Folks generally keep to themselves in the lobby of Planned Parenthood in Glenwood Springs, with the exception of patients interfacing with the outgoing and affirming staff, who seem to be happy to help. The organization has been providing services in Glenwood Springs for about 50 years, and will continue to do so once it gets through a current pause.
“Temporary closures are unfortunate, but they can be pretty common,” Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains President and CEO Adrienne Mansanares said, whether it be a problem with the building or, “like in this case, when there’s been a gap in provider coverage.”
The closure is due to the departure of the location’s former healthcare provider. Fortunately, and despite a nationwide healthcare workforce shortage, as mentioned in a press release from Planned Parenthood, a replacement has already been hired. The organization didn’t give the name of the new recruit, but did say she was from the Western Slope. During the closure, the new provider will be onboarded and trained.
Planned Parenthood hires either nurse practitioners or advanced practice clinicians as providers.
“We try to minimize or avoid any coverage gaps,” continued Mansanares, “but it just happens in this particular instance there is just a gap between when the previous clinician left and when the new clinician can start.”
Planned Parenthood has had a presence in Glenwood since the late ‘70s.
“The core of services, like birth control consults, treatment and testing for sexually transmitted infections, breast exams, cervical cancer exams, all that has been around for quite some time,” she said. “The newest services we rolled out were medication abortion care and gender-affirming hormonal therapy for transgender folks.”
Mansanares said that about 2,000 patients are seen at the Glenwood location each year.
“We’re projecting … a worst case [of] about 500 patients that this could impact,” she said.
Over the weekend and through the week, Planned Parenthood has been following up with patients “to make sure they’ve got some coverage during that gap, or that they can just come in for their care in the fall when we reopen,” Mansanares said.
Many services can be provided over Planned Parenthood’s virtual telehealth system.
“Through telehealth appointments, patients can obtain a range of reproductive and sexual healthcare services,” stated the press release, “including birth control, medication abortion care, treatment for sexually transmitted infections, gender-affirming hormone therapy and other healthcare services.”
There are also patient-assistance funds that can be utilized for transportation needs to another Planned Parenthood facility for urgent, in-person procedures, such as abortion care.
“Our patient navigators work really closely in English and Spanish to make sure that those patients have the care that they need,” Mansanares said. “And we’ve got donors all throughout the Valley that help to make sure that cost isn’t a barrier.”
There are about half a dozen employees at the Glenwood location.
“We’re still working really closely with all of our local staff,” Mansanares said. “There is a temporary leave plan, so we’re excited to be welcoming everybody back in when our operations resume.”
The last day of providing in-person patient care was July 31, according to a press release, and the expectation is to reopen in the fall.
Mansanares added that Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains is always looking for qualified providers to join its travel team and serve rural and mountain communities.
Patients seeking information about available services or appointments can visit PPRM.org or call 1-800-230-PLAN.