|
Women access health care in a variety of settings, many of
which are more accessible and familiar than an Ob-Gyn office or reproductive
health clinic. Family doctors, for example, treat women and their families for
a variety of health concerns; they provide routine primary care, as well as, in
many communities, pregnancy care and even delivering babies. Unfortunately, the majority of doctors - even
those providing a range of pregnancy obstetrical care - are not trained to
provide abortion, nor have many had adequate preparation to help them respond
to women’s abortion needs in other ways. With one in three American women using
abortion services yet a declining number of abortion providers, seeking
abortion care is persistent need for many of these doctors’ patients.
What if a woman could receive safe abortion care in the
familiar setting of her family doctor’s office?
What if doctors and other highly trained clinicians were routinely
trained to provide the comprehensive services women need?
AAP believes that by introducing abortion care into a
variety of education settings, we can better prepare clinicians to address
abortion needs and significantly reduce the barriers women face to accessing
abortion. Our goal is to promote
sustainable early abortion training opportunities and integrated reproductive
options education so that all interested and qualified clinicians can learn the
skills they need. By readying new
abortion providers and educated healthcare professionals, we ensure that more
women can get services in familiar settings and advice from clinicians they
trust. Our work expanding abortion care
through training and education is particularly focused on low income and rural
communities.
AAP is actively working with family medicine programs,
nursing programs, clinicians and future clinicians nationwide. Our work to sustainably mainstream abortion care
into comprehensive care way is one of the many ways AAP is using innovative
solutions to address gaps in abortion access.
|