The Cincinnati Children’s health center in Harrison, which was operated by
Neighborhood Health Care Inc., was one of four locations closed at the end of 2013. But there are plans to reopen the center on a temporary basis until a permanent operator or solution is found.
Along with the Harrison location on New Haven Road, the Cincinnati Children’s health centers in Walnut Hills, Norwood and downtown closed after Neighborhood Health failed to receive a federal grant to continue operation. The nonprofit served about 10,000 children and about as many adults, most of whom were uninsured or on Medicaid.
Neighborhood Health also ran school-based health centers at Rockdale Academy, South Avondale and Hughes Center; Children’s has agreed to take over service at each of the school-based sites until the end of the current school year. The hospital is working with
Cincinnati Public Schools,
Interact for Health and others on a long-term solution.
The Harrison location was chosen for reopening because officials felt that children in Walnut Hills and downtown had nearby access to other health care providers, and the Norwood site is currently on hold because of the building lease.
UC Health and other local health center operators are working to help adult patients that used to go to Neighborhood Health Care transfer to other providers. The
city health department,
Crossroads Health Center and
UC Health are now accepting former Neighborhood Health patients.
The health department has hired additional staff to help field calls from Neighborhood Health patients and is considering expanding its hours. To book appointments, please call 513-357-7320.
In the coming weeks, the federal government is expected to announce a grant that would allow health centers to apply for additional money that is needed to serve former Neighborhood Health patients.
There is no official date for the reopening of the Harrison health center, but Children’s plans to operate it for three to six months.
By Caitlin Koenig
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