The Family Planning Clinic at CCBH

           The Family Planning Clinic, located within the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, is open every Tuesday and Wednesday from 2:00 pm till 7:00 pm. As  a student interning at CCBH I spend hours each week working and observing within the clinic. The services offered here include: STD testing and treatment, prescription birth control, education and counseling. The services are available to men and women of child bearing age, which is over 13, and no one is turned away for financial reasons. The clinic treats clients on a regular basis who lack health insurance and many not have anywhere else to go. As far as patients who do have insurance they can chose to charge their insurance or pay in person based on a sliding scale related to their income  The distinctive and often inexpensive services provided at the clinic bring in people from all over Northeast Ohio. Some turn to the clinic because of financial reasons others because of the discrete treatment offered here.
         The diversity of the client population makes working here a very interesting experience. Each patient is different and has his or her own unique story. The first few days in the clinic were used as an opportunity to shadow other employees. I was astonished at how good the nurses were at making the patients feel comfortable. Over the last few weeks I’ve slowly become more comfortable working in the clinic. I’ve begun to really appreciate the services  here and the exceptional care the facility offers. The experience I gained working in this environment is something I will carry with me for a long time to come.