Our patients need care, even during COVID-19 

I know everything feels scary and uncertain right now. Our lives have been disrupted, and so much is unknown. We’re all struggling to balance caring for ourselves, families, friends, and communities.

But this is certain: we’re here with you. We’ll meet this challenge together. And Planned Parenthood Mar Monte patients can’t wait for the COVID-19 pandemic to be over to get the care they need.

Our health care team is on the frontlines of this pandemic, fighting every day to deliver life-saving care under difficult circumstances. While our reality is constantly changing, as I write this on April 22 here’s what I can tell you right now:

• We’re providing COVID-19 testing, for patients who call for appointments, at many of our health centers. (Like all health care providers, our testing capacity is limited by the number of tests available and reserved for people in high-risk groups who are displaying symptoms, in accordance with public health official guidance.)
• We’re still providing in-person abortion care and STI treatment visits.
• Curbside pickup of birth control and emergency contraception is now available so that patients and health center staff can properly socially distance.
• We’re rapidly shifting from in-person and telephone patient visits to video-based telehealth appointments for services like hormonal birth control and gender affirming care. We’re making this transition in a matter of weeks, with significant technology costs, because we know that our patients’ care can’t wait, and we want to protect the health of our patients and staff.  
• Other preventive care visits are being rescheduled, including well woman exams, cervical cancer screenings, and breast cancer screenings.
• We’re launching virtual health and sex ed classrooms in English and Spanish, so students across California and Nevada can access these important lessons no matter where they are.
• Everyone is welcome, regardless of their income, identity, sexuality, age, race, or immigration status. We’re in this together with community partners and organizations to meet the needs of our community. Stay tuned for exciting and innovative developments in the coming weeks.

Our first priority is keeping our doors open for our patients. But the reality is we can’t do this without your help. It sounds dire, but it’s true – we need you now more than ever so that we can continue to care for patients.

It’s uncomfortable to ask, knowing that you may be worried about your own financial future. But imagine how our patients must be feeling – many of whom are losing their jobs and health insurance, worried about their immigration status, and scared about how they’ll make it through the day, not just through this health crisis.

Can we count on your donation today?

With deep appreciation,

Stacy Cross
President & CEO