Clinic joins with food bank to provide free health care services
MANSFIELD – Third Street Family Health Services will work with a local church to provide greater access to health care.
Starting Thursday, March 28, visitors to Grace Episcopal Church’s food bank can receive free screenings, Third Street said in an announcement this week.
Third Street, a network of community health centers headquartered in Mansfield, will screen for HIV, hepatitis C, blood pressure, and substance use disorder. The rapid testing will be available every fourth Thursday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m.
These screenings can detect conditions that are commonly linked to chronic diseases, such as hypertension and liver disease. When these conditions are detected early, preventive measures and medical care can be initiated early to prevent disease complications.
Members of Third Street’s health care team will be available to provide information and advise on follow-up care.
Third Street’s Five Points Primary Care campus is next door to the church. Same-day medical appointments will be available at the campus for screening participants. Insurance enrollment or sliding fees may be needed for further medical appointments.
The Third Street team will also assist with Medicaid enrollments. Eligible applicants may be provided with same-day coverage. Presumptive eligibility will be granted after completing full applications.
For 30 years, Third Street has been committed to improving health care access for the underserved. The monthly screenings are also hoped to be a quick convenience for food pantry users and other visitors who may not have health insurance or regular access to a care provider.
“When people are experiencing difficulties or stress in their home life, they may forget to take care of themselves or may not have financial resources to devote to their health,” said Dr. Chris Yohn, Third Street physician. “We are offering free screenings and education to support individuals in taking charge of their health and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.”
Grace Episcopal said that the church has operated the food pantry since 2001 and regularly provides meals for an average of 500 families per week. The purpose of partnering with the food pantry is to meet people where they are to provide screenings they may not normally receive, said Meri Mccann, a disease intervention specialist at Third Street.
“We are right here in their community and we care about them,” Mccann said. “We have medical professionals who will treat them with the dignity they deserve.”
Grace Episcopal Church is located at 41 Bowman St., Mansfield, OH 44903. The food pantry is on the church’s first floor.
The health testing will be confidential and held in a private room at the church’s Third and Bowman Streets entrance. “Waiting until you “feel sick” is risky. The earlier a condition is detected, the more options you have,” Yohn said. “We just want to ensure everyone in our community has as many options as possible.
For more information, call Third Street Family Health Services at 419522-6191.