Maternal & Child Health Center set to close if public appeal is unsuccessful
COSHOCTON – Robert R. Brems, health commissioner for the Coshocton County Health Department, announced the health department’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Center, comprised of a well-child clinic and a prenatal clinic, will close its doors on Friday, Dec. 12, unless enough community funds are raised through a public appeal to cover the current deficit of funds.
This decision was made in a special board of health meeting held on Nov. 12. The current deficit of $20,000 must be raised before Dec. 12 in order for the clinic to continue services. That amount will allow the clinic to operate through the end of March 2015.
The clinic will seek an additional $25,000 in funding that will be needed to operate through the end of 2015. The current deficit has resulted due to a number of issues, including the reduction in the amount of grant funds available to support direct patient care, the reduction of other revenue streams, and the reduction of uninsured children in the county. Leane Rohr, Director of the Maternal & Child Health Center stated that the Maternal child Health Center’s prenatal clinic and Child Health clinic needs approximately $8,000 a month or $92,000 a year to operate.
The Maternal and Child Health Center has been serving the community since 1972 and has overcome other financial challenges throughout the years with the help from community support. Rohr, reports the health department has looked at all possible scenarios to continue the clinics without asking for additional community funding but at this time there is not a viable option. Rohr, states that community support has always been a big part of why this clinic has been able to remain open for so long.
If the funds do not become available and the MCH clinic is forced to close, staff will work with patients to transition them to other clinics or private care. The public will be updated on clinic status through local media and the health department’s website as more information becomes available.
For information on donating to the Maternal & Child Health Center, contact Rohr at 295-7311. Checks can be made out to the Maternal & Child Health Center and sent to 724 S. Seventh St., Coshocton, Ohio 43812.
Category: People & Places
