The 5th Medical Group has opened a walk-in contraception clinic at the Team Minot medical facility. The clinic is open every Friday from 1-2 p.m.

Active duty members can visit the Personnel Reliability Assurance Program clinic for walk-in contraceptive assistance while dependents can be seen at the family health clinic.

“The walk-in contraception clinic will help the base population by allowing increased access to contraceptive care on a weekly basis,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Kasumi Anderson, 5th MDG physician assistant. “The services also decrease member wait times and off base referrals as not all primary care providers are credentialed for longer term contraception options.”
The clinic offers prescriptions and refills for various contraception methods including short-acting reversible contraceptives such as pills, patches and rings, and hormonal and non-hormonal long-acting reversible contraceptives such as subdermal contraceptive implants and intrauterine devices (IUDS). Emergency birth control pills can be prescribed directly from the pharmacy without an appointment or prescription from one’s primary provider.

The clinic not only provides convenient access to contraception, but also educates patients on menstrual suppression, proper use of various contraception methods, and natural family planning. Patients seeking pregnancy screening can utilize walk-in hours at any 5th MDG clinic, not just the contraceptive clinic.

Anderson said opening a clinic focused solely on contraception will prevent patients from having to schedule an appointment with their primary care provider. The providers are then free to take more appointments than before.
“Also, this clinic decreases the number of off-base obstetrician-gynecologist referrals and all administrative work associated,” said Anderson.

The walk-in clinic was opened last month in response to a Defense Health Agency directive to expand contraceptive and reproductive health services within military communities, especially in locations where services may be scarce. Team Minot and the 5th MDG remain committed to ensuring Airmen and their families are healthy and well taken care of.