A new center dedicated to women’s health officially opened its doors Monday.

Freeman Women’s Center, 1532 W. 32nd St., Joplin, is a four-story 51,725 square-foot building, located next to the Freeman West Hospital complex.

“Freeman Women’s Center is dedicated exclusively to women’s health and its design focuses on patient ease and comfort,” said Debi Koelkebeck, vice president for retail/clinical operations at Freeman Health System. “We hope to make the process of coming in for women’s health testing and procedures less intimidating for the patient by combining a soothing and pleasant atmosphere with the latest technological advances.”

The center offers a number of services for women, from gynecological to mammograms to even a boutique dedicated to women’s medical items.

“What we are really excited about bringing to the women in the community, and the four-state area, is women’s services will all be in this building,” Koelkebeck said. “We have a new boutique that opened today, that specializes in women-related (products). We have moved our women’s pavilion from Freeman East and it has been renamed Wes and Jan Houser Women’s Center, in honor of their generous gift to the Freeman Health System. On the second, third and fourth floors, we have Freeman physicians.

“We are going from analog to digital mammography,” continued Dana Hutson, supervisor of the Wes and Jan Houser Women’s Center. “The difference between analog is film. It is just like having a camera that has the film in it — you have to take it and develop it. Now, this is a plate that captures the image electronically and sends it to the computer.”

Around the center there are soothing colors, including pink carpeting with roses in a changing room for women. In the changing room, there are also robes for them to wear as they prepare to receive medical care.

Located on the main floor of the center is the Pink Door Boutique.

“Pink Door Boutique is a medical boutique for women. We worked with providers throughout Freeman Health System to find products they recommend for their patients when they leave the office,” said Kelli Perigo, Pink Door Boutique supervisor. “We carry post mastectomy items, items for new moms, adolescents, really for women throughout life.

“We have specialized areas in the store, two fitting rooms that can be used to try on clothes, and we can do wig fittings. This is a new retail outlet for women.”

Other highlights of the boutique include specialty bras, bra and prosthesis fittings, items for new moms such as maternity belts, breast pumps, nursing bras, baby slings, special vitamins, preemie baby clothing, fun jewelry, picture frames, monthly featured items and a refreshment center selling premium coffees, flavored teas and healthy snacks.

The new boutique is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is 347-7465.

The new women’s center phone number is 347-7777.

OB-GYN Associates and Freeman Plastic Surgery Associates will open in the center on Nov. 24.

Ozark Obstetrics & Gynecology and Freeman Perinatology Center will open on Dec. 6.