telephone (904) 398-8005 | toll-free (800) 733-7993 | recorded info (904) 399-4804
3599 University Boulevard South, Building #1200, Jacksonville, Florida 32216
3599 University Blvd South
Building #1200
Jacksonville, Florida 32216
TELEPHONE (904) 398-8005
TOLL-FREE (800) 733-7993
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First, we feel that probably the most important characteristic to consider is whether the facility is actually run and directly staffed by a full-time known and dedicated Florida licensed physician. Knowing your doctor allows you to know if he or she has the necessary experience to provide you with the type of care you request. Advertising can be a little confusing at times. There are abortion clinics are not owned by doctors, and these clinics may actually be operated by persons without professional medical training and professional licenses. As is understandable, practices that are run by full-time physicians don't have influences of separate owners that are not medical professionals, and don't make decisions about your health and medical care based on the pressures of non-medical business owners. Physician practices should reliably 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 that non-professionals and standard business individuals simply are not under any obligation to perform. But most importantly, a facility run by a full-time physician and one that has a doctor in the office regularly every day and all day 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. The choice is always yours, and your common sense should help you make an informed decision.
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If you have a trusted gynecologist, some women choose to seek their knowledgeable advice at this time. Although this is a confidential decision, many of your personal and caring gynecologists are supportive of patient's personal choices and many are aware of reputations of the experienced and qualified abortion providers in their region. Doctors refer patients to doctors that they feel will offer good care to their patients. They care about you. It's sometimes helpful to ask if you are in this situation.
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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. This is really important to assure you don't have a bad experience. Anesthesia for surgery should not be provided like a menu at a restaurant, leaving the choice of comfort to the patient based on how much money that patient may have. 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 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 statement is not in your best interest of comfort as the provision of effective anesthesia is the modern professional choice offered in physician-run medical practices. Medications like oral valium and nitrous oxide are not effective stand-alone anesthesia methods for surgical procedures. IV sedation is however very effective if used appropriately. In modern facilities, IV anesthesia should be provided to patients for comfort and safety for the abortion procedure.
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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 or provide opportunities for anti-choice and anti-women's rights protestors and picketers. Ask if they have picketers. These remarkably inconsiderate individuals and groups want to selfishly make your decision and experience as uncomfortable as possible, no matter what is right for you at this time in your life. They harass patients and often attempt to interfere with your appointment, even commonly resulting in the police becoming involved. Picketers are more common at standard streetside abortion clinics where the choice of facility location was not a primary concern, which can result in an unpleasant encounter with these extremely selfish and inconsiderate individuals. It is understandable that patients would like to avoid having to encounter these experiences, and wish to privately obtain their medical care without being harassed. That is why Florida Women's Center has chosen a location that offers the highest level of privacy. No one should have to endure these people or suffer from a lack of privacy at this time in their life.
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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. We believe the ability to address any surgical or medical concerns of patients after they leave is very important to our patients. Nurses or Nurse-practitioners are simply not trained at the level of a doctor and are not legally able to perform a surgical or medical abortion procedures in Florida. If a patient requires any follow-up surgical treatment, a nurse cannot do this and only a licensed doctor can. Having never performed surgery or being trained or able to perform surgery makes follow-up and aftercare by nurses suboptimal, as they may lack the knowledge to understand or treat your concerns resulting from a surgical procedure for which they cannot and have not performed. In a clinic without a doctor seeing you, this could result in you being sent to the ER or your care being delayed. Physicians realize that If a doctor performs a surgical procedure on a pateint, then optimally a doctor should perform the necessary follow-up to that surgical procedure. Also, make sure that only a doctor or certified ultrasound technician is performing your pre-operative ultrasounds. The ultrasound accuracy and pre-operative assessment is very important to the safety of the abortion procedure. If you do decide to 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 them 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 abortion 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 abortions in Florida.
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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.
