Ohio School Health Centre Expands Care, Bringing Dental, Mental Health Services Closer to Children
A school-based health centre at Columbus, Ohio’s West High School has expanded its services to provide more access to health care for children, youth and families in the community.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Health and Columbus City Schools, announced the expansion on September 17.
The new centre features a new examination room, a private consultation room for telepsychiatry and a new waiting area. It will also offer some dental care and will be open all year round.
The expansion will allow the centre to accommodate students from the nearby elementary and middle schools as well as West High School. Services include primary care, immunisations and behavioural healthcare.
The centre is open to children, staff and community aged 0-21 years.
Healthcare in the school environment can save an average of three hours of class time for each student, said Mary Kay Irwin, associate vice president of School Health at Nationwide Children’s.
Columbus City Schools Superintendent and CEO Angela Chapman said the centre helps to overcome obstacles that can keep children from getting medical care and also saves parents and caregivers time that they might otherwise have to take off from work to attend appointments.
In 2026, the Ohio Department of Health awarded $500,000 to help renovate and expand dental services at the centre.
The development aims to ensure that children have access to the services they need in their local community, and to help them to stay healthy, educated and in school.
