OHIO Heritage Community Clinic will keep providing care during COVID-19

The Heritage Community Clinic at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine will continue to offer health care services to residents in its 24-county service area during the COVID-19 outbreak, while minimizing face-to-face contacts. “The specifics of how we provide care have changed; our commitment to being there for our patients has not,” said Carole Merckle, MSN, RN, DTR, CDCES, assistant director of the college’s Community Health Programs (CHP) and Area Health Education Center (AHEC).

For the sake of both patients and staff, the clinic is transitioning its model of care to meet the current needs of patients while keeping everyone safe. Staff will continue to provide care and resources through means that include reaching out to patients directly, conducting call-in hours and creating resource guides for all of the counties served.

Clinic personnel are attempting to reach all existing patients by phone to check in and make sure they are staying well. “Our staff has personal relationships with many of our patients, and this continued contact will keep us connected,” noted Sherri Oliver, executive director of CHP and AHEC.

The clinic will also share information on available resources, including up-to-date information on COVID-19 testing sites and links to community resources for food, housing, financial assistance, mental health support and other kinds of help. This information will be available over the phone, and on the CHP Facebook page and website.

Call-in hours for general health questions, direction to resources or referrals are scheduled for 1-3 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays and 9-11 a.m. on Wednesdays. Patients can reach clinic staff at 800.844.2654 or 740.593.2432.

Please note: The Heritage Community Clinic encourages its patients and the community to reach out to the Ohio Department of Health’s COVID-19 Hotline at 833.427.5634 or visit coronavirus.ohio.gov for COVID-19 questions and resources.