Kalispell clinic closing

Planned Parenthood of Montana has announced the closure of its Kalispell clinic due to the poor economic climate in this area.

Located at 795 Sunset Blvd., the clinic will no longer see patients after Nov. 20.

It opened to provide family planning and reproductive health services a little more than four years ago.

Stacy James, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Montana, said the board met a few weeks ago and made "this difficult decision."

"It's due to the challenging economic times," James said. "People are losing health care [insurance], postponing care or turning to public clinics."

Planned Parenthood of Montana has set up a travel fund for patients who need to travel to the Missoula clinic for services. Information about the fund is available on the organization's Web site www.plannedparenthood.org/montana or by calling 888-867-8961.

James said that Flathead City-County Health Department receives federal money to provide family planning to low-income people. In other areas, Planned Parenthood receives those dollars that help subsidize its operations.

The recession has made continuing services impossible.

"We've not had the patient numbers to keep the doors open," she said.

In the last fiscal year, the clinic served 1,575 patients.

The staff offered reproductive health care such as annual exams, birth control, emergency contraception services and primary care services such as sports physicals.

The organization maintains clinics statewide in Missoula, Helena, Great Falls and Billings as well as seven "clinics without walls" on the east side of Montana.

The staff of four in Kalispell included a family nurse practitioner. One of the staff members will join the Planned Parenthood clinic in Missoula.

James said that the staff has been informing patients of the closure as they come in the office for services. She said the staff also is giving patients a referral list of potential providers in this area.

"We think it's very important that patients have the opportunity to choose their provider," James said.