Community Medicine: Wellness on Wheels
The Wellness on Wheels (abbreviated as WOW) mobile unit is part of OhioHealth’s community outreach program. It is the result of a collaborative effort among healthcare leaders and care providers to improve access to healthcare in some of the most under-resourced communities of Columbus. WOW efforts are led by Jill Porter DO FACOFP, who is also the director of community outreach for the Wellness on Wheels program at OhioHealth.
When we describe WOW as a mobile unit, it is exactly that. The clinic resides in a semi truck where the driver also serves as the registration associate. The three locations for the primary care WOW are Hilltop, Van Buren, and Linden. They have had some exciting achievements in the past year, including a 1+ million dollar grant to support the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations and building a partnership with the local Van Buren house to provide care for patients without a home.
Resident Involvement
Second year residents rotate through WOW on their community medicine month.
Residents can apply for the position of continuity provider on WOW during their 3rd year of residency. When they are granted this position, they have WOW clinic built into select afternoons throughout the academic year.
2024-2025 WOW Residents
Dr. Shirley Zardoost and Dr. Tom Roach