Specialty Clinics:

BCMH:

The Bureau of Child and Family Health Services and local health departments sponsor specialty clinics.  The clinics are held in rural areas where children frequently do not have access to pediatric specialists.  Their purpose is to promote early identification and diagnosis of children with special health care needs and to monitor these children.  Children from birth to 21 years of age with a suspected health problem are eligible to attend.

Cardiac Clinic:

Effective July 1, 2004, cardiac clinics are no longer funded under Ohio Department of Health as a Specialty Clinic.  Dr. Suarez does however continue to come to Tiffin Mercy Outpatient Department on the first Tuesday of the month.  He is running the clinic as a satellite clinic to his practice, so there is an office visit fee for the visit.  A BCMH diagnostic can be done on the initial appointment and help cover the cost of testing for the first three months; and can work with the families to get on the treatment program plan as appropriate.  Tiffin Mercy Outpatient Department is responsible for the scheduling for the clinics.  The number to call is 419-448-3108 or 1-800-447-1804 and request the Outpatient Department.

Neurology Clinic:

The Neurology clinic is held five (5) times a year at the Seneca County General Health District.  Dr. Nevada Reed from Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron attends the clinic.  Children seen at this clinic include those with neurological disorders, movement disorders, severe headaches, seizures, neuromuscular disease, and progressive deterioration.  Referrals are accepted from health care providers, community agencies, and parents.  There is no fee to attend the clinic; any testing done outside the clinic would be billed to health insurance, BCMH and Medicaid.

Vision Clinic:

The Vision clinic is held three (3) times a year at the Seneca County General Health District.  Dr. Wade Young and Dr. Thomas Meade from the Tiffin Eye Center are the attending physicians.  Children seen at this clinic are those with suspected vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, lazy eye, crossed eyes, etc.  Referrals are accepted from schools, health care providers, community agencies, and parents.  A vision consultant, and one of the doctors present assess patients.  Parents are encouraged to go through the clinic with their child.  At the end of the visit the doctor will tell the parent if he feels the child needs intervention such as glasses, patching, etc.  The prescription for glasses will be given to the parents at that time.  Parents with a medical card or vision insurance may take the prescription to be filled.  For those who do not have vision insurance or a medical card and the price of glasses are difficult for them, there is a program that may help.  The Vision Service Plan helps families who meet financial eligibility with a voucher good at participating doctor's offices for the cost of the glasses.

Genetics Clinic:

The Genetics Clinic is held at the Seneca County General Health District four (4) times a year.  Dr. Thaddeus Kurczynski and his nurse practitioner from St. Vincent's and Mercy Children's Hospital in Toledo attend the clinic.  Children with developmental disabilities are served.  Examples for referrals would be children with autism, mental retardation, chromosome abnormalities and syndromes.  Referrals are accepted from health care professionals, community agencies, and patients.  Insurance, BCMH, Medicaid and sliding fee scale are accepted.  For more information call Colette Glynn Gaba at 419-251-8096.