Some months ago, my company was sold to a much larger company. As a result, I was found to be a “redundancy” and was laid off ten days before my birthday. Woo. Yay me. Huge blow to the ego, as I’ve been fired precisely twice in my life and the first time doesn’t count because I was a stupid teenager and didn’t know any better.
Bounced around, did some shift work, ended up working for a worker’s comp outfit that I really didn’t like. The money was good, but they were non compliant as hell, and doing all sorts of wonderful things that made me feel ethically tested.
Got a call from PP in August, and while the money isn’t as good, I love the work. I love the people, I love that everyone shares a certain mindset in regard to health care (specifically as it applies to reproductive health). Which can be seen as “drinking the kool aid” in a way, I suppose, but for the most part, they don’t seem to be lemmings.
This week, we’re awaiting the onslaught of 40 Days for Life, the (hopefully) peaceful protest from various right to life groups across the country.
What distresses me most about this protest is that it refuses to acknowledge all the other services Planned Parenthood provides. Low cost to no cost vaccinations for school aged children. Pediatric health. Low cost to no cost prenatal visits. Free educational services for teens of both genders. Low to no cost family counselling. Field services (distribution of educational materials and condoms) at universities, raves, anywhere teens tend to congregate.
Since all that is heard about PP is usually abortion, abortion, abortion…I thought I’d like it better known how PP really does contribute to their local communities.
I’ve got no questions. I just wanted to say thank you for what you do. Planned Parenthood helped me at one of the worst times in my life, and they were kind, considerate, they made sure I knew what I was doing, that I wasn’t blind, and they were cheap, too. They are one of my regular charity donations and I love them to death.
I don’t actually have a question (yet; I may think of one later) but I wanted to tell you that I think you are doing a wonderful thing. I’ve taken advantages of the services proved at Planned Parenthood a number of times, and I really feel like they are one of the most important organizations in America today. Thank you for being a part of that. I really cannot think of another group that does so much good for so little recognition (except maybe the ACLU, but I’ve never had to use them, so I’m biased).
I’m currently getting my depo shots at the Planned Parenthood in my college town. I’m an unemployed grad student and PP makes a real difference in my budget. So here’s another thank you, Maureen.
Do you tell many people that you work there or do you feel that you need to keep it under wraps? (I mean in real life, for your own well being.)
Our most frequently requested service (at least in this office) is pediatric and well child care. We see upward of approximately 130 patients per day; the vast majority is peds.
We do have several men working for us in various positions, from physicians to medical assistants down to escorts who walk patients to their cars if they need one.
anaamika & miss elizabeth, thanks. I feel honored to work for this organization. I can’t speak highly enough of the work we do, or how proud I am to be a part of it.
Mernieth, I’m lucky enough to live and work in the San Francisco bay area, a very liberal locale, so I don’t feel too much fear for my safety because of where I work. This particular PP has never been targeted by anything but peaceful protesters, and my family are all pro-choice, so no worries there.
I did tell my children they may want to be selective in who they share this information with; my daughter specifically is a very social person, and many of her friends are active in the church.
FTR, I am pro-life and don’t believe in abortion. That being said, I know that Planned Parenthood does provide plenty of other services that are very helpful to the community.
What I would like to know is what percentage of people seeking PP services come with the intent to have an abortion?
I wondered where you’d got to! Congrats. Sorry about the money, but it sounds like you’ve found a niche.
I have also moved on–I now work in Same Day Surgery. Less money, fewer hours, but the kindess, the people, the patients–I love it.
Is there a way for PP to “tweak” their image so that more people know about the well child care etc? It could only help.
I had one experience with PP and it was good. Thank god for PP.
It’s difficult to tell. The first consult is usually specifically designed to advise the pregnant woman of every option she has available to her (carrying the baby to term and keeping it, adoption, and abortion). The counselors and doctors don’t ask if they came with the specific intent of having a clinical or medical abortion. The most important thing, to our mind, is the continued health of our patients and education.
el!! Thanks, lady. Glad you had a change for the better, too.
