Van Wert County Hospital - Family Caring Clinic

What is it?

Opened in 2004, the Family Caring Clinic is a low-cost, sliding-fee scale (based on household income) practice that accepts almost all types of insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and self-pay. The Family Caring Clinic is a federally qualified health center (FQHC) with look-alike status. The clinic serves Van Wert, Mercer and Paulding counties. A physician employed by Van Wert Medical Services, a subsidiary of Van Wert County Hospital, has been contracted with the clinic, thus allowing for complete primary care physician, pediatrician and nurse practitioner services.

Who is it for?

Families with limited resources that reside in Van Wert, Mercer and Paulding counties.

Why do they do it?

The community has a significant number of uninsured and underinsured individuals who rely heavily on the hospital’s emergency department for their basic health needs. Many of these individuals can be treated more appropriately in the clinic.

Impact

Working together, the hospital and FQHC are sharing services and assets to better serve the health needs of the community and provide primary care to underserved areas. The Family Caring Clinic has been supported by Community Health Professionals and the Van Wert County Foundation, and it is a United Way agency. The enhanced services brought about by this collaboration will increase the clinic’s likelihood of becoming a fully funded FQHC, and thus eligible for additional grant monies.

Contact: Amy Rode
Patient & Community Relations
Telephone: 419-238-8623
E-mail: arode@vanwerthospital.org