“Breaking the Stigma: How Family Medicine Clinics Are Integrating Abortion Care”
Primary care physicians across the country are expanding their practices to include abortion care, integrating it into their routine services. Dr. Stephanie Arnold, a family medicine physician in Richmond, Virginia, is one of the many doctors leading this trend. At Seven Hills Family Medicine, Arnold and her team offer a wide range of services, including reproductive health care and abortion procedures.
The demand for training in abortion care among primary care providers is on the rise. Programs like ExPAND, led by Elizabeth Janiak of Harvard Medical School, are training primary care physicians on abortion procedures. While the exact number of primary care doctors offering abortion care is unknown, the trend is growing in states where abortion is legal.
In states like Michigan, Colorado, and California, primary care doctors are stepping up to provide abortion care in response to recent changes in abortion laws. Dr. Allison Ruff in Michigan and Dr. Sheila Attaie in California have integrated abortion services into their practices, offering patients a familiar setting for their care.
Despite the push to normalize abortion care in primary care settings, some providers face pushback from anti-abortion groups. Dr. Christina Francis, an OB-GYN in Indiana, opposes the idea of primary care doctors providing abortion, arguing that it is not part of essential health care for women. However, organizations like the American College of OB-GYNs and the American Academy of Family Physicians support access to comprehensive reproductive health services, including abortion.
Historically, abortion care has been isolated and stigmatized, but the integration of abortion into primary care settings is changing that. Primary care providers like Dr. Arnold are working to destigmatize abortion care and provide a more personalized and compassionate experience for patients. As the trend continues to grow, more primary care doctors are expected to offer abortion care as part of their routine services.