Hospital emergency departments in Franklin County are used more heavily that the statewide average.
Why? People who lack access to primary care providers are more likely to use emergency departments for non-emergencies than other people. Additionally, lack of regular preventive care can result in emergency health visits to hospital emergency departments.
Ohio State Wexner Medical Center helps to provide increased access to underserved residents in a number of ways, including:
- Free and reduced-cost clinics
- Clinics focused on specific ethnicity and underserved populations
- Health education programs
- Health screenings for the homeless
- Screenings for those receiving mental health treatment
- Community health fair
- Interactive programs for children in schools
- Partners in education in middle and high schools
Programs and services
The 38-foot coach is the first mobile primary care and Ob/Gyn unit at The Ohio State University. The wheelchair-accessible unit includes two exam rooms, a waiting room and a point-of-care testing lab. Services include primary care vaccines, physical exams and blood tests.
The mobile unit focuses on areas of low access to health care, increased social vulnerability and high risk for chronic disease.
The Community Care Coach also partners with Moms2B to make prenatal care available to mothers in areas where it be lacking, such as the South Side, Near East Side and Moms2Be locations.
The Community Care Coach is one of three Ohio State mobile units. These units are attempting to address health disparities by providing convenient care close to home and eliminating barriers such as insurance, transportation and child care. They include:
This is an annual event offering free screenings, information and education from more than 30 community organizations. There is also food and a variety of activities available.
Ohio State Outpatient Care East, located just off I-670, east of downtown Columbus, is home to a variety of outpatient health services. Services are offered in a neighborhood setting and include cardiology, diabetes care, ENT, gastroenterology, gynecology, imaging, infusion, lab services, medication management, primary care, nephrology, neurology, occupational medicine, ophthalmology, orthopedics, physical therapy, pulmonary medicine, sleep medicine and spine care.
East Hospital opened a newly expanded and renovated outpatient surgery unit in 2020. The Outpatient Surgery East Hospital unit has four state-of-the-art operating rooms, including a hybrid operating room for interventional radiology procedures. There are 16 pre-op and post anesthesia care bays, a new imaging suite with the latest CT, MRI and digital X-ray technology, a spacious waiting room and private consultation rooms. The $26 million investment part of a long-term strategic plan to grow surgical services at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center to meet the health care needs of patients in near east Columbus and surrounding communities.
Access to Care Programs
Free health clinics
Asian Free Clinic
Provides free medical services to the Asian community
Columbus Free Clinic
A medical student-run clinic providing health care services to the underserved in Columbus
Hispanic Clinical Day: Free vision exams
Offers free vision exams to uninsured Spanish-speaking individuals
La Clinica Latina
Provides free health care and dental services to Hispanics and Latinos in Columbus community
Noor Clinic
Free clinic operated by volunteer staff, residents, Medical students and doctors
Physicians Free Clinic
Provides physical and occupational therapy consultations, conducts stroke depression screenings and offers nutrition counseling
Dental clinics and programs
Appalachian Geriatric Dental Program
Provides dental care to residents in community senior centers in the Appalachian counties of southeastern Ohio region
Community Events: Dental
Offers community events for the homeless, uninsured, minorities and veterans
Dental Care at Ohio Prisons
Provides dental care to Ohio prisoners
Dental H.O.M.E Coach
Provide basic dental services (mobile unit)
Give Kids a Smile
Provides dental care screenings and fluoride application for children
Headstart Dental Screenings
Provides dental care screenings to children
Ohio Project Dental
Provides dental care to the underserved
Smiles for Schools
Offers oral hygiene education and free toothbrushes and toothpaste
Vision
Free Glaucoma Screenings by National Optometric Student Association
Provides glaucoma screenings to underserved communities of central Ohio
Vision Clinic in Lower Lights Christian Health Center
Offers vision care to economically depressed area of west Columbus
Additional programs
Athletics for Individuals With Disabilities
Assists athletes with disabilities in participating in the Special Olympics and other programs
Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Program
Provides needed health-related services to the underserved
Columbus Public Schools Health Fair
Provides routine health screenings to parents and staff
Columbus Public Schools
Provides College of Nursing volunteers
Columbus Public Schools: Concussion Testing
Neuropsychological concussion testing in Columbus Public Schools
Health Education Snippets
Produces health education messages to clients
Medical Student Community Services Projects
Students devote a minimum of 12 hours of service to the agency of their choice
Nursing Home Project Dental Care
Provide dental care to elderly in nursing home facilities in Franklin County
Operation Self-Care
Provides information to patients about self-medications