First Glance

New Albany’s Growing Health Scene

Photo courtesy of Brandon Klein Accessibility to quality health programs and services in New Albany is abundant. I am constantly made aware of this whether through the daily health-related emails I receive, articles in local newspapers I read or the myriad of engaging stories that appear in this magazine. Of course, having a shining star in our community, namely Healthy New Albany (HNA), radiates with its wide range of offerings that inspire life-changing opportunities for residents of all ages. Indeed, New Albany’s reputation as a center of health innovation is growing.

New Albany’s health accomplishments extend beyond its borders as several years ago it received top honors as recognized by the Ohio Healthy Community Award presented by the Ohio Department of Health’s Bureau of Creating Healthy Communities. The award is based on different health benchmarks a city must successfully address to be acknowledged, and New Albany tied for the highest score in the state. For this and many other reasons, it is not surprising that opportunities for promoting wellness in New Albany continue to thrive.

I hope you will read Brandon Klein’s article, Health Care in Your Back Yard that details the forthcoming Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s (OSUWMC) Outpatient Health and Surgery Center. This facility will provide another opportunity for New Albany residents to receive state-of-the-art health care that is located only minutes away and adjacent to the Hamilton Square Shopping Center. The OSUWMC facility is so close that I can access it from my walking route via the Dublin-Granville Road trail. Of course, I am not encouraging you to traverse this trail for your next health care appointment or if you need treatment at urgent care plus, an alternative to an emergency room visit that will be housed in the new facility.

The Outpatient Health and Surgery Center cements another aspect of the relationship between New Albany and OSUWMC. It will complement services provided by OSUWMC and HNA. Imagine a lineup of health lectures, classes taught by OSU nutritionists focusing on topics such as cooking for heart health as well as health workshops for seniors, just to name a few. I think about the possibility of a partnership whereby HNA holds health lectures inside the new facility that are led by OSUWMC physicians. The relationship between HNA and OSUWMC is already synergistic with the presence of OSUWMC’s Health and Fitness Center, physical therapy, sports medicine and primary care, all located in the Heit Center.

Stay tuned as further details about the Outpatient Health and Surgery Center are announced. The best is yet to come.

Healthfully,

Phil Heit Executive Director Emeritus Healthy New Albany