From recognition new and innovative ways to provide abortion care across the USin fighting with maintain access to reproductive health care for vulnerable people in the courtsexpanding the number of states where we can provide medically assisted abortion care at home after a discrete telehealth visit, carafem is working to improve abortion access and options while providing state-of-the-art, high- quality, and accessible abortion care possible.
carafem believes that one of the most influential ways we can contribute to positive change is by collecting data and participating in research. Many of the restrictions lawmakers have placed on abortion care have been implemented under the misconception that abortion is different or less safe than other types of health care. Years of evidence collected in our country prove otherwise — abortion is a very safe and commonly shared experience for people around the world.
In 2019, carafem started a partnership with Gynuity Health Projects called TelAbortion Study, a groundbreaking effort to provide abortion pills to people by mail after a secure, encrypted video health care visit. As part of this project, carafem recruited volunteers who wanted to receive abortion care at home without visiting a health center. Each person was fully informed of the process and agreed to share the outcomes and their feedback of the telehealth abortion appointment by participating in our study. Along with other abortion providers nationwide, carafem has provided results that prove it is a safe and effective option to receive abortion pills by mail.
In December 2021, we are delighted to see the Permanently removed by FDA the long-standing need to travel to a clinic to receive abortion pills. carafem is proud to have contributed to the FDA’s decision to change the way people choose to receive care. Our clients tell us that telehealth abortion care is an important part of improving access to abortion that people can use where, when, and how they want to receive it.
carafem is proud not only to offer high quality, compassionate healthcare in person and via telehealth, but also to contribute to the fight for legal access to abortion in the face of ongoing, unnecessary restrictions. Our collaboration with health care partners in the communities we serve, along with legal advocates like the ACLU have helped to thwart attempts to place an undue burden on abortion access. We will continue to engage in legal battles and participate in data gathering to better understand how we can best serve those in need of care.
carafem’s first priority is a focus on the client experience. As a barometer of the quality of our care, carafem partnered with Ibis Reproductive Health from March 2018 to December 2019, to measure satisfaction with our medical abortion services. The study was conducted at our health center in Georgia and found the majority of both telehealth and in-person clients “valued the compassionate and non-judgmental care provided by carafem staff, and felt well informed about the process of medication abortion and their contraceptive options.” Find the client satisfaction research study here.
At the center of everything we do is always our clients who inspire the care model at carafem. This means health care that is collaborative, cohesive, and focused on each client’s preferences, values, and emotional well-being. We are grateful for the tireless energy of our staff, volunteers and donors who help make that care possible.
Learn more about additional research studies we’ve participated in here:
