AccessToCareTileHospital 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

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

"Dental care is still the number-one unmet health need for Ohio's children and at-risk populations." Canise Bean, DMD, MPH, director of Community Education, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry

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