Choosing a physician for abortion services is a very private and individual decision, and it can be difficult for patients to recognize what is important in determining what to look for in a facility which provides abortion care. First, it is important to recognize that, as with all medical and surgical procedures, you are actually choosing a doctor to perform your surgical procedure. As with all physician choices, it is important to choose a physician with the proper experience and proven expertise in the field. The safety of the abortion procedure can often be related to the facility relationship and qualifications of the physician providing your care.
 
Our physician's established and reliable reputation for providing safe and comfortable abortion services is well known by the medical community throughout Florida and Georgia. Dr. Kelly is the referred physician for abortion services reaching out hundreds of miles from our Jacksonville area location. This reputation can only be obtained through years of successful, reliable, and compassionate medical practice. While this reputation has resulted in continual patient referrals by physicians, friends, or other health care providers, we recognize that there will always be many new patients who have not been in this situation before and may not have anyone trusted to turn to at this time. We also recognize that many patients simply wish to keep their private reproductive medical decisions to themselves and desire to make the decision to seek an abortion privately and in a private environment.
 
Patients seeking private abortion related services have come to realize how Florida Women's Center is different than many and most standard abortion clinics.  Our facility provides a remarkable opportunity that now allows women of all ages and circumstances to obtain an abortion in the dignified, confidential, and comfortable environment of a private medical practice operated by a known and respected physician who realizes the importance of patient comfort and confidentiality.
 
In both smaller cities, as well as larger cities, the phone book major yellow pages are usually a good source of initial  information and access to physicians who provide abortion services. Most established facilities will provide toll-free or local area phone numbers to assist with patient contact and accessibility. Our facility also uniquely offers an additional 24 hour private recorded line for patients that can be called and listened to privately without having to initially interact over the phone. This allows patients to obtain private information about our specific facility and the abortion process without the pressures and anxiety of having to discuss their situation prior to making an appointment. When you are ready, then you can then call to make an appointment with our knowledgeable staff.
 
For patients who still desire further information to make a knowledgeable and informed decision, here are some important very basic characteristics and guidelines to consider when choosing an abortion provider.
 
Things to determine first:

• First, probably the most important characteristic to determine is whether the facility is actually run and staffed by a full-time dedicated physician. Advertising can be a little confusing at times. Many, if not most abortion clinics have a long history of not being owned or run by actual licensed medical physicians. This results in many aspects of your care being subjected to influences by persons without professional medical degrees or formal medical training. As is understandable, physician practices are more likely to offer the latest and most modern medicines, medical techniques, and medical safety practices due to the professional standards and the continual medical education required by the professional medical licensing board.  But most importantly, a facility run by a full-time staff of physicians provides patients with the ability to obtain continuous care by the physician for their care. Physician practices have full-time physician coverage available to address your needs appropriately and in a timely fashion.
• If you have a trusted gynecologist, some women choose to seek their knowledgeable advice at this time. Although this is a confidential decision, many gynecologists are supportive of patient's personal choices and many are aware of reputations of the experienced and qualified abortion providers in their region.
• Just like it is true that all facilities are not the same, it is equally true that some facilities do not offer all effective options of anesthesia. Every patient should be given accurate and complete information as to the level of comfort available to them when undergoing a D and E surgical procedure. The safe administration of effective IV sedation is now the standard in modern abortion medicine and, in most patients, the only way to eliminate the discomfort of a surgical abortion. If a clinic ever claims that anesthesia during surgery is not necessary, realize that this option is the modern professional choice offered in physician-run medical practices.
• Privacy is extremely important. Ask where the facility is located and how private the area is. Unfortunately, many older or chain-type abortion clinics are located in very public areas, even directly on street thoroughfares, which unfortunately can invite anti-choice and anti-women's rights protestors. This was more common in the past when facility location was not a primary concern of many non-physician owned and run clinic type facilities. In modern times, facilities such as Florida Women's Center have taken significant steps to assure a private location and environment for patient comfort and safety.
• Make sure there is a doctor, and not only a nurse or nurse-practitioner available every day to see patients and evaluate any post-operative or medical concerns of patients. Nurse-practitioners are not licensed or trained to perform the surgical abortion procedure. Make sure only a doctor or certified ultrasound technician is performing your ultrasounds, as this is part of the new requirements under new safety laws for abortion clinics recently created by the Florida legislature.  If you decide to still go to a limited care abortion clinic that provides abortion services only one or two days a week, or just on weekends, it is advisable to ask and find out in advance who you will need call with concerns when there is no doctor available, which is generally all the other days.  If you seek care at a part time clinic and you experience issues related to your surgical procedure, be aware that you may have to go to the ER or your own physician if a doctor is not available.   Ask questions when you make your first call or when you visit.  In the state of Florida, only licensed physicians, and NOT nurses or nurse-practitioners, can provide medical or surgical abortion services. 
• Determine when surgical abortions are offered. Most modern full-time physician run facilities offer services virtually every day (excluding Sundays) to allow for private individual patient appointments and allows patients to have continuous medical care. Being open and having a physician on site every day allows a better continuity of care for patients if they have any medical concerns.

