In the wake of the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion clinics have been closing across the country, leaving many communities without access to safe and legal abortions. This has led to a search for alternative solutions, and one unexpected option is urgent care clinics. In the remote Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Marquette Medical Urgent Care has stepped in to fill the gap, offering medication abortions to patients who previously relied on Planned Parenthood. This development raises a deeper question: could urgent care clinics become a viable solution for abortion access in other parts of the country?
Dr. Shawn Brown, who describes herself as "individually pro-life," started offering medication abortions at her urgent care clinic after Planned Parenthood closed its only location in the Upper Peninsula. She knew from her years working as an emergency medicine physician that medication abortions aren't complicated to provide, and she wanted to ensure that her patients had access to this service. The biggest hurdle was getting medical malpractice insurance, but with the help of a local donor and a nonprofit, she was able to offer medication abortions at a lower cost to patients.
One patient, A, drove over an hour on snowy backroads to get to her appointment at Marquette Medical Urgent Care. She wanted to talk to someone in person about her decision to seek an abortion, and she felt more secure receiving care in an office than by mail. Dr. Viktoria Koskenoja, who previously worked at Planned Parenthood, listened to A's concerns and provided her with the support and information she needed to make an informed decision.
The idea that urgent cares could be an untapped solution to closures for abortion clinics across the country is really exciting, said Kimi Chernoby, the chief operating and legal officer at FemInEM. However, there are still challenges to overcome, such as state-specific laws and federal regulations. Urgent cares that provide medication abortion would have to abide by these laws and regulations, and it's not clear if health organizations will want to be on that list.
In the end, Marquette Medical Urgent Care has become a vital resource for patients in the Upper Peninsula, and it's a model that could be replicated in other parts of the country. As pills by mail become the next major target for abortion opponents, offering more care in more physical locations will be critical. Urgent care clinics could be a key part of this solution, providing a safe and accessible option for patients who need face-to-face care.
