A renovated health center at West High School is expanding access to medical, behavioral health and select dental services for students and other community members in Columbus. Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Columbus City Schools announced the expansion in September. The $500,000 project, funded by the Ohio Department of Health, added a second examination room, enlarged the waiting area and created a private room for telepsychiatry. The center is at 179 S. Powell Ave. The clinic serves children and young adults through age 21. In addition to West students, it can now serve students from nearby Columbus City Schools elementary and middle schools, neighborhood residents and district employees. Younger students may be transported to West during the school day for appointments. The center is not meant to replace a child’s regular pediatrician or family doctor. The district says families will not be turned away because they cannot pay; the clinic accepts most insurance plans, including Medicaid. The expansion is intended to reduce obstacles that can keep students from receiving care, including travel and missed class time. Columbus City Schools Superintendent Angela Chapman said bringing appointments to school can also help parents and caregivers avoid missing work to take a child elsewhere. Nationwide Children’s associate vice president of School Health Mary Kay Irwin said students receiving care through school-based centers save an average of three hours of classroom time per visit. The district cited a recently enrolled West student who completed a required soccer physical at the clinic rather than arranging an appointment at another location. West is one of 12 Columbus City Schools sites with a Nationwide Children’s health center. The hospital has reported that its school-based centers have served more than 58,000 students across central Ohio since 2015. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 614-355-2590 and selecting option three.