Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island opened an express clinic at 183 Angell St. in late May, making birth control and emergency contraception available to Brown students at a location distinct from University Health Services. Knick-knack and resale shop Angell Street Curiosities previously occupied the space.
Planned Parenthood Express is the first express clinic in the state. In addition to birth control and emergency contraception, the clinic offers pregnancy, STI and HIV testing.
"The express site provides efficient services for things that can be done very quickly - a typical visit might take 15 minutes," said Liana Cassar, chief operating officer of PPRI.
If patients need additional services that are not available at Planned Parenthood Express, they can book appointments at the main PPRI clinic, located downtown at 111 Point St.
There are many Planned Parenthood Express clinics throughout the country. Each clinic is staffed with just one clinician and one office manager to avoid the burden of maintaining a large staff, Cassar said.
PPRI is a private, non-profit reproductive health organization that provides "high quality, affordable and confidential family planning services," according to its Web site. The Point Street clinic provides comprehensive gynecological services, surgical abortions, medical abortions, birth control and health education, according to Cassar.
The Angell Street clinic does not offer comprehensive services and does not conduct abortions on site.
PPRI does not require its patients to identify the institutions to which they belong, but Cassar said their clinics serve a very diverse population.
Cassar said PPRI decided to open an express clinic after a 2005 study revealed that most of its patients were from the Providence area.
"Location was a big thing - if you have people seeking your services, you want a location and hours that are convenient for them. Thayer Street is a high-traffic area where a lot of families seek our services," Cassar said.
Representatives from Health Services are meeting with Planned Parenthood this week to discuss possible collaborative efforts between the two service providers, according to Edward Wheeler, director of Health Services. Wheeler declined to comment on the new Planned Parenthood clinic before that meeting.
Many Brown students expressed approval of the new clinic, saying a visit to Planned Parenthood Express would be more confidential than a visit to Health Services.
"I think it's great having something so close to campus that provides important services," said Amy Littlefield '09, who started volunteering at PPRI's Point Street clinic last fall. "It's a big deal to go to the Planned Parenthood location downtown, where they perform abortions and other more serious things. It's great to have a small clinic that is not as stigmatizing for things like birth control and STI testing."
Littlefield and Holly Snyder '09 are co-presidents of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance at Brown. FMLA is a pro-choice feminist group that works to raise awareness about issues affecting women, including reproductive freedom and women's health.
Snyder acknowledged that though Planned Parenthood and Health Services both promise confidentiality, she thinks Planned Parenthood Express "offers a little more safety." "Your parents are paying your tuition at Brown, so they could probably get at your health records. If you want something to be confidential, Planned Parenthood is the way to go," Snyder said.
Pamela Pelizzari '08 agreed with Littlefield.
"Brown Health Services offers so many services, and I feel like as a student, I would rather not go there for something that might have a stigma attached to it because I know that I would want to go there in the future for other reasons," she said. Pelizzari is co-president of Students for Choice, a campus organization that champions women's reproductive rights.
"Health Services is not as confidential as people might feel like a Planned Parenthood clinic might be. ... If you go to Health Services, you'll see people you know there," Littlefield said.
Students may also be drawn to the express clinic, which is open every day except Wednesdays, because of its hours. The express clinic opens daily at noon every day except Sunday, when it opens at 11 a.m., and is open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays until 8 p.m. The clinic closes at 6 p.m. on Fridays, at 4 p.m. on Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. The clinic "is geared towards the working community with our convenient hours," according to PPRI's Web site.
Wheeler said one reason students may choose to go to Planned Parenthood Express instead of Health Services is because the former is open on evenings and weekends and during winter and summer breaks.
One downside to the express clinic is that it does not accept student health insurance sponsored through the University.
"It's nice to have Planned Parenthood so close to campus just for the specific services that it provides to people, but they don't take Brown insurance - that could be a deterrent to students," Pelizzari said.
Cassar said she does not expect the express clinic to be staffed with student volunteers.
