Not all abortion facilities are alike.  It is important to find the right provider for you.  Since some people find it hard to talk openly about abortion, women rarely know what to expect or what to look for.  The quality of care varies greatly among abortion facilities.  Some operate at the minimum level of requirements while others go far beyond that to provide quality, comprehensive care.  Unfortunately, there are only a few doctors willing to provide abortion services so there may not be a provider in your area.  When making an appointment it is important to choose a facility whose doctors and staff members care about your needs.   Base your decision on the level of service they provide and not a nice advertisement.  Before giving personal information, verify the facility’s location and that they DO perform abortions.  Below are some suggested guidelines to help you:

1. BE AWARE OF CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS’ ATTEMPTS TO MISLEAD WOMEN SEEKING ABORTIONS
Before giving your private health or contact information, make sure you are speaking with an actual abortion provider by asking “Do you perform abortions in your office?”.  If the answer is unclear, confusing or the question is dodged; you may be speaking with a crisis pregnancy center instead of an actual abortion provider.  Crisis pregnancy centers are run by anti-abortion activists and are designed to misinform, intimidate and delay women seeking abortion services.  They often locate their offices very close to actual abortion providers and choose names like “Women’s Clinic”, “Pregnancy Help” or “Women’s Center” to assist in confusing women about the services they provide.  Crisis pregnancy centers lure women seeking abortion with offers of free services such as pregnancy testing and ultrasound.  Once in their office, the patient may be shown graphic anti-abortion videos instead of being provided medically accurate information about abortion.  They attempt to make women feel guilty and will not provide referrals for abortion or birth control.  Victims of crisis pregnancy centers often experience blatant violations of their confidentiality when they are phoned at home and urged not to have an abortion.  These centers have been the subject of numerous lawsuits and investigations.  If you have been the victim of a crisis pregnancy center you can take action anonymously by e-mailing the National Abortion Federation at webmaster@prochoice.org or calling 1-800-772-9100.
 
2.  DON’T TRUST THE PHONE BOOK!
Advertisements can be misleading.  Just because the ad is large or nice does not mean the facility will provide the care you seek. Some providers insinuate that they are in a specific city, even listing a local phone number in their advertisement.  When you call they may say “we’re near there” or “we’re not open there yet” - be careful- you may be in for a longer trip than you first thought.  If a provider attempts to mislead you in their yellow page advertisements, it is a red flag that they may not give you all the information you deserve.  Ask questions and call the Better Business Bureau to complain if you feel you’re being lied to.

3. GET A REFERRAL FROM SOMEONE YOU TRUST
Talk to a friend or family member that you trust about your decision.  Women often refrain from talking about having an abortion, but according to the National Abortion Federation, almost half of all women of reproductive age in the United States will have an abortion before they reach the age of 45.  If you would rather get an anonymous referral, contact a physician, counselor, or community organization that you trust.  You can ask them who they recommend over the phone without having to reveal your identity.  The National Abortion Federation and the National Coalition of Abortion Providers are also useful resources.  Clinics that are members of these organizations must adhere to strict guidelines regarding medical care.

4.  CALL THE FACILITY ON THE PHONE Do they actually perform abortions in their office?  Where are they located? Are they friendly?  Do they sound like people you would be comfortable seeing?  Do they take time to answer all of your questions in a direct, compassionate way?  Ask them if you can come into the clinic and meet them prior to setting up an appointment.

5.  ASK THE CLINIC STAFF QUESTIONS
Ask about their services and staff.  What is the procedure like?  What are the risks?  In what ways will they provide for your comfort and safety?  Will they provide a trained health worker to address your questions in person?  Do they require that their patients be sedated?  Will they provide you with pricing information over the phone?  Are they available 24 hours for consultation in case of complications?  Are they licensed and inspected by their state’s Agency for Health Care Administration?  Do they have Board Certified/Board Eligible licensed gynecologists?  What about licensed nurses?  Will you meet the doctor prior to your procedure?  How long has the facility been in operation?

6.  VISIT THE FACILITY PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT
How do you feel when you walk in the door?  How are you greeted?  What type of atmosphere are you seeking?  Is the staff warm and compassionate; is the facility clean and comfortable?  Ask them for pamphlets.  They should be able to provide you with information about the procedure as well as birth control and unplanned pregnancy options materials.  Do they offer unbiased information, including information about adoption and pre-natal care referrals?  You can never know how a situation will turn out until you’ve been through it.  We know it is difficult to trust a medical provider that you have never seen before.  These guidelines should help you.  Also remember to ask for what you need once you’ve chosen a provider and give the staff feedback about how they could better serve women in the future.

REMEMBER - YOU DESERVE GOOD CARE!