For Patients
Providing Care You Need
CFC is committed to caring for the under-resourced members of the community regardless of their income or insurance coverage. We offer high-quality healthcare to those who do not qualify for any other programs.
Due to the enormous demand and our limited resources, there may be instances where a patient is referred to another clinic or program. CFC is proud to partner with many organizations whose priority is the health and well-being of every member of the community.
A Note on Our Pharmacy
We are trying to limit the number of refills we provide through our in-house pharmacy and instead send refills to pharmacies that are convenient for you. We can provide coupons to reduce the cost of many commonly prescribed medications. If you are having trouble affording the cost of your medications, please let us know and we can discuss providing refills through our in-house pharmacy.
Please note that we do not accept walk-in patients for medication refills. Please call the Columbus Free Clinic before you run out of medications so that we can send them to your preferred pharmacy.
Request an Appointment
How To Become A Patient
If your case is an EMERGENCY, dial 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.
The Columbus Free Clinic is open on Thursday evenings from 5:45pm – 10:00pm for in-person and telehealth appointments. Appointments are scheduled online.
The online sign up form opens every week on Friday morning for appointments on the following Thursday and closes once all appointment slots are filled. If you are unable to access the form, it likely means we have reached our patient limit for the week.
Appointments are accepted on a first come, first served basis. We recommend you sign up early.
If we can offer you an appointment this upcoming Thursday, you will receive an automated call/text by Wednesday with your appointment time. Our schedule fills up quickly and we typically cannot offer an appointment to every patient who requests one. We will text you by Wednesday if we cannot offer you an appointment and you have filled out the form.
Address: 2231 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43201
Parking: Please park in the “R” spots (free for visitors) behind the clinic or utilize street parking. Please tell a clinic staff member if you cannot find any parking.
Check In: Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled check-in time. Check in with our volunteers in the lobby. If you do not check in on time, you may lose your spot in line.
Late Policy: Those who arrive more than 15 minutes after their scheduled check-in time will be roomed after all patients who arrive on time are roomed.
- You will be seen by a health professions student and a licensed primary care or specialty service provider during your visit.
- Your provider will determine if any labs are necessary, and these may be completed during your visit at our free on-site laboratory.
- You may also pick-up select medications at our free on-site pharmacy.
- You will receive social work services and referrals from our social work team if you are interested.
All of these services are provided free of charge to our patients
Your care team may recommend additional specialty services, labs, or imaging that cannot be provided at the CFC. In this case we will refer you to an outside provider. During your visit we will provide you with information on how to schedule these appointments and obtain financial assistance for any external referrals, as the cost of these appointments is not covered by the CFC. Our referrals and lab teams will follow up with you via phone the week following your appointment to provide further assistance with this process.
While our pharmacy can assist you with many prescription medications, there are many we do not provide. In this case, our provider will send a prescription to a pharmacy of your choice. Unfortunately, you will have to pay for the medications yourself in this scenario. Prescription discounts can be obtained through GoodRx. Visit their website to request a discount card, or contact CFC for more information.
You will likely receive a patient satisfaction survey in the days following your appointment. If you are able, please complete this survey so that we can continue to improve the care we provide to our patients.
We will call you 1-2 weeks after your appointment to discuss your lab results. If you have not received a call to discuss your results after 2 weeks, please contact us at 614-404-8417. You can also contact us to request that your lab results be published to Athena – our secure, online portal. Learn how to see your lab results on Athena here.
Already a patient? Click here to schedule an appointment.
Arrival Information
Address
2231 North High Street Columbus, OH 43201
Operating Hours
Thursday Evenings
5:45pm to 10 pm by appointment
Our services are available to everyone free of cost regardless of insurance or documentation status.
When You Should Arrive
Please arrive for your appointment 15 minutes early for paperwork and check-in.
Late Policy: Those who arrive more than 15 minutes after their scheduled check-in time will be roomed after all patients who arrive on time are roomed.
