Free health services are coming to Crawford County, Ohio, as the state gears up for its annual GuardCare weekend on August 9-10. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) partnered with the Ohio National Guard, Crawford County Public Health, and other local entities to provide no-cost medical services to all Ohioans. The event, set to take place at the Trillium Event Center in Bucyrus, will include a broad range of services such as immunizations, dental exams, behavioral health consultations, and much more. The full details of the event were revealed in a recent announcement by the ODH.
The GuardCare weekend clinic is designed to offer critical health services to individuals who may not have regular access due to income or insurance barriers. Among the services provided will be dental treatments, vision exams, and even car-seat safety checks, without any income requirement for eligibility. According to a statement obtained by ODH, insurance information will neither be taken nor billed for these services. Last year's event in Greene County was the first since a hiatus that began in 2019.
ODH Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff praised the program, "I attended this event last year, and it was really extraordinary to see how many services were provided." He elaborated on the importance of GuardCare in a statement released by the Ohio Department of Health. In his words, it "is a wonderful program that brings a wide variety of critical health services to Ohioans who may not otherwise receive them, and we are proud to be a partner in such an important effort."
The Ohio National Guard sees this event as a dual opportunity. Not only does it provide free healthcare to the local populace, but it also serves as a training exercise for their personnel. "Guard Care allows the Ohio National Guard to provide free healthcare to Bucyrus and the surrounding communities while providing our members with needed medical training," Brig. Gen. Matthew Woodruff told ODH. "This event helps to ensure that we continue to meet our mission to be Always Ready, Always There."
Crawford County Public Health is actively involved in this event, with Health Commissioner Kate Siefert leading the local efforts. "We’re proud to play a part in bringing this collaborative clinic to our community that puts people first," Siefert stated through the Ohio Department of Health. "Our goal with this clinic is to ensure that all Ohioans – regardless of income or insurance status – have a place to turn for compassionate, comprehensive care." For those interested, further details and resources are available through the Ohio National Guard website or by contacting Crawford County Public Health at 419-562-5871. The clinic operates from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on August 9 and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August 10.
