Planned Parenthood

Full disclosure, I am a huge PPH supporter. Like the type of person Fox News rants against so this location really broke my little liberal heart. Now I will launch into a long none relevant story, scroll down for this locations review. I used PPH pretty much exclusively in college and for two years post college. I had been suffering from various horribleness since I was a teenager and had seen many specialists while on my parents insurance. None of these private OBGYN’s ever seemed to care (insensitive comments to my 19 year old seld like I would just outgrow my ovarian cysts or male drs brushing my concerns off). This first time I went to PPH it was like I was being heard. Of course I had to run the gauntlet past protestors just to receive an annual pap its always worth it. I was finally diagnosed with PCOS at 22 by PPH. I was recommended implanon to help control the cysts and actually educated on the disorder. My then boyfriend (now husband) and I were so thankful of the care that we received that we regularly donate and attend rallies for them (told you Fox would hate us).
*****Long story longer, THIS location is the PPH of Andrew Brietbart’s wet dreams. Rude and bored staff, small and sparse waiting room (every planned parenthood I visited while attending college or post college had toys and activities for children and comfortable seats, was a warm and inviting space). This place is bare and reminds me of what a booking station would look like. I went with my best friend to watch her daughter while she got her implanon in and it was so hard to keep her occupied because there was literally nothing for children (most women in the waiting room had children). The staff was rude when my friend didn’t fill in her fiancé’s income (she had her own insurance so left his info blank) and forced her to fill it in. The staff was also very loud about mocking a young couple who came in at the same time as us. They were obviously teenagers and the girl mistakingly belived she was pregnant. When it turned out she wasn’t, staff proceeded to be insensitive to her and then gossip about her after she left. I know all these rando details because they were so damn loud I could hear all of the HIPPA violations. I am going this week to have my implanon removed because my specialist I see doesn’t have appointments for several months and this BC has a shelf life. I will update my personal experience but I’m not expecting anything. Planned Parenthood is an amazing organization but this location is abysmal. Try Smithtown, riverhead, Huntington or Patchogue. There is one located in queens that is great.

Absolutely ridiculous.
I had a 10:30am appt here and arrived early to fill out paperwork. Was not called to the back until an hour after I arrived. Was not placed in an exam room until about 15 minutes after that. Waited in the exam room over 30 minutes before anyone came into to see me.
My appt total shouldn’t take over 15 minutes, I thought I’d be out BY 11am and didn’t leave until after noon. Go ANYWHERE else if you can. This place is the epitome of unprofessional.

I have been to several different Planned Parenthood locations in Massachusetts to get my birth control shot every few months. When I moved to New York recently, I was happy to find the West Islip location was so close by to me. That being said, this is THE WORST PLACE I HAVE EVER STEPPED FOOT IN MY LIFE.
Some issues I have had:
–multiple cancellations of my appointments 15 minutes before they were scheduled
–they schedule my appointments and then call to cancel because they never have my depo shot in stock. What? Why? Shouldn’t a medical facility have a decent idea of what they have in stock, or at least check before scheduling me? I realize these things happen but when it’s my sexual health at jeopardy I really have no patience for it.
–THE WAIT TIME IS AN HOUR MINIMUM. Why make an appointment at 3 then make me wait all the way until past 4 to see me?
–the last time I was here they were playing Riding in Cars with Boys, since my wait time was past an hour, I got to watch pretty much the whole thing. What a relaxing film to watch before finding out whether or not you might be pregnant. There’s nothing I’d rather stare at than Drew Barrymore’s crying face over hating her own kid and heroin riddled husband while I wonder if and when I will even be seen for a nurse’s visit that I already paid for. Seriously — the combination of this film playing in this dingy waiting room is on par with having a bad acid trip in hell.
Go here only if this is your last resort. Planned Parenthood is well known for providing lots of people with affordable healthcare for many years. They have lots of locations and I don’t think I can really shit on the organization as a whole. I have this place 1 star only because they EVENTUALLY give me drugs that make it so I don’t get knocked up. Unfortunately, this branch sucks. You’d probably have better luck at an urgent care center or maybe another PP location. GOOD LUCK