Adena Health Launches New School-Based Clinics to Enhance Student Wellness

On August 25, 2025, Adena Health celebrated a significant milestone by officially dedicating its first school-based clinic at the Pickaway-Ross Career Technology Center (PRCTC). This inauguration marks the first step in a plan to establish five new clinics over the next two years, aimed at enhancing health care access for students and their families. With this initiative, Adena Health aims to positively impact student wellness and learning within the community.

The clinic at PRCTC is set to provide comprehensive health services for students and staff starting this fall. Future clinics are planned for other local schools including Adena, Chillicothe, Huntington, and Unioto campuses. Kathi Edrington, Adena's Chief Operating Officer, emphasized the importance of providing care directly within the school environment. "Schools are where children spend much of their time, so this is one of the most effective ways to eliminate barriers and foster student success," she remarked. By having medical services readily available in schools, Adena Health aims to keep students healthy, minimize parental work disruptions due to medical appointments, and allow educators to concentrate on teaching.

The newly established PRCTC clinic will offer a diverse selection of health services. This includes:

- Acute care for minor injuries
- Management of chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes
- Immunizations and physical examinations
- Mental health counseling and support services
- Prescription dispensing and laboratory testing
- Primary and preventive health care

Adena Health has a long-standing partnership with schools across southern and south-central Ohio, providing support to over 25,000 students and 4,000 staff members within 12 districts for more than two decades. The initiative began with athletic training services and evolved into a robust school-based health strategy. The system's first school-based clinic was launched at Jackson Middle School in 2019, and since then, demand for these services has risen significantly. Through a combination of in-school health visits and mobile clinic services, Adena is dedicated to collaborating with educators, parents, and community partners to ensure children receive the necessary care for their academic success and overall well-being.

The establishment of these five clinics has been made possible through a grant awarded in 2024 by the Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, facilitated by Nationwide Children's Hospital and the Appalachian Children Coalition. Through this partnership, knowledge sharing, training, and assistance will enhance the implementation of health initiatives in schools. This funding will also extend Adena’s mobile clinic capabilities, thereby increasing access to health services.

Randy Leite, Executive Director of the Appalachian Children Coalition, articulated the urgency of making health care accessible for children. "What we're celebrating today is a perfect example of how to bring care to people rather than insisting they seek it out themselves. With the PRCTC clinic, 850 students will have the convenience of walking down the hall to receive the care they need without missing class. This exemplifies the power of collaboration between local organizations committed to supporting children’s needs," he stated.

For those seeking further information about Adena's initiatives in school-based health, the organization invites the public to visit Adena.org/SchoolCare.

Adena Health is an independent, nonprofit healthcare system with a mission to serve communities through high-quality, compassionate medical care. With over 130 years of healthcare provision for more than 368,000 residents across nine counties in southern and south-central Ohio, Adena operates four hospitals and employs over 3,300 individuals including more than 400 physicians. The organization offers a comprehensive range of services including emergency and urgent care, primary and specialty care, and advanced specialties in orthopedics, oncology, pediatrics, and women’s health. For further information, visit Adena.org.