Rehoboth Planned Parenthood office closes
The Rehoboth Beach office of Planned Parenthood in the Midway Shopping Center closed abruptly Sept. 1.
Emily Knearl, vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Delaware, said the center closed because it was not serving enough patients.
She said Planned Parenthood has informed patients it would close and provided a list of providers patients can now go to.
The Rehoboth facility provided birth control services, emergency contraception, HIV testing, pregnancy and STD testing and hepatitis vaccines, among other services. Abortion services were not provided.
Carrie Keane, a midwife with Bayside Health Association that also worked part-time at the Rehoboth Planned Parenthood facility, said the facility faced financial problems. The Rehoboth facility did not have a clinician on staff.
She said patient records are being transferred to the Dover and Newark offices. All patients at the Rehoboth facility can go to either of those two offices to continue care.
Keane said Planned Parenthood was looking at possibly finding another location in Sussex County, one with lower rent that was already suitable as a clinic so that the organization would continue to have a presence here.
Knearl said, "Planned Parenthood is saddened by the closure and hopes to offer sexual and reproductive health services again in Sussex County. In the interim, Planned Parenthood will continue to serve Sussex County with a variety of education classes and community outreach."
Ryan Mavity covers Milton and the court system. He is married to Rachel Swick Mavity and has two kids, Alex and Jane. Ryan started with the Cape Gazette all the way back in February 2007, previously covering the City of Rehoboth Beach. A native of Easton, Md. and graduate of Towson University, Ryan enjoys watching the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Capitals and Baltimore Orioles in his spare time.