What You Should Bring
A list of your current prescription medications as well as any over the counter medications and supplements (vitamins, herbs) you use. Be sure to include the name and dose of your medication, and how you take your medicine (when, how many, how often).
Any forms that need to be filled out by a doctor (for example for work).
Parking
Please park in a spot labeled “reserved for Rardin patients” in the lot behind the clinic to avoid getting a parking ticket. If there are no reserved patient spots available, please let the check-in desk know upon your arrival and they will assist you.
What To Expect
CFC is a student-run clinic. You will be seen by students throughout your visit, but all treatment and follow up recommendations will be directed by licensed healthcare professionals. You will be taken to your room by a medical student who will do an initial assessment and will report to the licensed provider who will provide your care. CFC integrates social work/behavioral health, pharmacy, and lab services at every clinic night, and you should expect to talk to students/licensed providers from.
FAQ
- Long term care for illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure
- Acute care for illnesses like flu and injuries
- Medication counseling, and some free medications
- Mental health and community resource counseling
We can only see patients who are over the age of 18.
If you currently have a fever or acute respiratory symptoms, we may not be able to see you in person. Please call or text us with any questions (614) 404-8417.
Please call 911 or visit your nearest Emergency Department.
If you need a refill, please request a refill appointment through our website and indicate you need a refill for your medication.
There are many free clinics around Columbus! Click here.
If you are having a severe reaction to a medication please call 911 or visit your nearest Emergency Department. If you are having mild discomfort or side effects, call us at (614) 404-8417 and we will help you.
Most lab results will be released approximately 1-2 weeks after they are drawn. You should expect a phone call from one of our team members if the results are abnormal, or if follow-up is needed. If you would like to know your results and it has been more than 2 weeks, call us at (614) 404-8417 and we will help you.
Please contact your previous doctor and sign a records release form to have the information sent to us.
We do not have vaccines at the Columbus Free Clinic. If you need vaccinations / immunizations, click here for the Franklin County Immunization Program
We do not see new COVID illness. If you have recently tested positive for COVID and you are concerned about your symptoms or need testing, please call the Ohio Department of Health’s COVID-19 hotline number at 1-833-427-5634 between 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM. Or visit the Ohio Department of Health’s website here.
No, the CFC cannot do an IUD / Nexplanon placement or removal. However, Planned Parenthood or Columbus Public Health can help. Visit the links provided to schedule an appointment with their clinics.
Unfortunately, the CFC cannot provide obstetric or prenatal care. However, StepOne has a Healthy Pregnancy program which can help. View it here. StepOne can connect you with affordable, timely, and convenient prenatal care, and resources for a healthy pregnancy. You can call 614-721-0009 for services.
- Due to our limited capacity, we do not provide STI screening for patients without symptoms. STI tests can be performed at CFC but will require a full visit with a provider to establish a plausible diagnosis and need for testing or treatment.
- For patients who are not experiencing symptoms but would like to be screened for STIs, please refer to the Columbus Public Health (CPH) Department. Located at 240 Parsons Avenue in Columbus, OH, CPH offers STI screening, testing, and treatment. CPH has a walk-in clinic on Mondays and Thursdays 5:00pm to 7:45pm that tests for gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and syphilis.
- If you are having symptoms that you believe may be related to an STI, the health department also recommends that you call 614-645-1850 for their Sexual Health Clinic to schedule an appointment and receive appropriate treatment. To learn more, please visit https://www.columbus.gov/publichealth/programs/Sexual-Health/.
- For HIV testing and other sexual health resources, please visit https://ohiv.org/.
The CFC does not do TB testing, but the Helping Hands Health and Wellness Center does. Please click here to learn more.
- We cannot see patients under the age of 18. We can only schedule appointments for patients that are 18 years and older. If you have a child under the age of 18 who needs to be seen, please go to Nationwide Children’s Hospital
- If this is a medical emergency, please dial 9-1-1 immediately
- To learn more about financial assistance, please click here.
