Ohio Northern University (ONU) and Mercy Health have announced a new strategic partnership to improve access to high quality health care on ONU’s campus. Under a new 10-year agreement, ONU’s Student Health Center will be staffed and managed by Mercy Health.
“This is a commonsense partnership that draws upon the expertise and resources of a top national and regional health care provider to benefit our students, faculty, staff, and the community,” said ONU President Melissa J. Baumann. “We’re excited to collaborate with Mercy Health to enhance health care on campus.”
Students will see additional services and improved access at the center. Mercy Health will be adding the option for virtual visits, outside of normal business hours, and introducing electronic health records with MyChart. Through MyChart, patients can see their medications, get test results, schedule appointments, and more. Visits will continue to be free for students.
“We are so pleased to have the opportunity to serve this important population of young people,” said Ronda Lehman, President – Mercy Health - Lima. “We hope to create lifelong Mercy Health relationships and encourage a healthy focus for their journey in life.”
According to the partners, students will receive the same compassionate care and support that they’ve come to expect at the center, and see some familiar faces. Health Center Director Kim Manning and Nurse Practitioner Margaret Schimmoeller will be joining Mercy Health and staying on in their current roles.
While the Mercy Health/ONU Health Center will initially serve only students, plans call for its primary care services to one day be available to ONU faculty and staff.
Through the collaboration Mercy Health will also provide ONU with medical and disease management counsel, and assist the University in the event of a real, or suspected, communicable disease outbreak.
Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center, is part of Bon Secours Mercy Health one of the 20 largest health systems in the United States and the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the country. The ministry’s quality, compassionate care is provided by more than 60,000 associates serving communities in Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia, as well as throughout Ireland. Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center has been providing quality health care to the people of Allen County and west central Ohio since 1918. The mission of Mercy Health is to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of our communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved. In 2017, Mercy Health – St. Rita’s invested more than $44 million in community benefit to the surrounding area. Together with more than 3,000 employees, physicians and volunteers, the ministry provides quality, innovative, compassionate care to the community. For more information, visit mercy.com
Ohio Northern University
Located in Northwest Ohio, Ohio Northern University is a private, United Methodist Church-affiliated institution that offers distinctive, nationally recognized programs of study that prepare students to lead, excel and serve throughout the world. Its mutually supporting liberal and professional education components integrate practice with theory, and are complemented by excellent co-curricular and high-impact experiential offerings that enrich the Northern experience. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled this 2022-23 academic year in the more than 60 undergraduate and graduate programs offered within the colleges of Arts & Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering, Business Administration and Law. In 2022, ONU graduates enjoyed a 96% placement rate in full-time jobs and graduate school admissions. Ohio Northern and its academic programs are consistently ranked as being among the best in the region, state and nation by entities such as U.S. News & World Report. To learn more about Ohio Northern University, visit www.onu.edu.