Today we’d like to introduce you to Carson Ragan.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Carson. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Well, I started as a teen mom at the ripe young age of 17. Had my second baby when I was just 18. That baby was born 3 months prematurely due to an emergency called placenta previa that caused an emergency c-section at 27 weeks gestation. It was an extremely traumatic birth. Suddenly, I started hemorrhaging and was whisked into a cold, sterile operating room with general anesthesia, no family with me, and just before being put to sleep I was told they may have to take my uterus, and I would not be able to have any more children at 18 years old. The recovery was brutal and scary. I had a 13-month-old at home and a tiny preemie that had to spend 3 months in a neonatal ICU. I watched babies come and go and there were terrible outcomes for some of those sweet babies. I spent 3 months holding my breath that my baby would be okay. The nurses were AMAZING! They inspired me! I KNEW I wanted to be involved in women’s health and caring for women during childbirth and beyond. I decided to start nursing school when she was 6 months old. I was like a sponge just absorbing as much as I could. I had my 3rd baby when I was 21 years old (still in nursing school). I used a Certified Nurse Midwife for his birth, and it was life changing!! She was amazing!! I loved the extra TLC I received at each visit, and I was able to have a vaginal birth after a section (VBAC), which 23 years ago wasn’t very popular. I loved the connection we had, the additional time and education she gave me… I KNEW right then I wanted to be a certified nurse midwife! Just 4 years later I had another successful VBAC, and I knew I wanted to support other women to try the same! I have practiced in several large OB/GYN practices that were fantastic. They were filled with excellent providers and staff, but I was expected to see 20-25 patients per day, and I could not spend the time with each woman that I wanted to! I was limited to 10-15 minutes with each person to address all of her fears, concerns, and it was almost impossible to provide the holistic care I yearned to give each patient. The idea for this concierge practice came up probably about eight or nine years ago when my husband and I were watching TV. We were watching a fictional show called Royal Pains. It’s based on a concierge doctor up in the Hamptons going to all these billionaires’ homes and doing their visits in their house. I thought, ‘Wait just a minute…..First of all, why is this only available for Millionaires and billionaires, and furthermore, what about PREGNANT WOMEN? What about the busy working moms, or stay- at- home moms trying to manage a household with other children???!?! In a normal pregnancy, moms go to the office 14-16 times. High risk moms are seen twice weekly starting at 32 weeks! How amazing would it be if she didn’t have to struggle (traffic, childcare, missing work) to get to the office for all of those visits and the provider could come to her??!! What if women had their provider on speed dial and could skip the front desk, the nurse, leaving multiple messages, and be able to reach the provider 24/7? I ABSOLUTELY love being able to spend as much time as needed with each patient. They never have to wait: truly VIP treatment for EVERY woman whether in my office or their home or office! I also absolutely TREASURE the relationship that is built, the continuity of seeing someone visit after visit and being there for their birth and beyond. In most traditional practices, women are forced to see different providers at each visit, and things can get lost in the shuffle. Plus, there is no guarantee their favorite provider will actually be on call at the hospital for their birth, and they may have a complete stranger on BIRTH day! Now we have the privilege of making this amazing model of care available to women in our community! I have been fortunate to become the “family midwife” for many families by being there during multiple pregnancies and even supporting their sisters and friends through their pregnancies as well–SOOOOOO rewarding! Truly my passion!!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Definitely not smooth! This model of care has NOT been done anywhere in the country that I could find. CNMs are limited in their practice in many states. We have to have a “Collaborating MD” to be on file with the state, and we cannot employ a physician. It was very difficult to find the right collaborating MD that had a reputation for excellence, low c-section rates, and supportive of the midwifery model of care. However, I FOUND HER! She is amazing and inspires me often! A strong, brilliant, female physician and business owner that wants the best for each and every patient. Dr. Dunson-Allen with Providence Women’s Healthcare is amazing, and I am so thankful to work with her and her colleague, Dr. Simon, and their call group of other fabulous physicians. I can say I truly trust them to care for my patients if the circumstance arises that the patient needs physician management. Additionally, due to the “red tape” in many states, liability insurance is difficult to obtain. When the liability insurance companies heard I wanted to provide “in home care’ they automatically assumed I was planning to offer home birth, which I do not. I am basically bringing the OB/GYN office to the woman at a time and place convenient for her and planning birth in either North Fulton (which was recently listed in the top 50 hospitals in the country to give birth due to their low c-section rates) and Northside hospital (main campus). Our practice, I believe, bridges the gap between home birth midwifery practices and the traditional OB/GYN medical midwifery practices. We look forward to providing EACH and EVERY woman with the best VIP experience possible!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about 2me Healthcare – what should we know?
CONCIERGE MEDICINE!! A new, more personalized approach for each and every woman. Traditional practices have women waiting weeks or months to schedule an appt and then waiting in waiting room with limited face to face time with their provider. We are the polar opposite. We offer same or next day appointments, extended face to face time, and more continuity. Establishing a meaningful relationship with the patient is our top priority!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My husband and my family have been my ROCK from day one!! It is a very stressful process paving the way for something that has not been done before. They believed in me every step of the way and encouraged me to push through each and every obstacle! Also, my past patients and their families have followed me because we connected years ago, and it warms my heart that they seek to continue our personal and professional relationship. Lastly, I’m so thankful I have an excellent physician group as my collaborating physicians, which enables me to continue pursuing my dream of expanding concierge Ob/GYN medicine nationwide!
Contact Info:
- Address: 2Me Healthcare
1300 Upper Hembree Road
Building 100 Suite C
Roswell, GA 30076 - Website: www.2mehealthcare.com
- Phone: 833-692-6342
- Email: info@2mehc.com
- Instagram: 2mehealthcare
- Facebook: @2mehealthcare
Image Credit:
Moye Colquitt
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