Planned Parenthood to expand abortion access at new state-of-the-art center in Southern Illinois

Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri (PPSLRSWMO) announced today it will open a new, 18,000 square foot health center in Fairview Heights, Ill. The state-of-the-art facility will offer family planning and abortion care and will begin seeing patients in mid-October 2019. 

VIDEO: CBS News Announces New Planned Parenthood Center in Illinois

Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region (RHS) will expand abortion services in the new facility, providing both surgical and medication abortions. RHS will also continue serving patients at the St. Louis health center on Forest Park Ave. 

“We are thrilled to be able to better serve our patients through this new center, both in Southern Illinois and around the region,” said Yamelsie Rodriguez, President and CEO of PPSLRSWMO. “Close to 5,000 people sought care at our Fairview Heights health center last year alone, and this new center will allow us to serve even more.”

The new location will replace the organization’s current Fairview Heights health center, and increases access to abortion by offering both medication and surgical abortion. The current Fairview Heights center offers medication abortion and a full range of family planning services, including birth control, annual exams, cancer screenings, STI testing, and HIV prevention, including PrEP. All of these services will be available at the new center. 

Missouri’s only licensed abortion provider, Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region (RHS), will continue providing surgical abortions at the health center on Forest Park Ave.

“While we continue the fight to maintain access in Missouri, we are excited to expand our abortion services in Illinois,” said Dr. Colleen McNicholas, Chief Medical Officer of PPSLRSWMO. “The new health center is a testament to the needs of the greater bi-state region and our commitment to provide, protect and expand access to health care, no matter what. We look forward to joining other abortion providers across the area, including our partners at Hope Clinic for Women, as regional leaders in the quest to ensure every person can control their reproductive destiny.”

The current location will continue to see patients until later in October. The new Fairview Heights health center will soon be taking appointments, and those needing care will be able to make their appointments online or by phone in the coming weeks.

Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri has provided high-quality, supportive health care in the region since 1932. They are the area leaders in sexual and reproductive health care, providing contraception, cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, education and more to tens of thousands of women and men each year. Patients can make appointments online or by phone at 1-800-230-PLAN (7526).