We have a marketing team, as well as a couple lobbyists who attempt to put out the patient-friendly message for us. Sadly, because it’s such a charged topic, it’s very difficult to get exposure in the mass media; no one wants to touch something PP-positive with a ten foot pole.
I got my first birth control through them, and while I wasn’t a scared teenager, they were unendingly kind to me in two different clinics in different cities. I’d send anybody in need there, though the nearest one to me now is a few hours away. I deeply appreciate Planned Parenthood and what they do. Thank you!
I always wondered if I’d run into a group of protestors when I went to the one in Augusta, Georgia, and if the protestors would believe I was there so that I wouldn’t have to have an abortion…sigh
Do you mean; are we the largest single organization which offers abortions? (No. That would be another entirely self contained organization, begins with K). Or do we perform more abortions than any other provider? That is a possibility, although I could not tell you for certain. Because of HIPAA and the Privacy Act, there is no way for us to know any reporting numbers other than our own. In fact, I’m interested in where Randy Alcorn got the information; certainly we don’t publish it. Nor do any other providers, unless they want a whopping big fine and possible jail time.
Don’t believe it. I’d say what any company spends most of its money on is salaries, although we have a lot of volunteers. We upgrade equipment frequently. Ultrasound machines, high frequency laboratories, medications (oy, but we buy a LOT of medications), surgical equipment (we perform several procedures other than abortion). Unfortunately, this also includes security doors, bullet proof glass, and security cameras.
There have been some recent cases in the news concerning your organization and lax enforcement of parental notification and child abuse reporting laws.
I wouldn’t dream of questioning your enforcement of such, but I am curious to know how your chapter handles these cases, reporting of which is generally required by law where those laws are passed.
When I was about 16, a doctor and PP talked me into switching from oral BC to Depo. Even though I asked about the side effects on the pamphlet, she said she’d “never once seen anyone with any of those symptoms”. Every time I’d come in, sicker and sicker with side effects, she’d tell me my body was just adjusting the the shot. After 9 months, I came in, told the nurse I wanted something else and why. The nurse sighed and said, “I don’t know why we even give this out, almost EVERYONE has horrible, awful side effects.”
I have a feeling both the nurse and the doctor were exaggerating their statistics a bit, but what is your experience? Do most folks have a great time with Depo and love it or do most have weight gain, hair loss, and other problems?
(btw- I don’t blame Planned Parenthood for my experience. They are a fabulous organization that I am very happy is able to help folks).
are there any anti-abortion ‘crisis centres’ in your area? (basically PP clones that try to talk women out of getting abortions, won’t dispense birth control and misuse ultrasound machines)
I’m very sorry to hear that. I don’t doubt you a bit, but this is the first I’ve heard of the problem.
It’s one of the first handouts I received in my employment packet and was stressed heavily during my management/HR training presentation. Every member of our staff is trained and required to sign a form which states they understand the protocol when dealing with a possible abuse victim. We work closely with the California Department of Child Protective Services, and hold monthly training classes for new hires and anyone who has not attended the class for a year. Any employee that suspects abuse must fill out a written report within two days of receiving the information. It must contain:
First name of the injured person
Injured person’s whereabouts, if known
Character and extent of person’s injuries and
Identity of any person the injured person alleges inflicted the wound, other injury or assaultive or abusive conduct upon the injured person.
In the case of a minor, this report must be made verbally to the California Dept. of Child Protective Services immediately. They will send a social worker.
The duty to report is not excused by confidentiality.
Depo’s had a rocky road from the start. Most of the women I’ve spoken with in my (admittedly limited) experience have had some side effect, the most frequent effect being weight gain. It’s just my personal opinion, but there are many, many methods that are as effective and less difficulty. I’m really excited about Nuvaring which we now offer.