Planned Parenthood is committed to retaining and expanding access to as many patients and communities as possible, but sometimes that means being strategic with resources and health center locations.
Sometimes that means consolidating health care clinics to streamline care to where it will be the most effective.
This was the case in Elkhart, Indiana, whose health center has been consolidated with the Mishawaka clinic.
“Elkhart was formerly a Title X federally funded site and volumes dropped when that funding was no longer available to patients. Even before Title X, volumes were relatively small (1,100 patients per year) and they were not open full time. They shared staff with Mishawaka, resulting in both locations being open part time,” explained Kirsten Johansen, Executive Vice President of Health Care Services at PPGNHIINK. “Given their close proximity, it was logical that we would consolidate the two, and expand Mishawaka’s hours to full time. This keeps access in that area the same for patients (5 days a week), makes recruiting and staffing more straightforward, and it reduces our overall expenses for generating the same, or hopefully more visits.”
Johansen added: “We do pay close attention to the distance that Elkhart patients would need to travel to be seen in Mishawaka. Historically we ensure that even if it is a short distance, that there is reasonable access to public transportation. In addition, [our Area Services Directors] worked to determine what mitigation strategies might be necessary for patients most impacted.”
Though the loss of a physical clinic might appear to be only negative, there are some positives to the consolidation.
Heather Anderson, Health Center Manager for the Mishawaka clinic, said, “This consolidation cuts out a lot of runaround to different clinics that offer different services.”
For instance, she explained the consolidation will enable the Mishawaka health center to provide ultrasounds – a requirement to obtaining an abortion thanks to the 18-hour Indiana law -- which will reduce the burden on other local health care providers, and will help increase abortion access in Indiana.
It is more convenient for patients that the clinic is open five days a week, as well.
“People have different days off that might not line up, or they might forget if we have special hours. Being open on regular weekdays makes it easier for patients to access care,” Anderson added.
Anderson reported that there has been an increase in patient volume since the consolidation, and that most do not consider the loss of the old Elkhart location to be an inconvenience.
“Mishawaka has seen an increase in patient volume from the Elkhart area. South Bend, Mishawaka, and Elkhart are very close to one another. It is not uncommon for someone to work in Elkhart and live in a surrounding area or vice versa, so they could potentially ‘"be in the area of the clinic"’ on their travels to or from work or for any leisure trip. The Mishawaka clinic is also on the bus line, and there is bus service that travels between the ‘"Michiana"’ area.”
The loss of Title X funding, which happened last year as the result of Trump administration policies, caused many Planned Parenthood affiliates to consolidate health centers or limit hours of operation. The decision and subsequent loss also caused two larger Planned Parenthood health centers in Cincinnati, Ohio to close in September of last year, which made national headlines.
Luckily, thanks to careful management and planning, PPINK and PPGNHI have not been hit as hard by the loss of Title X funding. While the consolidation of the Elkhart clinic with Mishawaka was unavoidable, Indiana saw the Ft. Wayne health center re-open last year. And, PPGNHI has only closed one health center under President Trump, in Sequim, Washington.
Looking forward, neither PPINK nor PPGNHI anticipate consolidating any more health centers anytime soon, and we are committed to retaining and expanding access to reproductive health care whenever and wherever possible.
You can support keeping the lights on and the doors open at your local Planned Parenthood by donating using this link.
Tags: health center, health_care