UPMC Horizon is opening a new center that it believes has that lady-like touch.

On Thursday night Horizon unveiled its $4.5 million center in Hermitage to the news media. Aimed at handling women's health care, Womancare Center of UPMC Horizon affiliated with Magee-Womens Hospital is located along North Hermitage Road across from the Hermitage city building.

A little more than half of the 25,000-square-foot center is devoted to diagnostic services such as prenatal care and testing, newborn and children's service, breast care, bone health, gynecological services and educational programs. The remaining part of the center is office suites housing seven obstetricians and gynecologists and a certified nurse midwife. Specialists in cardiology and other disciplines are expected to use the center.

Cutting through the middle of the building is a large waiting area splashed with early American and contemporary furniture along with a separate children's playroom.

This is the seventh Womancare Center under the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center system. Horizon controls the budget but has a management agreement with Pittsburgh-based Magee for the center.

For Horizon, the center's true birth began three years ago when the non-profit health care provider reviewed its overall service to the community.

"Women's health was an area we were falling short it,'' said Kim Lombardi, the center's director.

Beyond the center's equipment and bricks and mortar is the Magee concept, said Mrs. Lombardi who also is a practical nurse.

"It's a health care system without walls,'' she said. "It's looking at a woman as an independent individual rather than any disease she may have.''

Magee policies cover things such as how staff members ease a woman's emotions through a breast biopsy until the final report is given. Waiting for those test results, she noted, can be unbelievably stressful.

"In health care it was once thought of as 'Oh well, it's another biopsy.' " Mrs. Lombardi said. Another requirement is that all of the radiologists at the center be trained by Magee.

Although targeted for women, men can also use the center for certain medical tests.

"Men who would appreciate the convenient location for general x-rays, blood drawing and EKGs may have the procedures done at the Womancare Center,'' said Kathryn Lima, vice president of community development for Horizon. "We made a separate entrance for the diagnostic center of the building with this in mind.''

Horizon will continue to maintain diagnostic facilities at its Greenville and Farrell hospitals. Patients can schedule appointments by calling the center or either hospital.

"Now the women in our region have access to a new, innovative approach to their health care,'' said J. Larry Heinike, president and chief executive officer of Horizon.

Among the equipment at the center is a sensitive bone density scanner and stereotactic breast biopsy. With this breast biopsy women lie face down as the procedure is performed which gives more comfort and allows them not to observe the procedure, said Dr. Gina L. Micchia, medical director of the center. Other services will include educational and counseling services along with a variety of classes on women's health issues.

Phone: (724)347-7700 or toll-free at: (866)347-7700. Hours for the diagnostic center: Monday, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.