Springfield, OH -- In response to long wait times for primary care services and other strains affecting the healthcare system in Springfield and throughout Clark County, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on Sep 19th, that the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) will work alongside the Clark County Combined Health District to open a mobile health clinic in Springfield next week.

The Governor also announced that the state and local health departments will work together to transition this mobile clinic to a permanent location to serve patients throughout the Springfield community. The location and schedule for opening this permanent clinic are still to be determined.

“Starting next week, the new mobile clinic will supplement and expand the primary healthcare services that are already here in Springfield,” said Governor DeWine. “Our goal is to reduce wait times and to be able to provide the necessary healthcare services for everyone – whether you’ve lived in this community your whole life or you’ve just come into the community recently.”

Springfield is dealing with significant stress on its healthcare system due to the influx of thousands of Haitian migrants over the past several years. This has resulted in longer wait times for appointments for patients of all backgrounds that state and local health leaders believe may be discouraging some individuals from seeking care.

The new clinic will offer a variety of primary care services, including health assessments, vaccinations, lab testing, maternal and infant health and wellness, and more. It will be operated by the Clark County Combined Health District with ODH providing active support.

“My commitment to the county and to the City of Springfield is that we, as a state, will not allow either the new mobile clinic or the permanent clinic to fail,” added Governor DeWine. “There is a significant need here, and we intend to do everything that we can to bolster our capacity to reach more people.”

Last week, Governor DeWine pledged that the state would dedicate $2.5 million toward expanding primary care access for all residents. Under the Governor’s direction, ODH, the Clark County Combined Health District, and other healthcare providers in the area will continue to work together to determine the best path forward to adequately serve the healthcare needs of the community.