beyond what an OB/GYN office provides. We refer patients to pelvic floor physical therapists and urogynecologists we trust, while maintaining our role as your primary women's health team.

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Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain is complex, and sometimes the most effective treatment includes working with a pelvic floor physical therapist alongside your OB/GYN team. We refer patients experiencing chronic or unexplained pelvic pain to specialized physical therapy when PT is clinically indicated as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.

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Urodynamics

Urodynamic testing evaluates how your bladder and urethra store and release urine, and is used to diagnose conditions like overactive bladder, stress incontinence, and urinary retention. This specialized diagnostic procedure is performed by urogynecology partners, and we manage the referral and follow-up care on your behalf.

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Weight Management

Maintaining a healthy weight plays an important role in gynecologic and obstetric health, including fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and menopause management. For patients who need structured, medically supervised weight management support, we coordinate referrals within the Ascension health system, where specialized programs and providers are available.

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Amniocentesis

Amniocentesis is a diagnostic procedure used to test amniotic fluid for chromosomal conditions and genetic abnormalities. When amniocentesis is indicated, we coordinate with maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists who perform the procedure in a specialized setting. We manage the referral, share your full prenatal history, and follow up directly with you on results.

Your provider will discuss the referral with you directly, explain why a specialist is the right next step, and answer any questions you have before anything is scheduled. We believe you should understand the reason for every recommendation, not just receive a piece of paper and a phone number.

We prepare a complete summary of your medical history and current care plan for the receiving provider, so you don't have to start from scratch or repeat your story. Our team handles the coordination and will let you know what to expect from the specialist appointment, including how to prepare and what to bring.

Your appointment with the specialist is your space to ask questions, share concerns, and get the expert input you need. The receiving provider will have your Women's HealthFirst records in hand, so the conversation can start from a place of context rather than from zero.

You are always the center of your care, regardless of who is in the room. If something doesn't feel right or you have questions that don't get answered at the specialist visit, reach out to us. We're still your team.

Once your specialist visit is complete, we follow up with you to review findings, discuss recommendations, and update your care plan as needed. We stay in communication with the specialist to make sure your care remains coordinated, and nothing slips between the cracks.

In most cases, your ongoing OB/GYN care continues with Women's HealthFirst throughout and after the referral process. A referral is part of your care, not a departure from it.

What to Expect From Your Referral

Being referred to a specialist doesn't mean starting over. At Women's HealthFirst, a referral is a bridge, not a goodbye. Here's how our coordinated care model works from start to finish.
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Insurance Coverage for Referral Visits

Most insurance plans cover specialist referrals when they are medically indicated and ordered by your primary OB/GYN provider. Coverage for the specialist visit itself will depend on your specific plan, whether the specialist is in-network, and the nature of the services provided. Our team will do our best to refer you to providers who participate in your insurance network and to flag any coverage considerations before your appointment. We recommend verifying your benefits directly with your insurance carrier or calling our office with questions. We accept Aetna, Blue Shield PPO, Cigna HMO, Cofinity PPO, and most major insurance plans.

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Patient Resources

From accessing your patient portal and downloading pre-visit forms to reviewing your insurance details and exploring our patient education library, we make it easy to stay informed, prepared, and confident in your care every step of the way.

Find a Women’s HealthFirst Near You

Office Locations

Palatine, IL

231 E Northwest Hwy, Palatine, IL 60067

Schaumburg, IL

Hoffman Estates, IL

Bartlett, IL

Questions About Your Care? We’re Here to Help

Frequently Asked Questions

Not at all. A referral means we're bringing in additional expertise for a specific need. Your Women's HealthFirst provider remains your primary OB/GYN and stays involved in coordinating your care throughout and after the referral process.

Your provider will recommend specialists they trust and who are well-suited to your specific situation. You are always welcome to ask questions about why a particular provider or practice was chosen, and in most cases, you have the ability to choose an alternative if you prefer.

No. We prepare a comprehensive summary of your medical history and current care plan and share it with the receiving provider before your appointment. You shouldn't need to start from scratch.

Most insurance plans cover medically indicated specialist referrals. Coverage depends on your specific plan and whether the specialist is in-network. Our team will help flag any coverage considerations ahead of your appointment, and we recommend verifying your benefits with your insurer directly.

Please tell us. Your comfort and confidence in your care matters. If you have concerns about a specialist or a recommended course of action, reach out to your Women's HealthFirst provider, and we'll talk it through together.

Your Women's HealthFirst provider will follow up with you after your specialist appointment to review findings and discuss any updates to your care plan. We stay in communication with the specialist, so your care remains connected.

We offer fertility evaluations, preconception counseling, and diagnostic workups in-house. For patients who need advanced fertility treatment such as IUI or IVF, we refer to experienced reproductive endocrinology specialists and coordinate your care through the process. Once pregnancy is achieved, your prenatal care returns to our team.