Planned Parenthood in Knoxville is preparing to reopen its doors nearly three years after its facility was destroyed by arson. The new clinic, built on the same site, marks a fresh beginning for the organization that has been a provider of reproductive health services in East Tennessee for decades.
The former Planned Parenthood building was burned in an arson attack on Dec. 31, 2021, just weeks away from reopening after a $2.2 million renovation.
The reopening of the Knoxville center marks a milestone in Planned Parenthood’s recovery. The new building, equipped with modern security features and enhanced patient privacy, will offer a comprehensive range of reproductive health services, even though abortion has been banned in Tennessee .
“Since abortion bans have taken place in Tennessee, many women have lost access to abortion care and control of their own bodies. They’ve lost access to basic and fundamental health care. So we are really excited to reopen and begin offering services again in Knoxville that will include assisting women who need access to abortion care,” Ashley Coffield, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Tennessee, told Knox News.
Access to abortion care will involve navigation services to give patients information to make an appointment at an alternate facility in another state.
When will the new Knoxville Planned Parenthood clinic be open?
Planned Parenthood’s new Knoxville clinic is at 710 N. Cherry St. in East Knoxville. The clinic is set to begin taking appointments on Sept. 23, with in-person services starting Oct. 14.
Patients can schedule an appointment online or by calling 800-230-7526. The organization plans to host a community event in Knoxville in November to celebrate the reopening.
What changes are being made at the new Knoxville Planned Parenthood clinic?
The new Knoxville clinic will continue to offer the comprehensive range of health care services it has always provided to the community: all forms of birth control, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, including HIV testing, as well as well-person visits, gender-affirming care, hypertension screening and management, and problem visits for patients to discuss medical concerns.
The Knoxville clinic will expand its offerings in 2025 to include vasectomy services for men.
How has the abortion ban impacted patients in Tennessee?
Prior to the abortion ban, Tennessee had multiple clinics providing abortion services, but now patients seeking these services must travel out of state.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Planned Parenthood set to open new clinic in Knoxville years after arson attack
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