Florida Abortion Clinics-25 years of abortions throughout Florida in Clearwater, Sarasota, St.Pete and Tampa."

Abortion can be an emotional as well as a medical decision. Often, there are confused feelings surrounding an unplanned pregnancy. Our staff is committed to quality care and providing support through this emotional time.

Our Clinics follow the National Abortion Federation (N.A.F.) "Standard of Care".

FIRST TRIMESTER ABORTION 4 - 12 weeks LMP

Today's modern technologies can offer women a choice of the type of procedures offered. With the advent of the vaginal probe sonogram, women are now afforded the opportunity to terminate their pregnancy as early as four weeks. We offer three choices for first trimester pregnancies.

The first and less invasive procedure we offer is a Chemical Abortion (Methotrexate shot and RU486 pill) for pregnancies between 4 to 6 weeks gestation. This procedure consists of a combination of drugs that will terminate and expel the pregnancy when used in conjunction with each other. This option requires an average of three office visits, as well as the commitment of the patient to chart the progress and results. This procedure is not right for everyone. The final decision will be made by our physician, based on the patient's medical history and a physical.

The third option we offer is the suction curettage abortion. This procedure is best up through 12 weeks LMP. It is performed by an OB/GYN medical doctor while the patient is under local anesthesia in the vein and a cervical block. The actual abortion procedure takes approximately five to seven minutes. However, plan to be at the clinic approximately two to three hours. We spend the first hour reviewing your medical history, providing necessary information, and taking the required lab work and an ultrasound (sonogram). The second and third hours provide time for the abortion procedure and a recovery period.

SECOND TRIMESTER ABORTION

13 - 24 weeks LMP

Our clinic only provides services up to 18 weeks LMP, however, please contact us for a referral to a reputable NAF provider! Second trimester abortions are performed by a dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortion procedure under local anesthesia in the vein and a cervical block. The procedure takes approximately fifteen to thirty minutes. However, you will spend approximately four hours at our clinic.

We no longer provide this procedure. For informational purposes, for patients 17 - 18 weeks LMP, it will take approximately two days to complete the abortion. The first step in the abortion is the insertion of sterile laminaria, which are small, slim sticks of natural fiber (seaweed). Laminaria gradually swell over a period of several hours to help stretch the opening of the uterus. This helps to make the abortion quicker, safer, and less painful. You will be in the clinic four to eight hours and will return home that evening. The clinic should provide a prescription for pain medication that must be filled as soon as possible after leaving the office. We highly recommend you have adult accompaniment while you are home.

The following day, you return for the removal of the laminaria and the abortion procedure. The procedure used is vacuum aspiration. You will spend approximately four to eight hours at the clinic and must be accompanied by someone to drive you home. Minors must make parent/guardian aware of this procedure. The parent/guardian does not need to be present at the time of the procedure, however, the clinic must be able to contact the parent/guardian in case of an emergency. The parent/guardian must be with you overnight.

A loved one can accompany you every day you are in the clinic and in the day room where you are laboring. You should bring an extra pair of underwear and pants. Wear something comfortable, loose and in two pieces so you can leave your top on.

THIRD TRIMESTER ABORTION 25.1 weeks LMP and above

Florida's Statute 390.001(b) states abortions from 25 - 28 weeks of gestation are only done by referral from your physician with at least one corroborative medical opinion attesting to the medical necessity for the abortion and to the fact that, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, the continuation of the pregnancy would threaten the life of the pregnant woman. We provide services only up to 18 weeks LMP, however, please contact us for a referral to a reputable NAF provider!

V.I.P. SERVICES

For those individuals interested in one to one care by one of our staff members and the Doctor. Your appointment will be scheduled at a time when no other patients are in the building for surgery, only you. For a private information session, call the clinic for details.

ADVANTAGES

Less waiting time
One to one personalized care
Complete privacy during recovery

INFORMATION SESSION

All patients receive an individual information session concerning the abortion procedure, alternative to abortion and referrals, risks of abortion, and birth control methods. There is also an attendant whom will go through the procedure with you. Our staff is committed to quality care and providing support during this emotional time. For a private information session, call the clinic for details.

ANESTHESIA

All patients receive IV sedation and a local block of the cervix at no additional charge.

