When the pandemic started, we had to make some big moves — and quickly. The rapid decline of in-person appointments meant telehealth services would be more essential than ever.

To meet patients' needs, we worked with Planned Parenthood affiliates across the country to expand telehealth offerings (and make sure people knew about them). Within 45 days, the demand for virtual services skyrocketed; our affiliates provided more than 530,000 telehealth appointments between March and December of last year alone. Today, all 49 affiliates offer care via telehealth in some form.

When we say we'll always be here for you, we mean it. Telehealth services help patients stay connected to trusted medical professionals who provide the information they need to make decisions about their bodies and their health.

We're meeting patients where they are, and expanding telehealth services is the first step.

So, what does the future of telehealth at Planned Parenthood look like? Based on the demand and the need to make health care more accessible and equitable, we still need to grow in this space — and that includes advocating for policy changes at the federal and state levels.

Beyond the COVID-19 crisis, we know more and more people will benefit from getting care online and it's so important for that care and education to be personalized, evidence-based, and trusted.

We're improving the most-used services and exploring new ways of connecting to reach more people and provide more care. Here are some examples:

Search by service: Patients can search by the service they're seeking and select a preference for in-person or telehealth care.
Spanish language services: We are developing Spanish-language services along with other language and design innovations to address the needs of communities that face the toughest barriers to care.
More concierge offerings: Our Chat/Text program and Roo, our AI chatbot, offer patients a personalized experience and referrals to trusted content, helping users overcome confusion and difficulty accessing care.
Online appointment scheduling: Scheduling appointments online makes it easier than ever for patients to access telehealth services. Online scheduling accounts for 80% of all appointments.

By supporting Planned Parenthood, you help us adapt to this new reality and boldly step into the future of health care. You help us keep more people safe and reach more patients who face barriers to accessing care.

We're proud of the progress we've made, and we're grateful for your ongoing support as we continue to grow in the telehealth space. Together, we're making a difference.

See you (virtually) soon,
Planned Parenthood Federation of America