January target opening for Wadsworth health center

WADSWORTH — Three health care providers are now on staff for the Medina County Health Department's second location in Wadsworth, which has a target opening in January. The health center will be housed at the Summa Health Wadsworth-Rittman Medical Center located at 185 Wadsworth Road. "We're pleased the Medina County Health Department's new health center will be located inside of the Summa Health Wadsworth-Rittman Medical Center," Lucas Smith, director of Ambulatory Services for Summa Health, said in a statement. "They share our commitment to the Wadsworth community and their services will be a great compliment to our facility." So far, the staff at the health center will include a medical director, family nurse practitioner and certified nurse practitioner. Dr. Wendell Craig Eldridge will sere as the medical director. He is a family practice physician who joined in 2019. He graduated from Ohio State University College of Medicine in 2004. He completed his family medicine residency at MetroHealth Medical Center in 2007. Brenda Witsaman is the family nurse practitioner. She was a registered nurse for nearly 30 years at both non-profit and governmental organizations, including the Medina County Health Department, before obtaining her master of science in Nursing in 2018 from Ursuline College. She can see men, women and children of all ages. Witsaman is also a sexual assault nurse examiner. Lastly, Jessica Tobin will act as certified nurse practitioner. She obtained her master of science in nursing in 2015 from Drexel University after being a registered nurse for five years in various fields, including emergency medicine and labor and delivery. She can see women of all ages for routine well care and early obstetric care, as well as men and women for contraceptive, reproductive and sexual health. This health center is the product of funding the Medina County Health Department was awarded in September to become a federally qualified health center. Federally qualified health centers are non-profit healthcare providers that deliver affordable, high-quality and comprehensive primary and dental care to medically underserved populations, regardless of insurance status. "This is a great opportunity to provide quality care to individuals of all ages," Krista Wasowski, Medina County health commissioner, said in a statement.