Appointment Instructions

Thank you for choosing Hope Clinic. Please review the following instructions prior to your abortion appointment. 

Before your appointment:

• Eat a light breakfast
• Shower/bathe
• Continue taking prescribed medications as directed by your healthcare provider, unless instructed otherwise by a Hope Clinic provider
• Wear comfortable clothes
  • Bring a jacket – sometimes the waiting room is chilly
  • Wear an outfit with separate tops and bottoms. Please do not wear a one-piece outfit such as a romper 

What do I need to bring with me to my appointment?

• Photo ID
• Driver (see Transportation Policy below)
• Form of payment
• Phone charger
• Any prescription medications you normally take
• Proof of blood type (recommended – see Proof of Blood Type below)
• Insurance Card, if applicable
• Face mask (recommended)

Do NOT bring pets or outside food/drink to your appointment.

How long will I be at the clinic?

• Please plan to be at the clinic for the entire day. Appointment times vary based on a variety of factors. Our staff work hard to make sure we give each patient the time and attention they need. 
• If you measure between 12-18 weeks via ultrasound, you may need to sit with medication to soften and open your cervix before your procedure can be performed. You will need to sit with this medication for an extended period of time, sometimes several hours, prior to your procedure This adds to the appointment length.
• If you measure 16 weeks or more, your procedure may take 2-3 consecutive days to complete. Please prepare to be in the clinic for the entire day on the first day, and for 3-5 hours for each following day. For 3-day procedures, the final day may also be an all-day visit. For your safety, you must stay within 30 minutes of the clinic between appointments. We recommend staying within the state of Illinois. Please contact us for information about local hotels or for travel assistance.

Photo ID Requirement: For security purposes, a photo ID is required for entrance to our facility. 

• If you have lost or do not have access to a photo ID, please contact the clinic for a list of acceptable alternatives.
• Your support person must also have a photo ID in order to enter our facility.

Payment: Payment is expected for all services rendered at the time of your visit. Fees for services vary depending on type of procedure and length of pregnancy (as indicated by ultrasound at time of appointment). We accept cash, credit, debit, and money order. 

If you need financial assistance, see resources available here.

If you have questions about payment, please contact the clinic by calling 618-451-5722 during regular business hours. You may also text us at 618-248-8048.

Insurance Coverage: If you are using insurance to pay for your procedure, please contact the clinic to verify your insurance plan covers abortion services. Illinois Medicaid plans cover abortion services. Please note we are not contracted with most private insurers. Click here for more information about insurance coverage at Hope Clinic.

Transportation Policy: After receiving sedation, patients seeking care at Hope Clinic must not drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 24 hours. All patients measuring 14 weeks or greater will receive sedation with their procedure and will require a transportation plan home from our facility. It is strongly recommended to arrange for a responsible adult you know and trust to accompany you to the clinic and drive you home at the end of your appointment. We recommend every patient has a driver in case they are further in their pregnancy than expected or change their mind about receiving moderate sedation.

• Driver Information: Drivers must arrive in the same vehicle as the patient. Drivers must have a valid photo ID and stay within 30 minutes of the clinic for the duration of the appointment. Drivers will be notified prior to patient discharge.
• Rideshare/Taxi Service: If you do not have someone to drive you home after your procedure, you may use rideshare/taxi services to take you to and from your appointment. We strongly recommend having someone you know ride home with you. 
• Multiple-Day Procedures: For patients undergoing a multiple day abortion procedure (typically 16 weeks and above), we require a transportation plan for each day you are in our office (2-3 consecutive days).

Visitor Policy: Every person who has an appointment at Hope Clinic may have one support person accompany them into the clinic for the duration of their visit. All visitors are required to abide by our policies, including COVID-19 infection prevention policies such as proper wearing of masks. Visitors must be aware that wait times can sometimes exceed 5 hours. This support person will NOT be available to accompany the person they are supporting during every portion of the visit.

Child Policy: Hope Clinic does NOT provide child care. We do have a family room available for families with children to wait during their loved one’s appointment. 

• Children under the age of 10 must be supervised by a trusted adult at all times, stay within our family room, and follow family room guidelines. The adult should not be the patient receiving services that day. If you have children under the age of 10 and are unable to arrange for supervision for your child(ren), please contact us before your appointment. 
• Children age 10 or above may wait in the family room for the duration of the visit without adult accompaniment. 

Proof of Blood Type:  After a certain length of pregnancy, we need information about your blood type. We recommend bringing documentation of your blood type with you to your appointment. Proof of blood type may be found in a medical record from your doctor’s office or patient portal, from a record of blood donation, or an American Red Cross blood donor card. 

• We need to know if you are Rh Positive (+) or Rh Negative (-). 
• We do not need proof of your blood group (A, B, AB, O).

COVID-19/Respiratory Illness Prevention: Prevention is a community responsibility. We protect each other. If you have symptoms of respiratory illness or have a fever, please reschedule your appointment. We will ask you to mask if we notice symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing or sneezing during your visit. Face masks are available at designated stations throughout the clinic. More information is available here. 

Paperwork: As part of your visit, you will be asked to complete some paperwork. Some of this paperwork is located below. Please feel free to review these documents before your appointment. 

• Request for Medical Services, Receipt of Notice of Privacy Practices, Financial Policy, and Electronic Communications
  • Notice of Privacy Practices available for your review.
• Abortion Procedure Consent 
• Medication Abortion Consent

A Note About Protestors: We typically have people protesting outside of our clinic. They are not allowed on our property but often line our sidewalks. We recommend parking in our main lot and doing your best to ignore them. They are often loud and have signs. If you are worried about protestors, headphones can be very helpful.

All patients of Hope Clinic must make an appointment, we do not accept walk-ins.