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Family Physicians’ Role in Simplifying Medication Abortion During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

Payal Patel, MD; Sumathi Narayana, MD, MS; Zoey Thill, MD, MPP, MPH; Marji Gold, MD; Zoey Thill, MD, MPP, MPH; Allison Paul, MD, MPH

Corresponding Author: Marji Gold, MD; Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Email: marji.gold@einsteinmed.org

Section: Commentary

| FULL PDF |     

Introduction: Despite first trimester abortion being common and safe, there are numerous restrictions that lead to barriers to seeking abortion care. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these barriers, as many state legislators push to limit abortion access even further. During this pandemic, family physicians across the country have incorporated telemedicine into their practices to continue to meet patient needs. Medication abortion can be offered to patients by telemedicine in most states, and multiple studies have shown that labs, imaging, and physical exam are not medically necessary for the majority of cases. Furthermore, several studies have highlighted that medication abortion is safe and effective when offered in the family medicine setting. Methods: Data from the 2018-2019 Family Medicine National Graduate Survey were analyzed to determine the proportion of respondents who indicated they were trained to provide pregnancy termination and were providing pregnancy termination upon graduation. Results: Of the family medicine graduates three years out of residency, 3.7% of respondents reported providing pregnancy termination. However, 13.3% of respondents reported feeling prepared to provide pregnancy termination based on training during residency. Conclusion: Family physicians are well-poised to incorporate medication abortion into their practices using approaches that limit the spread of the coronavirus, ultimately increasing access to abortion in these unprecedented times.

COVID-19 AHEAD OF PRINT

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