OHIO COUNTY, W.Va. (WTRF) -- Wheeling Health Right has served the Ohio Valley community for almost 40 years. They currently see over 27,000 patients across six counties in the Upper Ohio Valley as well as Belmont County in Ohio.
The mission of Wheeling Health Right is to provide free access to comprehensive medical, dental, and mental health services, as well as preventive care and pharmaceuticals, to anyone who qualifies.
To qualify, the patient's earnings must be at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The clinic works to provide health care for the working poor who do not qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance. It also serves patients with Medicaid, as it is hard to find doctors who accept government-funded insurance.
Current patient Zona says that Health Right has helped her with her diabetic medications for a couple of years. They help keep her levels low and have also helped with her nutrition, teaching her what to eat, how to eat, and when to eat to keep her health at its best and to keep her weight down.
The clinic also offers a 15-week summer and early fall program called the FARMacy for patients suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Patients are provided with fresh produce during the length of the program, as well as weekly cooking demonstrations, educational sessions, and materials about how to prepare the produce.
WHR also offers dental services, which is not common among clinics. The clinic currently offers screening exams and x-rays, extractions and fillings, cleanings, medications for infections and pain, and dentures.
Kayla is a former patient at WHR on both the medical and dental sides. She said that when she became a patient in 2019, the staff welcomed her warmly, and through labwork, the clinic diagnosed her with conditions that she was unaware of having. When she saw the dental professionals, she said that the staff took the time to make sure she felt no pain and was comfortable, and when she did have some issues, they were able to get her in right away to address them. The clinic was also able to provide Kayla with dentures, which she said has made her a completely different person.
Because the state of West Virginia requires Wheeling Health Right to raise half of its operating budget through the community, the clinic relies on fundraisers to raise the money.
One of its biggest events is coming up.
The Wheeling Health Right 28th Annual Chef's Auction will be held at Wesbanco Arena on Thursday, May 2. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m., and restaurant demonstrations start at 7.
The Back the Beach event features over a dozen area chefs and restaurants, each showcasing their skills.
The event will include food, drinks, and fun, as well as live entertainment and auctions that include dinner packages, get-away weekend trips, tickets/packages for various sports venues, and items donated by area merchants.
This year's goal is to raise $100,000, which will all go towards Wheeling Health Right and its mission to assist the underinsured.
Tickets are available online HERE or by visiting the Wheeling Health Right Facebook page.
