A-DOOR-ABLE — Staff of the Ohio Valley Health Center stood with a decorated door themed after the free clinic, during its third-annual Christmas door decorating contest and open house, Thursday. From left are Dr. Vanessa Palmer, Diversity Health Initiative director; Amanda Dyson, patient navigator; Ann Quillen, executive director; Michael Hauber, clinical nurse manager; Nikki Kazmierczak, social worker, and Nyasha DiLeonardo, nurse practitioner. -- Christopher Dacanay

STEUBENVILLE — A Christmas door decorating contest on Thursday brought 110 guests to the Ohio Valley Health Center, where they learned how the free clinic works to keep medically uninsured or underinsured individuals healthy.

For a donation, local people or individuals could sponsor a door in the South Street clinic and decorate it. All of the clinic’s 24 doors bore some manner of holiday ornamentation, ranging from intricate to comedic, and visitors to Thursday’s open house could vote on their favorites.

While visitors participated in the third-annual door decorating contest, OVHCX staff offered them tours around the facility, said Executive Director Ann Quillen.

“It’s nice for us to be able to share with people in our community who’ve never been in here before about the services we offer,” Quillen said.

Some reportedly expressed shock at the range of services the OVHC provides, from diagnosis to treatment, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.

“People have been so kind, and (some) have made donations to the health center while they’ve been here,” Quillen said, adding, “It’s been a good day.”

Visitors could see the OVHC’s newly purchased echocardiogram machine, obtained primarily through grant funding from the Charles M. and Thelma M. Pugliese Charitable Foundation and Community Foundation of the Ohio Valley, through its River Valley Health Fund.

The machine conducts a noninvasive test to show function of the heart. Used for diagnostic and monitoring, results can be directed to cardiologist and OVHC Medical Director Dr. Charn Nandra for interpretation.

OVHC staff expressed their excited to provide “echos” in-house. Clinical nurse manager Michael Hauber even demonstrated its capabilities by displaying moving images of his own heart.

Tours also brought visitors to the OVHC’s laboratory, where staff process a number of different tests. Those range from simple tests — lipid tests, blood sugar tests or comprehensive metabolic panels — to “moderate complexity” tests that require Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments certification, which the OVHC has.

The clinic undergoes biyearly inspections to offer moderate complexity tests, such as complete blood count tests and thyroid-stimulating hormone tests. Its next inspection will take place on Dec. 30.

“All of our policies and procedures are in place, and we feel confident that we’ll do well in the inspection,” Quillen said.

Staff also showed off the clinic’s medication room, which has provided roughly $600,000 worth of free medications to patients during 2023 alone.

Some of the OVHC’s volunteer nurse practitioners were present during the open house to meet visitors. Normally a slow month, December has seen a “rush” in patient activity, Quillen said. More volunteers are always needed to ensure patients’ appointments can be scheduled as soon as possible, she added.

Quill said the OVHC tracks its activity and reports to the Charitable Healthcare Network, formerly the Ohio Association of Free Clinics. Services rendered in 2023 are valued at around $1.2 million.

The Concept of “point of care” is critical to the OVHC, Quillen said. That essentially means patients receive all their necessary services in one place, at one time, and don’t have to schedule an appointment for another day, possibly at a different location. This makes big difference for underprivileged individuals who can’t afford to take more time away from work.

“When a patient comes here, they get a good physical, their treatment plan is designed, they’re provided medication, their’e provided a lab and a review of their social issues too. … They meet with our patient navigator in case they need help with their insurance. They meet with our social worker in case they need connections to food or (other resources).”

Sponsors of the 24 doors included the OVHC, the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Valley Hospice, Capital Health Care Network, Wintersville Methodist Church, A&B Pharmacy, Apollo Cleaning and Restoration, Interstate Waste Services, the Jefferson County General Health District, Trinity Health System, Hancock County Savings Bank, Steubenville High School, Special Connections, Capital Health Home Care, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, Richmond Engineering, Our Place, Be Spa, the YMCA, Franciscan University of Steubenville nursing students, Shari Jo Watkins, Merry Tidings Inc., and James Lash and Deena Riley, who will chair the OVHC’s gala on April 27.

Awarded were Onr Place, best overall; Wintersville Methodist Church, most creative, and Interstate Waste Services, funniest. Door prizes were donated by Taylor Steeves of Taylor Insurance.

The door for Richmond Engineering was designed by Gina Judy and her daughter Kim Sherretts. Gina Judy’s husband is Mark Judy, a member of the OVHC’s board of directors since 2016. The Judy family has been a longtime supporter of the OVHC, Quillen noted.

“We’re thankful for the interaction with the public,” Mark Judy said. “It’s our mission not help those who need help, and this type of event helps us get the word out. We’re open to serve anyone in the Ohio Valley who needs our help, and we’re very thankful for the staff, volunteers and providers who work here. They do a super job, and they’re anxious to help.”

As many as 30 members of Our Place came to visit the clinic. The senior activities center — located in Steubenville’s First Westminster Presbyterian Church — sponsored a door for its first time, drawing upon the talents of Elba Hada, an Our Place member and crochet instructor.

Judy Owings is the health educator for Our Place, which serves individuals aged 50 and older. She said the visit was a great way to introduce the OVHC to Our Place members who could benefit from the clinic’s offerings.

Owings said the OVHC is a “good cause” that has been supportive our Our Place, with which it shares shares a similar mission.