Mercy Health

08/10/2022 | Press release | Archived content

Mercy Health Opens School-Based Health Center at Harrison High School

Mercy Health - Cincinnati
is opening a new school-based community health center in the Southwest Local School District at Harrison High School. The latest center, named Mercy Health - Southwest Schools Community Clinic, will be open year-round to care for students and staff, as well as members of the community. It joins Mercy Health's school-based health centers located at Clermont Northeastern Schools, Little Miami School District, Sayler Park School, Mt. Washington School and Pleasant Hill Academy.

Southwest Schools Community Clinic opened Wednesday, Aug. 10. The public was invited to tour the health center from 1 to 5 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5 p.m. Harrison High School is located at 9860 West Road, Harrison, Ohio 45030.

Southwest Schools Community Clinic has three full exam rooms. Nurse practitioner Alyse Knapp will be onsite full time supported by a medical assistant. Available services will include primary care, prescriptions, immunizations, mental health evaluations and more. The health center will be open weekdays year-round from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to serve residents of all ages by appointment and on a walk-in basis. Schedule an appointment by calling 513-853-8540.

Mercy Health - Cincinnati is proud to fund numerous school-based health centers across the region, benefitting the communities they serve, in line with Mercy Health's vision to enable communities to thrive. Mercy Health received grant money from Interact for Health, which helped fund planning for the health center.

The nurse practitioners at Mercy Health's school-based health centers see hundreds of students and staff members each school year, treating, most commonly, asthma, migraines, stomach aches and upper respiratory issues on the spot. They also care for members of the community and can provide referrals for dental care and other health care provider resources. The Mercy Health school-based health centers participate in the Vaccines for Children program and offer vaccinations along with well-child and adult care onsite.

"We are extremely excited to offer this opportunity to our community and to make health care more accessible for those that need it. To have this available at our central campus is a game-changer for many of our families," Southwest Local School District Superintendent John Hamstra said.

"There are too many communities where it's challenging for families to access the routine health care services they need to stay healthy. School-based health centers like the one we've opened in the Southwest Local School District help meet that need by connecting students, families and community members directly to health services at a convenient location right in their neighborhood," said Mercy Health - West Hospital President Brad Bertke. "As a mission-based organization, we are honored to share our resources to help children and the teachers and staff who care for them stay well so they can stay in school. Healthy kids who stay in school don't miss important lessons and do better in their studies. Additionally, this center adds health care services in a community where now there is an unmet need for quality medical care."

In addition to running the health center, Mercy Health cares for the student athletes of Harrison High School and Harrison Junior High School. Mercy Health provides two certified athletic trainers to serve as the primary athletic trainers for the schools as well as a team physician, orthopedic sports medicine specialist John Zisko, MD.