Lorain County Health & Dentistry held a grand opening of its new medical facility located at 35557 Center Ridge Road in North Ridgeville on August 22.

The new facility is the organization’s seventh location and offers both dental and medical services with multiple exam rooms, an x-ray room and more.

“We are so happy to be here in North Ridgeville,” said Stephanie Wiersma, president and CEO of Lorain County Health & Dentistry. “We promise to be a good neighbor.”

The grand opening was attended by numerous supporters of the site, including North Ridgeville Mayor Kevin Corcoran, members of the City Council, representatives from the Nord Family Foundation, and State Representative Gayle Manning and State Senator Nathan Manning.

According to Wiersma, the completion of the building and the project would not have been possible without the help of everyone involved.

She said North Ridgeville needs accessible health care as part of the organization’s strategy to add locations where there is need, especially since it is farther west than other locations in the county.

“Thank you for all your hard work in making this possible,” Corcoran said.

He noted that the need for the health facility was not fully recognised until plans for the site were announced and that it could be of benefit to the community.

“I didn’t realize how many people are underserved in North Ridgeville,” Corcoran said. “This was a revelation and it was great to learn about the mission of this facility and what this facility will do for our population.”

The facility is Lorain County Health & Dentistry’s fourth location to provide dental services, Weirsma said.

This is a full-time location that will be open five days a week.

Having dental insurance is a notable trait because it can be difficult to access dental care without insurance, officials said.

Other services include pediatric care, obstetrics/women’s health, optometry and podiatry.

“We also offered integrated treatment for mental disorders and substance abuse,” Weirsma said.

Patients treated at the facility or elsewhere can receive high-quality care from clinical leaders and staff who are well trained and have the necessary expertise, she said.

Todd Tilberg, chairman of the Lorain County Health and Dental Department, said a key goal of the new facility is to raise awareness of the health department’s services and to point out that it is open to anyone.

“We treat everyone, insured and uninsured,” Tilberg said. “We are there for the community as a whole.”

Call 440-414-4400 for more information or to schedule an appointment.