Planned Parenthood Launches Online Access to Reproductive Health Care in Idaho

PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE GREAT NORTHWEST AND THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, November 16, 2015
CONTACT: Katie Rogers, Public Relations Manager, (206) 328-7705

Planned Parenthood Launches Online Access to Reproductive Health Care in Idaho

App Offers a New and Innovative Solution to Expand Access to Reproductive Health Care in Idaho

BOISE, Idaho – Today, Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands (PPGNHI) launched Planned Parenthood Care™ in Idaho. The app allows people to talk to a Planned Parenthood provider online and face to face through a secure video consultation system, and then receive birth control or an STD test kit and treatment, if necessary, in the mail. This mobile app will bring reproductive health care services directly to women and men across the state. 

“Planned Parenthood Care provides the same high-quality health care people have trusted Planned Parenthood to provide for nearly 100 years. What’s new is now our clinicians can literally meet people where they are—wherever they are—to get them the care they need,” said Chris Charbonneau, CEO of PPGNHI. “Telehealth is an incredible tool in expanding access to care. We know that life gets busy and that is why we are proud to lead with this technology that allows us to deliver health care and information to people who need it, regardless of their location.”

PPGNHI launched Planned Parenthood Care™ in Washington state in 2014 and in Alaska in 2015. This summer, California launched Planned Parenthood Direct™ allowing men and women to order confidential STD testing kits through their mobile phone. Both apps build upon decades of innovative health care and information delivery from Planned Parenthood and its affiliates nationwide. Planned Parenthood’s websites in English and Spanish provide accurate, nonjudgmental information about contraception, sex, and reproductive health to 6 million visitors each month. Planned Parenthood’s Chat/Text program, which has served nearly 475,000 users so far, has been successful in reducing worry around sexual health issues by connecting youth to a real person through their computer or phone in real time. 

“Idaho is uniquely positioned to benefit from this service given the geography of this great state and the limited access to local health centers,” said Hannah Brass Greer, Idaho Legislative Director at Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii (PPVNH). “This app allows people to consult with a physician in real time via video on their device and determine what makes the most sense for them. It provides convenient access to Planned Parenthood’s trusted, high quality health care.”

The app is available at the app store or from Google Play, but at present health care can only be delivered through Planned Parenthood Care™ to residents of Alaska, Idaho, Minnesota and Washington state.

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Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands is the region's leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. We believe everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved. The organization operates 28 health centers in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, and Western Washington and provides medical services and sexuality education for thousands of women, men, and teenagers each year. Planned Parenthood is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and relies heavily on charitable donations to ensure our patients' ability to determine their own destinies and receive the health care they need.