Planned Parenthood is as much a house hold name as Kleenex or Frisbee. But now, San Francisco’s Planned Parenthood clinics will no longer be under the umbrella of that nationally trusted organization.
The seven local clinics that bear the ‘Planned Parenthood Golden Gate’ name are being forced to drop the label as of September 3 and find their own due to financial burdens, according to the SFGate. The clinics aren’t going away, however — their CEO, Therese WIlson emphasizes that they will continue to serve the area, just under another name.
A representative of the Planned Parenthood’s national organization states that PPGG failed to meet national guidelines of the organization, which is a requirement for each location that carries the Planned Parenthood name. The details of that situation weren’t made clearer than that.
Wilson says that PPGG has strived to correct the problems that caused the break, which she characterized as financial in nature. “We were working really hard to improve our financial situation, and we wish they would’ve been a little bit more supportive, frankly,” Wilson told the Chron.
PPGG’s website claims that they see 55,000 patients each year, 92 percent of which are below the poverty line, says Wilson. In 2009, the Bay Area clinics reportedly gave over $1 million in free health services.
So what’s in a name?
While Planned Parenthood is certainly a nationally recognized brand, Wilson says there will be some benefits to breaking ties with the national organization. She says the group will no longer have to pay fees to the national organization, and Wilson predicts the amount of necessary paperwork for patients will decrease.
On the other hand, the national brand may soon have replacement locations in the Bay Area. Two clinics still holding the ‘PP’ brand – one based in Concord the other in San Jose – are in the works of extending their branches into PPGG’s current territory, and the Mar Monte affiliate is considering moving into Alameda and San Mateo counties. No plans have been announced for any new PP branded locations in San Francisco, and calls to the national organization were not returned at publication time.
PPGG is presently holding a staff contest to determine a new name for their health centers. Readers, what do you think is in store San Francisco’s family and reproductive services? Does the name really mean all that much?