Information for Nationwide Children’s Hospital:
Address for main campus: 700 Children’s Dr, Columbus, OH 43205
Phone number: 614-722-2000
To schedule an appointment for a non-urgent illness or injury, please call (614) 722-6200.
Please note that regardless of your insurance status or citizenship status, Nationwide Children’s Hospital will provide medical care for your child.
We do not provide any dental services in our clinic. We recommend contacting the Health Center at Faith Mission at (614) 224-6617 or visiting their website, which offers dental services for low income and uninsured individuals. Please tell the office that you were referred by the Columbus Free Clinic. For a general list of dental clinics in Columbus that have free or reduced cost dental services, visit: https://www.usdentalservice.com/ohio-columbus or https://www.freedentalcare.us/ci/oh-columbus.
We do not provide any optometry/vision services in our clinic. We recommend contacting the Health Center at Faith Mission at (614) 224-6617 or visiting their website. You can also contact Lower Lights Health Center at (614)247-1455 or visit their website, which offers vision services for low income and uninsured individuals. Please tell the office that you were referred by the Columbus Free Clinic.
If you have attempted to schedule an appointment for multiple weeks and have been unable to get one, please give us a call at 614-404-8417 and explain the situation. We will return your call and do our best to assist you. Each week, we receive more appointment requests than we are able to fill, meaning it can sometimes be difficult to get an appointment scheduled.
- View our Donation Policy
- Call or text us at (614) 404-8417 with information about the equipment and/or supplies and we will let you know if it is something we can accept!
If something comes up and you know you will be more than 15 minutes late to your check-in time please call us to let us know! 614-404-8417
Patient Satisfaction Survey
If you have used our services, then please take our Patient Satisfaction survey. It will only take a few minutes of your time and your valuable feedback helps us improve the services we offer.
Report an Incident
If you witnessed an event that you believe requires/needs review or investigation, please click the button below and fill out the form it links to. Your report is completely anonymous.
Patient Rights and Responsibilities
Access to Medical Records
You have a right to access your medical record when requested and for your medical records to be shared only with your consent or as required by law.
Autonomy
You have the right to make medical decisions in your best interest.
Chaperone
You have a right to have someone present in the treatment room, in addition to the staff providing treatment.
Consent to Treat
You have the right to know and understand what you are being treated for and all options available, except in the event of a medical emergency. You can deny any treatment or drug after hearing the consequences of using that respective procedure and/or drug. Upon entering the clinic you will sign consent forms for treatment.
Disclosure of taking pictures
You have a right to expect that any pictures taken in regards to your care will be protected like any other protected health information.
Identity of providers
You have a right to know the role and identity of all students and providers who you see in the clinic.
Interpretive Services
You have the right to have medical information about yourself communicated in a language of preference via a licensed medical interpreter (Martii/ OSU interpretive services).
Privacy
You have a right to privacy during treatment and protection of your protected health information (PHI). Your information will only be shared with your approval or within the necessary means for treatment at our facility, our referrals, or with other providers you see for medical care.
Right to Report Concerns
You have a right to report any concerns from your experience at the clinic without receiving any backlash, discrimination, or unreasonable interruption of care.
Respect for beliefs
You have a right to be treated with respect regardless of culture, personal values, religion, and preferences with the expectation that providers should have an understanding of those values.
Respectful care
You have the right to be treated with respectful care from providers without abuse or inappropriate care.
Safe and Clean Environment
You have a right to be seen in a safe, secure and clean environment.
Standard of Care
You have a right to receive the standard of care from providers and from those in training based on their responsibilities within the capabilities of our free clinic regardless of any bias towards your culture, personal values, religion, and preferences.
Services
About CFC
Here you can meet our board members, sponsors,
supporters, and volunteers both past and present.