Red flags in advertising:

• There are also a few things to look for which can be negative indicators of the kind of services or level of care offered in some clinics or anti-abortion "crisis centers." First, if you need accurate medical information, it is usually best to avoid surfing the Internet for abortion-related questions. If you have questions about the abortion procedure, always directly contact a licensed abortion provider, the National Abortion Federation, or a medical physician trained in gynecology who is familiar with elective abortions and the D & E procedure. Currently, the internet is a completely unregulated source of often extremely inaccurate and blatantly incorrect information concerning abortions, effects, and medical statistics concerning abortions. There are sites that are clearly and purposefully designed by anti-abortion fanatics who are often known unstable individuals with the sole intention of scaring and offending persons making the difficult abortion decision. They are attempting to deceive and intimidate patients at this most vulnerable emotional time. There is usually no medical basis for the opinions they convey, and they simply wish to confuse and intimidate women who are seeking information during this very sensitive and emotional time. It is very easy to create a website and post personal unregulated opinions on the internet at a relatively minimal cost and effort. The anti-abortion sites are very deceptive and created by individuals who simply have no compassion or respect for women in our modern society.
• Anti-abortion clinics advertise under many deceptive names, often using deceptive language that usually claims to offer "free abortion counseling" and "free services." In fact, Anti-abortion facilities and "crisis centers" are notorious for offering free ultrasounds, free pregnancy tests, and free pregnancy counseling. We all recognize that true professional medical care and reliable services are never "free". These statements are designed to simply lure and attract unsuspecting women at this most vulnerable time. These facilities often then attempt instill a sense of fear or distrust of the abortion process, anesthesia, or even abortion providers. These tactics are used by anti-abortion activists and designed to specifically interfere with a woman's right to choose and obtain professional and safe medical care.
• Some older or smaller clinics may advertise that they are the "#1 referred" clinic in a small area or region.  Don't ever be fooled by a clinic or chain of clinics that claims this in an ad.  Due to the confidential nature of the abortion procedure and the state regulatory information protection, there is no way a facility can legitimately claim this or have access to information allowing them to truthfully claim this.  If this type of statement does occur, it is likely in these types of situations that the facility may claim this if they have the ONLY clinic in a small city or defined geographical area and they are then just claiming to be the most referred.  Because such an incredibly large number of patients choose to travel to the modern medical facilities in larger cities,  even isolated small clinics who are the only one in a small city cannot truthfully make this statement.  This should be a red flag.  The second way a clinic would claim this is if they have numerous chains of abortion clinics, as some do in some states.  These companies will claim to be #1 by the sheer fact that they have so many clinics in a state or region.  Again, this can be looked at as a deceptive tactic, designed to promote a false sense of trust in unsuspecting women.  Just remember to use your common sense when choosing a medical care provider.  This is an important time for you and you deserve and have available professional medical services.

We are very aware of the long history and development of modern abortion care and the many obstacles women encounter when faced with choosing an abortion procedure and abortion provider. Hopefully, this information can help you knowledgeably choose the level the medical care you are seeking.