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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2003)
juin fi. 2003 ? J n t m nTH7TÏÏ7n?rineu's D erhaps you’ve never heard of All Womens Health Services—the only independent, nonprofit women’s health center in Oregon. But consid- ering the quarter of a million women they estimate having helped so far, chances are gcxxl you know someone who’s connected to it. Unfortunately, what makes All Women’s unique—an assiduous commitment to provide health care for all women regardless of financial status— is now what casts a shadow on its future. A failing economy and severe funding cuts threaten to leave the 6,000 patients it sees annually with nowhere else to go. A large yet unassuming clinic in Northeast Portland, All Women’s has had its doors open to women for 30 years. “Women are so central to the health of the community and families,” hoard president Vicki Reitenauer says. “Women are at the core of organizations. If they aren’t healthy, those entities aren’t healthy." So, by serving women, especially those who would oth erwise not have access to high-quality care, All Women’s serves the entire Portland community. The clinic opened in 1973 with a singular mission: to provide truly comprehensive health care to all women in a respectful and supportive environment. Today it is holding as tightly as ever to that mission: Members of the Oregon Health Plan make up 65 percent of its total clientele, and it is the only clinic in Portland that accepts OHP tin an ongoing basis. All Women’s also has assembled an all-female med ical staff of doctors, naturopaths, nurse practi tioners and assistants who are dedicated to con sulting with a woman about any health care concern she might have. The fact that a woman can have all aspects of her health addressed at the clinic makes it unique. Typically she would have to go to one provider for her reproductive health needs, another provider for her general health ques tions and yet another if she sought a specialized procedure like an abortion. But All Women’s has broken the mold and cast a new one. “We don’t want to perpetuate the idea that certain services need to he walled off from other services,” Reitenauer says. “We are trying to shift the paradigm of women’s health care and what that means...trying to address a woman’s health concerns through* the span of her life, holistically. Whether she he lesbian, bisexual or straight.” As a lesbian herself, Reitenauer under stands the problems that arise when a health care provider assumes certain things about a patient that are incorrect. In most clinics, it is not uncommon for a physician to discuss birth control options with a woman without taking into consideration her sexual orienta tion. They key to avoiding misunderstanding, hour long and “oftentimes it is just to talk and evaluate all the health issues,” Jeanne says. “Most clinics are run from a business perspective where you have to see so many people per hour All Women's Health Services invites patients and a woman can only ask so many questions. At All Women’s we take our time—there’s a to participate in their own wellness by j . b . Rabin whole other level of caring not being dictated by money.” There are some concerns about whether this long-standing fixture of the community will be able to continue offering that level of care, or any level of care. The clinic’s financial woes began last year—after its annual budget was already in place—when the Oregon Health Plan made the decree that it would be paying only 34 cents on the dollar for billed care. “That’s not enough to keep a clinic run ning,” says bookkeeper Tony Musso, who is gay. “We definitely need the support of the whole Portland community.” The bleak financial situation has caused All V i Women’s to lay off some of its administrative staff, and it is calling for volunteers to help fill in some of the gaps. The clinic also welcomes physicians, naturopaths, acupuncturists and other health care providers willing to volunteer their time for the community. As far as donations are concerned, Musso says: “It doesn’t take much from each person. Sure, we love $10,OCX) donations from corpo rations, but people donate small amounts "Most clinics are run from monthly— that all adds up. Those $20 and $30 a business perspective where checks we get each you have to see so many people month from people help keep the doors open.” Reitenauer explains, is to offer individualized ness that makes per hour and a woman can only aslc The 10 staff members All Women’s care to each patient. The staff members “talk about what it means stand out from so many questions. At All Women's who are now at the clinic have taken on double duty to welcome all women," she says. “We are about other facilities. we take our time — there's and are adamant about the partnering with each woman to elicit what her And that is what success of All Women’s. needs are so the practitioner can be her partner. the women who a whole other level o f caring “It’s not going to he easy, We don’t make assumptions about anyone’s sex work there ap but we can turn it around,” nol being dictated by money. ual practices or how one identifies.” preciate most Musso says. “It’s not if we Unfortunately, this kind of care has always about it. “It’s very — Pamela Jeanne can. We have to. We have been the exception to the rule. “The age-old intimate being to be here for the commu power struggle in medicine has always been with someone about keeping you in the dark about what’s when they decide how they want to be healthy nity. That’s what this is about.” JH going on," says Pamela Jeanne, a naturopathic and whole,” Reitenauer says. Jeanne adds: “It’s always been my dream to A ll W o m en ’ s H ealth S ervices will raffle off physician at All Women’s. help a woman feel empowered so that she can July 7 an $8,500 tram trip on the American A former nurse, she wasn’t satisfied in a sys tem where doctors were perceived to be the only pursue her life’s dream. When you have infor Orient Express along with a second-place prize of a ones who could unlock the mystery of a woman’s mation about your body, the more power you two-night stay at the Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport and a third-place prize of dinner at Billy health. She wanted to give the key hack to the have.” The clinic’s commitment to educating Reed's Restaurant & Bar. Tickets cost $20 and women themselves, a belief that aligns strongly women about their health is most evident in the can be purchased at the clinic and at its booth with the practices of All Women’s. “We do things in such an open way. We amount of time they allot for each visit. “We during Portland Pride 2003 on June 14 and 15 in share lab results with patients,” says Jeanne, who didn’t want to be one of those clinics that say: Waterfront Park. For more information call is a lesbian. “Whatever you want to know, it’s ‘What’s the matter? Here’s your prescription. 503-233-0808 or visit www.allwomens.org. See you later,’ ” Reitenauer says. here. There are no secrets.” The first visit at All Women’s is typically an J.B. RABIN is a Portland free-lance writer. 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