Media Contact:
Ryan Wilkins, (614) 227-3768
Ryan.Wilkins@RMHC-CentralOhio.org
Pam Barber, (614) 355-0495
Pam.barber@nationwidechildrens.org
New Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Rolls Out In Central and Southeastern Ohio
COLUMBUS, OH – December 1, 2010 – Underserved children soon will have greater access to health
care services in central and southeastern Ohio. Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Central
Ohio and Nationwide Children’s Hospital have launched the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, a state-ofthe-art traveling medical clinic.
“We believe that all children deserve access to adequate health care,” said Dee Anders, executive
director, RMHC of Central Ohio. “However, many local children currently are not receiving even the most
basic care. The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile will bridge the gap between health care providers and
underserved children, so children with the greatest barriers to health care can get the care they need.”
The new Ronald McDonald Care Mobile includes two patient exam rooms, a laboratory, a reception area
and a registration area. The medical clinic will soon begin touring central and southeastern Ohio
communities. Services provided will vary by each community’s needs and may include:
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Immunizations
Well-child and sick visits
Body Mass Index calculations and nutrition counseling
Fluoride treatments
Developmental screenings
Vision, hearing and lead screening
Blood collection and point of care testing
Childhood health education and injury prevention education
Specialty care referrals including mental health and social service referrals
Currently, there are 42 Ronald McDonald Care Mobile programs in six countries, and only two others
have been launched in the U.S. this year. The new Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is made possible by
Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Cardinal Health Foundation, The Huntington Bank, McDonald’s and other
sponsors.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio
When a child is hospitalized, the healing power of having family nearby is beyond measure. It is this
purpose that defines Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. The Columbus Ronald
McDonald House is located directly across the street from Nationwide Children’s Hospital at 711 E.
Livingston Avenue. Open 365 days a year, the Ronald McDonald House is a home-away-from-home for
families with seriously ill children receiving treatment in the hospital. The House offers comfortable
bedrooms with private baths, continuing care suites for recovering transplant patients, fully equipped
kitchens and dining areas, play rooms, laundry facilities, a meditation room, exercise room and informal
gathering areas. From the visionary beginnings of the first Ronald McDonald House on 18th Street to the
new House, RMHC has grown with the Columbus community and its needs. The House can
accommodate 80 families every night, making it the second largest Ronald McDonald House in the world.
In 2009, RMHC provided 20,000 nights at the House for 2,300 families. RMHC of Central Ohio also
operates a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, a traveling medical clinic that will provide access to adequate
health care for underserved children. For more information, visit www.rmhc-centralohio.org.
About Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Ranked in U.S.News & World Report’s 2010 “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” and Parents
magazine’s 2009 top 10 “Best Children’s Hospitals” lists, Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the
nation’s largest not-for-profit freestanding pediatric healthcare networks providing wellness, preventive,
diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative care for infants, children, adolescents and adult patients with
congenital disease. A medical staff of 980 and a hospital staff of 7,200 provide state-of-the-art pediatric
care for more than 930,000 patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio
State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital physicians train the next generation
of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one
of the top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded freestanding pediatric research facilities. Nationwide
Children’s remains true to the original mission since its founding in 1892 of providing care regardless of a
family’s ability to pay. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.
The Primary Care Network at Nationwide Children's is one of the largest in the country and offers
community-based physician services for children (ages birth to 21) to help keep children healthy with
regular physical exams, vision, hearing and general development checks, and immunizations against
childhood diseases. Nationwide Children's Mobile Care Center provides primary care, preventive and
educational services to medically underserved children in Columbus City Schools. The Mobile Care
Center also participates in and supports community events and partnerships. More information is
available at www.NationwideChildrens.org/Primary-Care-Centers.
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