One Health Ohio Unveils Modernized Health Center, New Pharmacy
WARREN, Ohio – Residents on the west side of Warren can once again access a variety of health care services close to home with the reopening of the Warren West Community Health Center by One Health Ohio.
The 25,000-square-foot center on Tod Avenue closed nine months ago for a $1 million renovation. Officials with One Health Ohio and partner organizations gathered Friday for a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening.
“With our growth, we needed to better use the space and increase our number of exam rooms,” said Dr. Maria Kowal, chief medical officer at One Health Ohio.
The expansion increased the number of medical exam rooms from six to 14. Six dental exam rooms were also added, along with dedicated space for counseling and nutrition services.
About 40 doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and other staff are employed at the Warren center.
The modernization of the Warren West location aimed to enhance access to medical care by adding more exam rooms and creating a welcoming, bright atmosphere, Kowal said.
Returning patients, who have been receiving care at One Health’s Lloyd McCoy Community Center on Niles Road, will also be able to take advantage of the new clinical pharmacy with the opening of The Prescription Pad pharmacy at the center.
“We’re really about offering comprehensive care to make it easy for our patients,” Kowal said.
“Patients can fill their prescriptions at the end of the visit.”
The Prescription Pad offers services such as medication management and prescription refills. One Health Ohio accepts Medicaid and most major insurances and provides a sliding fee scale for the medically uninsured and underinsured who qualify.
Warren West Community Health Center offers services for all ages, including newborns and the elderly. Services include primary care, dental, behavioral health, counseling, addiction treatment and clinical pharmacy.
In keeping with One Health’s mission to provide comprehensive care, qualifying patients may also receive a prescription for a box of nutritional food.
“If you see your doctor and you have a qualifying diagnosis, such as diabetes, hypertension, then your doctor can write this for you just like they would a prescription for blood pressure,” said Melissa Foor, director of population health operations for One Health Ohio.
“We do patient surveys, and they love it. The stories are heartwarming. It helps make food stretch for them that month.”
The boxes are donated by Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley and are available at six of One Health’s seven locations.
Also included in the boxes are recipes to help residents prepare food items they may not be familiar with.
Executive Director Mike Iberis says the program started a year ago.
“Obviously, healthy eating means you have a better chance of having a healthy body and a healthy life. So a lot of these folks can benefit from food as medicine,” he said.
One Health Ohio offers integrated health care services across seven health centers in Youngstown, Warren, Newton Falls, Cortland and Alliance. Additionally, it operates four Medication-Assisted Treatment centers in Youngstown, Warren, Newton Falls and Alliance.
Pictured at top: Dr. Ronald Dwinnells, CEO of One Health Ohio; Mike Iberis, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley; Dr. Maria Kowal, chief medical officer at One Health Ohio; Melissa Foor, director of population health operations at One Health Ohio; Megan McGlynn, COO of One Health Ohio; and John Price, marketing and promotions manager at One Health Ohio.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
