Health center looks at return to Steubenville’s downtown

STEUBENVILLE -- Just as the 12th-annual fundraiser gala for the Ohio Valley Health Center is only days away, so, too, is the anticipated launch of improvements to what will be its new home in downtown Steubenville.

"We are only days away from beginning the renovations on our new building, awaiting our permit to begin," explained Trudy Wilson, executive director of the center that has been operating out of Suite 202, One Ross Park, 380 Summit Ave., in the Trinity Medical Center East area.

It is planning to relocate by late summer, however, into its new location at 423 South St. in the former Neighborhood House Daycare and Preschool building after renovations are completed.

Announcement of that acquisition was made at the center's 2017 gala; word on its status is expected at the upcoming fundraiser set to a "Great Gatsby" theme. The gala will be held April 22 at St. Florian Hall in Wintersville. The major fundraiser for the center's operation is open to the public, and tickets are $50 per person, available by calling the center at (740) 283-2856.

The ticket deadline is Monday.

The event will include a social hour of champagne and hors d'oeuvres at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the recognition of honorees, a state-of-the-center report, announcements and live and silent auctions featuring a variety of items.

Wilson said renovations to the 4,800-square-foot building will include going from two exam rooms to six exam rooms, two of which can double as behavioral health/counseling rooms; having a large pharmacy area and large lab area; offering a provider office where multiple providers can work simultaneously; and accommodating a board/conference room and administrative offices.

"To date, we have raised more $250,000 for renovations, leaving approximately $100,00 left to go for completion of the renovation," Wilson noted. "Donations are being accepted to complete the last portion of this project."

Checks should be made payable to OVHC and earmarked for renovation. "No amount is too large or too small," she added.

The health center exists to provide safety-net health care to low-income patients who do not have any insurance or who have limited insurance through Medicaid or a managed care program.

"We are looking forward to re-opening a walk-in clinic after we relocate downtown, making it easier for patients to stop by if they are feeling sick or need some medical care -- even without having an appointment," Wilson explained. "We also plan to expand our footprint throughout the Ohio Valley by opening more free clinic sites, especially in areas such as Mount Pleasant or Bloomingdale where there are few options for access to local primary care," she continued.

"The first new site to open will be in Toronto on May 2. We are excited to collaborate with the Jefferson County Health Department to see low-income, uninsured patients each Wednesday at the Toronto City Building in the health department office," Wilson said, noting patients should contact the center at (740) 283-2856 to make an appointment for OVHC's Toronto Clinic site.

The move to the new downtown location fosters the plan to also transition the current onsite pharmacy, licensed by the state of Ohio Board of Pharmacy as a "Terminal Distributor of Dangerous Drugs" into a charitable pharmacy, according to Wilson.

"This will enable OVHC to serve any uninsured individual who falls within 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines -- whether that patient is served by OVHC or another outside provider," Wilson explained. "This will enable us to provide assistance with prescription medications to those in the Ohio Valley who struggle with being able to afford necessary medications -- eliminating the need to choose between buying their medicine or buying food, paying rent or caring for their families while on a limited income. They will simply bring their prescriptions to OVHC's Charitable Pharmacy to have them filled at no cost -- or a significantly reduced cost," she added.

The summer also brings plans of launching the "Health Outcomes Program for Diabetes Management" for all eligible OVHC diabetic or pre-diabetic patients at OVHC, according to Wilson.

"The entire program will be free to patients, including exams with a provider, medications and insulin, appointments with our registered dietitian, cooking demonstrations, supplies and exercise classes," she said. "We really want to make a difference in the lives of our at-risk patients. Providing the extra hands-on care and opportunities that are often needed to help patients adapt and maintain a healthy lifestyle can make a huge difference in controlling a chronic disease such as diabetes. We believe this comprehensive program will make a positive impact on the health of our patients," Wilson said.

The executive director encouraged anyone who is uninsured, low-income and without a regular primary care doctor to contact the center to become a patient.

"Recently, my clinical nurse manager shared with me that she felt we are becoming more like a regular medical center than a free clinic. I happily agreed," Wilson noted.

The center's gala will include a time to pay special tributes as the Mary Jane Brooks Charitable Trust will be singled out as community partner of the year. Denise Lucas will be recognized as provider of the year and Debbie Myers, volunteer of the year.

Live auction items and their donors include a Pittsburgh Steelers package, including three tickets to a January 2019 game; a $1,000 Piergallini Catering package for 30 people; a Seven Springs Resort golf package; a Dave Barnhouse limited edition numbered print, donated by Barnhouse and framed by Nelson's Fine Art and Gifts; flowers of the month, McCauslen's Florist; an outdoor fireplace, Sunnest Service; Jamboree in the Hills tickets; a Grand Vue Park Treehouse package; and a propane outdoor fireplace with a table and two chairs, among others.

A "Restaurant Tree" filled with gift cards for local restaurants also is an auction attraction.

The gala constitutes the center's largest fundraiser. "We generally like to get between a quarter and a half of our cash operating budget through this every year," Wilson said, noting the 2018 operating budget is $226,775, an amount that does not include in-kind donations and pharmaceuticals.

Wilson has identified the center's focus as working to strengthen the internal structure, develop more solid processes and launch a three-year, $1 million capital expansion project.

The gala is for everybody, according to Wilson and gala co-chairs Anthony Mougianis, board vice president, and his fiancee, Tara Dzvonick.

"We encourage businesspeople, people in the community that maybe wonder what we're about and what we're doing. We encourage people to come who know what we're doing and are excited about it and want to see us move forward, and we want to invite anybody interested in the fact that we're providing free health care for people who have no other option for their health care," Wilson said.

Health center board members, in addition to Mougianis, are Francesca Carinci, Tom Timmons, Kyle Brown, Gertrude DeHart, Bob Gribben, Mark Judy, Vickie Littlejohn, Dr. Denise Lucas, Dr. Mary Mihalyo, Keith Murdock, Trudy Wilson (ex-officio), Dr. Thomas Brown, (ex-officio), Dr. Charn Nandra, Patricia Fletcher (emeritus) and Dr. Frank Petrola (emeritus).

(Kiaski can be contacted at jkiaski@heraldstaronline.com.)