Oregon Public Broadcasting

Planned Parenthood reopened a clinic in Vancouver Monday. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

Planned Parenthood’s Salmon Creek Health Center closed last December -- as the economy looked increasingly bleak and many women skipped medical check-ups and exams.  But Planned Parenthood spokeswoman, Liz Delapoer, says the number of patients turning up at the nearby Vancouver center has sky-rocketed.

Liz Delapoer: “At the time, I think economically it was better for us to consolidate, at least temporarily, in order to consolidate all our resources in one place and continue to serve patients in Vancouver. But, right now, the demand for services is so high that it just makes a lot more sense to continue to see patients at two locations.”

The Salmon Creek clinic will provide birth control, pregnancy testing and health exams. It will not perform abortions, but will instead refer women to other Planned Parenthood clinics.