Thought leadership piece authored by Brooke Burns, President, Adena Medical Group
Rural health organizations have consistently focused on expanding access by adding more locations, services, and providers. While those investments remain important, the future of healthcare access requires us to think differently.
In many rural communities, the greatest barriers to care are not always the availability of services. They are the realities families face every day: transportation challenges, time away from work, childcare responsibilities and the difficulties of fitting healthcare into busy lives. If we want to improve health outcomes, we must create care models that meet people where they are rather than expecting them to come to us.
Our recent Community Health Needs Assessments reinforced the urgency of this approach. Youth behavioral health concerns remain elevated across our communities, impacting not only children today, but the long-term health and well-being of families and our region's future.
School-based healthcare is one example of how health systems can rethink access. When students have access to care where they learn, barriers are reduced. School-based health services help connect children and adolescents with preventive care, behavioral health support, and resources that can address concerns before they become crises.
At Adena Health, this philosophy is guiding our investments across central and southern Ohio. With more than $18 million invested in school-based clinics and community health initiatives so far and an expansion of five additional school-based health clinics, we're working alongside schools, families, and community partners to bring care closer to where children live and learn. Strengthening school-based mental health services, family support systems, and access to care are among the key solutions identified in Adena Health's assessments.
As we celebrate the openings of these school-based health clinic, we're also celebrating a larger vision: ensuring every child has access to the care, support and opportunities they need to thrive. By investing in students today, we're helping build a healthier, stronger region for generations to come.
To learn more about all of Adena Health’s school-base case initiatives, visit Adena.org/Schoolcare.