SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine unveiled a new mobile health clinic in Springfield on Thursday that is designed to alleviate long wait times for healthcare services in the city and throughout Clark County.
The clinic will initially target services with the greatest backlogs, including vaccinations and blood screenings.
“Before the mobile health clinic arrived in Springfield, the wait time for immunizations at our local health district offices has been two months,” Clark County Health Commissioner Chris Cook stated in a news release. “With this new resource now in place, we anticipate quickly being able to reduce rates to two weeks, and eventually same-week or even walk-in visits for seasonal vaccines.”
With an influx of thousands of Haitian migrants over the past few years, Springfield is experiencing significant stress on its healthcare system. Local health leaders believe the longer wait times may be discouraging residents from seeking care.
Cook said he hopes the clinic will encourage those who have not been to a doctor for some time to get looked at. “We want to be a bridge that gets people in the routine of checking in on themselves so they can be healthy for a long time,” he said.
The Ohio Department of Health and the Clark County Combined Health District wants to eventually add more primary health services to the mix, including maternal care and infant health and wellness, and to take the mobile clinic to areas of high need around the county.
The plan is to eventually convert the mobile clinic into something more permanent at a location that has yet to be determined. For now it will be located at the Clark County Combined Health District.
“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,” DeWine stated in the release.
Former president Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance have accused the very large population of Haitian immigrants in Springfield of ruining the community, even passing along unsubstantiated rumors of Haitians eating people’s pets. DeWine has disavowed claims by Trump and Vance and said the Haitians have had a positive impact on the community, although challenges exist.
Previously, DeWine directed $2.5 million toward expanding health services in Springfield and having the Ohio State Highway Patrol assist with public safety. The state is also helping relieve pressures in other ways by adding a health center for the schools and helping the Haitians by providing translation services and English and driver education.
