So, I found myself needing to head over to the Planned Parenthood on NE MLK in Portland the other week. Wasn’t anything dramatic, just one of those regular things you gotta take care of, you know? I’d put it off for a bit, like you do, but finally circled a day on the calendar and figured, “Alright, let’s get this done.”
Getting There and First Impressions
Getting there was pretty straightforward. MLK can be busy, but I managed to find parking not too far off, which was a small win right there. Walked up to the building, and it looked, well, like a clinic. Pretty unassuming from the outside, which I guess is fine. No big flashing signs, just a place to get healthcare.
Stepped inside, and it was clean, pretty quiet actually. There were a few other folks in the waiting area, some on their phones, some just looking around. The vibe was calm, not rushed or chaotic, which I appreciated. Sometimes these places can feel a bit like a factory line, but this wasn’t giving me that feeling, at least not initially.
The Process
I went up to the front desk. The person there was polite, got me checked in. Paperwork, you know the drill. It’s never fun, but it’s part of it. They were pretty efficient about it, explained what I needed to fill out, and didn’t make me feel like I was bothering them with my questions, even though I probably asked a couple of dumb ones.
Then it was the waiting game. Not gonna lie, waiting is never my favorite part. I had a book with me, so I tried to read, but mostly I just people-watched a bit and mentally ran through my to-do list for the rest of the day. The wait wasn’t too terrible, maybe 20 minutes or so before they called my name. Could have been worse, definitely.
A staff member called me back, super friendly, took me to a room. Again, standard clinic room. Clean, tidy. They went over a few things, asked some questions. The person I actually saw for my appointment, the healthcare provider, was great. Really listened, you know? Didn’t feel rushed. They explained everything clearly, answered my questions without making me feel silly for asking. That’s always a big thing for me. I hate feeling like I’m just a number being pushed through.
- Staff were generally friendly.
- Waiting time was okay.
- The provider was attentive.
Leaving and Final Thoughts
After the appointment, I headed back out, paid what I needed to pay, and that was that. All in all, it was a pretty smooth experience. No major dramas, no real complaints. It was just… a healthcare visit. Which is probably exactly what it should be, right?
Look, going to any kind of clinic isn’t exactly a trip to the amusement park. But places like this Planned Parenthood, they do important work. And from what I saw that day, the folks at the NE MLK spot in Portland are doing their best to make it as straightforward and respectful as possible. For me, on that particular day, they managed it just fine. Just wanted to share how it went, plain and simple.
