Planned Parenthood news release – Friday, Dec. 16, 2011
Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest (PPGNW) Will Close Forks Health Center by Year End
SEATTLE — Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest (PPGNW) will be closing its Forks health center located at 231 Lupine Avenue, effective Dec. 31. The closure is part of a general reduction and restructuring of the organization in which two other health centers will also be closed. Those include: Oak Harbor and Silverdale. Additionally, PPGNW will be downsizing operations in Sitka, Alaska.
The decision to close these particular health centers was not made lightly. Throughout this economic downturn, it was previously possible for PPGNW’s larger health centers to subsidize the smaller locations. Now, with additional loss of state and federal funding and increased eligibility requirements for family planning programs, fewer patients can access services. PPGNW is deeply saddened that federal family planning restrictions and inadequate state funding have contributed to the closure of these health centers. In this harsh economy, PPGNW can no longer sustain operations in Forks.
Critically important in making this decision was ensuring that PPGNW patients could continue to receive needed health care services at a nearby Planned Parenthood health center. The Forks closure will impact 71 patients who will be referred to the Planned Parenthood health center in Port Angeles. The Port Angeles Health Center is located at 426 E. 8th Street in Port Angeles.
“We don’t want any of our patients to fall through the cracks and we will work with them to transition their care to our Port Angeles Health Center,” said Chris Charbonneau, CEO/President PPGNW. “We will make every effort to get our patients the care they need.” Additionally, PPGNW is working diligently to expand our telemedicine and other online services to better serve patients in the more remote areas affected by the closures.
PPGNW salutes the Forks staff who has worked tirelessly to provide the community with essential health care like life-saving cancer screenings, birth control, well-woman exams, education programs, STD prevention and treatment, and other family planning services. PPGNW would like to express its gratitude to all of our Forks donors and supporters who have stood by the health center throughout its many years in Forks. As PPGNW navigates the current economic downturn, we hope that you will continue to support the mission of Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest.
If you have questions or concerns, please call 1-800-230-PLAN.
