ODH Director Dr. Vanderhoff Attends Opening of New, Improved East Palestine Clinic

April 30, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: ODH Office of Communications 614-644-8562

EAST PALESTINE, OHIO - Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA, today participated in a ribbon-cutting for the new location of the East Liverpool City Hospital's East Palestine primary care clinic - one that will help ensure the clinic's long-term sustainability.

Last year, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and ODH announced $750,000 in funding to help the hospital find a new location for the clinic, one that would help expand its services.

"We said from the beginning, more than three years ago, that we would stand by the residents of East Palestine and the region, and we are keeping that commitment," said Governor DeWine. "This new location for the health clinic will help ensure that residents will be able to continue to have access to healthcare in their community."

"We're very pleased to support the continued evolution of this clinic, now a Rural Health Clinic that is providing residents of East Palestine and the surrounding region with important healthcare services," Dr. Vanderhoff said. "It's vital to have sufficient primary care providers in every community, and this clinic is helping fill that need."

The clinic is now located at 79 W. Main St., in the heart of the community and features a more modern, remodeled building. Expanded services include an improved lab, adult and child vaccine services, and free sports physicals. These improvements enabled the facility to become a federally certified Rural Health Clinic (RHC).

An RHC is a facility located in a rural area which has been identified as having a shortage of personal health services or primary medical manpower. As an RHC, the clinic receives payments based on a set rate, which can be higher than the typical fee-for-service reimbursement received by traditional clinics.

"We are incredibly grateful to the Ohio Department of Health for their generous support of our new site of our primary care clinic, as their partnership helps us provide high-quality care to the residents in East Palestine," said Stephanie Conn, President and CEO of East Liverpool City Hospital. "Our move to this new site reflects East Liverpool City Hospital's unwavering commitment to being an active, visible part of the East Palestine community."

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About the Ohio Department of Health

The Ohio Department of Health's mission is advancing the health and well-being of all Ohioans. ODH is transforming the state's public health system through unique partnerships and funding streams, implementing data-driven, evidence-based solutions. For more, visit the Ohio Department of Health website, which offers a range of public health information, tools, and resources.