MercyMed opens new clinical space to patients

MercyMed of Columbus has opened its new 6,000-square-foot expanded facility at 3702 Second Ave.

The health care clinic, which opened in 2012 in the former CB&T bank branch, was built to provide primary care and pediatrics to uninsured and underserved patients in the North Highland and surrounding neighborhoods. In four years, the clinic has seen 30,000 patients visits. Patients with private insurance also use the clinic.

“MercyMed exists to proclaim Christ as Lord and demonstrate his love for the underserved, and we do that by providing affordable, quality primary health care,” said Billy Holbrook, the center’s director of development. “We had a huge response of patients over the years, and we needed to grow, we needed to expand.”

The larger facility allows MercyMed to accommodate specialty care in orthopedics, ophthalmology, dermatology, ultrasounds, a prescription coumadin clinic, and, in the near future, dentistry. Group therapy sessions, and alcohol and addiction classes will soon be available.

“For the uninsured, sometimes navigating the health care industry is challenging, and that’s why we love being able to partner with some of these specialists that come in and provide those services here, on site,” Holbrook said.

A three-year capital campaign provided the funding for the expansion, and renovations on the bank building are still underway.

“That’s what’s so exciting,” said MercyMed founder, Dr. Grant Scarborough. “The city of Columbus has given a wonderful, beautiful building so that we can take care of folks who have a hard time getting health care. It’s a gift to our patients. For us, our donors are our shareholders, and this building is the return on their investment.”

This story was originally published July 7, 2016 at 2:35 PM with the headline "MercyMed opens new clinical space to patients."