SMC offering expanded sexual and reproductive health services

The Sawtooth Mountain Clinic (SMC) is looking to reach more Cook County residents with expanded services in the area of sexual and reproductive health. The move comes as the clinic received a grant from the Minnesota Department of Health for just that.

Outreach Coordinator Liv Thompson said that the grant will offer the clinic additional funding for sexual and reproductive health for four years. In this first year of the grant, Thompson said that the clinic is focusing on three things: participating in a statewide free sextually transmitted infections (STI) testing event, expanding the range of birth control options for clinic patients, and improving outreach to seasonal employees of Cook County businesses.

Thompson said that free STI testing will take place the week of May 13-17, to coordinate with a state-wide event. She said that testing will take place at both the SMC and at Grand Portage Human Services. SMC will allow walk-in visits for testing between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, then from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday. Those looking for a test at the Grand Portage site will need to call ahead.

At both locations the tests will screen for chlamydia and gonorrhea. The service will be open to both established patients and new patients, and confidential. Thompson said that the testing is for individuals who are asymptomatic, or not experiencing STI symptoms. She said that if someone is experiencing symptoms, or looking for a more comprehensive STI screening, they should schedule an appointment with their provider. She also said that annual screenings for STIs are recommended for anyone who is sexually active. Those with multiple or new partners may want to be tested more frequently.

The other objectives that SMC is targeting are to get services started that Thompson said would continue independently of the grant, once they are established. She said that in an effort to expand the birth control options, the clinic would begin offering Nexplanon this summer. Additionally, the clinic is looking to increase awareness of services to seasonal residents, specifically those who come to Cook County as seasonal employees. She said that establishing contact with those individuals early means that if medical care needs arise, they have a trusted provider to turn to.

For anyone who is looking for more information about new efforts to expand sexual and reproductive health services, the STI testing event, or general health services, Thompson said that they can call the Sawtooth Mountain clinic at 218-387-2330, or Grand Portage Health Services at 218-475-2235.

WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke with Sawtooth Mountain Clinic Outreach Coordinator Liv Thompson about how the clinic would use recently awarded grant money from the Minnesota Department of Health to expand sexual and reproductive health services. Audio of that interview is below.

Kirsten Wisniewski May 10, 2024