Local with IV sedation - awake, but relaxed
Twilight - very relaxed

ABORTION PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS

Please confirm your appointment the morning prior to your scheduled appointment. Call collect if necessary.
Have a box of maxi pads and a thermometer at home.
Do not eat or drink for a minimum of four hours prior to your scheduled appointment.
Shower or tub bathe the day of your scheduled appointment.
Wear something comfortable, loose and in two pieces so you can leave your top on.
Bring an extra pair of underwear and pants
Bring your fee, a form of identification (driver's license, state or student ID, Medicaid card, or Insurance card), military/student ID (if applicable for discount), and insurance card and forms (if applicable).
Notify the staff of any medication you took prior to your surgery.
For security reasons, do not bring handbags or purses.
Plan to be in the clinic approximately three to four hours.
No children or infants are allowed in the clinic on abortion day.
Your follow-up examination will be three weeks after your surgery. This is included in the cost.
You must have a person drive you home (due to anesthesia)
If you are under the age of 18, you must have parental consent (see Parental Notification Law)

INSURANCE

We accept and verify insurance. We are in-network providers for United Health Care and Aetna. We are out-of-network providers for any other type of insurance. We will submit your insurance for you, however, you are required to pay for the services in full at the time of your termination. When we receive payment from your insurance company, we will reimburse you for the service. Be aware that some of the plans have exclusions for abortions, depending on the type of policy you are enrolled in.

If you plan to use insurance, we will prepare insurance forms to aid in recovering the procedure fee. As prior authorization is required, please provide us with at least 24 hour notice. Due to Aetna's changing policies, up to a week may be required for prior authorization. Please bring all necessary forms and policy information with you at the time of the appointment.

FEES

Our fees are based on LMP or gestational age, which is determined by a sonogram for accuracy. Contact each clinic for approximated fees, which are subject to change. Please call the clinic for current rates.

The fee for the surgical procedure includes consent forms and informational packet, sonogram, the D&C (3-13 LMP), lab work (pregnancy test, hemoglobin, and RH factor typing), one-on-one information session, use of pulse oximeter during surgery, I.V. sedation and local block, contraceptive sample, one pack of birth control pills if desired, and a follow-up examination. The follow-up examination includes a pregnancy test, and another pack of birth control pills, if desired. You are never left alone during or after the surgery. A Medical Assistant or Nurses Aide monitors you during the procedure. A licensed LPN or RN is in the recovery room. A twenty-four hour physician on call. A loving and compassionate staff dedicated to your physical and emotional well-being.

The two chemical procedures include the RU486 pill and the Methotrexate shot. The fee for the chemical procedures includes the same as the surgical procedure excluding the I.V. sedation and a local block (not given for chemical procedures). The fee includes either the RU486 pill or a shot of Methotrexate to stop the growth of the pregnancy; the Misoprostal pills to help dilate and expel the pregnancy; and three to five office visits that include sonograms. There is an additional charge for Quantitative Betas.

If the abortion is not performed, the fee will be refunded except for the cost of the Sonogram and any applicable lab fees.

We highly recommend you ask other clinics what their fees include. Many of our competitors apply additional fees for IV sedation, medications, testing, follow-up exams. In addition, they do not staff nurses.

The centers have a "no billing" policy. All fees are payable at the time of the procedure.

Acceptable forms of payment include cash, Visa, MasterCard, traveler's checks, money orders, and certified checks.
Due to the amount of returned unpaid checks, NO personal checks can be accepted.
$25.00 discount given for Military, Student and Medicaid.
An additional charge is made for Anti-Rh serum for the Rh Negative woman.

PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Please notify us of any and all pre-existing medical conditions.

If you have a heart murmur, you need to be pre-medicated 24 hours prior to your appointment. You can purchase your antibiotic at our office or we can call in a prescription to your preferred pharmacy.
If you are a diabetic, your appointment can be the first of the day. Eat your normal diet and take your regular insulin. Bring extra insulin to the clinic with you.
If you have asthma, please bring your inhaler with you.
Please notify us if you have a history of bleeding disorders, heart murmur, mytral valve prolapse, or other heart conditions.
Notify the staff if you pre-medicate prior to surgery



Home \| Introduction \| Appointments \| Confidentiality \| Other Services