Free Medical Clinics in Columbus, Ohio

There are a few different resources in Columbus, Ohio if you are looking for free health care clinics. The main clinic available to Franklin County residents is the Physicians Free Clinic (PFC). The PFC is an affiliate organization of the Columbus Medical Association, and is the main provider of free walk-in and specialty health care in Franklin County. Physicians Free Clinic is not for ongoing primary health care, but to supply people with one-time care and access to a referral for any required specialty care. Specialty appointments may be seen the same night or given a later appointment depending on the availability. If the appointment is scheduled for later it may occur at the PFC on Monday nights as part of the clinic or set up for times outside the regular clinic time. A variety of services are offered including (but not limited to); walk-in visits with a doctor, nurse practitioner, or other health professional, and referrals to specialists such as mental health services, social work, physical therapy, occupational therapy etc. Many of the volunteers may be students/interns in medical school or other professional schools that are volunteering their time, so the volunteers that are at each clinic may vary slightly. A variety of services are available to patients on a regular basis during clinic hours if the doctor they see feels that a referral to a specialist would be helpful.

Physicians Free Clinic is open every Monday night and registration begins at 4:30 p.m. Space is very limited and patients are encouraged to arrive early (before 4:30). Patients also will likely have long waits, so plan accordingly. Check the master schedule or call during the holidays, because PFC is closed holidays that are observed by the City of Columbus. The phone number for the Columbus Health Department is (614) 240-7430.

Physicians Free Clinic is in the Columbus Health Department, which is at 240 Parsons Avenue, on the comer of Parsons Avenue and Main Street. You can take COTA to the Columbus Health Department. The COTA bus line for the PFC is the #2 and runs until 11:45 p.m. There is also plenty of free parking for patients. Enter through the rear entrance of the health department. The PFC is located on the second floor.

Other Free Medical Clinics in Franklin County

Contact for more information

Clinic at Faith Mission

315 East Long Street

Columbus, Ohio 43215

Phone: (614) 224-6617

Columbus Free Clinic

2231 North High Street

Columbus, Ohio 43201

Phone: (614) 404-8417

Columbus Health Care for the Homeless

Phone: (614) 645-0521

Vineyard Free Medical Clinic

171 East 5th Avenue

Columbus, Ohio 43201

Phone: (614) 890-0000

References

http://www.cmaf-ohio.org/pfc/aboutUs.html

http://www.cohhioyep.org/pdf/free%20and%20low%20cost%20health%20clinics%20in%20ohio.pdf

Personal Experience as a Volunteer at the Physicians Free Clinic