Planned Parenthood stops exams

 Planned Parenthood of the Heartland will no longer offer physical exams after an organization-wide change last month. 

Health services, including medical abortions, birth control and morning-after pill delivery, LGBT services, STD testing and treatment and pregnancy services, will still be provided at the Red Oak location through the telemedicine delivery system.

Susan Allen, the organization’s Communication Manager, said the change came because Planned Parenthood is primarily used for birth control and family planning services; most women seek physical exams at other healthcare providers. 

Exact data on the number of physicals exams performed compared to services through telemedical delivery were not available. 

“The vast majority of our services are for birth control or family planning and that’s not changing,” Allen said. “We needed to direct our resources to where the most people can benefit. The changes made sense.”

Despite an August Iowa Board of Medicine ruling banning medical abortions through telemedicine, a process often referred to as “webcam abortions,” Allen said such services are still available at all Iowa Planned Parenthood locations, including Red Oak. 

The ruling was set to take effect in November, but Planned Parenthood was granted a stay while the matter is being discussed by the court. Allen said they have no timeline on when a decision will be finalized.  The recent change, she said, has no connection with the board of medicine ruling. 

The change took effect at the Red Oak Planned Parenthood Dec. 12, just two days after the opening of the Southwest Iowa Free Medical Clinic in Red Oak.

Free clinic organizer Rev. Len Taylor said he expects the clinic will see an increase in OB/GYN related exams in the coming months, which would require an increased number of supplies, adding an extra burden to the clinic’s already tight operating budget. 

For more information on the free clinic, or to donate toward its operating costs, call 712-357-1183. The clinic is open Tuesdays with registration at 5:30 p.m. and hours from 6-8 p.m. It will be closed Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 because of the holidays. 

For information on Planned Parenthood services in Red Oak, call 877-811-7526 or visit plannedparenthood.org.