Former Planned Parenthood facility to make comeback
August 19th, 2008
By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR
Ruth Lynch, the new president and CEO of the former Planned Parenthood of South Palm Beach and Broward Counties, is working hard to get the troubled facility back on its feet.
A couple of months after the Planned Parenthood Federation of America's national board voted to “disaffiliate” with the group, Lynch, a new staff and some of the old are trying to reopen it as “Your Health Care Centers Inc.
“We want to give it back to the community,” Lynch told the Boca Raton News, adding that she wants the clinic to provide “gold standard” care.
The local facility has been beset with troubles for some time. The national chapter closed it down earlier this year for failure to meet national federation standards.
“This affiliate failed to meet the organization’s high standards of affiliation, and will no longer be doing business as a Planned Parenthood entity,” said Karen Ruffatto, vice president of operations and affiliate relations for the national federation.
It is also prohibited from using the name, “Planned Parenthood,” she said.
An accreditation earlier this year uncovered problems in “clinical and financial management,” said Ruffatto. “We have a very rigorous accreditation program.”
Lynch said the wants to hold “a town hall-style meeting” later this month to reintroduce the community to the facility and what it can offer. She also wants to clear away the bad PR.
She said she has called in her own auditor to check the books. “The audit is done,” she said, and plans to announce the results at the town hall meeting. No date has been set.
Settled Lawsuits
It isn’t just hands-on work that’s being done, Lynch said. She noted that several lawsuits filed against the former affiliate were settled “through negotiations.”
Lynch said she is bound to make the clinic “cleaner, nicer and more palatable. We want it to be the Taj Mahal.”
Since joining the organization in February, Lynch has reviewed a number of files and said she did find evidence of mismanagement. But she said the staff maintained its interest in patients’ well being.
The new CEO made no bones about the fact that she is tough, but committed to doing things the right way.
In the meantime, Planned Parenthood of Greater Miami, Palm Beach and Treasure Coast said the organization is expanding its coverage area to include South Palm Beach and Broward counties to accommodate patients who were previously served through the Planned Parenthood of South Palm Beach and Broward County affiliate.
“We are committed to meeting the needs of patients in South Palm Beach and Broward counties as quickly and effectively as possible,” said Judith Selzer, spokeswoman for the Miami unit.
“To that end, our services are available immediately to everyone in Broward and South Palm Beach through our existing health centers. The public can call 800-230-PLAN to find a location or schedule an appointment or visit us online at www.ppsoflo.org.
Dale M. King can be reached at 561-549-0832 or at dking@bocanews.com.
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