The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

3199.0: Monday, November 11, 2002 - Board 1

Abstract #50039

Assessing the impact of increased teenage clients on financial resources and clientele of Planned Parenthood

Katherine S. Wilson, BA, Margaret H. Ochner, BA, Kelly Detsch, BA, Michael N. Spoerri, PT, and Leslie Korenda, BS. School of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06511, 203-710-0195, katherine.s.wilson@yale.edu

Community health clinics are integral in providing traditionally underserved populations with access to quality health services. There are many obstacles to the dissemination of these services. Limited resources, increased utilization of services, and maintaining equilibrium within the clinic environment are all factors that impact the distribution of these quality services. Planned Parenthood of Connecticut has established as a priority extensive outreach to teens through marketing and education. The success of this campaign has ignited a massive increase in teen utilization of services with little or no reimbursement to the agency. Through the use of quantitative and qualitative data obtained through survey and interview of staff and patients, this study aims to assess the following issues: 1) to examine how to better allocate services to a dynamic patient population 2) to assess how to increase the number and retention of paying clients 3) to forecast the trends and financial implications of continuing to provide low or no cost services to teenagers. Our results will not only be beneficial to the local Planned Parenthoods, but also to other organizations focused on providing for low-income and under-served populations.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Reproductive Health, Cost Issues

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Planned Parenthood of Connecticut
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Reproductive Health Services: Focus on the United States

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA