OhioHealth has opened a new Columbus clinic designed to help patients move faster from a worrying symptom or test result to a clear next step. The Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Clinic brings testing coordination, specialist referrals and follow-up planning under one roof, although an appointment does not mean a patient has cancer.
The clinic opened July 6 inside OhioHealth’s Bing Cancer Center and is intended for people with abnormal imaging or lab results, a new lump or swelling, unexplained weight loss, or a referral for additional evaluation, according to OhioHealth’s announcement. Instead of sending patients to arrange a string of separate appointments, the clinic’s team helps organize the diagnostic workup and connect patients with the appropriate care team.
A Single Starting Point After A Concerning Finding
The clinic’s official service page says evaluations may include blood and laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging such as CT scans, MRIs and ultrasounds, and referrals to specialists when more evaluation is needed. Patients and referring providers can call 614-566-4300 to learn more or schedule an evaluation, according to the clinic’s service page.
OhioHealth emphasizes that the clinic is investigative, not a shortcut to a cancer diagnosis. The team reviews symptoms and previous findings to determine whether cancer or another condition may be responsible, then creates a personalized care plan if additional treatment is needed, following evidence-based guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the health system said.
Columbus Launch Follows Similar Ohio Cancer-Care Move
The Columbus clinic arrives soon after the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center launched its own Oncology Rapid Diagnostic Clinic in June. UC Health said that program connects patients with specialists within two days of referral, underscoring a broader push to reduce the stressful gap between a concerning finding and a confirmed diagnosis.
OhioHealth is also expanding its larger cancer-care footprint in Columbus. Construction is underway on a planned 199,000-square-foot outpatient cancer center that will bring together diagnostics, imaging, lab services, oncology clinics, infusion and other specialized programs, according to an OhioHealth construction update.
For now, the Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Clinic offers a more centralized entry point for patients who are stuck in the uncomfortable middle ground between an abnormal result and an explanation. The goal is straightforward: fewer handoffs, faster answers and a clearer route to care when the evaluation finds a serious condition—or something less alarming.
