So, I figured I’d share my experience from when I visited the Planned Parenthood on Martin Luther King here in Portland. It’s one of those places you hear about, and I wanted to see for myself what the atmosphere was like, just to have my own take on it.
Getting There and First Impressions
Finding the building was straightforward enough. It’s right on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a pretty busy street, so it wasn’t tucked away or anything. I went on a weekday, kind of mid-morning. When I got there, the outside was pretty unassuming, just a regular building really. There was a bit of activity, people coming and going, but nothing chaotic.
I walked in, and my first thought was that it felt, well, like a clinic. Clean, organized, not too loud. There was a reception area, and the people at the desk seemed busy but were polite when I approached. It wasn’t overly warm and fuzzy, but it felt professional, which I guess is what you want in such a place.
The Process Inside
I had made an appointment beforehand, which I think is pretty standard. So, I checked in. There was a bit of a wait, which I kind of expected. Most places like this, you end up waiting a bit. The waiting area was comfortable enough, nothing fancy, but it did the job. I noticed they had a good amount of informational pamphlets and posters around, covering various health topics. It seemed like they really try to provide resources.
When it was my turn, the staff I interacted with were direct and to the point, but also respectful. They explained things clearly. I didn’t feel rushed, even though it was obvious they had a lot of people to see. The whole process felt quite streamlined, actually. They seemed to have their system down.
- Checked in at the front desk.
- Spent some time in the waiting area.
- Had a consultation/interaction with staff.
- Everything felt quite private and handled with care.
My Takeaway
Leaving the Planned Parenthood on MLK, I felt it was a place that’s serious about what it does. It wasn’t intimidating, and the staff I encountered seemed genuinely focused on providing care and information. It’s easy to have preconceived notions about places, but my actual experience was pretty mundane, in a good way. It felt like any other health facility I’ve been to, focused on getting people the help they need.
It just struck me as a necessary service, doing its thing. Regardless of all the noise you sometimes hear, the actual experience on the ground was just… normal. And for a place that offers important health services, normal and efficient is probably exactly what you hope for.
