The current health care debate is becoming so loud and polarizing that we are in danger of missing the very real needs of people seeking health care in the United States today.

As a practitioner working for Planned Parenthood of Northeast Ohio, I work with patients seeking affordable, quality health care, and I strongly believe that we cannot let women, or men, become worse off in the future than we are today.

Nationally, more than six out of 10 patients who receive service at a health center like Planned Parenthood consider it their primary source of care. Many clients will tell you that their local health care center is the most affordable. There has been an increase in visits to these health centers brought about by the economic downturn we are all experiencing. Many visits are for contraception as most today cannot afford a pregnancy.

I cannot tell you the number of times that a woman coming in for a "simple" annual wellness exam has presented with a serious problem. Our health centers have discovered breast cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, anorexia, thyroid problems and more. Women with abnormal pap smears are followed up with affordable colposcopies, biopsies and treatment, thus preventing cervical cancer. As a caring and compassionate society, we must commit to keeping women and community health providers as an important part of this discussion on health care. We really cannot do less.

One hopes that, whatever the result of the current debate, a woman's access to affordable health and reproductive care remain a priority. Community providers can help solve access to care issues. Women cannot be fooled: Health care that does not include reproductive care is not real health care reform.